We know D.C. Get our free newsletter to stay in the know.
[MEDIA=2]
Subject #2
Laura Harris
Filmed November 28, 2007
Black Cat
Washington, DC
Laura Harris, 25, is a drummer for Benjy Ferree, the Aquarium, and is a student at the Corcoran School of Art. When not pursuing an aesthetic lifestyle, she is a devoted employee of the Black Cat, Washington, D.C.’s premiere independent rock venue.
Though I had seen Laura perform with the Aquarium numerous times and admired her explosive drumming from afar, I first spoke with her at the Black Cat in 2006. I had gone to see a friend’s band on the club’s backstage and, much to my dismay, found the vocal audio signal mixed too low for human hearing. I glanced to the back of the room to see if the sound engineer would correct this sonic issue. Unfortunately, no sound engineer was present. I walked to the mixing board and contemplated adjusting the faders myself to boost the vocal level. I was staring at the mixer when Laura appeared unexpectedly.
“Don’t touch the mixer,” Laura warned.
“I wasn’t going to touch the mixer,” I replied.
“Are you sure?” Laura queried. “You looked like you were going to touch the mixer.”
“No, I wasn’t going to touch the mixer,” I repeated. Laura disappeared into the depths of the Black Cat to continue accomplishing Black Cat-related tasks. Once she was gone, I contemplated the depth and breadth of the lie I had told her for the remainder of the night and much of the next day.
In the filmed portrait above, Laura is enthusiastically breaking down boxes, a regular part of her nightly Black Cat routine.
This isn't a paywall.
We don't have one. Readers like you keep our work free for everyone to read. If you think that it's important to have high quality local reporting we hope you'll support our work with a monthly contribution.