Day 719 Badfish

 

If you asked me to go watch a band that would come onstage at 10:00pm, the answer would have been a quick no way, but there I was. Friends invited Tim and I to see Badfish, a Sublime cover band, at Paddy's Beach Club in Misquamicut, I was quick to say yes for the both of us, always up for an adventure. The bands drummer lives next door to my daughter so I've known him for years, about time I heard his band! The band is apparently very popular and tours all over the country so a chance to see them right here in my backyard made sense....at the time. Misquamicut is a funny place, the Jersey Shore of RI for sure and makes for the best people watching around. As we showed our tickets and walked into the beach bar, the bouncer took my friends ticket, calling her Mam as he did, not the vibe we were looking for as we tried to channel our twenty year old selves. Once inside we pointed out lots of other Mams to each other, identifying anyone our age or older, grasping at straws to not be the oldest two gals in the place. We sat at the bar, listening to the cover band, Dudemanbro, as our eyes were treated to delicious sights all around us. From foot high Mohawks, meticulously groomed to stand tall, to Lilly Pulitzer dresses and overly tattooed bodies, the mix was intoxicating (or was that the wine)? Just kidding about the wine, I had one can of red wine, yes, poured straight our of  a can, Tim had a red bull and vodka for a cost of $28...what?? Adding a $5 tip made the first round of two drinks enough for me to switch to water for the remainder of the night, still trying to figure out how all the youngsters can afford to party there? When Badfish finally came on stage at 10pm I was impressed, mostly that I was still awake to see it. Fridays are tough for late nights after a long week, but I made it. The band played, song after song I had never heard before, although everyone around me sang along as if they held microphones. Within minutes, I was probably high from the second hand smoke, joints being passed around openly, creating a thick haze of smoke that at times made it hard to see the band, even though I was standing in the front row. I haven't seen a haze of smoke during a show that thick since 1975 Eagles tour. My watch continuously alerted me that I was in a loud environment, interrupting my attention as the band played on. I stood at the very front for most of the show, before heading out of the open air tent to sit at one of the tables on the beach. Tim and I listened from our spot on the sand, ears and lungs happy for the reprieve.  Paddy's is one of the only places I know of that has tables right on the beach, might be worth a trip back for lunch once a few of the tourists go home. We made it home just after 1am, like a couple of hipsters, ears ringing, clothes wreaking of smoke and wallet a bit lighter but happy just the same. I'll be anxious to tell Scott, the drummer how much I enjoyed his band but that he's safe from this old gal becoming a groupie.