So, people kept talkin’ about the Griswold Inn, right? Like it’s this legendary spot for entertainment. Historic, they said. Authentic. I’m always lookin’ for something real, not that manufactured stuff you see everywhere. So, I figured, alright, let’s give this Griswold Inn entertainment thing a shot. What’s the worst that could happen?
I drove out there. Wasn’t expecting a rock concert, obviously. But I was curious. The place itself, yeah, it’s old. Like, really old. You can feel it in the floorboards. Found the spot where the music was supposed to be. And let me tell you, it was packed. People were crammed in, all sorts. Young, old, in between. Looked like a scene from a movie, almost.
Then the band started. And it was… well, it was definitely music. It wasn’t a slick, polished show. Not by a long shot. Think more like a bunch of talented folks in a very, very old pub just letting loose. Some songs everyone knew, belting them out. Other tunes, I’d never heard of ‘em. It was loud. It was lively. It was… a bit chaotic, in a good way? Maybe?
There was this one fella, clearly a regular. He was singing every single word, knew all the harmonies, probably even knew the band members’ birthdays. He was absolutely loving it. And watching him, I kinda got it. This wasn’t about being a spectator. It was about being in it. Part of the noise, part of the history, part of whatever that feeling was in the room.
I didn’t stay all night. Truth be told, my ears were ringin’ a bit, and I’m not as young as I used to be for that kind of sustained… enthusiasm. But walking out, I thought, “Okay, that was something.” It’s not my every-Friday-night kinda thing, you know? But I understood the appeal. It’s like, they’re not trying to be anything other than what they are. And in this day and age, that’s pretty rare. Made me wonder, what does “entertainment” even mean anymore? Is it the big flashy stuff, or is it just people gatherin’ and makin’ a joyful noise in a place that’s seen centuries of it? Probably a bit of both. But the Griswold Inn, yeah, they’ve got their own little corner of it figured out. It’s raw, it’s real. And sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.
