Yesterday was a busy day; I better get busy writing. My first stop was the Social Security Administration Card Center. I have to replace my card which was in my stolen wallet. I had no luck doing it online, that’s not the SSA’s fault, it’s because of my unusual circumstances. I got frustrated when I tried calling as the wait was so long though the person I finally spoke to was good. In person they were wonderful, a model of efficiency and courtesy. I went in and the greeter immediately informed me what I needed to do. I signed in on the computer and she gave me the form to fill out. The computer gave me a number, just like they do at the DMV. Unlike the DMV the wait was only about 15 minutes, maybe less. Filling out the form was a bit of a challenge. It wasn’t complex, the problem was reading it. The reading glasses that are always in my bag weren’t in my bag. I discovered that I can see a bit better than I thought. I was able to hold the form far enough away to both read and write.
I had a problem with the information on my form as neither of my parents used the name on their birth certificates. My mother not only changed her name when she was married, something common, but her family changed their last name when she was a child. I won’t give it here because of identity theft but it was the equivalent of changing Schwartz to Black, going from Yiddish to English. My father’s issue was that his parents wanted to name him Jack. The birth registry people would not accept that, they said it was a nickname so his birth certificate and passport both said Jacob. Every other document said Jack. What I did was write the name on the birth certificate first followed by the name used in parentheses after. If the bureaucrat at the window was officious I might have a problem. She wasn’t. She was a human being, not a set of rules. When I told her, I needed a new card because my old one was stolen she gave sincere regrets. She processed the form quickly and gave me the printout to check for accuracy. She used the names my parents used, not the ones from before they were changed. I assumed she looked up how they were listed as she had to go someplace to get it. When I said I had trouble reading it because I didn’t have my glasses she handed me a magnifying glass. I complemented her on the job she did. If you ever need something from social security and you can’t do it online just go to the office. They make it easy for you.
My next stop was the police department. I went to the detective working my case to watch some videos. Someone had used my stolen MetroCard. I tried to identify him, but it was too difficult without my glasses. I’m going to go back on Sunday. The cop was great too. I disappointed myself yesterday. I had three things to do, one was very important; Go to Social Security for a new card, go food shopping, and see The Restless Age at Rockwood. I left the house so late that I thought I might have to sacrifice the concert. Nope, I left so late that the SSA office would have been closed when I arrived. I was in the subway station waiting for the train when I discovered that. That’s my anxiety acting up, it stopped me from checking the hours. On the bright side I discovered that the concert was an hour later than I thought so I had time to come home and relax before it.
I’ve never seen or even heard The Restless Age, so why did I go see them? Because Joy is obsessing on them and she’s a kindred spirit. Remarkable that she knew about them before me as they are based in the Hudson Valley and Joy lives in Australia. It usually takes me less than an hour to get to Rockwood. I gave myself an hour to get there. I got there seven minutes late. I suspect I came just as they were starting their first song. I hope I didn’t miss anything. They are not a folk band, are they a power trio? The instrumentation was the same as Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, keyboards/synth, electric bass, and drums. Can you call it a power trio with keyboards instead of guitar? ELP was my favorite band back in the day so this is still a sweet spot for me. Unlike ELP, The Restless Age is a harmony trio. Joy knows her harmony so was not surprised by that. It’s not the intricate harmonies of CSN, it’s close harmony. I loved them most during their last song when they opened things up instrumentally with ELP style chaos. If I’m going to rock, I want to rock hard. I don’t think I can get away playing them on Folk Music Notebook. It’s not that I wouldn’t be allowed to play them, it’s that even with my broad definition of folk, they don’t fit. They are a rock band. Not quite sure what subgenre, but certainly rock. I will certainly see them again.
With all my procrastinating yesterday, I didn’t have time to make dinner, so I ate 99¢ pizza, which costs $1. The world does not always make sense. I hope you noticed that.
I got a call yesterday from the detective working my case. He wants me to come down today to watch videos. I hope it’s the one taken at the station when I was robbed. They are still working this case hard. My theory that the thief is a serial killer and I’m the only one that survived his attack is looking better and better. This makes time tight today. I have to go to the Social Security office, then the cops, and then to see the Bonny Light Horsemen at Rough Trade in Brooklyn. That means I better get moving and make breakfast.
He didn’t push me to identify the suspect, yes they have a suspect! He made a point of saying that I have to be sure, that they don’t want to charge an innocent man. You certainly don’t have to sell me on that. I never understood the people who want to make sure somebody is punished and will take someone being suspected as enough proof that they did it so they make believe they really can ID him. We have some quality people working for our federal and local governments.
I thought I would have to run from there straight to Brooklyn to see the Bonny Light Horsemen, but I didn’t. I had time to go home and relax for an hour and a half. I almost forgot the rough start of the day. They shut off the water in the building! Why is that rough? I couldn’t make coffee! I stopped at Dunkin’ on the way to the SSA.
Then I was off to Williamsburg to see The Bonny Light Horsemen at Rough Trade New York. The Bonny Light Horsemen is the trio of Anaïs Mitchell, Eric D. Johnson, and Josh Kaufman, backed by a drummer and bass player. My Gentle Readers should know who the attraction for me was, Anaïs. I write about Anaïs often enough that I have Word set to automatically put the dieresis over the i in her name. That’s a dieresis not an umlaut. It indicates the second vowel is a separate syllable. An umlaut changed the pronunciation of a vowel. These are the things you learn reading the appendices of Lord of the Rings.
Anaïs is in the band but it is in no way her band. She’s riding high now with the success of Hadestown but she’s not an egotist. She’s someone that enjoys collaboration. She’s previously made duo albums with Rachel Ries and Jefferson Hamer. They all sing, Josh plays lead electric guitar,, Eric acoustic guitar and banjo, and Anaïs acoustic guitar. With the electric guitar, electric bass, and full drum kit, they look like a rock band, but they aren’t; they play folk music with an occasional foray into folk rock. The songs are largely traditional songs reimagined. Often only the lyrics are original. They get their name from a traditional song.
The show was fantastic; everything they do works. I could close my eyes and listen to the intricacies of the instruments and voices. I could focus on the lyrics. I could focus on the harmonies. They had it all including great stage patter. I have never met Eric and Josh, but they are clearly my people. For the encore the put down all the instruments but one acoustic guitar and did a stripped-down version of trad songs. When they sang Wild Mountain Thyme. That’s one of songs we sing at the Sunset Sings led by Terre Roche. That meant that I had to sing along. This is a song I sing, not just listen to.
Who possessed my brain? I didn’t mention who I went the show with, that’s how I always start. I went with Kevin, who met me there. I saved us a spot up front. This was my second time seeing a show with Kevin this week. I didn’t see anyone else I knew there till we were on the way out and ran into Amy. This was my third time seeing her in a week. Kevin and I were both at the JKLOL show at her house. I sat next to her when I saw the Murphy Beds at Jalopy. Jefferson Hamer is in both of those bands and did the album of Child Ballads with Anaïs. It all comes together.
We were in Williamsburg, so I ate at my place there, Crif Dogs. It’s right by the L station on Driggs street. I highly recommend it. Order the tater tots.
I won’t give the adventures going home stories as I have to get ready for another long day. I hoped you all learned today that you need to hear the Bonny Light Horsemen, their album just came out, get it and see them live. If you have a problem with social security that can’t be done online just go to their office. They are there to help you and act like that’s their job. The police can be very diligent and friendly. Eat at Crif Dogs. Kevin and Amy rock. There’s a lot of good things out there, don’t let the news make you forget that.
Wise Madness 