Lost in the Heat: A Day in the Life of a Wandering Session Drummer

the sun was already beating down when i rolled into town with my sticks and a suitcase full of dreams. it's 22 degrees out here, but feels like 21, so basically perfect weather for sweating through your shirt while hunting for a gig. humidity's low, which is great because my cymbals don't slip as much, but the pressure's sitting at 1015, so i can already tell the air's gonna feel heavy by sunset.

first stop: the local dive bar everyone says books live music. i heard from a guy at the gas station that the owner's a total softie if you catch him before his third whiskey. so i showed up at 3pm, sticks in hand, and pitched myself like i was auditioning for a lifetime supply of tacos. he laughed, said he'd think about it, and handed me a warm beer. classic.

later, i wandered down to the riverfront where the skateboarders were doing kickflips and the street artists were tagging anything that didn't move. someone told me that the best coffee in town is at a place called "the grindhouse"-apparently they roast their own beans and the barista once turned down a record deal. i didn't believe it until i tasted the espresso. legit.

if you get bored, orlando and miami are just a short drive away, but honestly, this little spot has enough weird energy to keep you busy for days. the locals here don't sugarcoat anything-overheard a couple arguing about the best taco truck in town, and it got heated. turns out the one on 5th street has the best al pastor, but the one near the train tracks has the spiciest salsa. choose your fighter.

i just checked and it's still hovering around 22 degrees there right now, so pack light, bring water, and maybe a hat if you're as bald as i am. and if you're a musician, bring your A-game-this town's got ears that know the difference between passion and pretense.

for more on the local scene, check out tripadvisor's guide to live music venues or yelp's top-rated coffee shops. and if you're into street art, this local blog has the scoop on the best murals.

anyway, i'm off to soundcheck at the dive bar. fingers crossed they don't hate my double-time shuffle. catch you on the flip side.