Home Game

I went out to see Carolann Solebello and Joe Iadanzalast night so I have something to write about. See the sacrifices I make for My Gentle Readers? When I got there Sharon was surprised, she thought I said I couldn’t make it. I was insulted, there is no way that I’m missing Carolann and Joe at Rockwood Music Hall Stage 3. This is the ultimate home game. I love Carolann and Joe as both musicians and people and I knew I’d have room full of friends.

I planned on getting there very early but the D train had other ideas. It decided to take a rest between Columbus Circle and 7th Avenue. Fortunately Fred was there on time and we were able to snag our usual seats. At Rockwood 3 you can find me front row house left. I was more disappointed that being late left me left socializing time before the show. I was able to talk to Sharon, Gene and Isabel, Marty who sat with us, Carol and Jeff who were right behind us in line, and that’s about it.

Back in the old days I kept a regular cast of characters in Wise Madness. I should do that again. If I did Carolann would be in it. There have been several years where she was the person I saw most often, not just the performer, but the person, as I see as often socially too. For Joe this is a rare guest appearance but that’s not because of lack of affection.

After they let us in and we ordered our drinks, I always get the same thing, a diet coke, I went over to say hi to Elisa and Jon who I saw in the back. They were next to Sharon who was giving her order. The waitress asked she wanted that on her tab and now I have to remember my joke for next time I’m there.

Me: I’ll have a diet coke.
Waitress: Do you want to keep a tab?
Me: I said a diet coke, not a tab!

Do I have to tip extra for that? I hope you feel privileges I let you see the sausage being made. I prepare my ad libs.

Joe was up first; he needs back story. I first met him in the audience at a show at Gene & Isabel’s house; he lives on Long Island. I had trepidation when I saw him perform because I already liked him as a friend and didn’t want to have to deal with not liking him as a musician. That didn’t happen, I loved him as a musician. Then came the issue of if I’d like him with a band. I loved him even more with a band. Joe stood out from the crowd. Then he took a break from music. He’s been running a meditation studio. He took part in the series that Carolann and Bev ran at Two Boots, four or five years ago. That was a tiny venue and very low key. I had talked him up to Fred and he didn’t disappoint. He still had it. This is his first show since then. This wasn’t his for foray back to music, he produced the Spuyten Duyvil album Social Music Hour and more recently Carolann’s last album, Shiver. Now he’s on a mini-tour with her.

Is it just me or has Joe’s voice changed? It sounded deeper and more resonant. He reminded Marty of Cat Stevens. I heard that. He never struck me that way before. The change in voice fit the changes in his music. There’s more gravitas. He’s drifted further from his rock and roll roots. It’s not better, it’s not worse, it is different. He’s seeing the world from a different perspective and brought that up in his patter. He still stands out from the crowd. Even though he said he’s a sensitive singer/songwriter he’s not. He’s sensitive and he’s a singer/songwriter, but he doesn’t fall into the trope.

Carolann is Carolann. Hearing her is always good for the soul. She concentrated less on new material than she has of late. There were songs I had not heard in years, there were deep cuts. She did some songs with Joe including my favorite from her latest album, Shiver, Hiram. I had to have a talk with Joe as he didn’t want to put the song on the album. He based that on one rough demo so I’ll forgive him; but he’s on this ice.

After the show we were rushed out and I figured we’d talk upstairs in what I usually call the backroom as that’s it’s relationship to Rockwood 2. When we got up there it was filled with people and a bar band was playing. I couldn’t even find Carolann. I never knew saw Allison and Joe, I thought they weren’t there. I was disappointed. I was looking forward to socializing with the crew but that was not to be.

I tried to arrange an afterparty via a Facebook event. I invited everyone that I knew or suspected would be there. I must have done that too late. It looks like hardly anyone saw it. I couldn’t arrange for it upstairs as I didn’t even get to talk to people. This was unfortunate as I’ve been feeling isolated. I think that I have not shared a meal with anyone since August. I haven’t done anything with a friend in close to two months. This is what’s been making me feel meh.

I didn’t eat before the show in expectation of going out with others after. When that wasn’t to be I decided that I wasn’t going to do a grab food and run meal. I had to go to get cash so I ate at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken right across the street from the bank. I had not been excited about them last time I went but fried chicken is not something I can make at home. I was much happier with them this time though they are overpriced. The chicken was excellent, the fries were very good. What made it were the sauces. I had not seen them on my previous visits. Most were variants of honey. I had honey with chipotle and wasabi. The non-honey sauces I used were habanero pepper and barbecue sauce. I started by dipping he fries in them but ended up just dumping them all on the fries. The combination was a gustatory symphony. I was still lonely and isolated but I was also well-fed. That’s very much the way I deal with these things. It’s much better than meh let alone being sucked into the vortex of despair. I have things to talk about in therapy.

Speaking of which I better get this posted. I have to see my psychiatrist before therapy so I don’t have my usual wiggle room in timing. There’s also a major idiot story that I have no idea when I’ll have time to write about. Feh, I’ll write about it now. When I went into my closet yesterday I thought of wearing my warmest coat. The problem was that I had two of them. I don’t have to down jackets. I took somebody else’s home from the WFUV member drive. After taking a sick day at the drive I went to wear the jacket and it wasn’t in my closet. I looked all over and couldn’t find it. I compensated by wearing layers. When I got to the station I found it in the closet. I wasn’t 100% sure it was mine. When it was still there at 6 AM the next day I was sure and took it home. I stole somebody else’s jacket. I feel terrible. I’m not even sure which one is really mine. It’s new. I will try and figure it out and bring both if I have to. Good thing the Station is only 8 minutes from the train station.

Writing that means I really have to run now. I might not have time to write tomorrow. That means I’ll have a lot to write about Monday.