And It Starts Sometime Around Twilite...

  

 As I first opened my eyes that Friday morning, excitement loomed large within in me for what lay ahead that evening- Dinner out with my lovely wife, followed by us meeting my B-I-L at Twilite lounge to see Jake Paleschic Band perform.  The workday dragged like a dead decaying body roped around my breaking neck. ...What I mean is, it was a rough day. When midday finally arrived, I opted to eat my lunch in my car, as to not allow anyone to interrupt my precious 30 minutes of solitude. Sitting there, in my sweatbox of a truck, my only comfort was The Ticket blaring through my subwoofers. (I swear, Danny Balis sounds like Leonard Cohen to my customer abused ears most days.) 

The second leg of my shift flew by surprisingly fast and I found myself flying down the highway, from Irving to White Settlement, to pick up my boo. With Memama, (what her grandkids call my wife’s mother), settled in at our house to watch the critter and my wife looking ravishing, we set course to one of our favorite spots in Tarrant County, Spiral Diner. I stuck with my typical order of their fantastic nachos. However, my cheese drenched fingers and stretched-to-the-limit stomach, were not enough to squelch the envy brought on by my wife’s order- the new Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese. …Droooool… Oh, well! Next time. It was time to head to the venue!

With Jake Paleschic starting at ten thirty, we very shrewdly arrived at around nine thirty.

At one point we contemplated popping into Collective Brewing Project before heading to Twilite, but in retrospect, I’m glad we didn’t.  To my surprise, and great RELIEF, there was plenty of parking around the venue. Nothing makes me happier than NOT having to wander round unfamiliar streets in the dead of night searching for a place to park. Kudos to Twilite for having an actual parking lot behind the building that’s lighted and everything! As we walked up the sidewalk to the entrance, I couldn’t help but be mesmerized by the beautiful blue and yellow neon sign. I felt like a bug being drawn into the good times of the new haunt. The large door drew open to the lounge and instantly I felt at home. Everything from the friendly demeanor of the doorman and lovely waitstaff to the decor on the walls, all served to foster a warm and inviting vibe. As a result of our wise call to get to the venue early, we were able to secure a great little half circle booth right in front of the stage. The B-I-L and I both ordered their famous frozen Irish coffee, (w/optional extra Jameson floater, cause why not?!), while the wife opted for them mint mule. Once our drinks arrived, “BOOM”, (in bald Mike Sirois voice, of course!), I was hooked.

The band came out and the sound was fantastic. The place had the acoustic integrity and aura akin to a band, settled into an old worn out couch, inside a solid garage, with moving blankets on the walls, while playing for their loves. I’ve seen Jake live before, and while he and his fellow players always put on a solid show, there was something different about this lineup. With Matt Tedder on guitar to Jake’s right, the wholeness of their sound was completely captivating. Matt is a phenomenal player in his own right, and the two of them together is really something special to behold. As the women of the bar began dancing without care and the bar had hushed and gotten drawn into musical performance, I couldn’t help but be thankful I was there to be

a witness.

I realize that recent shows I’ve attended, like The National or Jason Isbell could make this show look like a just a minor affair, but when a set from some wonderful local artists, comes together perfectly with the right crowd in an intimate setting such as Twilite, it is really something special. The night began to winding down and midnight had snuck up on us. Alas, the time to leave was nigh, so my tired wife and I drove home to the little munchkin. It was a very pleasant night at the Twilite Lounge, and I highly anticipate my return.