Five Points about Columbia

Actually, this is about Five Points in Columbia. Just off to one side of the University of South Carolina campus (Go Gamecocks!) is a part of town where several major roads converge. The traffic is nasty. The side streets are tight. The parking is atrocious. So like non-conformists everywhere, the resident fun people decided to take this area and make it their own. There are concessions to crass commercialism. The Starbucks is a case in point. It holds a prominent position in Five Points, just above a plaza with a fountain. This was the site of this evenings festivities. Dexter Freebish, Pause for Effect, and Maywater were on hand for a free concert. One of the local radio stations was set up. Columbia's Budweiser distributor showed up with a white Chevy pickup pulling a beer trailer. They seemed to be doing a brisk business. A sweet young thing--one of many in attendance--wandered through the crowd dispensing Jell-o shooters. And a good time was had by all.

The concert went from 6:30--10:30. I was there from about 8:15 to 9:00 looking for a parking place. If it had been urgent, say something like a parking place and a potty, there'd have been plenty-o-trouble in Five Points. Thankfully, all I needed was a legal space in which to park. Judging by the signs, Five Points prides itself on its towing ability. After I parked, I wandered around the concert venue. There were young couples out with their kids. There were younger couples out with each other. And there were even younger kids there from college. If there was anybody my age there it was probably either the double amputee dining at the waste bin outside Eckerd's or a lecher ogling the babes at the concert. We squared off but I ceded the field to him. I have to get up for work in the morning.

Pause for Effect has a definite Dave Matthews thing going. Dexter Freebish were more rockers, with the guitarist employing quite a bit of effects in his sound. Their bass player was thumping on a couple of Tobias rigs, so I really enjoyed that. Of course, had I not been snaking a parking spot from a laid-back local, I'd have been on hand to check out the PfE guys' rigs more closely. snap.

I have the free local paper, so we'll see what's going on tomorrow night.