Yesterday I got four tattoos.
On my right left ankle I got a Joshua Tree. On my left ankle I got an Ocotillo. Very small and basic, nothing fancy. Those are my two favorite trees and two favorite desert destinations. I'm stoked.
I also got a cool Blu tattoo. Another very simple and basic sketch of her alien ears, a staple of her morning greeting.
I also got "chill" tattoo'd on my forearm. Why not?
I think I'm going to get a lot more.
Tee up Eminence Front by The Who.
A world class banger.
It came on at a bar yesterday and I thought to myself, "what in the fuck is this brilliance of a song?”. I love using the "siri, what is this song" move at a bar. A very easy outlet for finding new music.
This song is funk. Layered vibes of cool. The baseline, the guitar lick, the hook -- so in sync. For me it breaks far from the classic style of The Who, and I love the range.
I remember when Young Man Blues came on as I was drifting down Glen Canyon on my kayak. I went into full fledged rock out mode. We're talking air everything. There was a wildlife boat full of about 20 tourists. I might as well have been a mountain goat. I had 40 eyes fixed on me as I was ripping in my own solo rock out.
The Who is my dads favorite band, and I've always appreciated their vibe. My dad is a big Pete Townshend guy. He's not a big music guy, but he loves the signature Who licker. I have many fond memories of him throughout my life shredding the Pete Townshend air guitar.
It is a piece of who I am.
(did you get that?)
I didn't look up the lineup for Jazzfest. Jesse and Tomer had picked out all the shows, and I was happy to wing it. I knew I wouldn't have any trouble finding a lot of good music, and I had a pack of real musical forward dudes guiding the fiesta.
Friday night we were at a Les Claypool show. I was up top chilling out, not super in the mix of Les, but down for a low key, up top, chiller sesh. The guy next to me lit up a joint, and we quickly became friends for 10 minutes. Nothing better than a random joint with a stranger at a show. He said he was in town to see The Who.
I remember having an injection of stoke.
The Who were in New Orleans for Jazzfest?
Hell yes. A very pleasant surprise.
That night rolled on till five in the morning, with a series of after shows, after after shows, and after after after shows into the super late night. It ended up killing the crew for the Saturday festival activities, but I carried on. I ended up being the only one of the 20 person joint bachelor / bachelorette party to make it to the festival on day two. I took some acid. I lost my phone. I found my phone. I had a magical experience seeing Galactic. And I found myself a prime spot for The Who.
Seeing The Who (on acid) was a spiritual moment. They opened their set with "Who Are You" and I danced and I rocked out and I cried and I thought about my dad the whole time. It was emotional. It was fun. I'll remember that moment for the rest of my life.
The next couple songs were pretty eh. The Who are old and it shows. I decided to skip out early into the set (I had to get my shit together for a joint bachelor / bachelorette dinner which I was really not equipped for). The spiritual moment of Who Are You was all the filling I needed. I was content.
As I slowly made my way out of the festival, Wont Get Fooled Again came on and I decided to hang in the back for one more timeless banger.
Tee up Won't Get Fooled Again.
Play this song now. Fast forward to 6:45. Listen for one minute.
That was the best minute of my year.
I could have died at that moment.
A snapshot of complete and utter bliss.
Me and my dad.
Peaking.
I walked out of that concert a new man.
YYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH