How I spent my Boxing Day

My original intention on Boxing Day was to go celebrate Little Boxing Day in Little Canada (a suburb north of St. Paul). But as always, I live by the better offer club; meaning if there's a better offer, I'm going to take it. Turns out there was something going on at the Turf.

If you're wondering what exactly Boxing Day is, it's tough to explain. Not that the concept is too difficult to digest, but that there are many different explanations offered up for this post-Christmas holiday. My favorite is the notion that, in feudal times, servants were given the day after Christmas off, since they often had to serve their Lords or whatever on the actual holiday. But the twist is that the aristocrats would serve food and gifts to the servants. This may have more resonance for you if you remember episode #228 of M*A*S*H* wherein Col. Potter boosts morale on Boxing Day by having the officers switch roles with the enlisted personnel.

Anyway, I found it only fitting that my favorite barkeep from my favorite local establishment was playing in his band Landspeeder at the Turf Club. I've been trying to go and see them for months, and I was glad that it finally worked out. Plus, I had the added benefit of being in a position to buy a drink for my favorite server, just like Boxing Day. (Well, sort of like Boxing Day--without all the Master/Lord/Servant B.S.) It would be the server being served by the servee. It was going to be great.

I figured I'd grab a beer for him after the show. I caught one of the opening acts, Nic Garcia, who had some stirring songs. Low key, but it fit the mood alright. After his set, the typical shuffle of changing acts occurred, and then Landspeeder took the stage. Good stuff. Very infectious raucous material, and despite a few technical glitches, their set was great. The music that Landspeeder makes meshes perfectly with the Twin Cities sound--which is not to say it would get drowned out--rather I hope they will benefit by having like-minded/like-sounding bands for upcoming bills.

So I went up afterwards, and offered to buy A.J. a drink. The one thing I didn't count on, though, was the drink tickets that are customarily given to performers at bars. Dude already had his drinks and didn't need any more. I guess it's the thought that counts, right?

You ever buy drinks for bands? You run into the same problems? Alternately, how'd you spend your Boxing Day?

--

Brett Baldwin, Web Producer, Minnesota Public Radio
Talk about Minnesota Music at mnmusic.gather.com