The Happenstance

The Happenstance, which took place on Dec. 10, was an incredible experience. Lizmonster's band for the day called themselves Shatner Face. Lizmonster was amazed at the talent of her fellow musicians and hopes to play with them again in January. They all seemed to work together quite well. Each song began with someone playing a riff and then everyone else playing whatever they wanted on top of it. Their frontman took full responsibility for the lyrics, which he said he would jot down some notes for right before the performance.

Their cover song was "I Want to Hold Your Hand" by the Beatles. The third song of the set, 'Jackson Browne,' was the one that Lizmonster began with a chord progression on the piano that she made up on the spot during rehearsal. The others said it had a Christmas feel to it, which was appropriate for the season. About two hours before showtime, Lizmonster realized that during her "piano solo" a variation on Cannon in D would work well, but she didn't have an opportunity to try it with a keyboard. So she used her computer to figure it out, and the performance was the first time she actually put her idea into action! And for the final song, Lizmonster played her part as fast as humanly possible, to the point where people thought she was using some kind of special-effect pedal. It was so exciting to play the results of a day of random musical experimentation in front of an audience of friends and strangers.

Shatner Face opened the whole show at 9:30, and Jynx's band I'm Amazed How Long It Is was chosen to go last. In between the two acts they had dinner with N-Dawg and Beckinator, but their attention drifted off into almost-sleep around 11. Fortunately, the other bands of Happenstance brought them back to life. There was so much talent on stage in each of these randomly put-together groups!

Finally, I'm Amazed How Long It Is took the stage. They had some beautiful originals but what made them stick out most of all was their cover of Flight of the Conchords' "Too Many Dicks On the Dance Floor." Lizmonster was very proud of Jynx's keyboard and bass playing, although Jynx said Lizmonster plays keyboard better.

It was pouring rain after the show finished a little after 1 a.m. Lizmonster and Jynx said goodbye to Jynx's friends from Athens who had come to the EARL for the event, then headed back to Midtown.

All in all, it was an incredible day of music that Lizmonster wants to repeat again (unfortunately you can't do it two years in a row!). Jynx and Lizmonster spent most of it apart but it was great to be able to share the experience at the end and enjoy each other's performances.