A couple of weeks ago, on a Wednesday evening, I invited my bandmate Robbie over to my apartment community for a rehearsal. We’re in the process of getting ready for a few gigs we have coming up, including two at Lavender Oaks Farm in Chapel Hill – which, if you haven’t been, get there while the lavender is blooming this month!
Penny’s Bend, performing in April at Habitat for Humanity of Orange County’s High Heels and Hard Hats Fashion Show at the Rizzo Center. (Photo by Cesar Carrasco)
A little background: We are Penny’s Bend, named for the nature preserve along the Eno River. We cover a wide range of artists, from Amy Winehouse and Beyoncé to Patsy Cline and Kacey Musgraves. I sing, and Robbie plays guitar and mandolin.
It had been a long day for me – a long week, in fact. With several deadlines looming, I was putting in some intense hours. I was exhausted, but knew that a rehearsal would make me feel better. Music is definitely a form of therapy for me. We normally meet at Robbie’s house, but I thought it would be fun to mix it up and take advantage of the common areas in our building. Downstairs, we have two conference rooms, a kitchen and several sitting areas. And then there’s the pièce de résistance – the rooftop terrace featuring comfy sofas, dining tables, and TVs in indoor and outdoor spaces.
I let Robbie into the building, and after grabbing a couple of beers from my fridge, we headed to the rooftop. As we exited the elevator, I said, “It’s so beautiful. And for whatever reason, it’s always so quiet. I have been spending so much time here, and I hardly ever see anyone.”
Famous last words. We cracked open our beers, and Robbie took in the view. The rooftop terrace overlooks Durham Bulls Athletic Park, which was hosting a college game that night. But there’s so much more to see off in the distance – Duke Chapel, rolling hills, passing cars on 147, downtown neighborhoods, the American Tobacco campus and a gorgeous sunset. It had been warm that day – 87 degrees – but the evening air felt comfortable, helped by a gentle breeze.
Just then, a group of about six people appeared. After some introductions, they told us they were planning to watch the Carolina Hurricanes playoff game. “We were just going to have a little band practice up here,” I said. “But we can relocate if that will interfere.”
“Not at all,” they replied. “Practice away.”
A few more minutes went by, and a neighbor who I was chatting with just the day before arrived with his husband, sister-in-law, brother-in-law and some wine. They had just come from dinner at Mothers & Sons a few blocks away. We all started a conversation, and I looked up a few minutes later to see that my husband, Patrick, had joined us. He had finished up his dinner at The Wine Feed around the corner. (We love their wine, but don’t sleep on their food menu! By the way, Penny’s Bend is playing at The Wine Feed’s Rosé Fest on May 18 from 3 to 6 pm, and tickets will be available at the door.)
The Last Word cocktail.
Dan, our neighbor, was discussing cocktails when I mentioned that The Last Word and the Hemingway Daiquiri were two of my favorites. He wasn’t familiar with those. Patrick, a seriously skilled home cook and bartender, headed to our apartment a few floors below and re-emerged with a cocktail shaker and some coupe glasses. “Here you go,” he said to Dan. “The Last Word. Try it.” (Cocktail lovers: Google this one from the Prohibition era, featuring gin, green chartreuse, maraschino liqueur and fresh lime juice.)
I checked the time. It had been an hour since Robbie arrived, and we hadn’t played a single song. “Ready to get started?” I asked him.
So, while a growing group of neighbors chatted and enjoyed a cheese plate that someone brought, we had an open rehearsal. We vetted a few new songs. We passed around a sample set list and let the group shout out what they wanted to hear next. When our neighbor Michael asked if we ever cover Fleetwood Mac, we figured out “Dreams” as best we could on the spot. It wasn’t half bad – I think it’s going on our list!
At about 10:15, after the Hurricanes had secured yet another playoff victory and Penny’s Bend had thoroughly tackled several new songs, the crowd dispersed. Robbie headed home. I hugged many of the neighbors I had just met.
As Patrick and I were getting ready for bed in our apartment, we reflected on the night. He said: “If only the staff in the leasing office had been here to see that, to capture some of it for social media. That’s what they’re trying to sell.” Did I mention that I didn’t see a single person snap a photo of our impromptu gathering? People who had just met, engaging with each other without screens? A magical evening, indeed. Did we just time travel?
In my last column, I said: “When you build a life of flexibility, as we have, you’re free to follow your whims. Meet a friend for a spontaneous happy hour. Go for a hike on a weekday morning. Relax by the pool on a Monday after work.”
And, yes, you can even enjoy a pop-up concert while sipping drinks on a rooftop on a Wednesday night.
After a decade as an editor with various NC magazines, Andrea Cash launched her own creative services company, Andrea Cash Creative, in 2017. She helps small businesses and organizations in Durham and Chapel Hill with content strategy and creation, branding, PR, social media, and video and event production.
Andrea is passionate about community building, doing work that benefits the greater good and helping entrepreneurs grow their business in a purposeful way. Outside of work, Andrea sings in her cover band Penny’s Bend, plays tennis as often as she can, volunteers with Habitat for Humanity of Orange County and Book Harvest, and runs communications for grassroots progressive group FLIP NC.
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