Memory Monday - B2C edition

As many of you know, my all time favorite band is Burlap to Cashmere. What? You've never heard of them?

Here's their myspace page, complete with a few songs for you to enjoy.

Back in March of 2000, Ronnie took me to a Jars of Clay concert. It was my first Christian concert ever. Before enjoying the sounds of Jars, a band came out with such a wonderfully unique sound that I was immediately hooked. Their masterful blend of Greek, Latin, and folk styles was so intriguing that I wanted to hear more, and kept thinking about them after Jars of Clay had come and gone. In spite of my paltry salary, I had to buy their CD.

Plus, the drummer was cute. What. I was 19. Give me a break.

About a month later, oh, the happiest day of my life up until that point arrived. I was working at the tourist information booth on the corner of Decatur and St. Louis, and I saw the guitar player crossing the street, then the lead singer, then the drummer. In my haste to meet them, I screamed "Are you Burlap to Cashmere?" The drummer turned around in the middle of the street and smiled, and motioned to the rest of his bandmates to come back.

I couldn't stop smiling as I was chatting with them, my new favorite band. They said they had just played a show at LSU the night before, and had decided to head down to visit New Orleans again. They were headed to find some food when I saw them. That day, I was working with a guy named Josh, who happened to have a camera with him, and captured the happiest day of my life up until that point. I love Josh. I sent them along their way to Rue Bourbon, and grinned for the rest of the day.

A little later, they passed by again. Be still my beating heart, the drummer came back up for another conversation, and waved the bandmates along. Alas, it wasn't to be.

Fast forward a couple of months, when I receive the heartbreaking news that they're breaking up. Nothing could have hurt me more. Thankfully, I started dating Drew a few months after that, so the heartbreak was lessened some.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago, when I logged on to their myspace page and saw that they're reuniting for another album! Could I have BEEN more excited?

And then, today. According to a myspace bulletin, they were playing a show tonight at The Bitter End in Manhattan. Of course, I e-mailed the two people I know in NYC to drum up support, Cuz'n Veronica and Becca, and both gave me vaguely positive responses that they'd be there. While I was at the hospital watching my baby eat, I texted Veronica to see where she was. "Home, why," she says. My heart fell, but there would always be another time.

Dirty liar, my cousin is. A couple of minutes later, as Drew and I were leaving the NICU, Steven Delopoulos, the lead singer of Burlap to Cashmere, calls me from Veronica's phone. I had a hearty laugh and a good long conversation with my favorite artist in the world. It's nice to have your favorite artist in the world be so accessible.

So, Veronica wins at life. She's the best cousin ever (with apologies to my other favorite cousins) and Burlap to Cashmere is the best band ever. I can NOT wait for their new album.

I loves my cousin!