In my never-ending quest to experience as much blues music as possible during my time in Mississippi, a few friends and I went to a blues club in Jackson on Thursday night. The 930 Blues Café, unlike other blues clubs, occupies an early twentieth-century residence featuring a quintessentially southern wrap-around porch. Once inside, it’s hard not to soak in the non-musical atmosphere: low lighting, the smell of smoke and an assortment of deep fried foods, and Budweiser bottles sweating in the heat of the night. The music starts and it all just works. One of the singers on the lineup for the night performed an amazing cover of Marvin Gaye’s "Let’s Get it On", the best I’ve heard since Jack Black delivered that ridiculously unexpected and oddly humorous rendition in High Fidelity. 
It was a fantastic time; the only downside is that the watered-down urinesque beverage most Americans consider to be beer has grown on me.
Last night, I witnessed something I had never thought I would: the burning of a piece of furniture in someone’s backyard. Burning doesn’t even do the situation justice, since what I really witnessed was the engulfing of an old recliner in a ravenous sea of flames. It’s important to recognize, however, that this primitive yet somewhat postmodern act was not a capricious one, but rather the planned climax of a co-worker’s party. After some of Jackson’s finest enjoyed some cold drinks, good music, and a silent showing of Jane Fonda’s Barbarella in the corner of the backyard, the pyrotechnics began. The host first proceeded to blow up a stuffed animal with a bottle rocket, which is fun for all ages! After piquing the interest of the crowd, he brought out the couch and placed it onto the fire (see pictures on right and left). What made it even more exciting is that the chair was
stuffed full of fireworks, many of which went soaring out in assorted directions and landed in his oh-so-friendly (sarcasm) neighbors’ lawns. The chair didn’t last more than a few minutes in the blaze.
You may have two questions. First, who in their right mind wants to burn a chair? Well, I really enjoyed it and others did as well, so it was exciting and not to mention (somewhat) safe. Second, who in their right builds a huge fire in their backyard (with a pit) when its eighty degrees at night? The same guy who owns a potbelly pig for a pet. What an awesome night.
It was a fantastic time; the only downside is that the watered-down urinesque beverage most Americans consider to be beer has grown on me.Last night, I witnessed something I had never thought I would: the burning of a piece of furniture in someone’s backyard. Burning doesn’t even do the situation justice, since what I really witnessed was the engulfing of an old recliner in a ravenous sea of flames. It’s important to recognize, however, that this primitive yet somewhat postmodern act was not a capricious one, but rather the planned climax of a co-worker’s party. After some of Jackson’s finest enjoyed some cold drinks, good music, and a silent showing of Jane Fonda’s Barbarella in the corner of the backyard, the pyrotechnics began. The host first proceeded to blow up a stuffed animal with a bottle rocket, which is fun for all ages! After piquing the interest of the crowd, he brought out the couch and placed it onto the fire (see pictures on right and left). What made it even more exciting is that the chair was
stuffed full of fireworks, many of which went soaring out in assorted directions and landed in his oh-so-friendly (sarcasm) neighbors’ lawns. The chair didn’t last more than a few minutes in the blaze.You may have two questions. First, who in their right mind wants to burn a chair? Well, I really enjoyed it and others did as well, so it was exciting and not to mention (somewhat) safe. Second, who in their right builds a huge fire in their backyard (with a pit) when its eighty degrees at night? The same guy who owns a potbelly pig for a pet. What an awesome night.
4 comments:
I thought local custom was to burn 40ft crosses on SOMEONE ELSE's lawn. I'm confused, when do you get the satin robes and torches?
bonfires were definitely a part of my growing up experience. heck, we even have a fire ring (a.k.a. the ring of fire) in our backyard.
cheers to the south! (though tell your brother that we never burnt crosses!)
Ok, let's get something straight. I grew up in the Northeast, and I attended a few bonfires. It's not just a southern thing. And it's nice to see that you are embracing Budweiser for a reason other than the fact that the guys in Entourage drink it.
Hard. Core.
Post a Comment