Sorry I didn’t write yesterday. I did not get nearly enough sleep at night so slept late in the day. I didn’t get enough sleep last night either but I can’t miss two days in a row. This is why a kind and benevolent universe evolved caffeine. I hate to have to point this out but that’s a joke. Evolution doesn’t follow our wishes or needs. But I do need coffee to finish this. I’ll be right back. I’m back.
From Caffeine doth all life begin – The Orange Catholic Bible.
Now I have to try and remember what’s been going on the last few days. On Sunday night I went to see Sunny War at Arlene’s Grocery on the Lower East Side. The weather was cool and wet. I didn’t want to leave the house. If I were to leave the house it was to be to see Carolann Solebello, right here in the Bronx. I didn’t even know Sunny until the day before, she played the Hudson West Folk Festival; she impressed the hell out of me and needed to see her outside of a festival setting. I didn’t think I’d see anyone I knew at the show but I did. Kathryn and Jamie were there. I should have known Kathryn would be, she is the one that suggested Sunny to the festival. It was an odd venue for her; Twenty years ago it was a venue I frequented but now it’s usually loud rock acts. Every once in a while, they will slip an acoustic performer in. It’s primarily a standing venue with a bar so not the best suited for acoustic performers. Some acts that I saw there back in the day were, Willie Nile, Ruth Gerson, The Professor & Maryann (the Professor was Ken Rockwood of the Music Hall), Rod Picott & Amanda Shires, and god knows who else.
The venue was as different from the Grace Church where the Hudson West Festival was as possible but Sunny shined just as brightly. I kept sending John Platt emails about her along with a digital copy of her most recent album. All my presenter friends need to know her. She was one of my exceptional discoveries of the year along with Crys Matthews, Anna/Kate band, and Moira Smiley. Is it a vintage year for women or is my memory skewed by associating one with another so that I’m forgetting the men? I’m sure I’m forgetting people I shouldn’t. I didn’t have any new revelations on Sunny since my last entry, so just go read what I wrote there. No, that’s not true. I discovered that she’s is not just an incredibly talented guitarist and singer, but she’s also one of my people, in the same cuirass. In the course of her patter she gave a rundown of all the food she ate that day. Kathryn looked over at me, she recognized that made Sunny a kindred spirit. I’m sure she’s related. Don’t hold that against her. Unlike me, she can sing like an angel and play guitar like a demon. But she knows the importance of food and the importance of talking about food. That makes her family.
Yesterday’s excitement was talking to John Platt for the first time since his stroke. He sounded great. He doesn’t sound like healthy John, but healthy John speaks so well that the illness just brings him down to the average person. I know this is serious but I can’t help making this joke, he has a one-stroke handicap.
I didn’t just talk to John but also to Richard Cuccaro, we are pinch hitting at this month’s John Platt’s On Your Radar. This was my first conference call I wasn’t sure how to do it. Some people suggested Google Hangouts. I believe that would have taken coordination with both John and Richard. As I suspected, conference calls are built into the Android operating system. It’s remarkably easy. When you call someone you will see on the call screen, “Add Caller.” If you do that it puts the first caller on hold and gives you the opportunity to call someone else using either your contact list or by entering the number. When you are connected to the second person you hit, “merge calls” and you have your conference. I called Richard first and we were talking together in about a minute.
So you say you want to see On Your Radar and throw rotten tomatoes at me? The show is tonight at Rockwood Music Hall. You can still buy advance tickets. I suggest you do as the shows have been selling out. This month’s lineup is Ryanhood, the LYNNes, and Belle of the Fall. It’s a trio of duos. If you went to Falcon Ridge the last two years you know Ryanhood. They emerged last year and were Most Wanted this year. Even more prestigiously they played the Budgiedome both years. I had never heard of the LYNNes but I am well aware of half the band, Lynn Miles; the other half is Lynne Hanson. Ms. Miles is one of those ridiculously talented songwriters that Canada puts out. Red Molly fans should know her as the writer of Coal Tattoo. I’m going to trust John on Belle of the Fall but some of you will know them from the Huntington Folk Festival. And remember you are also welcome to throw rotten tomatoes and other soft fruit at me, if that’s what it takes to fill the house.
After the call I went to PT. I still think it helps and I still think there is a lack of communication. The therapist asks me to set the levels of electric stimulation and resistance when I pedal with my hands. As the root of pedal is ped meaning, “feet” how should I describe using it? If it were a bike I went 17 MPH. The higher resistance corresponds to being in a lower gear. I met a new therapist. I think his name is Nuriel. He’s from the Philippines. We were entertained that I shared a last name about Steve Nash which led to many jokes and basketball talk. We related as people, not just therapist/patient. I like that.
I finished my prep for On Your Radar today. John gave us the information on how long the sets are, who to talk to about paying the artists, and what’s going on the next two OYR. Next month is canceled; In November the guests will be Ed Romanoff, Black Feather, and the ubiquitous band, TBA. Maybe I can nudge John into making it Sunny.
In Sunny’s honor I should tell you what I ate yesterday. For brunch it was bacon and eggs. For dinner Cheddar Brats and home-made French fries. That was amazingly good. Today’s brunch will be Eggs Horvendile, poached egg, ham and cheese served on garlic toast. I’ll have more coffee too.
I don’t have time now or tomorrow but when I get a chance I need to write about the link between the Incredible Hulk and political philosophy. No joke. It will be illustrated with video.
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Wise Madness 