It’s not about the politics for me. It’s all about the beat.
Being of the male variety of the human species I get easily distracted.
You know, the “Oh look, shiny object” syndrome.
Of course the term “shiny object” is just a metaphor for a whole manner of visual diversions that will draw me off course; some of which might involve the female variety of the human species, which I will leave at that, given the wife person may be lurking on the interwebs.
But, it is not just the stuff I might happen to see that causes me to lose track of my intended activity.
If I get a good whiff of any of the three major food groups in the vicinity, it’s off to the races I go.
This would include pizza, chocolate, and beer.
There aren’t many auditory amusements that will stop me in my tracks any faster than the sound—and often a visceral sensation in the chest—of a substantially-sized, booming drum circle.
I admit it. I am a percussion fanatic.
Since I would make a lousy Blue Man Group groupie (no, I’m not going to take a bath in blue dye) I love me a good drum circle.
Luckily, the annual Whole Earth Festival on the U.C. Davis campus always has one, or more, drum circles that go on day and night.
By my count, it is made up of the 99%, hippies—young and old—that is.
But, that is not until May, so what to do in the meantime?
Well, if you want to go to one of my favorite places on the planet, aim your sights for San Sebastian, in the heart of the Basque region of northern Spain.
They are celebrating La Tamborrada on January 20th, which is advertised to be a midnight-to-midnight drum session in honor of San Sebastian’s patron saint. Also, there is mention of an homage to 19th –century maids who tapped on buckets while at the city’s well.
One YouTube video I found was a bunch of white guys wearing white outfits and tall white hats. Thank goodness they were not of the pointy variety. But, that is one helluva knife the bandleader is waving around.
If the drumming finally gets to be too much (blasphemy), the Lonely Planet announcement of this festival mentions,
“After two long and loud nights, you’ll probably appreciate some quiet time on the city beaches of La Concha, which are among the best in Europe.”
By “best,” might they be referring to what the women are wearing on those beaches…or not wearing?
Makes me wonder if this is one of the Lonely Planet guidebooks by that Leif Pettersen dude.
Now what was I supposed to be doing? Damn those shiny objects…
