SACRED GROUNDS
hayes street, SF
open mic thursdays, 7p


thursday night we did something fun--a friend of craig's told him about an open mic night in the haight at which he planned to perform so we went in for it.....dive-y little coffee shop, many characters showed up to do their gig...one guy who kinda "mc"-ed the evening was called mr. natural...300+ pounds, ZZ Top style beard, receding hairline but long and pulled into a thin greasy pony, large 80's-esque glasses with tape holding one side together....too much "natural"---take a shower, dude. contrasted by the fresh-faced lanky maybe-20-year-old guy who introduced himself as from north carolina, and this was his first time to perform in california...he and his buddy just drove cross country and were shell-shocked at the cost of living here. i suggested they get 18 more roommates and then they'd be able to make it just fine. they must not have the INTERNET in north carolina where you can research housing prices all over the world..................oh, and the trio, two of whom were father and son, the son being maybe 11 and amazing on the djembe drum. so sweet.....omg, how could i almost forget the guy who opened by telling us he's a recovering addict in a program ( i had to instigate a round of applause), and then introduced his second song by explaining he wasn't quite sure where it had come from as he doesn't have a girlfriend, and didn't cheat on the girlfriend he doesn't have, but there it is. he had that nervous-pent-up energy feel to him, and his leg just jumped and danced and made visible the passion in his song soaked soul.
the view into humanity was beautiful tender vulnerable raw. i sat there marveling in and longing for that passion for music in my soul...perhaps it is a mercy i don't have it...i have enough to deal with in attempting to live out and in the passions i do have.............but if i can't have the music, can i at least smoke?