I was at the James Acaster Wax Trax Q&A … sort of

As an Acaster fan who lives not far from Wax Trax, I decided to walk over to the record store and check out the free Q&A before heading to a Super Bowl party (where I would ultimately watch my hometown team lose, but that’s another story).

I got to the store right around 1:30 p.m. — I was late because I was baking banana bread, as one does — and I encountered a line out the door, almost reaching the next block. I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised with the turnout, given the publicity of Acaster’s announcement.

The line moved quickly, until it became clear we were not all going to fit inside the store. Instead, Wax Trax employees brought out a TV and a couple speakers and told us we could watch the Q&A session from the sidewalk. Some people left after that, but I’d say most of us stayed. Even those of us who, like me, were too far back in the crowd to catch a glimpse of the screen. It was basically like listening to a live podcast with a bunch of strangers, and I actually had a great time. 

I stood for the almost hour-and-a-half show, which included Denver’s own Kalyn Heffernan of Wheelchair Sports Camp. The combo may feel random — and it sort of is — but Heffernan is featured on Acaster’s experimental 2023 album, “PARTY GATOR PURGATORY.” The pair talked music, comedy, mental health and more. 

I probably would have gotten a better view just waiting for the video recording of the Q&A to drop on YouTube, and I didn’t really get to see Acaster in person. But it was still worth it to go and stand on the sidewalk, shoulder to shoulder in a crowd, shifting from side to side to make sure my knees didn’t lock, because there’s something so lovely about laughing with a group of strangers about the same thing.