https://web.facebook.com/mrbaxteria/videos/10156074016908440/

Aero is going back to the US. It is time. After writing, publishing and performing original music, he is going to take a hiatus from the local culture. But he mentioned that music will always be a big part of his life. The change of venue is also probably beneficial to his music since he will continue  networking with other creative minds.

Like any cultural observer, I would not let the opportunity pass me by. It’s like being in the cusp of something remarkable or transforming. When Newry asked me to come over  to the initial venue they booked I said yes. I hopped on my new Louis Garneau commuter to park and be with the cool guys. The atmosphere was electric. I mean that because when I got there, they told me there’s a change of venue. That means riding through traffic on a humid evening. Oh no! My traffic anxiety was strong. Aero was wearing all white, calling to mind the minimalism of a Japanese samurai master. He also bleached his hair while.

It was also a bike party consisting of Bacolod Fixed Gear and Pedal Community. Gaspar was there to ease my traffic anxiety. We zipped through motorists who were trying to beat the rush hour. All was fine until we passed by a road depression. RJ, our champion fixed racer pedaled trough the great downhill and uphill with the ease of a racer. My heart sank  when I realized the rest were a kilometer away from us. Roland pointed this to me and we could not stop laughing through the climb. We could not stop laughing at ourselves and it was great not to take ourselves seriously.

We arrived at Munchies drenched in sweat. Cold beers await us. The atmosphere was festive. Everyone was bumping fists, laughing and locking arms. Aero was already there with his DJ equipment. His rap partner was playing slow jams but we knew there would be live performance. Already tipsy from the drinks, I was just walking and rocking my body to the sound. Then it was time for the live performance.

There is something about a musical performance that is not staged for the big crowd. After all, the spirit of Hip Hop is in the streets, the ordinary people like you and me; the passion for what’s raw and real above the ego. And Aero delivered these sentiments right there! It was not just about him performing crowd favorites like Love  or Cold Beers. It is also about drinking from the moment. He was performing with us-not to us. There is that unspoken communion of music, feelings and also needs across human complexities.

We knew we needed that moment. In our times of great darkness, we knew we will need a crutch to carry us through peaks and valleys of the human condition. And we can look back to that night for inspiration. That’s why as an introvert, I can miss the good events and the company of amazing people. But the scarcity of the meeting makes it all precious to me.