The Sea the Sea Earns an A

Yesterday was a full day, I made preparations for moving, went to see the sensational The Sea The Sea, had a chance meeting with a friend I haven’t seen in ages, and got tsuris from the subway and a restaurant.

Maybe I should just write the opening paragraphs from now on instead of writing entire entries. This entry is fighting me. It’s after 4 PM and I’m just getting to the second paragraph. I moved downstairs where there is air conditioning but that means more distractions and the Mets on TV. I will get this done. Then I can put it on my list of accomplishments I make for therapy. I don’t have self-esteem issues; it’s to make me realize I can overcome the anxiety.

Beruthiel is leaving today so I went over yesterday to get the keys and last-minute instructions. Now I know about the Wi-Fi, garbage, laundry, and mailbox. I have to pick the date, but I think I’m going to host my birthday party there. She has a load of musical instruments people can play.

I thought I’d go home first but there wasn’t time and I headed into Brooklyn. My original plan was to go to Trader Joe’s and Mile End Deli for the best poutine in the City, before the concert. I walked to the 4 train, I love that I can do that, to get to Trader Joe’s. One train, no buses, and I’m in Brooklyn. That’s the height or luxury, if things work the way they should. They didn’t. At Bowling Green, the last stop in Manhattan, and the last before I get off at Borough Hall, we were told it was the last stop for the train, period. The ceiling collapsed in Borough Hall. Nobody told us what to do, but I knew. I walked to Rector Street to get on the R train and took that to Court Street, two stops. That still took significant time. I think perhaps I should have walked to Whitehall Street. Wouldn’t make much of a difference.

After Trader Joe’s I saw I didn’t have time for Mile End or any sit-down restaurant. I decided to walk to the next stop on the R and get something fast near Littlefield, the concert venue. As I neared Jay Street I remembered that there was a wings place right across the street from the subway station, Buffalo Boss, I wanted to try; that was perfect. I’d get wings and fries and eat them on the train and after I was near the venue. Doors were at 7 and the music at 8. It was 7 when I got to the place, Buffalo Boss. I ordered the special, wings and fries and figured I’d have plenty of time. According to the receipt the order was put in at 7:07. I didn’t get the food until 7:27. It wasn’t that it was busy. Nobody was getting their food. There was no explanation what went wrong and no apologies. When I finally got it, I went to the train and had to wolf it down. The trip was only a few minutes, I finished the wings sitting on a little wall near the venue. Wolfing down is not the best way to eat hot wings. I didn’t finish the fries. I took a survey for the restaurant and gave them the minimum, 1 star and explained why. I am going to write them and complain.

I got to Littlefield right before 8:00 when the music was supposed to stop. The doors were not open. I wasn’t stuck outside, there’s a bar area but all that racing was for naught. On the bright side it gave me time to talk to Mira and a bit to Chuck.

During the first act my sunburn started acting up. I went to the secluded area away from the music and applied a cooling analgesic lotion. I went back in with my sneakers and socks off. I figure, I’m a hippie, so can get away with it. I did. Nobody tried to beat me up.

Then Jeffrey walked in. I haven’t seen him in years. That was pure chance. He was one of my early NERFA roommates. Do I have to tell you that he’s a musician? Too bad you can’t absorb talent by osmosis or I’d be a multi-instrumentalist virtuoso.

You might know The Sea the Sea as the duo of Chuck and Mira Costa, or maybe by Mira’s maiden name, Stanley. The overwhelming impression people come away with is the most beautiful peaceful harmonies you will ever hear. I have never heard two people’s voices blend more euphonically. That would be enough to make me like them for a short set, but I’d get bored if that’s all there was. It’s not. Their harmonies are not just beautiful but intricate. The songs have structure and development. There’s an awful lot of there there. That was enough to make them a never miss duo. Those days are past. They are now a quartet; they’ve added a third harmony singer, Cara Gorman, and a drummer; sorry drummer I don’t know your name. Instead of two voices and an acoustic guitar the band features synthesizer by Cara, keyboard by Mira, and Chuck’s guitar has gone electric. They are a rock band.

When a band changes that much it usually turns off old fans. This old fan is not turned off but excited. All that was there is still there but made even more intricate. The tone of the music has greater range. One of my favorite bands has gotten even better. This is not surprising as their musical ambition was always their biggest asset. I have the best musical conversations with them. As a dilettante who loves music, that’s like honey to a bee. They are playing in New Haven tonight and if I weren’t moving more things over to Beruthiel’s apartment and spending the night there I’d go up there. They are getting New Haven pizza before the gig and that’s part of the allure.

Because the show started late, and they were moved from second to third in the lineup I knew I would not be able to make the last bus home. That too has a bright side, I was able to hang out and schmooze for a while. Then Jeffrey and I headed over to the subway. The subway was toying with me, The R train that’s supposed to stop at Union Street, passed by on the express track. We had to wait for the next train. It was a D which I supposed to run express and bypass the station but ran local. That worked out well for Jeffrey but not me. When I got back to Pelham Bay Park it was raining and there were no cabs. I had checked the weather, so I did have an umbrella. Eventually a cab came, and I got home. I probably waited no more than five minutes but as there are usually cabs waiting it felt like 50.

Did I hit all my marks? Preparation for moving? Check. The Sea the Sea? Check. Chance meeting with friend? Check. Tsuris from the subway and a restaurant? Check. That must mean this is finished. Now to have dinner.