I had another red letter day with one big disappointment. The first item on my agenda was Sing the Nat’l Anthem seated, kneeling, upside down, or sideways. This was a protest organized by violinist, pianist, vocalist, social activist, acro yogi, Melissa Tong. I did my part by pointing out that the original location was unsuitable and suggesting moving it Washington Square Park. This was of course a reaction to the NFL ban on players kneeling during the national anthem. My plan was to play it on the kazoo. I’m not very flexible and I didn’t want to get my clothes dirty as I had to look respectable immediately afterward. Yes Lena, I can look respectable. She always gives me a hard time.
I was spinning my wheels yesterday morning and it took far longer to blog than I expected. The upshot was that I lost track of time and didn’t leave myself a margin of error in travel time. That’s not a good idea when traveling from City Island on a weekend. It’s not a good idea when traveling anywhere by New York Subway on the weekend. First my bus was late. Then the trains ran slow. I got there almost 20 minutes late. I looked around and found Melissa with some friends. It was over; I had missed it. I decided to perform it solo. I took out my axe, my everyday kazoo, I forgot to bring my concert kazoo, no kidding, I have a high quality concert kazoo, but I always have a plastic kazoo in my bag. I then rendered a memorable performance of the Star Spangled Bannder featuring many of the same notes, not the high ones, of the version you are familiar with. I was playing kazoo, not singing, there were no words, but in my mind, I was playing the rarely-heard second verse. That was brave as I don’t know the second verse at all, just that it exists.
I suspected but wasn’t sure at the time, but this was the fourth anniversary of my meeting Melissa. She was in Sasha Papernik’s band at a show at Joe’s Pub. I rarely see her in person but she’s one of the most fun people on Facebook. I wanted to protest with her.
This was not a wasted trip as my next stop was to see The Kennedys at the North Square the restaurant inside the Washington Square Hotel, all of a block and a half away where they celebrated the release of their new album, Safe Until Tomorrow
I had never been to the hotel and even though I must have walked by it countless times; it’s been there since 1902. It was originally known as The Earle. As a residential hotel it was home to many famous artists. This is from their EPK.
Throughout the last century many celebrities made their home at the hotel which include Ernest Hemingway, Dylan Thomas, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Bill Cosby, the Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, Dee Dee Ramone, the B-52s, Albert King, Bo Diddley, Art Blakey and Dexter Gordon
I was doing merch so wanted to get there early. There was some confusion with the desk clerk. I asked where the show was and he said it was “up their” pointing to some steps but that “It’s closed now. It will open at 5.” I told him that I was with the band and asked where Pete and Maura were. He didn’t know and told me to wait till five. I sat in the lobby and some time later someone else came in asked about the show and the concierge gave directions and told her to go in. I did the same. The doors weren’t open figuratively, but they were literally; Pete and Maura were doing sound check and I went in. I was all set up on a riser in the back of the room near the host’s station. I had a nice comfy chair.
Soon after they opened the doors figuratively and friends started coming in. Let’s see who will no longer be my friend because I forget him or her. There was Fred & Linda, Gail, Brian, Ed & Melani, Michael, Barbara, Jill & Donald. Not bad as the room only has 30 seats. I was 31 as I was not at a table. The room is a restaurant and was told the food was excellent.
The first set was the entire album except for Midnight Train to Georgia which is too multi-tracked to perform live. The way Maura put it, Pete would have to be all the Pips.
The album is not only great, it will make my top 10 list. I think I have 15 albums on it now, but it is one of their most diverse. There are more political songs than they’ve ever done. Bad government has a way of leading to good music in response. The musical styles range from soul, to psychedelic, to Texas Two-Step, to anthemic, to lyrical. There’s even a culinary tip, Cayenne in My Coffee. I need to try that. I’ll do it when I finish this and eat. Maura is clearly learning priorities from me. Food is important.
The second set was all requests. They didn’t do mine, Sirens but they did end with Stand. I stood. Near the end of the set Willie Nile and James Maddock walked in. Willie had a listening party for his new album earlier in the afternoon. Gail went to that too. When Pete and Maura saw Willie they asked him to join them. They did Dylan’s Like a Rolling Stone. They didn’t see James till after the show.
I stayed late of course to sell CDs and schmooze. I give everyone else a chance before I talk to Pete and Maura. Not that I let that stops me from chiming in when I have something to say.
I didn’t eat at the restaurant, I’m a poor person, don’t feel sorry for me. I had one of my special meals. First I went to Pomme Frites for poutine. I don’t care what anyone else has to say, my dinner was better than yours. It’s not the best poutine in New York, that’s at the Mile End Deli in Brooklyn but it is the best in Manhattan. Then I went over to Cones from the best ice cream in the world. I went to Ample Hills the best ice cream in Brooklyn the night before. I’m spoiling myself. It was my first premium ice cream of the year.
This three-day weekend I made music twice, heard great music twice, hung out with friends twice, had fantastic dinner twice, had fantastic ice cream twice, and hung out with friends twice. I could say I hung out with friends three times but on Saturday my only friend there was Kristin and she was performing. I did get hugs each day.
I listened to a lot of music while writing this. It took me a long time to write, not sure why.
My Play List:
- Richard Ruane and Beth Duquette – Notch Road
- Oliver the Crow – Oliver the Crow
- Martin Swinger – Living Things
- Laurie MacAllister – The Lies the Poets Tell
- The Kennedys – Safe Until Tomorrow
Wise Madness 