I don’t go to many shows outside of my job, and those that I do attend are generally jazz groups or jam bands. Listening to indie pop, folk, and/or rock outside of tour generally makes me nervous and squirmy, much like a restaurant worker going out to eat and not being able to stop focusing on the work flow and social dynamics among the floor staff and cooks (I’m also still afflicted by this- thanks Pizzicato). However last Saturday night, my friend Bryan got me a birthday ticket to see the Billy Martin/ Wil Blades duo at the Goodfoot, a very small hippie bar and dance club over on Southeast Stark St in Portland. It was great.
Billy Martin, of Medeski Martin and Wood fame, is one of the most riveting drummers alive and Wil Blades is a monster Hammond player. There was no bass player, but Wil kicked so smoothly that nobody missed it. The room was about twice the size of my living room with no raised stage, and although the club packed about 250 folks in, we got there early enough to have front row spots. They played for ever and ever, eventually joined by the Seattle tenor player Skerik, but being the old guy I am, I threw in the towel at around 1 am to avoid driving home with the bar close crowd.
It was great to see some really awesome musicians pushing themselves to their personal limits. Coming off of tour, I had not felt much motivation to practice but this show shocked me awake. As the old musician saying goes, always keep your razors sharp.
