The Blues

After spending over 60 hours in Wanchai working on the feature, I knew I needed a break tonight. Luckily, two former coworkers, Ms Lam and Ms Chin asked me to go with them to listen to some blues.

But it wouldn't be any regular bar/lounge we were going to now. Not with Ms Chin, whom I previously called the hippest/coolest chick I know, leading the way. She took us to this top secret barbership--yes a barbershop--that doubles as a blues joint two Saturdays a month. The place is literally an old school barbershop in the Ice Cube/Cedric the Entertainer style. Or if you've seen Gran Torino, the place that Clint Eastwood go to talk trash.

So we were sitting on stools and them reclining seats (where you're getting your hair washed) as this bad ass trio--two on acoustic guitar and one on harmonica--busted out mostly blues, with a bit of Beatles, Guns and Roses, and even legendary Hong Kong rock act BEYOND in the mix. Intimate atmosphere, good music, good vibes. In a barbershop.

A few interesting stories:

Ms Lam, who was in London a few weeks ago, did a group interview with Quentin Taratino on behalf of Beats. During the interview she twice tried to ask a question only for this British journo to cut her off. Now again, on her third attempt, she was cut off again. Right when she was about to snap, none other than Taratino cuts the journo off and said "hey, I think it's her turn now". And then they watched Inglourious Basterds together, the uncut version, not the one in HK where there were two cuts. Oh the editing room did a good job cutting it, most people didn't pick it up, but HK Mag's Tim Pritchard and I are too keen for that crap. We knew there were cuts right after the screening and asked the distributors about it.

And now, the second--AND GREATEST--story:

After the performance we stayed behind to talk to the band. The guitarist asked us how we knew each other and we told them we all used to work together. Immediately, the guitarists said "Oh. Your publisher's AN ASSHOLE".

I'm telling y'all man, NEVER IN MY LIFE have I wanted to hug a guy as much as that moment. But you know, I kept my cool, I gave him one of those Emilio Estevez "I approve" nod (like the ones he gave The Mighty Ducks)

I like that he's keeping it real. He met us for all of three seconds but he spoke his mind. You don't get that often. And trust me, we ain't the only ones who feel that way about you-know-who.

I go home and I tell my LA friend how stress/anger-reducing a night of blues can be. And he tells me this gem:

"Black people are so cool. When White people get depressed they give us this Marilyn Manson bullshit, but when Black people get depressed they give us the bluessssssssss"

I've got no words. He is uncanny.

The perfect line to end a good night.

Here is audio of the trio's music tonight, recorded and edited with the iphone...it starts with the Beatles, then some Sweet Home Chicago, then finally HK legends BEYOND.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mngTp_VJGk

Now...1200 more words to go. I'm at the part where Raheem just got his radio smashed, and he's about to go buckwild...which will end with him being killed by a White cop.

You already know what's gonna happen to the window.

Got some pictures back from today's Slam Dunk Exhibition.

Man... seeing all these fellow SD fans puts a tear to my eye. GREATEST COMIC EVER.

"Do you like basketball?"

"I love it. This time for real."