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I’m continually surprised at how much I learn with each band research field trip. On Wednesday Julie and I trekked out to the industrial area of Fort Collins to examine Post Paradise in pre-paradise practice conditions. Julie and I arrived a smidge early since we didn’t know where we were going. We decided that a band would likely load-in via the back door so drove around the building to the large garage doors. We were a little confused when loud mariachi music was playing out of the unit we were to be visiting. A minute later Nick, Amy, Mark and Chris showed up and quickly realized that their practice space had been double booked.  *big frowny faces*

So, a 6 pack was shared while listening to a Christian mariachi’s practice for about an hour. At 9:30pm Post Paradise rushed in and set up a surprisingly complex system with full light show in about 12 minutes.  Julie and I peppered them with 3 year old style rapid fire questions while they unpacked, plugged in and tuned up:

• How often does a scheduling mishap happen?
• Why are you laying out rugs on the floor?
• How long does this usually take?
• Why do you set up your full lights for practice?
• Are you comfortable leaving your equipment here and sharing with a band you don’t know?
• Do you have insurance?
• What’s a Direct Support band at a show?
• Why is your light making that funny sound?
• Why do you have so many pedals?
• Where’s the bathroom?
• How long can you rehearse before diminishing returns set in?

We were able to stay for 2 songs before I had to get back home to the babysitter. The mariachis had also stayed behind to observe, they’re mouths agape at the incredible musicality to which they were being treated.

Julie and I make for an odd band groupie couple as we bury ourselves in our iphones to document our experience. Julie tweets, I take notes, Julie takes a picture, I upload a video to Facebook, Julie and I bow heads together to discuss how easy it would be for a band to file LLC paperwork and so on and so forth.

Julie and I drive back to Cohere and sit in the car while it’s running. It feels a little like the end of a good date. We know we have to part but don’t want to so we stall by talking about the business concerns of baby Cohere Bandwidth by the light of my headlights reflecting off the building. I kind of want to make out with her–like in a I love my friend so much kind of way.

Julie and I have our 222nd date tonight to see Wire Faces, Post Paradise and A Tom Collins at Hodi’s Half Note. Wish me luck at my first intentional live music concert since 3rd grade.

Read all of the Cohere Bandwidth updates here.