A Man's Gotta Eat (Open)

Shades was a great hang out, especially if you were into the blues or jazz, there was simply no getting around that. No matter the occasion Ambrose enjoyed it here. There was always good music, the bar was well tended with an inordinate amount of care and a certain amount of flourish. The club was a decent size, not small but not huge, it was often a bit on the smoky side but he enjoyed that, it added to the intimacy and the atmosphere.

It was the music that had brought him here tonight. Shades almost always has live music rather than a second rate jukebox. While Ambrose wasn't famous or even particularly well known outside of very specific circles he was talented and had landed a rather 'at will' kind of gig here. If he gave a few days notice he could play a set or two without question. Granted the fee was nominal, more of a gesture than anything but he did these gigs just because he wanted to. Ornery, stubborn and taciturn he maybe, prickly Belle called it, but he did love music and playing here let him play for the love of the music.

He'd played two sets tonight. Both had been a bit of an odd mix of things some B B King covers a spin on one or two Billie Holiday tunes, he'd experimented with some newer stuff in terms of Kenny Wayne Sheppard and of course he'd played his own stuff two. Ambrose had written a couple of songs that had been recorded by The Moochers, one of which had been a minor hit. He'd worked those into his set as well as trying out two that he'd been working on. One had fallen completely flat, much to his annoyance, but the other had been moderately well received. He'd need to tweak it more, but performing it in front of an audience had given him some direction.

Done playing for the night he'd found a place to sit, a bit off to the side, out of the way and towards the back but where he could see the stage and keep half an eye on the evenings closing act. He'd signaled a server and been brought a whisky and a beer, the bartender did know he's preferences. For now Ambrose was content. One or two people came up to say something about his performance, but not many and he was fine with that. He was half heartedly hunting and didn't much want the distraction. Granted he'd never even consider grabbing a bite while -in- Shades, but maybe following them to the parking lot and talking them into a cup of coffee. Yeah, that he could do.