I have lots of ground to cover, I haven’t written in days. I am going to cover the ground in reverse chronological order. On Thursday Dan told me that he had tickets to see the Mediaeval Baebes. I was amazed he had even heard of them. I was amazed that I didn’t know they were playing New York. I liked heir Facebook page but I wasn’t even sure hey were still in existence. How does Dan know of them? More mysterious still, why didn’t I ask him? Even though I had plans to see Robinson & Rohe. Something has to be pretty special to make me miss Robinson & Rohe or any Jean Rohe show, especially as I haven’t seen them in months. I’m traveling up to Joe and Emily’s on Thanksgiving Day so I don’t miss Jean’s CD release show the night before.
My love of the Baebes is not often fulfilled but it’s deep and old. It goes back over 20 years when I somehow discovered Miranda Sex Garden. That might not sound like the name of a band I love but I did; know what they played? Medieval music. Until they did a punk rock album. Yes, they went from madrigals to punk. I wonder if WFUV played the Medieval material back in the glory days. I can see them doing that then. I know it was a shock when I first listened to the Punk album. I had no idea. I still liked it, talent is talent, but I didn’t love it.
Fast forward a few years and some members of the band recruited new members and reformed as the Mediaeval Baebes. That was in the late mid nighties or the early late nineties. I of course bought the album. I saw them only once, at the Maryland Renaissance Faire. I went with Carey who also knew them because of course she would. I think there was one other time I planned on seeing them but something prevented it. That’s the only times I’ve heard of them playing in the States till this week.
I had two tickets and now the problem was to find someone to go with me. The only person that I knew would like them is Carey, she lives in Chicago and her teleporter is broken. I asked. I asked people that I knew had broad tastes or who I feel comfortable asking to a show by someone they don’t know. Nobody could make it. I expanded my list and made a Facebook post. Nobody responded. I ended up going alone. That’s a hot button for me. I did well with it; therapy and meds help.
I went to eat at Big Daddy’s, a diner in the area famous for their shakes. I used to go there after therapy to get the bacon milky way shake. There was a real slice of bacon in it. I haven’t been there in years, not since I changed therapists. They still say they are famous for their shakes but they no longer had all the weird ones. I ended up not getting one at all. I just had the Grand Daddy burger; topped with tater tots, bacon, and melted cheese. It was excellent. That’s funny as the food wasn’t so good when the shakes were special.
There was an opening act, Avon Faire, what I take to be a Ren Faire act. I know they play them. They were good, sort of a road company Baebes. As I hadn’t seen or heard from the Baebes in so long I wondered if that’s how I’d perceive them, as a Ren Faire act, not serious musicians.
I had no reason to fear, I think if anything they have gotten better. It might just be that I was seeing a full set in a beautiful church, not at a Ren Faire. I got there early, I thought the show was at 7:00 and arrived at 6:45; it was Doors that were at 7:00. They let people in early. There were many people there already but the first row was empty. I suspected it was reserved. I asked and was told I could sit there, so of course I did. The guy behind where I sent to sit said, “You can sit there but not in front of me.” Huh? If he didn’t want someone in front of him he should have sat in the first row like I did. I’d be in front of somebody no matter where I sat. He made a snide remark that he could see around my left ear. By the time the show started the first row was filled. What was he thinking?
The Baebes started great and got better. Their outfits are not historically accurate.
A medieval woman might wear that in her boudoir but not in public; those bare arms are a no-no. According to my first music prof their music is also not historically accurate. He said that in medieval times the triad was considered dissonant and the only harmony was the open fifth. I have always remembered that but never confirmed it. Hey Pat, I bet you would know, they don’t give out PhDs for nothing. Now I’m having doubts about him having his PhD. I know he went to grad school in music. Emilie would you know? Bueller? Bueller? Why did I meet David Amram after he reached his friends limit? He’d know.
I don’t go to the Baebes for historical accuracy but for great music. That they deliver on in spades. They also have informative and amusing patter. I got an education and not just in music. I learned derogatory things that the English say about the Scots and that the Scots don’t retaliate. I’m pretty sure the latter is fake news. There but for Culloden! Up with Bonny Prince Charlie! Down with the redcoats! I sometimes channel a Highlander, more likely Jamie McCrimmon than Duncan MacLeod.
I can see that like opera, medieval music is not to everyone’s taste. It’s often in Latin, and even when it’s in English it’s Middle English. The aesthetic is not the one we live in. But it’s beautiful and ethereal, and often livelier than you might think. They could even get bawdy. People at all times and places can get bawdy, it’s just sometimes officially suppressed by the likes of the Taliban, the Puritans, or the Hays office.
After the show there was refreshments, I though the emcee was joking but it really was cucumber and watercress sandwiches in honor of the Brits. There was a meet and greet but I didn’t take part. I don’t know why as I usually do but something kept me away. It might have been the logistics, they all sat around a large round table, it felt too formal and I didn’t want to wait around to the crowd died down. Perhaps if they I start hearing about US tours I’ll have another chance. Let’s see if this works. Here’s a slideshow. It doesn’t work unless upgrade my wordpress account. Boo, So no video either.
I’m not going out today, except to shop, so perhaps I’ll write again. Damn, I just remembered that I can’t eat till after I shop as I forgot to shop yesterday. I need eggs and milk or cream, breakfast necessities. I’ll be eating late today. The store is just two blocks away, I won’t even get dressed.
Wise Madness 