The Big 3-0

When I think of Jack London, several images come to mind: childhood adventure stories, books about dogs, overly long and dramatic descriptions of mundane things, wide open wilderness, freedom and its price...

I don't think of Oakland.

But that's where the gods put Jack London Square. I had to do a little research to figure out why. 30 Google-seconds later, I learned that he was raised in Oakland. I had always associated him with San Francisco. Or Alaska. Or the ocean. But Oakland? Home of Al Davis and the Black Hole? Land of the snot-colored A's? The adoptive city of Tupac?

O-town, bitch!
D.Jay Lundin Squizzle.

I'm so street I bleed asphalt.

Jack London Square is the home of Yoshi's, a sushi restaurant and jazz club. Because, like London, when I think authentic sushi and great jazz, Oakland is always the first city that comes to mind.

Yoshi's was featuring Taj Mahal, and that's where the wife, a few friends and I spent Friday evening. I had first seen Taj Mahal perform at a concert 10 or so years ago. There were some great performers, including Blues Traveler, but Taj Mahal made such an impression on me that I remember little else of the show. I immediately went out and bought a cheap 'best of' album, and it's one of my favorite discs to this day.

The seating in the jazz club was quite intimate. While we were seated on the side near a wall, we were only 3 rows back from the stage - close enough that we could easily hear his off-mic musical direction.

If the Taj Mahal trio comes to your area, I would highly recommend checking them out. If you're already a fan, you don't need me to tell you. If you've never heard of him, give him a chance. It's not like buying tickets to the Rolling Stones - you don't have to decide between good seating and your children's education.

Did that last paragraph sound like a book review on Reading Rainbow to anyone else?

Anyhow - Happy birthday, Robyn! I hope you enjoyed the show.