Benjamin Francis Leftwich – Atlas Hands
We Were Promised Jetpacks – It's Thunder And It's Lightning
Far and away one of my favorite experiences has to be going to a bar by myself and listening to music. I'm not sure why I find this so cathartic. I think it's interaction deprivation coupled with sensory overload that makes me feel so good. There's just something about being alone in a crowded room that helps me clear my head and see things in a different light. My go-to soundtrack has been Bon Iver's Bon Iver, but I've also listened to Watch the Throne, and my Spotify playlist. I let my mood dictate the music and the setting.
Most people go out to the local watering hole to grab a bite, maybe watch the game, bump into a fellow barfly. I like all of this too, but there's something special about walking in with a set of headphones on and savoring a Jameson with whatever quiet you prefer. I feel like this somehow heightens the few interactions I do have. Relying on eye contact, hand signals and facial gestures to order another drink, signal a chair is open, close out a tab. Take of the conversation, and it all feels a little deeper. It's easy enough to tell a couple that the seat next to you is open, but to let them know with a smile and a nod makes the interaction a little more intimate.
I think another reason I enjoy this so much is that I've come to associate this activity with travel. Excitement and opportunities. It makes me think of the times I've spent sitting in an airport bar. Getting ready to take off for vacation, or a conference, or training. Kind of the calm before the storm. The last chance to steel myself before I take off on something new.
