When our kids' favorite musical duo booked at show at Mattias' old stomping grounds, we got tickets right away. It didn't matter that the show was on a Sunday night, or that it was across the bay-- we couldn't pass up the opportunity to share a part of our youth with our boys. Mattias spent many nights at 924 Gilman, starting in middle school up until we finished high school. Coming back for the first time in over 20 years was surreal.
As we waited for the show to start, we squinted up at the wall listing all the bands that played here in the 90s. Buried between the green and blue flag in what seemed to be 8pt font, there it was: The Plumbers.
Music was a central element Mattias' youth. While he always did well in school, he was really driven by his love for playing the drums and guitar, performing, and organizing shows in our community. When his brother and another Cal student started a ska-punk band, he was all in. One of the culminations of their efforts (silkscreen printed patches, DIY CDs and all) was a show at 924 Gilman. We were sophomores in high school at the time.
The boys generally love live performances, but were extra pumped to experience a bit of their dad's past. We danced and sang for a few hours, visited the merch table, and even watched Alvin participate on stage. By the end, poor Anders fell asleep in our arms. After all these years we're happy that 924 Gilman still connects young people to live music.
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