So, Paul, one of the technicians in my group at RAL, said he is in a jazz band. I picked up on this and said "great, I would love to hear you play when are you performing". He thought maybe Friday night, although he would check. I said "brilliant". Now my idea of a jazz band is a bit like the Purdue Jazz band, or big band music... nothing too crazy. Anyway, he came back and said "yes", he was playing Friday night at the O2, a club in Oxford, around 10:30pm. That should of been my first red flag, but because I thought it would be nice to get out, I said "we're coming". Kirk looked into getting around and home from the club Friday night. Not so easy, but then Paul (not to get confused with Paul, Paul or Paul that I work with, but the first Paul, the good news here being over 50 and the memory is shot, I have a better than 50/50 chance of getting someones name right by just saying Paul) said he could give us a ride home if we could go the distance.
Well, that would be a challenge as I just worked my first 8 hour day, 5 days a week and was extremely exhausted coming home Friday night. Paul dropped me home after work and I was able to get a nap. Kirk was all excited about going to the club. Calling it a club should of been my second red flag. But what could happen...nice night club, sit, have a few drinks and listen to jazz.
I caught the bus to town, found Kirk at the War Memorial (this seems to be our meeting point, hope it has no significance) and proceeded to get crazy lost looking for Mario's, the pizza place close to the O2. I was getting a bit put off...did not want to be late as usual. Come to find out it was a blessing. After walking circles we found Mario's, long line,(more put off), and finally we got in and had a delicious pizza. Yes, we ate it with our forks!
I was in touch with Paul, who goes by "Buzz" in the band, on my cell. (I knew I would run into another Buzz...I left one behind in LaLa (West Lafayette), my mechanic, to have him replaced by the bass player...perfect, have not asked him if his last name is "Lightyear" -To Infinity and Beyond!).
We arrived at O2 and it was a rocking, raucous night club (I guess would be the best way to describe it). We checked my mink and Kirk's backpack with a guy with tattoos, nose ring, and ear plugs, and headed up to the second floor. It was a big open hall with stage and lights at one end and bar at the other, no tables anywhere. We managed to get to the bar, cheek-to-cheek and belly-to-belly. I ordered ear plugs and a water, Kirk had his beer. I was so happy we were late, do not think I could of listened to more than one band!
The place was packed and sold out. We maneuvered to the side of the hall where we found a few tables next to carpeted bench seats. With any luck, we might be able to sit. The crowd was swaying and dancing, but the band had not started yet. And the noise was already incredibly loud. Thank god we did not get here any earlier. Earplugs were a blessing. We ended up with a table and could almost see the stage.
The band started and it was a combination of jazz, dixieland, swing, twang, english drawl music. There actually is an old english jazz sound from the 20's that these guys are reviving, The Spasm Band was great. They threw in a stripper, washboard, tuba, and big mama for spice and the evening was quite entertaining.
We were lucky and found our coats and Buzz around 12:30 without a cell phone connection. I guess this is how we use to do it...better lucky than smart!
So, we went clubbing...hard to believe, but it was fun!
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