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Sore but happy
Mar. 2nd, 2005 01:17 pmLast night was a concert by Rachid Taha, a French-Algerian raï singer who's been around for 20 years. I had a blast. The band started playing and didn't stop for 45 minutes, just meshing from one song into another, building an enormous crescendo. I was right at the edge of the stage, in line with the tabla player. Best non-seat in the house where I was concerned. :) I paid nearly $40 for the ticket, but it was worth it. Taha is of course political, and some of his banter was a little jarring for it, especially when he was straining to make political puns. Or, well, tons of bad puns. "Calembour" really isn't quite the same as a pun. And by the end, I wasn't able to make out what he was saying, but knew he was trying for bilingual arabic/French puns. Judging from the french arabic guy next to me who was laughing his gut out, it probably worked better than his pure-french puns... then the music started again and all was forgiven. :)
And I love francophone audiences: they start dancing from the get-go. None of this silly half-hour "warming-up" period I see at all-english crowds; I suspect it's the time it takes for most to imbibe alcohol and feel the effects and start caring less about "making a fool" by dancing. Which means spilled beer on the dance floor. Here's a thought: learn to dance anything well, even just one style, then you won't care anymore and have way more fun way earlier for way longer! And remember all of it too. :)
Amazingly enough, even right afterwards my ears weren't ringing. The sound was really well-balanced. For once the drums and bass guitar weren't overamplified! The singing was the main thing, and that doesn't destroy your tympans. If all concerts were like this...
Somewhat sluggish today. Walking is fine, running is right out. No real pain, too.
I wasn't well Monday, so in a moment of weakness I ordered a new motherboard, had my hair cut and bought a slim PS2. It was inevitable anyway. (And yes, the wording is intentional.) I also finally made an effort and got myself out in time for Irish dance lessons that evening. Only to find out that classes had been cancelled. Grump.
Still hovering around 160, but I've actually hit 157 a couple of times. Variance is wider! Yay me.
And I love francophone audiences: they start dancing from the get-go. None of this silly half-hour "warming-up" period I see at all-english crowds; I suspect it's the time it takes for most to imbibe alcohol and feel the effects and start caring less about "making a fool" by dancing. Which means spilled beer on the dance floor. Here's a thought: learn to dance anything well, even just one style, then you won't care anymore and have way more fun way earlier for way longer! And remember all of it too. :)
Amazingly enough, even right afterwards my ears weren't ringing. The sound was really well-balanced. For once the drums and bass guitar weren't overamplified! The singing was the main thing, and that doesn't destroy your tympans. If all concerts were like this...
Somewhat sluggish today. Walking is fine, running is right out. No real pain, too.
I wasn't well Monday, so in a moment of weakness I ordered a new motherboard, had my hair cut and bought a slim PS2. It was inevitable anyway. (And yes, the wording is intentional.) I also finally made an effort and got myself out in time for Irish dance lessons that evening. Only to find out that classes had been cancelled. Grump.
Still hovering around 160, but I've actually hit 157 a couple of times. Variance is wider! Yay me.
