I was crossing the plaza-like space between 16th and 15, JFK Blvd and Market St. (does that plaza have a name?) when I heard loud rock music coming from somewhere. It was cold. The temperature was 20-something and there was a bad wind. Who was playing outside in this weather?
Combo playing rock music yesterday at 15th and Market, 5 pm.
I looked around and found people staring down at the 3-piece band playing on the concrete slab (what must have been envisioned as a picnic area?) just next to the SEPTA escalators down to 15th St. Station. The music was basic chords and rhythm — it was dance music and people were dancing. It wasn’t real polished. But holy smokes–a free concert right there for the Friday night commuters–great! Many stopped, looked, swayed or danced a little and then (like me) smiled and left, too cold to linger.
I crossed over to City Hall when I heard a long-haired 30-something on his cellphone saying with annoyance “You shouldn’t play out when all you know is power chords!”
