I lost hearing in my left ear for nearly a week after I saw The Soft Pack play at The Ken Club in January.  It's my own fault for not wearing some sort of earplugs and for dancing up front next to the speakers.  Anyway, it was worth it.  It was my first time seeing them and probably my first time back to the Ken Club in over a year.  I used to go there for a spicy bloody mary and a quiet game of pool.  It was hardly recognizable that night.

People were packed wall to wall and it was a struggle to get a drink.  Something was different from any normal night at a ridiculously overcrowded bar, though.  There were friendly faces, smiles, and an all around good feeling was in the air.  There was buzz of conversation about when The Soft Pack was going on and really heartwarming stories about the band's once biggest fan, J.J. Orsborn. 

I didn't know J.J. but by the end of the night I got a feel for who he was through stories from his friends, each different, and each told with such fondness I truly wish I could have known him.  Very rarely when taking pictures do fans not mind being cut in front of by some tall blonde chick with a camera, but that night, people were pulling me towards the front telling me to get in front of them and take photos.  I felt like we were all friends, we were all there in honor of the late J.J., and we were all having a damn good time seeing The Soft Pack.

Check out my flickr page to see more photos from the night.