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Indigo SwingThey said, "You have a blue guitar, |
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Sunday, October 11, 1998
I was driving to Microsoft on Saturday morning, when I saw Bluejack, a block from my house, riding down the hill on his bike. I almost didn't recognize him for a moment, with his helmet on!
I wasn't going to the office to work; I was still blocked by some problems we discovered Friday evening. Instead, I wanted an email fix, and to update this journal! I had believed that my phone had been turned back on because I could call my own number from work and leave a message, not realizing that it was only outgoing calls that were blocked. So I'd been disappointed to still hear no dialtone when I got home late Friday evening.
Bluejack and I crossed messages in mail; he seems to be very busy! I updated him on what's been going on with me. I laughed when he said that he couldn't invite me over yet because his place was too messy; obviously he hasn't been inside my apartment yet!
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Getting this journal caught up on Friday and Saturday took longer than I thought. Finally I drove home to get ready for the Indigo Swing performance at the Showbox, a club downtown. I first heard this band at the Century Ballroom Anniversary party, back in February. I caught them in June, too! I had orginally not been planning on attending this show, since I thought it was likely to be too crowded and smokey for dancing. (Plus the band's tour is sponsored by Camel Cigarettes! Yuck!) But my friend Earl convinced me Friday evening: "Oh, when Lee press-on played there, the crowd wasn't that big! There was room to dance!"
I took the bus downtown. This is much the most convenient way for me to get to the Showbox; the number 10 bus goes right by it, I avoid parking hassles, and it's free because I have a pass. I knew I was on the early side, but I didn't know that there was an opening band, the Dusty 45s. They are a fun band, but more rockabilly than swing. The place was packed! I think I danced only about three dances.
After the opening band was done, the much-hooplah'd thousand dollar dance contest began. There were fifteen couples signed up, so they divided them into three heats of five couples each. Earl told me later that he was looking around for me and thinking we should have entered. We would have had no chance, but there were a few couples that we would have been at least as good as.
I think almost every dance teacher I've studied with in the past year was entered, as well as some amateurs. They played an Indigo Swing record for them to dance to, "Blue Suit Boogie". The third heat, there was suddenly no sound. Someone had spilled a drink right into the soundboard! So the guitarist in the band came out and played a solo version of the tune, live!
There was a "final" round of five couples. Three couples were prominent dance teachers: Hallie Kupperman and Loviça Callisti (my teachers on Wednesday nights), and two other couples. There was also a couple who I'm slightly acquainted with, who have moved here from LA recently, and one couple unknown to me. Again there was live music for them to dance to.
Because the judges couldn't make up their minds, there was a dance-off: Hallie and Loviça, and Keith and Jody. They huddled in a group hug, during which there must have been some quick discussion. When they started dancing, suddenly they started to switch partners! They had every possible combination, since all four can both lead and follow very well. The crowd was ecstatic, yelling, stamping and screaming. I think they ended up splitting the prize money four ways, which is the right way for it to go.
I had decided, during the dance contest, to leave as soon as it was done. By that time it was midnight! My feet were hurting a bit, sadly from standing in one place rather than dancing, and the smoke was getting to my eyes. Just as I was in the lobby on my way out the door, they started handing out tickets to come back free on Sunday evening. Since the band had no amplification on Saturday, they added the extra show. Score!
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The early part of Sunday was spent at the office again, processing email. Several of the lists I am on are going through an activity spike, so I'm getting a lot of messages. I drove over to Crossroads Mall for some shopping and a movie. I bought the book for my next bookclub meeting, Robertson Davies' The Cunning Man, as well as two by one of my favorite romance authors, Mary Balogh.
The movie was "Rush Hour," with Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan. I love Jackie! Chris Tucker was OK, too. But no movie Jackie has made recently lives up to his early work.
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Sunday evening I went back to the Showbox for the special added Indigo Swing show. I was actually pretty psyched! It seemed likely that the crowd would be a bit smaller than on Saturday. I was one of the first to arrive -- NPS (neurotic promptness syndrome) strikes again. Also one of the first to arrive was Rob, from Friday night. We actually chatted for quite a while. He's a construction manager of some kind, in town building a new, very spendy, candle boutique called Illuminations. I spoke of my recent candle obsession, which seems to be shared by the great American public, since candles and home scenting products are being sold everywhere these days.
Rob and I talked about leading and following, different dance techniques, and dance trips. He recommended that I take a trip to the bay area. Of course, I think this would be great! I was tickled when he said that he thought I'd be able to keep up fine with the San Francisco dancers. But I thanked him, since he meant only to compliment me, I'm sure. One thing that interested me: Rob used a lot of verbal leads, which isn't usual around here except for aerial steps. I do want to go on a road trip, but maybe it will be just to Tacoma or Portland before I go to San Francisco.
There was indeed a big crowd, but not quite as busy as on the previous evening. I think I danced most of the evening. I could dance lindy hop in a phone booth now; I got so much practice at dancing in extremely crowded conditions. The band was really great! I bought the CD on the way out. Adding up both nights, I was glad I came, though I'd been tempted to kick Earl's butt for convincing me on Saturday!
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