Yasuaki Shimizu @ The Great Hall

Yasuaki Shimizu was playing for the first time ever in Toronto the day before my birthday, so as a gift to myself I took a 10 hour round-trip in for the day(!)

To be honest, I've been feeling kind of depressed lately about getting older and the limits of what one is "supposed to do" with age. To see this 70 year old blast through a set that was so joyful and beautiful and weird was incredible; a reminder that so many barriers are self-imposed.

It was also a reminder that art at its best is transcendental - to have absolutely no clue where something is going and to be spellbound for it.

Before the show I wandered through downtown for a while, enjoying a million people to observe, going about their million lives. (I miss the city)

The Atrium @ The AGO, killing some time before the show

Visiting Manpuku, an old favourite. (Inflation has made price expectations funky)