Last Night on Pearl Street

The days have become hot which adds a certain mood to street performance. I’ve learned that when it is really hot, it is important to find some kind of shady, refreshing place with an oasis vibe. The tall pines on Pearl Street provide exactly the right spirit, it’s the Rocky Mountain version of an oasis.

Last night, Pearl Street was not short on guitar players. If you could freeze the moment and zoom around in it, you’d find guitar players efficiently spaced to cover almost every inch of audible space in an impressive example of self-organization. I like to visit and listen as I scout out a spot. One man was speaking poetry, possibly improvised, inbetween strumming single chords. His poem was about his dead children, he was speaking through their voice, and it was a little more experimental than I could comfortably experience in that moment.

I moved along and found a man in a green baseball cap playing the guitar and harmonica. We said hellos and I listened to him for a while, his music was beautiful. Harmonica is such a nice compliment to the guitar, and the sound travels a long way very pleasantly on Pearl Street. I have a harmonica that someone put in my tip jar, but for now I just whistle the harmonica parts.

Then there is the older fellow I see there most often, who was very kind and welcoming and gave me advice when I first started. We wave across the street at each other as I walk by.

I found an oasis spot and sat down, I had to recharge a bit from carrying my equipment around on the hot day. I played there for some time and met a man who plays guitar up in the mountains, like what I am planning to do. I finally updated my business card, and I’ve been handing them out.

As the day moved on, the sun was hovering just above the mountains and casting that perfect kind of light. I moved to a place where more people would pass me and sang my heart out some more. It’s a game of mindfulness, of being open to the moment, hearing everything in the music and the people. I know the spirit is right when people turn around to look at me sometimes after they pass. That spirit doesn’t always come about, it’s a game of hide and seek.

Last night, a group of friends came over to make a request and sing a duet. I sang Lost Boy with Rosa and her friend. Rosa sings and plays the piano and invited me to come jam if I visit someday. It was so good to sing together, it reminded me of my group that I was in last year. It made me feel like I am on the right path, I love the youtube videos where people passing by join in. It has the potential to be the kind of experience you remember for a long time. Creating a place where people can shine, there is no higher calling. I’m so happy to share these moments.

It also gave me an idea for the app, when people request a song they can also sign up to sing it with me. I have additional mics exactly for that purpose.

I’ve noticed that these moments are just more frequent during a sunset, that is easily the best time to play, the human spirit understands this on a deep level. I don’t often play then only because of the long journey home. Once I am traveling, things will be a lot simpler, in a way. I hope to play for as many sunsets as I can. That’s my official job now, to sing the sun to sleep. 🌇