21BLACK at Rock City

Finally made it over to Rock City Bar! I've been hearing so much about this new bar and have been wanting to go check it out. I've even heard it called the next TacoLand, though I don't really think there will ever be another TacoLand. Oddly enough, as we walked in and went up to the bar, the first word I heard, from a patron sitting nearby, was "TacoLand"...kinda weird, ain't it?

Anyway, Rock City is a cool place. Nice setup, very clean, great service. Weird half-manikins on and behind the bar. Decent-sized clean bathrooms (always a plus!). Definitely we'll be going back there. (Two suggestions: bevnaps - I like my beer wrapped - and Woodchuck - Staci loves that stuff.)

(It's not that easy getting a picture of black on black)

As we went and sat down, 21BLACK was finishing up a song. We cracked up as, between songs while Miguel was tuning his bass, Robert started playing "Dust in the Wind" and then "Stairway to Heaven" on his guitar. "Stairway to Heaven" turned into a little short jam. This became a theme of the night - after that, every now and then Robert would throw in a little "Stairway", even using it as a lead-in to "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," done in 21BLACK's blues rock jam style. You also never knew when he was going to throw in a lick or two from "Voodoo Chile" in the middle of a song. Or play a phrase from "My Woman of Tokyo." Or segue from "Mustang Sally" into "Superstition." Robert is a very talented guitarist and is definitely the showman of the group. Leo on drums not only provides the great rhythms but also the between-song banter and promotions. Which reminds me, congratulations to the couple who were celebrating their 10th anniversary - 10 years and still at that phase where they want to grope each other on the dance floor! Très cool.

We hung out for that set and the next. Heard some great songs. Santana, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Los Lonely Boys...they even did "Low Rider" - awesome mix of songs!

Around midnight, we decided to start heading back toward my side of town, and on the way we dropped in to pay a short visit to our friends The Groove Movement over at Crabby Jack's, catch their last set. They sounded great as usual! Jordan Slaughter from 51 Acres was there, so we talked to him a little. (I didn't know Adema was going to be at Wordstock today or I would have planned to go! 51 Acres, Desdemona, Cinderleaf and Adema for only $5!)

Great night, and the drunk angry bunghole who smashed the terra cotta ashtray on the wall, spilling gravel and ashes all over the band's equipment only put a slight damper on the evening (the band might feel a different way about that!). I hope he cut himself.