Story by Jeffrey Howard.

I ventured out last night by myself. Granted I do that pretty much all the time but last night seemed different somehow. At least it started out uncomfortable.

I heard about this band called Humbert and the description I read was "looks like Korn, sounds like Weezer". Talk about an odd comparison. It definitely peaked my curiosity. Also playing was Cider, a local poppy-rock band I've been meaning to check out for some time so I headed downtown after dinner with my family.

I didn't know anyone at Sapphire. It was a different crowd, it being a Friday night and not really an "indierock" showcase. I used to go to shows for years in this town by myself and it never bothered me. I'm a pretty solitary person by nature. I don't do well in social situations. Ask anyone who has ever been around me. Me have a conversation? Ha! I'm much to shy for such things. I was sitting there on the steps waiting for the bands to start. It didn't seem to be happening anytime soon and I was feeling more and more alienated so I took off walking down the bustling nightlife of Orange Avenue, not really for people watching but for my routine of wasting time. I checked in at Harold and Maudes. No one I knew was out. I passed all the other nightclubs with their beer girls and karaoke.

Twenty minutes later I made my way back to Sapphire where Humbert had began playing. Those guys are really odd. I could start with their looks. It's my opinion if you have a band that plays out live then have some kind of onstage fashion cohesion. Dress nice for goodness sakes! Like I said they were allegedadly "Korn-esque looking". I can sum it up in one word: sloppy. One of the guitar players had long dreads along with his outfit consisting of a wife-beater, floor length skirt, topped off with Converses. Someone call the fashion police and take him away. The main singer had a growing afro. The third guitar player was a giant compared to the badly dressed lead guitarist.

As far as their music I was disappointed. They do have a couple of catchy songs that are rad. The rest, however, dragged along too much. Why three guitarists? Count 'em: one, two, three guitars onstage. Not even keyboards for balance. I'm sure they could do more musically..... The last song with the clarinet and polka drum beat didn't help their cause. It was really out of place and left me scratching my head. On a side note one of the Humbert guys has a solo project and what I've heard is pretty nice. Just for the record I'd go see Humbert play again.

The next band was called Cleanser. I could tell right away I was not going to like them. They were setting up and they had these prickish looking guitars. I couldn't tell you what kind they were but they were newish. They looked like pricks, too. Frat boy muscles, ponytails, etc.. What I'm saying their whole demeanor was prickish. I had to leave. After two songs I did.

Once outside I did another walk around. Someone cruising down Orange Avenue was yelling out my name but I couldn't tell who it was. I gave them the devil sign. I know I'm going to find out who it was months from now. I followed some goth kids around the corner to Barbarella. Telephone was playing in the open air stage area. Phil saw me so I hung out at the street corner until he left. I went back to Sapphire to see if that band had stopped playing. They hadn't so out the door I went. I walked some more and found Rence, who was wandering around aimlessly too. He left as Panera Peggy came walking up. I ended up hanging out with her and her friend (I forget her name cos I am soooo bad at remembering) at Harold and Maudes until 3 am. I wanted to see Cider but I was having a good time with the girls. Cider will have to wait.

Writing and photos are copyrighted by Jeffrey Howard. Please don't display them elsewhere. Thanks.

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