the Roots, organ jam, and the Crazies

I went to an EPIC concert at the Jazz Festival and as per usual I couldn't take pictures, but there has never been a live experience like The Roots. They're Jimmy Kimmel's house band. I don't really know how to describe the genre - it's a little bit of hip hop mixed with big band mixed with awesomeness - but there's a little bit of everything for anyone to enjoy. On stage, there were 2 drum sets, a double keyboard-ist, a sousaphone who had more energy than anyone else, a BANGIN guitarist, a 5-string bassist, and their fearless leader on the mic. Evan and I arrived a little late, and therefore I was standing directly in front of 10 woofers stacked on top of an even bigger woofer. Evan had the sense to move toward the middle; I remained where I was and hoped the people in front of me would serve as a buffer for the extreme bass. EVERY time there was a low note my entire body turned to jello and I couldn't really move.

Concertgoers ranged from pre-pubescent boys trying to fist-pump with limp-noodle arms and older men in front of the woofers dancing with their ears completely covered to legitimate Jersey Shore look-alikes waiting for the PCP (popped collar police, duh) and fixing their hair every 5 seconds and drunk girls looking sloppy. Regardless, the guy next to me smelled/looked like he hadn't showered in weeks/months/years and his scent lingered on my jacket long after he had his (unwashed) arms raised at the concert. Apparently Canada has taken the European approach to hygiene - less is more.

We left the concert lifted and inspired, and headed for Hurley's/Brutopia for some Irish jigs and jam sessions. We got to Hurley's and the fiddle player was some random guy who didn't know the songs, so we left immediately for Brutopia and the organ jam. It was pretty cool.

We left for a minute to check out Upstairs but there was a cover charge if you weren't playing so we went back to Brutopia. Simon was there, and he decided he wasn't much into jazz and so I finished my apricot beer and we headed home to good old RVC to watch a film. Simon picked "The Crazies" and now Simon doesn't get to pick again.