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we stepped out of the van into the middle of the street. instantly my nose filled with the smell of fish wafting from the seafood store nearby. the archway to china town stood sollumly in the filthy street. we quickly strode into the tracadero theater, a rundown dark little hole of a building sandwiched between a chinese food resturant and an empty building. we had to step around two skaters as tehy sat in the doorway, obviously uncaring that 3 people had to find a way to squirm past them. we could hear the band playing as we entered the burlesque house of old. the burly security guard collected our money ($8) and quickly checked Pat over. we ascended the narrow and dark stairway and were greated at the top by mind numbingly loud guitar riffs and heavy drumbeats. there were all of 30 people in the small exotic room. the walls were lit by a soft glow and the burlesque theme had been preserved through out. the stage was a tiny pit in one of the shorter of the walls in the rectangular room. the whole thing about the size of a large living room. behind the band hung oriental rugs deep in crimson and yellows and greens. they were framed by blood-red curtains, dim lighting, and intricate woodwork. decorated by a lady in her unmentionables. of course we walked in during the last song and fear arose that we had paid $8 for nothing. the room grew quiet while the occupants grouped together and talked quitely amongst themselves. the back wall was enhanced by its large hole that showcased the inner wood frame and sheet rock. you could see the larger stage downstairs through an open door behind us that led to the balcony of the actual theater. the reunin show quickly cleared the stage as dynamite boy began setting up and tuning their instruments. checking for the right sounds, the right pitches. of course when they start you can feel teh sound waves in the air. every hair on your body stands up and every cell in your body vibrates to the low rumble of the bass drum. the smooth harmonies and guitar solos enhance the experience as you look back and forth at your twon friends. and youre glad that youre with them, your glad he invited you, and youre glad she came with you. when the music ends, and your body slowly comes down from the adrenaline, and the ringing in your ears begins to quiet, theres a sense of satisfaction. you walk back out into the noisy city atmosphere and wander through what you thought would be another world, but its jsut another part of the dirty city, unadulterated and raw. not at all what you had expected. and you find yourself at the wawa discouraged by that fact that in all of china town you couldnt effin find an egg roll.
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