How did it get so late? Oh yeah, that time thing; it even passes when I’m taking a nap. I hate this not getting enough sleep business. Enough of that, I have a tale to tell. It’s full of sound and fury and told by an idiot.
When I left the house I knew that I walk across Mosholu Parkway and do something in Norwood and then take the train from there. As I left the house I had no idea what I had to do there. I checked off all the places I go in that neighborhood and none of them needed my attention, so I took the train from Bedford Park and headed into the City.
My first step was my PO box in Columbus Circle. I stepped out of the station and the first person I saw was a young man handing out flyers for Jumaane D. Williams. He’s running for Public Advocate. The election was yesterday. Voting was the thing I had to do across Mosholu Parkway. I’m an idiot. I have never forgotten to vote before. Mea Culpa. Mr. Williams won. I was agonizing between voting for him and Melissa Mark-Viverito.
After getting my mail I headed over to the competition, UPS to return something I bought from amazon. It was a set of long underwear. There were two problems with it. One it wasn’t very warm. Two, they forgot to put the fly in even though it says there’s one right on the package. How does something like that happen?
Then came dinner. I had a lot of time to kill and wasn’t sure where to eat. I then remembered there’s now an underground mini-mall at the Columbus Circle subway station. I decided to check it out. I went to Chicken in a Cone. It’s chicken in a waffle cone. It was OK, I might stop there if I were in a rush.
I finally made it to Trader Joe’s. I’ve been meaning to go for more than a week. The main thing I wanted was golden potatoes. Why did I need Trader Joe’s for that? They sell three-pound bags. The other supermarkets all have 5-pounders and they start sprouting before I finish them. I also got the small bag of potato medley, I can’t resist the blue ones. Another thing I needed was gnocchi. They hid that. It has always been in the pasta section. It’s a potato dumpling but is usually served in lieu of pasta with pasta sauce. I looked and couldn’t find it. I asked the woman stocking the shelf and she had never heard of it. I went to the help counter and asked and was told it was in with the pasta. I said I looked there. He then said, it’s a bit over with the marinara sauces. Huh? Why move it there? It’s not a sauce. As I said, it’s a pasta substitute.
After that I went to the Rockwood Music Hall to see the reason I traveled into the city, Rebecca Loebe. People often mispronounce her last name. I’m going to do something that will assure you never forget the right way.
Anthony da Costa, a teenager at the time, introduced me to Becca. Somehow she went from being older than him to younger. Somewhere there’s a portrait of her that you don’t want to look at.
People always remark about Becca’s voice. That’s the last thing I noticed about her. The first was her songwriting. The second was her stage manner, she’s as funny as all hell. Then after she was picked on The Voice I realized hers was beautiful. Even when it comes to singing it’s her expressiveness that strikes me the most.
There have been times seeing her I knew nobody in the audience. There’s been times when the audience was small. Last night Stage 3 was packed and the early arrivals included many people I knew. I saw Howard eating at the restaurant on the corner as I walked by. I of course tapped on the window and waved to him. Then Joe showed up and then Gene & Isabel. There was more, I’m totally blanking on who. Everyone I knew arrived before doors opened. Most of the rest came after; birds of a feather.
I didn’t sit up front as I would rather sit with friend, Gene & Isabel, than alone in my favorite seat. Now that I’m not blind sitting in the front row is not as important. I could see her fine but it did interfere with my photography. That reminds me who I was missing, Damon! He was sitting in front of me.
Rebecca started by insulting us all. She welcomed us to her New York, “seedy release party.” Gene said that wasn’t the first time he’s been called CD. She just released a new album, Give Up Your Ghosts. I listened to it twice today. It gets better each time. The woman can write. She had a band with her, pedal steel/electric guitar, and a drummer. I’m not sure if I’ve seen her with a band before.
I was glad the show was last night, I had it in my calendar for Monday, because I’m an idiot. Monday, I was very tired I would not have enjoyed it as much. I’m on a great run for live music. Is Becca on my You Probably Haven’t Heard list? She isn’t. She’ll be on the next update. I have six names to be added, when I get to ten I’ll post them.
I feel that I’m letting you down. I didn’t come up with a great way of describing Becca. It’s not enough to say that someone’s great. I want to explain why they are great. Alas I’m not perfect.
I’ll leave this here. Tomorrow I’ll tell about today’s adventures. I went to the hospital. No, don’t get worried. I’m not sick and I didn’t even have something routine done. If you want to know why I went you’ll have to read tomorrow’s edition of Wise Madness. I am shameless.
Wise Madness 