The Face of a Minstrel

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There was an OryCon this year, OryCon 42. And they're taking a year off, a 1-year hiatus isn't a big deal when you consider 42 years without a break, including Pandemic Year, when it was virtual.

This made this our last chance to do a thing until 2023; seeing Alexander James Adams do his thing, which is a good thing.

The performance this year was a mild comedy of errors; filker Cecelia Eng and Alec appeared to be scheduled for the same space at the same time. In the spirit of full-speed-ahead that characterizes Pacific Northwest fandom, it kinda became an hour of Alec and Friends, and was no bad thing. Now, Alec lets us take pictures of him as he performs, which is totally generous. 

I got this:

This is not Alec mugging the camera. It is not posed. I happened to be pointing the camera his way and squeezed he shutter at just the right moment, and it's important to point this out because it expresses the way he approaches his performances and his life as a musician; all-in. Alec has an act, be he himself is not the act; that's real enjoyment, real emotion, 100% authentic; the expression of someone killing it at what they were born to do.

We've been listening and seeing Alec when we can for more than 30 years now. Watching him grow and develop during the years, even in our desultory way, is and will be the dearest of dear memories, for as long as we have lives to live.