When you walk into a cafe, what type of music do you want to hear? Totally subjective, but we all have our preferences. You want smooth jazz, urban bluesey sounds, ’90’s Hits (what I refer to as “Dental Office Music”), classical, international randomity (like you would find in CD form at grocery store registers by Putumayo); the choices are endless.

Sometimes you hear something that makes you want to sit down and note the artist and stay awhile, sometimes you walk in the door, hear soprano saxophone by Kenny G. and want to turn around. And sometimes there’s just this vibe about the place that makes you want to cop a squat and never leave till you have exhausted your wallet and are vibrating with caffeinated exuberance.

That. That is when you pull out your notebook and jot down who you’re listening to. Notebook? Pen? What year IS it!?!? Whatever your means of note-taking, there is this intrinsic feeling of “Ho my god…who IS this!? I need to hear more of this artist.” Funny, I’ve had that happen a few times.

One major time I recall was a looooong time ago, in a city far, faaaaar away…

Downtown Chicago. A little joint called the 3rd Coast Cafe. Awesome. I spent so much of my time there as a youth, drinking way, waaaaaay too much coffee, doing homework, spending time alone, or meeting up with pals before going down the street to Oak Street Beach.

Yes, beach. In Chicago. Fight me.

So this cafe had an eclectic mix of tunes pretty much at all times. One time I went there they were playing some “alternative” music. I was immediately like “Wow! What is this sound? Who is THIS!?” Having been going there weekly for so long and having a rapport with the waitstaff, I inquired, mouth agape at what my ears were witnessing. Waitstaff going around asking who put what on the stereo. Yes. Stereo independently operated and jukeboxed by the staff.

“It’s…Daft Punk.”

“…Who dat?”

And thus began my lifelong adoration of their music and being filled with wonderment whenever I would hear them out in public and not just on my own home stereo. And now it is 28 years later and it is over. What to listen to in cafes now?

Yeah, I guess it’s back to the home stereo. And the espresso machine to quell the sadness of their departure. Raise your demitasse and pour some out for Daft Punk: 1993-2021.