Judge Jules at the Roxy ‘v’ Joshua Panda at the Skinny Pancake
One of the aspects of business travel that I love, is the opportunity to go to places you would never normally go and do things you wouldn’t normally do. Whether that’s visiting Ben and Jerry’s first factory, playing golf in the desert, eating some weird local delight or sampling Lithuania’s finest tipple.
I have managed to get into a few great musical events on the road, the two best being Judge Jules and Joshua Panda.
I saw Judge Jules at the Roxy in New York. Saw is probably the wrong word – heard is more accurate. Busted some great moves there – yes sir, though didn’t have any of the diving lights that were the fashion of the day.
Last Feb I was in Burlington (Vermont USA) delightfully stranded in a snow storm that deposited 18″ of snow and brought Burlington to a halt for several hours! As my hotel didn’t serve lunch, I ventured out into the storm armed with my trusty brolly to seek some local delights at the recommended Skinny Pancake. The Pancakes were great, the people were polite about the brolly (‘you’re a Brit right? Thought so – it’s the brolly’) and there was a tempting advert for the gig that night – Joshua Panda.
Having decided to lose the brolly, I struggled back through the snow later that evening for an amazing night. Most of the audience seemed to have come on skis and Joshua took us on a great run through some great cajun funky blues. The whole place was having a great time and there were so many little things that made it a great evening; the music, local brews, many Yee Ha’s, the celebration for Veronica who had just got her leg out of plaster and so could now have a shower and let’s not forget the pancakes.
Different experiences; neither possible if I hadn’t been travelling; both special memories. If I had to pick one, it would be the intimate experience of the Skinny Pancake and music of Joshua’s Panda.
So if you are in Burlington and fancy some great music and a pancake try Joshua Panda at the Skinny Pancake. If you can’t make Burlington, buy a Joshua CD and make your own pancake party. It will be fun.
