being hip

I went to a concert last night (instead of finishing my sermon ... argh!)(which is not as carefully crafted for mother's day as I would like). The concert was by a young man named Andrew Bird, and held at one of the hippest places in downtown Minneapolis, First Avenue. Prince used to hang out there in the 90s. We went to Andrew Bird's concert because we know his bass player, Jeremy. I have known Jeremy since he was about 3 or 4 years old, and his mother played the organ at our church. She went to the concert too, of course.

I have to admit, some of Andrew Bird's music is a little too hip for me. But he is fascinating, and some of his music was inspired. He sings, plays the violin and whistles. He also creates loops so that he sings and plays over things he has already done. It creates quite an effect. My favorite song (sorry don't know titles of anything) sounded to me a little like a yiddish lament.

We took my husband's son and a friend. In fact, they were happy to hear the opening band, called Dosh. I'm not sure what Dosh means, or if it is, in fact, a name. Most of the people there were twenty-something, and the packed house stood for about three hours straight (there are no seats at First Avenue).

I don't get out to concerts as much as I'd like. The last one I remember was James Taylor -- and that was quite some time ago. I believe we got to sit down for that one. But there are people I'd enjoy hearing live: Nickel Creek, for one; Dixie Chicks also. Some of the people I'd like to hear are, unfortunately, dead. Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, some of the old jazz musicians.