art is the new religion: Feliz Navidad, part 1

I gave up many things when I moved back to Austin from San Francisco, including my hookups in the local music scene. Back in San Francisco, I usually knew - well in advance - all the concerts coming to town that I was interested in, plus I could usually procure entrance to these shows with an email or two and would follow up by posting a concert review on SFist.

Now it goes more like: "Oh that show is coming to Austin?? Tonight?? And it's sold out??? &%#@!"

Which is what happened to me when I realized yesterday that Jose Feliciano was playing in Austin at the One World Theatre that night. Longtime followers of this blog will remember that I've written of my love for Jose before; actually I tend to write about him in December of each year (2004, 2005), except for 2006 when he apparently slipped my mind entirely.

Jose Feliciano: 2007
This year's Jose-post starts with me realizing last night that he was playing two shows - one at 6pm and one at 8:30pm - and deciding that, even though he tours rather frequently, I'd better try to hurry up and see him while I still could. The One World Theatre is one of those fancy special events places where most tickets are likely sold to season pass holders, and since it was already Sunday at around 5:30pm when I started looking for tickets, no one was answering the phones at the venue or ticket outlets. Online, only the 6pm show was listed as being sold but tickets for the 8:30pm show weren't available for purchase. My last option was to go to the box office to ask if tickets were available, but that would require a 20 minute drive into the boondocks of West Austin in the 40 degree cold by myself, with the chance of being turned down once I got there.

So I figured, what the hell! And I jumped in my car around 6:30pm in pursuit of Jose.

The Quest For A Ticket
After I found the place, parked in the dark gravel parking lot and figured out which stairway lead to the entrance, I located the box office inside the lobby. The young guy working at the ticket window told me the 8:30 show was indeed sold out. Perhaps he inferred from my having made the trek all the way out to the remote venue, and requesting just one ticket, that I really wanted to see the show. He told me if I waited around he'd try to get me in. So I crossed my fingers, grabbed a $7 Dos Equis from the cash bar in the lobby and sat on a fancy carved wooden bench at the edge of the room.

I've gone to many, many concerts by myself, and despite always fearing that I stood out like a freak I usually blend in with most concertgoers in age and attire. Not so with the One World Theatre crowd I joined waiting in the lobby before the show started. Most of the esteemed patrons were in their 50's and 60's and were decked out in their Special Concert clothing which included silks, brocades, wraps, jaunty hats and leather jackets, and at least one pair of tapered leather pants.

After waiting for about 45 minutes, I returned to the box office window where Nate the ticket seller sold me a standing-room only ticket, which was a ticket-shaped piece of paper onto which he wrote "Jose Feliciano" and "8:30pm". He told me I wouldn't have a seat - I'd have to stand in the aisle - and that the ushers would point me where I should go. "Ask for Skyler," he said.

After a little more waiting, the crowd made its way up a narrow flight of stairs onto a balcony and toward the entrance to the performance area. The ticket taker smiled at me and asked for my ticket, which I handed over with a smile. He took one look at it and his face fell. He gave me a sidelong glance and asked, "How did you get this? Was it comp'ed? You're not going to have a seat, you know."

"Are you...Skyler?" He glared.

I answered his questions honestly and he barked at me to stand to the side while he saw to it that everyone else was seated. I stood exiled in the cold for about 15 minutes as everyone in their finery filed by with their friends and loved ones, clutching their season tickets in bejeweled fingers. I have to admit, at this point I asked myself how badly I really wanted to see this show, especially since it seemed dicey that Ticket Taker Guy would even let me in.

Luck, Be A Lady Tonight
Then I overheard TTG saying: "An extra ticket? There's a woman here who might want that."
And a woman's voice: "Really? Take me to her."

The crowd parted and a platinum blonde Texas Lady sauntered over, swathed in fur and dripping in gold. Ticket Taker briefly explained I was in need of a seat while Texas Lady gave me the quick once-over.

"Well fine," she decided, "It's already paid for."

"Thank you so much!" I blurted out and my eyes welled up, ever so briefly, at the kindness of strangers.

"Karma," she declared, and turned on her heel back toward the entrance.

We were swiftly escorted in to the tiny theater and I took my seat which was almost in the very center of the room, about ten rows from the stage. I felt a frisson of accomplishment, silently congratulating myself for taking a chance.

I turned to Texas Lady to thank her again. "Thank you so much, I really appreciate this," I whispered into the side of her shellacked blonde coif, and she replied, looking stageward as the lights began to dim, "Merry Christmas."

Stay tuned for Feliz Navidad Part 2, Concert Review.