"I'm Italian. It's never too late for coffee," I assure her with a wink, leading the way towards a café I like just a few doors down from Keynote. "Plus I have to take song requests by drunk people for three hours. It's always easier when I'm properly caffeinated."

After opening the door to usher her inside, I step into line and glance at the menu, though I have it practically memorized by now. I glance down at my watch again, and then over at the case that she's clutching to her chest. "After this, we can head over to Keynote. It's early enough that we could probably get a jam session going, if you want to play together."

It isn't unusual to find a motley crew hanging around the bar before opening, all of us drinking and fiddling with our instruments. "I've got the piano, and Natalie plays the violin. She'll probably be around."