Sitting in Charmington’s, a suitably titled coffeeshop on North Howard St in Baltimore, MD. I walked in with gleaming sunlight pouring through the windows. I noticed a man looking at the board of specials. I walked by him in an attempt to order some food, maybe glance at the display case full of bagels and other assorted baked goods. I look back towards the board of specials. That is when I realize that the man is none other than Doug Martsch, lead singer of Built to Spill, the band I came traipsing to Baltimore for. While I was preparing for a scalper movement in the hopes of finding myself a ticket to the concert, I see two band members right in my line of sight. Pretty amazing, right?

I will ask them for tickets.

I will ask them for tickets.

I will ask them for tickets.

Just as they are about to leave, I approach the door because it’s my last chance.

He has very warm eyes, which I remember from the first time I met him– back in 2009 in Williamsburg, BK– in front of the Music Hall. And that was pretty awesome indeed.

But now it’s encounter #2. And it’s for a greater cause than a mere shaking of hands. The goal is tickets.

I ask him for tickets.

I ask him for tickets.

I ask him for tickets.

He says I can be put on “the list” and I say “Okay. Do you need my name?”

He nods.

“Okay. I’ll write it on a piece of paper.”

He follows me to where I was sitting and I quickly leaf through the back of my stolen Moleskine notebook, looking for an empty page to tear.

I write my name and he takes the piece of paper.

We shake hands and officially “meet” for the second time. My heart gallops.

I can’t believe this is happening.

While I finish writing this, sitting at the very table from earlier, I notice Jenn Wasner from Wye Oak standing to order food. She then sits next to me, scarfing a healthy seaweed salad, as I find myself shocked and continuously pondering…

…where the fuck am I?