A Little Funk and a Little Rockabilly

What a wild twenty-four hours.

We were invited to go to The Ritz - a night club in Raleigh - with our friends Kristen and Scott. They had free tickets to see an '80's cover band, a '90's cover band, and...wait for it...intermissions played by Biz Markie.  It's okay. I had to look him up too.  He was a one hit wonder in the 1990s but took up DeeJaying and producing since then.

Lisa and I have never been to a "club", a place who's sole purpose is to put on music, serve over priced drinks, and be loud beyond the point of being able to hold a conversation.  It turns out Lisa l-o-v-e-d it. She looked fantastic and got into the sounds, the crowd, and the fun.  I did too - but Lisa owned it. She says it was her first time in 46 years being in a club but you could not tell by looking at her.

The first band was great - anytime you include a horn section it's going to be funky.  The second band needed a lot of help from the singers to their stage presence - meh, they only played for 45 minutes.  Biz Markie - I have to give him props - he killed it.  I really, really like the music he played.  At one point the African American rapper and DJ was playing Lynyrd Skynyrd in front of a mixed Southern audience of white people and black people- the oddity was not lost on me.

Twelve hours later we were headed to the Draft Line Brewery for the first annual Rockabilly Stomp, Pinup Girl Contest, and Antique Car Show.  It was outside. It was hot. It was a little zany. 

We love the Draft Line. Their beer, their owners, their atmosphere are a lot more in line with what I like in a place.  Plus it's kid friendly and dog friendly. 

Plus we were able to bring the boys with us and our friend Brittany and her daughter.

The Pinup Girls looked great - part Betty Paige, part American Graffiti, all sweethearts. 

The music was straight Americana; Elvis, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Stray Cats, Reverend Horton Hear - Nashville, Memphis, and a dash of punk rock. 

The summer is winding down. This was a fun way to exhale before the start of school and the fall.