How fun to do some quizmasterin’ at a new venue! Belmont Inn of course has my heart (and my lungs), but after tonight, I’ll sub for Mr. Dave at the Green Dragon any time! A healthy 53 people showed up for our rockin’ chick edition, which was slightly more than I’d anticipated. I had been told 8 to 10 teams so I didn’t even nail down a grading assistant and was just flying through a mountain of papers by the end, with the powerhouse Scooby’s Red Rocket winning yet another one. Y’all were so quiet! Maybe it’s that sweet Green Dragon outdoor air, but even with over 50 people I felt like you could hear a pin drop… or maybe I’m just used to the relentless, wonderful hootin’ and hollerin’ at the ol’ Belmont Inn.
Saw some awfully sweet old high school band photos, with various pub quizzers in different states of Oboe, trumpet and guitar array. Myself, I was a trumpet player—Oh yeah, nickel plated she was. I called her “Nickle” and couldn’t play her worth a lick (that’s a lie, the naming my trumpet part), but I loved her more than a cowboy loves his horse. Still have that little trumpet even thought I haven’t played it in years. Thing about a trumpet is, you can’t just pick it up and start blatting again after years away. It takes tremendous lip strength to make even coherent sound for longer than a minute, let alone Wynton Marsalis-like melodies. But I just can’t part with it. A part of me still thinks I’ll start practicing again someday and go on the road with the Rolling Stones as their jazz section. A guy can dream…
Cool crowd at the Green Dragon. Had to watch The Scorpions for team size and cell phone use, but they were honest in the end, just nice and drunk and fun. Cute gal on the end even offered to let me wear her pink hat, which I tried to do but it made my head itch. Nothing personal to the hat though (though I will be boiling my scalp tonight).
Also, had a couple folks comment on the rad National album I was playing. Check out the National’s Boxer for one of the best albums of the last several years. Seriously I am addicted to this shit, can’t get enough. And don’t worry, this soapboxing about cool music has a purpose: The National are even radder by way of the fact they are selling one of the coolest Obama t-shirts ever, based on their song, “Mr. November.” It simply says “Mr. November” and has a big ol’ shot of that beautiful man’s face. Clever clever! All proceeds from the shirt go to the Obama campaign too! Since when can you support Justin’s favorite band AND Barack Obama? Since now, Yo!
Rad “Mr. November” Shirt
Lovies, JWS