By Ben Belden

Photo courtesy of the Artist
This is my time at Jessica Pratt. Hello … Jessica. Acknowledgment of the openers – Merce Lemon (I don’t not know how to pronounce Merce correctly … I believe). Ok, ok, ok … if you guys could bear with me here, it would be greatly appreciated. My brain has been on build, engineer mode for the past month. Honestly, I like build mode. I am like, actually, happy now too which is a strange feeling but cool, I guess. I feel my creative juices are dwindling (if they were even present in the first place). I used to be able to write, so this is my best shot at articulating my experience at Jessica Pratt. Saturn … cool venue.
If you are reading this, I ask (reader) for a favor. I want (reader) to think. Think of the most intimidatingly nonchalant person you know. Can you please do that for me?
Insert moment of silence while we dwell.
Sweet, are we good? I sure hope so, being “good” is a nice feeling, I guess. Ok, so that person in your head right now. The epitome of aura. The definition of relaxed. The person you are thinking of, yes, lets enhance that by … hmmm, say a couple (a bunch) of points. The result we get, Jessica Pratt.
Jessica is suave. California calm. A warm presence. Almost reserved. Observant. Beautiful, white hair. High protruding cheek bones. Black. Black clothes. The look of an indie queen. Throughout the experience, she sat. Her “notes” in front. Into her world. A simple aesthetic. With a saxophonist behind, a percussionist (also) behind, a pianist lookers left, and a bassist (I think it was a bass) lookers right. Sophisticated. Sophisticated was the intention. High quality music. Cream of the crop musicians. Relaxed. To say the least, it was a nice night. Intimate and warm.
My introduction into the world of Jessica Pratt was through another (oof, sorry). Another meaning ASAP Rocky. This immersion came from “HIGHJACK” (ASAP Rocky) in which Jessica is featured. The end of HIGHJACK is a dream, ascending, with Jessica Pratt providing angelica. Visualization … makes me want to reconvene. To apologize for everything. Lots to apologize for. Thank you Rocky and “HIGHJACK” for allowing me to become comfortable. Comfortable with Jessica. The proceeding months leading to Saturn (yes, the planet) had Life Is, World on a String, The Last Year, Moon Dude, Better Hate. It is better not to hate but sometimes necessary, I guess.
I could not tell you the setlist from last night. I can tell you it was nice. Sleepy. A wholesome feeling. I felt not anxious, but breezy and composed. Thank you, Jessica, for giving me (us) this feeling. Thank you, NY new friend, for talking nonsense with me in rain after. Talking Sonic Youth, Talking Heads, Ramones. This man is as NY as it gets, I was all for it. To reiterate, it was a nice night. Thank you.
Ok … this is much more to say but, for now, I am done. See you soon Jessica Pratt.