Griz In the rain

I take a deep breath of artificial vapors from my electronic cigarette and exhale as I look at my lack luster view of a boxing gym outside my Brooklyn hotel window. The weather beyond the glass was a direct reflection of how I was feeling at the moment, gloomy and grey. As I come to realize that the show can possibly be cancelled, I learn to accept that I might be staying in for the night.

My cousin was concerned about the weather in regards to how it was thundering and simply pouring outside. I understood why she wasn’t going and I wasn’t going to push much more after that.

Around 20 after 8pm, I set my walk route to the Brooklyn Mirage, and make sure I have all my necessities. My wallet, vaccine card, phone, battery pack, charger cord, gum, vape, extra money, fanny pack, I’m dressed and a hoodie? Ok, I think I’m ready to go.

“But are you really ready to go Danny? Are you truly ready to do this on your own? Are you ok? It’s raining, are you accepting the weather? Will you run into them? If you do, how will you react? How will they react? Are you ready, Danny?! Are, you, ready?”

I start to feel a caving pain in my chest as my stomach begins to what it seems to feel like lava bubbling up into my esophagus giving me unfamiliar feelings of heartburn. I try to catch my breath after I chug a bottle of water to keep whatever is leaving my body down. Is this what anxiety feels like? Have I been ignoring myself thinking well it’s ok, I get nervous on occasion and get over it. This feeling I couldn’t get over. What am I doing? Am I really ready for a solo show in Brooklyn? Can I overcome these nervous feelings and push through? Do I really want to do this? At this point I’m convinced this is no more similar to DC. So I went that direction. My stubborn mind tells me to get moving.

I took a joint, lit it beneath the misting night sky and pressed on. As the endorphins kicked in, the landscape of my surroundings reminded me of an 80’s action movie, all I’m waiting for is for Kurt Russel or Eddie Murphy to pop out from a bar spouting slick one liners after reigning victorious in a fight that is associated with the win. How fitting that my mind defaults to something that can distract me without worrying myself sick.

Attempting to not look like an outsider, I hid my phones navigation, and approaching the venue, the street was lined with food trucks for over a block. The neon lights buzzing, the clanking sounds of spatulas, tearing and crinkling of parchment and foil filled the air with the aromas of kabob, fried chicken, stir fry, and sweet snacks like a symphony of senses playing their opening song prior to GRiZ’s Rainbow Brain experience.

I must admit, GRiZ made sure his fans were dry, and provided us with complimentary ponchos for us. I walk through the damp paved line to VIP, and realized some things couldn’t enter the venue. My smokes and my sealed pack of gum were taken and tossed. I was pretty bummed out, but nonetheless, I accepted it.

The walk from entry to check in wasn’t much of a distance, but the process was professional. My ID, vaccine card and ticket were in hand. I’m finally here! The last portion was my wrist band and the locking phone case for an all immersive experience.

Speaking of the wrist band, I do believe the linking of a debit or credit card to the wrist band is innovative. By doing so, the prevention of digging into pockets for your form of payment, cash or loss of possessions is less likely to occur. But keeping it old school, I paid cash. I navigated my way through a labyrinth of GRIZ fans to make way in seeing the merch table. I was quite disappointed since there were no pins, tee shirts or other merchandising from his “Rainbow Brain“ album. But what they did have was a jersey, crop top, sports bras, rolling papers and a GRIZ branded disposable camera that cost $25. Lets hope development isn’t as bad as I think.

The opening artist, Notlö was a deep dark 140 BPM Dubstep female artist that threw ominous thumping tracks that hit harder than the rain that was falling. The further her set went, the higher intensity of the rain became. I’ll admit, I do not know who she is, but what she did in her set…… fantastic, even in the rain.

After the conclusion of her set, a “quick”restroom break was needed before the GRIZ set. In great hopes of a rainbow brain set was on the mind, but still felt the missing piece was out there feeling the same way. The thoughts whirl in my head as I wash my hands and the incense burns off the countertop ledges in blocking the smell of B.O. Why other establishments don’t use this? Not sure, but it’s pretty damn cool.

I return to center crowd where I befriended a group of solo people and the lights go out. The crowd erupts in excitement for the anticipation of the Detroit sax man! The fog machines make a laser haze as the bass, and synthesizers fill the air. The crowd is electric!

With each transition from his latest album, “Rainbow Brain”, I move to each beat, feel each note of the saxophone while the rain entrenches me and my new friends I’ve met that I dubbed “the solo dolo crew”.

I begin to explore each wall top, tower and overhang to view the stage in each area, but the view of the Manhattan skyline captivates me from here in Brooklyn.

Wow! What a spectacular sight. Prior to the shows end, the mist of fog covers the crowd once more and the sax man himself plays one final song, “Another World”!!!!! One of my favorite songs on his album.

In retrospect, it was a weird time, but was glad to had made it there on my own. Knowing I had the strength to do such things out of my comfort zone made me feel that I can do anything as long as I commit to it. Yeah, and do what is ok with you. I view the portion that is taking its place now, because it has no relevance to my current mindset. And to be quite frank with you. It was a pretty whack in taste of me. So yeah, that's a no for me dawg. Wish them well.. Keep moving forward.

But can we just for a moment talk about the vibe? It was awesome! Freaking fantastic, the music, the people, the lasers, the rain and the sax... god damn. What a night.

Now that my clothes are soaked to the skin, my disposable camera still in working shape, I took a few final photos and left one in the reel in case we ran into each other. That night I did not, but hoping we can capture a photo old school style when we are in another light together.

GRIZ, you made my evening and week so much better than you can imagine. I look forward to the next time you grace us with your sound in the DMV. Oh, by the way, These are the pictures that actually made it in development. Most of the others were too dark and didn't process properly. A shame they didn't come out awesome, but these did. Thank you SOLODOLO Crew.