Yesterday was amazing, the sun coming out after a storm, a feast after a fast, the weekend after a tough work week. It was part music festival and part family reunion. It was the Make Music Ditmas Park porch concert. I’ve been to porch concerts before, many last year, but this one was an event. There were five acts and three were both favorite musicians and good friends. The lineup was Bobtown, Jean Rohe, Miwa Gemini, Carolann Solebello, and Grand Central Breakdown. My Frequent Gentle Readers will recognize the names, Bobtown, Jean Rohe, and Carolann Solebello. I helped out and got there early. Three things delayed my trip, The D train was 20 minutes late, the Q train rain local in Manhattan, and then it ran express in Brooklyn. I needed a local stop. After all that I got there only 5 minutes later than I planned and beat everyone else there. I met Hillary (Hilary?) the owner of the house. The people started arriving, the members of Bobtown who was on first came in one by one. I did my all-important job of keeping out of the way while they set up. Not surprisingly I set up the merch. I should get a shirt that says “Cute Merch Guy” to identify myself at shows. Instead, I wore my Jean Rohe t-shirt. I considered switching off with my Bobtown t-shirt, but I thought the world didn’t need to see me shirtless as I changed.
It was not just the stage that was filled with friends but the audience too. Most amazingly Emily and Mel came. Mel lives in NE CT and Emily in a suburb of Boston. Emily drove three hours for the show. River and her father Chris came from New Jersey as did Perry and Beth. Then there was Beth K, Richard, David, Erika & Arthur, Mark. Mark had his own gig at Coco’s, so he had to leave for a while. Birthday girl Elisa and her husband Jon were there. There was such a plethora of friends that I haven’t seen in ages that I’m betting I forgot people. I gave and received so many hugs.
I was going to say that the music being great was a given, but it wasn’t as this was almost everyone’s first live show in over a year. Therefore, it was worth noting that the music was great. Carolann sat in on bass with Bobtown. I have watched Jean streaming, but she pulled out a new song that I hadn’t heard before. Do I need to say it was great? Carolann didn’t show the layoff at all. This was her second live show. This was my first time seeing Miwa Gemini. I think they are usually a trio, but they came as a duo, Miwa and Rebecca. I’m showing off that I remembered Rebecca’s name. Rebecca played trumpet, I’m a sucker for brass at a folk show. They are invited to The Budgiedome. Emily and River enthusiastically agree they should play for us. Grand Central Breakdown is a side project for the members, the only one I know I Dot Moore who I know through Katherine. They played bluegrass and old time and I loved them too.
The weather was hot but not to hot. It was my first time out in the midday sun, and it was the solstice, but I protected myself well and nothing burned. It probably helped that I got some tan from my daily late afternoon walks. The fun didn’t end with the concert. We helped Katherine get equipment back to her apartment a few blocks away. That reminded me of another great thing. One of the things we brought back with us was Katherine’s dog, Bella. Beth brought her dog that I had never met before too. There is nothing better than other people’s dogs. I got to pet and given and get love from both.
After the pit stop at Katherine’s apartment Katherine, Emily, Mel, David, and I went out for dinner. We ended up at our usual Thai place that has great food and weird service. David’s took forever even though he ordered almost the same thing Katherine and I did. Still, it was delicious. The only disappointment was that What’s the Scoop was closed by the time we finished. Mel said that the only reason she came was because I promised great ice cream. This is why love Mel. All of us but David have been to the Budgiedome, I told him that next year he has to come. He’d love it and fits in with our non-genetic family. As Emily and Mel were headed North I asked them for a ride back to the Bronx. That gave me even more time with them and saved me a subway trip. Thanks to traffic it didn’t save me as much time as I expected but it was well worth it.
I did so much catching up with people. I got so many hugs. I heard so much great music. It was getting my life back. I had ice cream when I got home so I didn’t even miss out on that. It was the best day ever. Thank you everyone that made it happen.
Wise Madness 