The Yost theater. Quite the venue for my first California show. I had the pleasure of meeting up with a friend of mine before he performed that night and it was really the first time I had the pleasure to have a more personal and in depth conversation with him. He’s incredibly supportive and inspiring even though we are not that close. We talked of his successes and failures and the time spent on the road and how much of a toll it takes on you. Also we discussed my reasons for being here and how great it is I have the opportunity to do so. I’ve grown to respect him much more as a person just from a short conversation and the sharing of feelings that were had. After, we went back to the venue for his sound check where many jokes were had between him and the other performers. He introduced me to some of my favorite singer/song writers to ever live and though I was screaming like a little girl with excitement in my head, I kept my cool and the conversation casual. Thank god.

The venue for the show was, well… different. A great venue draped in red velvet curtains and light lowly with gothic lamps. The sound was on point and even better, they were trying to do a V.I.P. with “upgrades” to bottle service for $50-$100, to be served by the go-go girls dressed in corsets and short shorts. The bottle service was shut down immediately but every Emo loving kid in the place under 18 were in all of their pre pubescent boner rising glory. It was strange and I had a couple of good laughs over it at these poor girls exspense. The venue must be new to these types of shows, but over time I think it will be a top competitor in the area.

Going to these new places and getting to share it with these new friends has been the best part. To see them sing along to songs I grew up on makes me feel at home. The connection I’ve made with some are still fresh and the bond is still slight, but each day it’s more fun and the memories I’m making with them are ones i’ll never forget. 

At times things get weird, but I’m still figuring out what my place is here. I’m at my most vulnerable at the moment. Though well hidden ( I hope ) it’s true. I know I will, without a doubt be a part of the music and surfing cultures here, my question lies with, who will I become, and if I will inspire anyone, the way they inspire me. Either as a friend, a co-worker or a person in general I hope to do so. 

I have met a select few who have shared aspects of their lives and shown me things I would have never got to experience if it weren’t for their kindness. I’m most thankful for that. Anyone who can open up and share the world as they know it with me, I feel, deserves the same from me. Which is why I hope they enjoyed my little world last night. I nerded out really hard, sang along, clapped and even did a shout out request which got granted and performed perfectly. It was a lovely night spent with new and old friends that I’ll never forget. Things are moving along.