I didn’t think I’d be writing this morning as I have to leave the house before I start writing on most days but it looks like somehow I’m pulling this off. Now I have to stay on task so I can both write and eat.
Yesterday’s adventure was seeing The Sea The Sea at Rockwood Music Hall. Not sure why I’m having trouble timing my trips there but I got there a bit later than doors should have opened. I wasn’t sure if I were merching so I wanted to be there early. Chuck and Mira were still sound checking so things were fine. I grabbed a table upstairs for Gene & Isabel and me. The next people there and the first few the doors were Mark & Beth. They grabbed the Statler and Waldorf Seats next to us. Then came Howard who stood downstairs as did Jamie. A few people came before Jamie but I love how I knew almost all the early arrivals. They are my people.
The Sea the Sea started as a Duo, then expanded to a trio and sometimes quartet. Now they are trying something new. After a year of band shows they are doing some duo shows and last night was a mixture. Half duo and half band. Whatever they do works. They each have their own advantage. Nobody’s voices blend better than Chuck and Mira as a duo. Nobody’s minds work better at arranging harmonies and the more voices the more they have to work with. Whatever they do sounds natural. They don’t do what many solo and duos do, add a band, just say they can be bigger. It all comes out of their artistic vision.
I often go to shows alone but I love sitting with friends that appreciate the music as much as I do. I have someone to make stupid jokes to and someone to discuss the music with. I filled my ecological niche in the NERFAverse. I have been carrying around Brian’s card since I saw him and Martin at the last edition of John Platt’s On Your Radar. They invented a board game. Mark owns a game café. I thought that Martin and Mark knew each other, they are both Falcon Ridge mainstays. They don’t so it was my job to get them together. I finally came through and gave Mark Brian’s card.
Getting home is more of a challenge than usual the last few weeks as the D train is not running past Yankee Stadium on weeknights. That means I have to take the 4. I could take the F one stop and then the 6 two stops but instead I just walked to Union Square. Even though it was cold, wind chill of 14° I enjoyed it. I was dressed warm enough. It’s good to stretch my legs after sitting or standing still.
The last two nights I’ve seen two brilliant married duos, Our Band aka Justin and Sasha, and The Sea The Sea, Chuck and Mira. Their music comes from totally different places, our band center is instrumental and The Sea the Sea vocal, but I still associate them. Both bands’ music have depth. It’s about more than sounding pretty. They both try and engage the listener’s mind. On a personal level, they both love talking about how they do that. I have great conversations with them. On an even more personal level; in both bands I knew the husband first but immediately became old friends with the wife. We are all in the same karass. This is the first time I didn’t have to look up how to spell, “karass.’
I have to make breakfast and then head north to see my psychiatrist. My insurance put in a stupid rule that I can’t see my psychiatrist and therapist on the same day; so I have to make the trek up to Harrison twice this week.
Wise Madness 