I’ve listened to ska before.  This week I heard it for the first time.  The Toasters played Murphy’s and I was there.  Started in 1981, the NYC band’s existed longer than most of my friends.  According to Tyler, they chose Memphis to start off their first tour in 6 years.  I don’t feel the need to fact check him.  Ska is one of those music genres I lump in a pile labeled “rock”.  It’s my catch-all term for music I’ve never really heard.  As a teen, I thought ska was a type of skateboarding event.  No joke.

After the delightfully mellow CCDE, The Trumpets jazzy  bounce caught me off guard.  I almost jumped up and started dancing, except I didn’t.  My toe was noticeably tapping the whole time.  I listened to the pops of trombone in harmony with a sexy sax player all powered by a steady wave of that ubiquitous “rock” sound.  When my lazy ass finally made it to the stage I was rewarded with an enthusiastic crowd appreciating the hell out of this once-in-a-lifetime experience.  A band 33 years and still going strong…

It’s been a good summer.  Maybe even a great one.  I can to be comfortable in a room full of strangers now.  Sometimes it’s hard to not stare, when someone particularly bright is around.  By far and away, the brazen courtship rituals around pool tables is most interesting.  Snatches of conversation – trochees mostly.  I’m fixated on the green felt.  All the beautiful people.