More Falafel, More Music

I returned to the Flying Falafel for lunch yesterday, on a lunch date with my lovely wife. Parking on The Drag is never easy, and mid-day when it is 102 degrees is a added level of difficulty. We pulled into the small lot behind the restaurant, where "We'll tow your a**" signs were everywhere. Uncertain if this meant us, I wanted to check. On the sidewalk, I spotted the woman who served me my Po'boy last week, and I asked if we were okay parking in that lot. She said some unkind words about the landlord, and indicated that we better move the car. Her brother had just stepped outside, and he - get this - offers to move my car for me, to a safer lot next door. I hand him my keys, and voila, spontaneous valet parking! I already liked these guys after one visit, and now they are my new best friends. Would it even matter if he food stunk? Well, yes, it would, but we don't have to worry about that.

The Thursday lunch special came recommended by "Anonymous," so we split a large plate of Menssef. It was tender lamb, in a yogurt reduction (or maybe a strained yogurt) sauce with rice. It was creamy, and complimented the lamb nicely. I'll go back again, if you are in Austin, you should let these nice people make you lunch. Can't promise you the valet service, though.

Another in-store yesterday with Monahans, who got some nice press upon the release of this new album. Their previous stuff was described as "alt-country," but now I'd say they've gone heavy on the "alt" part of that. This is a band that has gotten to the chapter in their career entitled, "So, You've Realized and Accepted that Commercial Success is Never Going to Happen."
Very liberating, so now they seem to be doing what they want. They played about seven songs, and there was not a radio single among them. One guitar created a haunting hum, the other moved through rough chord progressions, and the drummer stood front and center, though only sang occasional back-up. It was good, and only one of the songs wandered so far afield that I got bored. Monahans is destined to be critically well-regarded, and commercially unviable; and they seem okay with that.

The wives and kids of the band members were there in support, and some of the kids were really rockin' out. The kid in the red shirt was doing a mean air guitar with the plastic toy in his hands, and the little girl was looking for a mosh pit to join.

Kids of all ages love live music.

Peace,

JS4