What has Blogging Done for You Lately, or Bonerama Rocks!
Mar 2nd, 2008 by Nola
When I started blogging just over a year ago, I had little expectations of what it’d give me. I began for one purpose: to exercise my writing muscle. From that perspective, I have met my goal.
But something happened along the way. I found that I began to look at the things that I do in my day-to-day world through a NOLA lens. I’d think, can I find this store (be it Nor-Joe’s or Angelo Brocato’s) or this event (like Mardi Gras and City Park’s Storyland) anywhere else? Usually, the answer was no. And I took on an even higher appreciation of my city.
That was all fine and good. But the next thing I knew things had taken a turn, a turn had you told me it’d have taken I would never have begun blogging. Had you said, “you will start to meet other bloggers,” I would have been turned off. I am not one to “meet someone through the internet.” And I could never have envisioned me wanting to meet other bloggers in “the real world.”
Never say never, right?
Last night, we took Sun to my cousin’s, and CS, Pete and I headed to Rock ‘n’ Bowl to see Bonerama and meet fellow NOLA bloggers Stacey and Leigh (and Leigh’s husband, Dan).
When we arrived, we realized the folly of our plan: Pete and I don’t post pictures of ourselves and we have only seen very small pics of Stacey and Leigh. We thought we’d spot Stacey straight off selling Bone merch, but we didn’t. Finally, I worked up my nerve to approach a woman and ask, “Are you Leigh?” And she hugged me. Then we all had a good laugh about maybe bloggers needing a secret handshake or something. Then Stacey walked in with the merch and everyone was introduced and spent time talking like normal folks.
Then the band started. How do I describe Bonerama? To begin with, they are a trombone band. Four trombones, a sousaphone, guitar and drums. Their first song lasted 20 minutes. I thought that’d about do them in—all that blowing. But oh, no; they were just getting warmed up. Their collective sound is really unlike anything I’ve ever heard before: it’s smooth and silky; it’s jazzy and energetic; it’s polished and refined.
Then they played Led Zepplin’s “The Ocean.” I swear one of the trombones “sang” the lyrics. I couldn’t take my eyes off them. I am not musically inclined and will not be able to do justice to what my ears heard and my eyes saw. What I can say is that I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I couldn’t believe that it had been since before Katrina that I’d heard live music (I know–from NOLA and not seeing live music could get me deported).
They also looked really good:
And now that you can’t smoke where food is served, Rock ‘n’ Bowl’s smoke-free environment was just a delight. It was liking seeing an old friend. She was mostly unscathed by Katrina and looked like she always looked–funky and very un-self-conscious.
I hope that this is the first of many Bonerama gigs I attend with other NOLA bloggers. So, thanks, blogosphere, for a truly unexpected gift.
The band sound just magic !
Oh how killer awesome is that!! A trombone band playing “The Ocean”??? I played trombone in middle school. If someone had taught me some Zep tunes, I might still be playing to this day. And brilliant idea about the secret handshake. You create it, I will help propogate it.
That sounds like soooo much fun. I really do have to get back to NOLA! It’s so close, you’re only about 5 hours away. I like the secret handshake idea too.
I was so glad that I got to meet you guys!! I wish that I had more time to talk, next time we will have to meet where it isn’t so loud.
OH and Mark does play the vocals on the Trombone during the “Ocean” Someone played it for Robert Plant and he LOVED it. YAY!!
I’m so jealous! Though I have to say, Keith Urban playing a set of songs about 15 feet away from us was a little on the supremely cool side. I hope I can go next time, and maybe by then, actually lift a bowling ball. If not, I know I can lift a drink and make fun of other people bowling, so there’s always that.
Sooo jealous! Promise if I ever come to NO, you’ll give me the grand tour?
Isn’t it wonderful meeting fellow blogger in real life? I remember having my first get together and being more than a little nervous, but we turned out to be great friends in the end.
You did a great job describing the band. I was almost there
Woohoo! So glad I was able to get together with you and yours, as well as Stacey and Pete. It IS a total gas getting together with other NOLA bloggers! I did have to convince Dan that, no, meeting other bloggers was NOT a pretext for dragging him to Rock N’ Bowl and yes, you existed, because I’d talked with you on the phone. I figured, at the very least, you’d give me a ring.
Got to do this again very soon.
How fun!! I like the secret handshake idea too!
I hope I can attend an event at Rock N Bowl some day! Glad y’all had so much fun!!
Sounds like an awesome band & a wonderful night! How cool to meet some other bloggers IRL! I loved Rock n Bowl, and now that I’m a non smoker, I’d love it even more!!
[...] And once I drop her off, I have about 30 minutes of unadulterated radio time. And my latest fix is Bonerama’s “Bringing it Home” CD that I bought from a certain merch chick (thanks for the recommendation, Stacey, I LOVE the CD!) this past Saturday night. [...]
So glad you liked Bonerama! They are the best band and the nicest bunch of guys ever! I am sorry I missed you! Talk about bad timing! See you at the Bone show during Jazz Fest?