A few months ago, my boyfriend got us 4th row Herbie Hancock tickets on a Wednesday in March. I love a special date night. Time with my man, a downtown snack, and live music or dance is my kind of night. When showtime came on a Wednesday evening, Pittsburgh showed up with a bubbling excitement knowing they would be part of – help create – something special. Even with my anticipation of a lovely date night, my naïve self had no idea just how collectively special this experience would be. 

Was it so special because we’re in the middle of an accelerated shift in elevating collective consciousness? Is being at the moon phase transition from full moon to eclipse aligning our vibration? Is Pittsburgh simmering with creative energy to birth the next round of national artists that shift the direction of music?

Herbie Hancock’s performance – rather his facilitation of space travel – would point to YES to all these answers. His band walked out with a pride I imagine of Scottish warriors about to share their harvest. The audience answered with a readiness to go on the journey. All it took was Herbie walking on stage to embrace and harness all the appreciation and awe from the packed theater. His musicians set the tone. We responded YES. Herbie said let’s go.  

They wasted no time! Entertainment slipped away within 20 seconds as we realized this was a RIDE. There was nothing passive about sitting in our velvet chairs staring up at these musicians – RUNNING through all sorts of places – woods, ice caves, crystal havens, waterfalls, skating rinks, mountains – playing with each other. Each musician coming up with a new way to play….they were running in the way that they never could get out of breath – running and laughing. Not competing – but asserting a new idea and standing their ground until the others saw it, too. While we in the audience all hurry to keep up to even be able to see where they go. Some moves are certainly lost on us. Then they dance together and show us how flowers can bloom in the dead of winter, how we can pull a magic wand from thin air and start to draw beauty that we want to see that then transforms into LIFE in front of our eyes.

Herbie Hancock is 83 years old by the way.

Everyone walked out of the theater lighter, more free….even smarter. Pittsburgh gave a 5-minute standing ovation with people rushing to the front to shake Herbie’s hand. When he said, “Pittsburgh – you were the best crowd we have had on the tour yet. And you’ll probably be the best of the whole tour.” There was a collective swelling with pride that we were able to witness their magic and join in the journey.  Thank you, Herbie and musicians, for reminding me about life. 

About showing up. Being fearlessly myself. Being PRESENT.