While travelling in California, we landed in Santa Clara for two days in the Hyatt Regency. My friend wanted to attend the yearly Bay-Con - a bunch of crazy Science-Fiction fans meeting once a year for partying and panel discussions, showing off their fancy costumes and drinking a lot of alcohol. Not really my world, but it is quiet interesting for a while to observe the scene. Otherwise there wasn’t much to do in Silicon Valley. So I decided to check out the only bluesclub in the area,  JC’s Blues.

Unfortunately you can only get there with the car or taxi. Driving was out of the question because I wanted to have a drink and the costs for the taxi were horrendous. Oh well, sometimes you got to sacrifice for your fun.

I was pleasantly surprised. That night Kaye Bohler perfomed, a local singer. She did a great concert with great passion and voice. Besides a few standards - which she interpreted wonderful - she was performing her own songs, which I found great. The atmosphere was good and the people very open and nice. Although I came alone, I made contact immediately and felt very comfortable.

At the end of the concert I was invited to a BBQ-Blues afternoon show in the Old Wagon Saloon. I found that a wonderful idea and convienently enough a streetcar takes you from the Hotel to Downtown San José.

It was easy to find the place, but compared to Germany Downtown San José is practically dead. Before I went to my destination, I walked around a little bit and noticed some cafés and bars. Obviously they make an effort to make the city more lifely.

When I arrived my new friend from the past evening greeted me happily and sat me down on a table with around 15 people, not without introducing me. The people were all really nice and first I had to answer a million questions about Germany. Contrary to Frankfurt - where it can be really frustrating going out by yourself - in California it is no problem at all. Everything is much easier and normal. Germans always complain about the superficiality of Americans. But this “superficiality” makes it also a lot easier to make new friends. And so far I did not realize a lot of profundity in german bars also.

Ok, now the J.C. Smith Band. While Kaye Bohlen was singing a more mellow and soulful blues, this band was more uptempo and rocking. Actually I prefer the more melancholic and slow blues, but they were great. And the sun, the nice beergarden, the beer and cheerful mood made it even better. J.C. Smith has a strong voice and sings ballads as well as the fast tunes.

I was so happy to discover these gigs. They saved me from the ET’s and trekkies and I am looking forward to the next time.