I don’t know if tonight was the final night of the Luggage Store Gallery Music Series, which Rent Romus has run or co-run for the past 22 of its 30 years. I think there’s one more concert, on January 8, but if I understood correctly, there may not be, something about a possible cancellation, but I may have misunderstood. In any case, if tonight was the last night, it was a great one to go out on. Two bands, both trios, a musician shared between them, first on guitar as the leader, then as the youngest member of a group in which he played the drums. That would be Inkwells Trio (Lorenzo Arreguin, guitar; Elijah Pontecorvo, six-string fretless bass; Christian Arriola, drums) followed by saxophonist Romus’ long-running (since 1995) group with a shifting lineup, Lords of Outland (tonight: him; Ray Scheaffer, five-string bass; Arreguin, drums). Both bands played out, the Inkwells a loud jazz metal, with Arreguin calling out directions with a combination of cards and hand signals, and Outland a keening, spirited free jazz. The gallery building, here in San Francisco, on Market Street, around the corner from 6th Street, is due to be sold.
And the city smiled for its close-up on my way home:
Just stumbled upon your notes about this show and your blog in general-very cool little write up and pictures! Indeed, it was a fun night, and we’ll all miss the unique institution that was LSG.