Dear Mai,
Since I'm on a music kick here I thought I'd post about a concert we went to recently: The Tea Party.
Now let me put some perspective on this. It was Friday, September, 16 1994. (this is what the world was like on that day) I was working at the record store. Man. The record store. I have some stories to tell you about the record store. Very pivotal time in my life. I'll probably have to G-rate the stories but whatever. Anyhow, I'm working at the record store and one or two of my friends are trying to get me to listen to this Tea Party album. I can't remember if it was Victoria or Lynn or both... I think it was Victoria for sure. At any rate she liked this Tea Party Album called Splendor Solis. I gave it a quick, hurried listen and didn't think much of it. I kind of blew it off. Did I mention I'm a music snob sometimes?
Anywho, they were going to be in town, Toledo, Ohio, playing at my local hang out where the band I was in at the time played all the time called Frankies. (East Toledo Represent!) I used to go to Frankies 3-4 nights a week even if we didn't play there, although we usually played there at least once a week. So I decide to go see them live. I always, and still do, love a live show. This was no exception. The blew me away. Three musicians on stage were creating so much music it could have been an orchestra on stage. And that's the key with this band. The reason I love them is because their music is very orchestrated. Very well composed. They are awesome musicians and as soon as you get passed the lead singer Jeff Martin sounding a bit like Jim Morrison, you can appreciate his vocal and guitar talents.
So I fell in love with this band that night. Since then I've probably seen them close to a dozen times in concert. I've seen them in Toledo, Detroit, Toronto and now in Seattle. They really are one of my top 10 bands.
They played here in Seattle on October 1st. I was kind of on the fence on going but Shawn texted me a few days before the show and let me know they were doing an acoustic set the day before at Easy Street records right here in our very own West Seattle! That is where you and I start our Daddy and Maya adventure days for breakfast! THEN I find out the tour they are on is a re-release of their second album, Edges of Twilight, one of my favorites! They are going to play that album in its entirety the day after! I quickly buy tickets and talk to Mommy. We find out its an all ages show so we buy our tickets, 3 of them for our whole family. I'm losing my shiznit I'm so excited.
So this makes you're fourth concert I think? First was Dead Can Dance, then Red Fang, then Red Fang (again) and the Replacements, and now the Tea Party. That is a pretty impressive list. Before the show I played a little bit by them so you knew what to expect. You dig it. I knew you would. The day of the show arrives and I meet you and Mommy there. The record store is tiny. I was worried it was going to be packed. Nope. Very intimate, small group of people. Perfect. Before they started playing we walked up to the stage to look at their instruments. You loved that.
In fact you loved that so much once they started playing you said "Daddy? Can we go back up to the stage?" OF COURSE WE CAN! We went up there about 4 times during their 6 song set list and you loved it. The drummer / percussionist, Jeff Burrows, gave you this little skull shaker and was messing with you the entire show. It was awesome.
As we made our way to the front we had to cut through the small crowd. Everyone cleared a path for you right to the stage. We made our way to stage left and were always in front of the same dude. He was too kind. At one point he asked if I wanted him to take a picture of us at front stage. Then he handed me his card and said he took a couple with his phone too that he would send to me. I love concerts and the comradery that takes place there. I said it before music is good for the soul. LIVE music feeds the soul.
You had a blast Mai. In fact you liked it so much you wanted to go to see them again the next night. I was putting you to bed after the show and we were talking about the concert. I made the mistake of saying that I was going to see them again the next day. You wanted to go but it wasn't an all ages show. You. were. pissed. I mean full on throwing a fit pissed. "I WANNA GO TO SEE TEA PARTY AGAIN!" screamed in tears. The next day when I was at work getting ready to head to the show I got a text from Mommy. "You're daughter is very mad you aren't taking her to the concert tonight."
Here are a couple links to some people that caught part of the record store show on video. This one is kind of long but at about 12 minutes and 20 seconds in you can see you and I setup near the stage. You're all smiles flirting with the drummer, shaking you're little skull shaker. Too darn cute Mai.
Here is a better audio quality of two of my favorite songs by them; winter's solstice and sister awake.
I don't think I can impress upon you how much this meant to me. It was awesome to be able to experience a part of my old self with you and create new memories based on that. Who knows what music you'll like when you get older but I'll always have this special Tea Party with you my crazy little girl.
Love,
Daddy