Northalsted Market Days stopped mattering as the final summer blow-out for me years ago. But this year's festivities ( Aug. 4 & 5 ) re-awakened my faith.
15 reasons why the 20th Anniversary fest was the best yet:
1. The Mighty Blues Kings looking savy in crisp double-breasted suits while inciting a big band hoe-down in the 7-11 parking lot.
2. Lisa Sanders' between-song patter about visiting the Lucky Horseshoe the night before.
3. Andrew Bird performing with the playfulness of a six-year-old who just raided the cookie jar.
4. Lots of yummy boys and girls ( big and little ) out, just enjoying themselves.
5. Tom Yore relishing the chorus of "We Make Love" with a lusty grin.
6. Sophie B. Hawkins throwing blue jeans into the crowd.
7. Kevin O'Donnell, smilingsmilingsmiling.
8. That Captain Morgan guy.
9. Safri Duo, the percussion/trance partnership from Denmark---looking exceptionally cute-andfriendly in that Europeon way while jumping up and down beating on drums and stuff.
10. Scott Free's ferocious rave up on "No One's Ever Been in Love with Me," especially on the last chorus when his lament for the lack of a boyfriend turned into a social/political statement.
11. Drag Kings running around loose.
12. Mark Watson singing "All Right Now" with the purest sincerity imaginable.
13. Judybats' lead singer Jeff Heiskell's rapidly blooming saucy queer attitude.
14. Nora O'Connor, Gregg Shapiro, Lee Kay and Patti Elvis' refusal to wilt in the heat.
15. All my tricks from the last two months looking sordid, unappetizing, and unworthy of my affections by the light of day.