For her birthday I told my girlfriend I would take her to New York for a week. As our departure time grew closer and we started planning a few of the things we wanted to do, a good friend of mine sent me a text that said, "Nil Lara 5/17 NYC - you have to go".
We arrived at JFK in the rain on Friday and instantly forgot everything we planned to do. NY is such a great place to be! It wasnt until the next day when we were sitting at lunch in SoHo/Greenwich Village with some friends when I remembered Nil Lara was playing that night! As I am google-ing Nil Lara on my blackberry, I reminded my girlfriend about the show. "Does any one know where the Bitter End is????" Someone at the table says, "Yeah, about two blocks that way." With a meet of the eyes, it was decided we were going. After a quick tour of a friends house we set off in hopes the show wasnt sold out already.
As I pulled on the door to the venue, the guy nearest to the door says, "We arent open yet." I look at my watch and notice there was only 45 minutes until the reported show time and ask, "Where do I get tickets?"
"Tickets for what?"
"Nil Lara"
"Oh. There arent any tickets. It's just the $10 cover and you're in."
I got really excited. We stood in line with maybe 4 other people for about 10 minutes and on our way in Nil was coming out. We talked for a few minutes, took a couple of pictures and I tried to convince him to come to California. I dont think it worked to well, but I had to try. Then we went inside. We sat about 10 feet from the stage and had a beer before the show. Nil came over to our table and wanted to see the pictures and we signed a scrapbook my girlfriend and I were making about our trip. Such an awesome guy!
He disappeared for a couple of minutes and then showed up on stage for an awesome set of old and new songs. Everything sounded great! I even called my buddy in California and let him listen in over the phone.
After the show we talked a bit and he invited us to stick around with he and his cousin and have a few drinks, but we declined to let him spend some time with his family.
I can remember walking through Tower Records in 1996 and seeing his CD cover in one of the listening stations, popping on the headphones to see what it was and then buying the CD. Since then I've listened to his CD countless times and said to myself "If he is ever in town, I am going to see his show." Ended up we were both in different towns and I saw his show.
Nil - Thanks for the memories, the pictures and great show!

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