#8: the best live music is underground

Somewhere deep in the heart of metropolitan Europe a streetlamp shines its circular beam onto the cracked sidewalk below. Just beyond this flickering glow, a jazz bar tucks itself away into the darkness of shadows, lurking quite deliberately free of any noticeable advertisement. Having to my recollection never previously entered this place, I find my inclination to tug so naturally at its door particularly odd. And especially given the aimlessness of my stride only moments before, to find myself suddenly at its front with a sense of purpose was, too, a bit mysterious. But in my experience, I’ve noticed what you might call a gravity being emitted from spots like this – a subconscious tugging at the lonely shirt sleeves of those passing by who secretly belong. So, after being drawn inside by the swelling of its intellectual heartbeat, I am unable to ignore this club’s intuitive beckoning and I descend into its subterranean divide.

A neon sign illuminates black and white legends along the steep stairway, and I take my time on each step to carefully admire their faces in frames. These stills capture individuals possessing an unmistakable sophistication – an image manifested by time, prowess, and intimate devotion. Their signatures are scribbled beneath typical notes, their penmanship seeming to take on the same frenetic style as their musical background. “Cheers, stay cool,” they say. “Thanks for the memories.”

My eyes pass slowly from one portrait to the next, imagining their raspy voices, firm handshakes, and laid-back attitudes. Awoken from this momentary miasmatic lapse by a crowd of impatient coughers behind me, I apologetically commence down the remaining steps towards the lower door. Perched atop a wooden stool, a female sitting there cross-legged sets down her paperback as we approach and stands with friendly authority. Her colorful tattoos poke proudly past the confines of her clothes, and her piercings number more than my years. Informing us of the live trio performing tonight, she extends a rattling blue top hat to collect our cover. Coaxing a few coins out of my coat, I toss the charge into the cap, smile, and continue on through…