Saturday, July 31, 2010

Gilman St

Kirsten's boyfriend's daughter, Lily, is 20. She has fuchsia/red hair, is stick thin, appropriately pierced, and she's a drummer. Barely out of her teens, she conveys the proper amount of malaise, shyness around adults, and youthful exuberance when appropriate (like when she's drumming). Kirsten promised her she'd go to a gig, and so the two of us went to 924 Gliman / The Caning Co where bands such as Rancid and Green Day played their first gigs.

In order to get in you have to become a member - for two-bucks. I got my membership card, paid my cover charge, five-bucks, and entered the real of Berkleye punk. They walls were grafittied to the hilt. An image of Mao with Mickey Mouse ears was painted prominently above the stage. There was no bar as this is an all age club - not even a soda was sold on the premises.

Prior to leaving I had posted on Facebook that I expected to be called Grandma when I entered, but the kids (and I do mean kids) at the door welcomed me (and all of the other parents) into the club graciously. I bought a round of ear plugs for a few people in my group, which included Lily's friend Mary, Kirsten, Lily's mom and her boyfriend.

The band started playing at 8 p.m. and I stood and listened as Lily and her band-mates jammed through a 25 minute set. The music was a cross between Screamo, punk and just simply hard-rock. The songs started and ended with little chorus or bridge - they just went.

You have to give credit to anyone who puts themselves up in front of a group to perform. You are at your rawest, putting your creativity out to be judged. So Lily and her band got an A for effort. As to whether I'd buy their album (once they make one)... that remains to be seen.

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