The cab took us down Seventh, as we watched the city-slickers cover their heads with their brief cases, and the mothers carrying groceries, holding the hands of their children in rain slickers and rainboots that look liked frogs. As soon as we stepped out of the cab,the clouds seemed to clear and the rain stopped. We waited in line to get into Le Poisson Rouge, which had rounded the corner of the block, and watched the passerby of beautiful young men dressed in their best "I'm not trying too hard, am I?" attire for the show. Once Bryan and I were carded, we entered a pitch black stairwell, accented by tiny red lights in the tops of the walls. The lounge was dimly lit as well, the center floor of chairs accented by candle light and mood lighting coming from the bar. I searched the room for a familiar face, hoping that someone I had seen before would pop up so we could hang out in a crowd instead of two lonely South Jersey college kids, but the only face that was recognizable was the artist we had gone to see, sitting in the middle of the dinner tables. He managed to sit in the perfect spot, all of the lighting accenting his place at the table. I watched as he laughed and joked with the people around him, never being bothered by the onlookers and the picture takers. By the time the opening act started he was gone, but a few short minutes later he re-appeared in the doorway, sitting on a large chair that resembled a king's throne. Things like that were strewn about the corridors and dark lobbies throughout the restaurant/lounge/bar. While Plushgun finished their set of europop-punk electronica songs, I watched Jay Brannan slip into the dark hallway.
About twenty minutes later they set everything up on the stage for Jay; two stools and a mike stand was all he needed. He entered the stage with his acoustic guitar and a bottle of water and sat right down. A few minutes of light talking and fan recognition, he played an hour and a half of some of the most emotional music that I have ever watched and listened to. Amidst the music there were stories and introductions, and I paid attention to every word. He was incredible.
After the show was over, Bryan and I decided to stick around and meet him. Bryan bought a CD, and I figured that if he was signing anything he could sign my 21 and up