Kind of cool.

June 2009, Noni's Bar & Deli 357 Edgewood Ave., Altanta. Love that place. Photo by: My second favorite latte monger.

This may come as a shock, but truth be told, Luis & I have worked together behind the scenes for quite some time. We work the middle now and again. We get stealth. I have come to call Luis many things, some explicit, some not. But most lovingly I refer to him as my mentor. What does that mean you ask? Basically, he’s the man. He’s the man I call when I hit the sides, need a hug, and/or a drink.

Before I worked for HaveYouHeard.net as the Live Sessions Coordinator, before Team Luis (the name, not the man), and what seems like an effing lifetime before I founded 4WH, I attended a Modern Skirts show at Smith’s Olde Bar with a couple of friends, post trainwreck relationship during my sojourn to the other side of the world. My friend Jorge got silly drunk. Our group decided to leave and take him home after the show ended. I walked out with them, but just as I was about to get in the car, I surveyed the situation and decided I was not quite ready to leave after all. I asked if it would be cool with them if I went back in, and they cheered me on as good friends do. I have to admit, it was the first time I was at a bar, never mind a show, alone in the A. I was still rather new to the dirty.

I slid up to the bar, a little slippery myself. Up came a blazing head of hair.

Hoffman: “Wanna do a shot?”

Me: “Why, yes. Yes. I. do.”

The rest is history.

We drank tequila. We talked. We laughed. He introduced me to a fine young chap named Phillip. We drank more tequila. We laughed a lot more. Anyway, I fell in love with the man in the vest, every inch of the fro, the curve of his grin, and those sparkling sea colored eyes. It took him a couple of years to introduce me to Luis, hmmm, but eventually he did, and I fell in love with him too. He bought me a PBR, but had me at hello.

Pop Death Squad's Big Trouble in Little Five August 2008

We have shared a drink or two. Last weekend, we shared the remaining drops of latte in a crushed Whynatte can on the patio of 529. We even kissed once, although he says it did not count, whatever that means. But this, my lovers, is our first ever official show together as presenters. On August 11, 2009, 4WH & Team Luis Present: How I Became The Bomb, Young Orchids, Sealions, and DJ Black Dominoes @ 529.

I cannot tell you how much it has meant to me to see those Pop Death Squad boys in the crowd as I announce bands at 4WH shows or to get a text from one of them telling me “great show” after the night has ended. I look forward to this show with Team Luis, not just because it is our first official show together as presenters, but because it means I will have the best in the business at my side.

I hope that everyone will come out and celebrate what we can accomplish when we support each other. If we want to make a contribution to the culture of Atlanta, to Atlanta’s music scene, we need to work together, just like the bands do. They share a stage, a drum kit, a bill. We share a club, a sponsor, a night. It’s all the same. It’s all about working together for the greater good.

If you think it’s easy being a girl in this scene, think again. Not so much. I have literally fallen apart after tearing apart boys twice my size in a parking lot. The other night I had some drunk guy, who has worked one of the largest music festivals in Atlanta since its inception, pushing me in the chest demanding I answer an incoherent question. All in a night’s work.  But fellas like Luis give me hope for the rest of the jackals out there. He is a gentleman, a bad ass promoter, a member of the nice mafia, and a friend.

I kind of revel in the idea that is it difficult to tell which shows are actually 4th Ward Heroes shows, because this show coming up is only our 6th! Bet you didn’t know that. I revel in this observation, because despite the downsides (Yes, I do realize there are downsides) it means that I, and to a greater extent we, are fulfilling the mission of 4th Ward Heroes. We are supporting the local music scene and the artists who make the music. This Tuesday, I get to stand at the side of someone who exemplifies this idea. Not in front of, not behind, but at his side. Kind of cool.

Much love, M!

Photo credit: Jesse Altman a.k.a my second favorite latte monger.