Last night Dan and I went to see Lúnasa at the Sheen center. Lúnasa is a great Irish band we both love. They were playing with Daoirí (pronounced Derry) Farrell. It’s always difficult to write about the Irish, I have to insert all the accents and explain how to pronounce the names. It’s worth the effort especially the day before St. Paddy’s Day. I am wimping out and not going out today for live Irish music even though there are several shows I would like to go to. The Sheen Center is on Bleecker Street in the East Village. Dan suggested going to an Italian restaurant he likes, something like the San Merino on Second Ave. I didn’t know where on second avenue it was, so I let Google Maps guide me. In the process I learned a new word. Do you know what you call a person that knows an area well and knows exactly where he is and which way, he has to walk but walks the opposite direction? Gordon. You can also call him an idiot, that’s a synonym. When I got off the 4 train at Astor Place, I took my phone out to check to see where on 2nd Avenue it was. It said I had no internet connection. I just got a new phone, a Galaxy S10 and there are still things I have to set up. I decided to just walk East until I got the phone working. After a few blocks I did. For reasons that I don’t get I had to put airplane mode on then off. When I did that, I saw I was walking in the wrong direction, I was walking West! That’s what happens when a Gordon gets distracted. Remember that word, It’s a useful one.
I arrived before Dan and noticed that the restaurant was just a few blocks from the two Ukrainian restaurants I know, Veselka the famous one which is a lot like a Jewish Deli, and the one I prefer the Ukrainian East Village Restaurant. I suggested that we try that instead. This is a neighborhood I used to go to almost every week and that was one of my regular places. I would often go there and be the only one not speaking Ukrainian. They have great blintzes. Dan wanted to eat outdoors but I saw a shed out front so didn’t think that was an issue. When we got there, we sat that the shed was actually in front of Dallas BBQ and was empty. We started walking back to San Marino when I saw Paul’s. Another of my favorite spots! This was nostalgia for me, and Paul’s is famous for having the best hamburgers. One of the 700 restaurants that some magazine called the best restaurant in the City. They had tables out front, so we ate there. I’m an idiot. I forgot that they have great shakes. I should have ordered one.
We were early so we took a walk around my old haunts. Some places are gone, and some are still around. I forgot to check on Alphabets. I’m guessing it’s gone, or I would have noticed it. When that happens people often act like that means the City is going downhill. Not such thing, it’s churn. When a place closes it leaves a niche for another place to open. The cool neighborhoods don’t disappear they migrate. New York wouldn’t be The City if it weren’t dynamic. Change is the only thing that stays the same.
When we got to the Sheen Center people were lined up. There’s reserved seating, why would anyone line up. We walked around some more. I was a little disappointed to see that I was one of the youngest people going in. When I was at Youth in a Roman Field, I was almost older than any two people put together. This is related to the dynamism I just talked over. You need a constant stream of new fans to replace those that die.
We were up in the Mezzanine but there are no bad seats at the Sheen Center. It’s a small venue. Before the show a penguin in a cape came out to introduce the band. He said he was a priest and I suppose those might be some sort of vestments that I have never seen. I prefer to think it was a penguin saying he was a priest not a priest dressed like a penguin. Best of all, maybe he was a penguin that was ordained a priest! That’s it.
I haven’t seen Lúnasa in 20 years, but I always love their music. They are a trad Irish instrumental band. On their last album CAS for the first time, they had guest singers including Natalie Merchant, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Tim O’Brien, and the aforementioned Daoirí O’Farrell. Daoirí did not do an opening set, he joined the band on many of the numbers. He did one song solo during the encore. That was enough to make me a fan. When I got home, I wrote his management and asked for a digital copy of his most recent album. They sent it while I slept. I already listened, it’s great. You’ll hear it next week on Gord’s Gold.
As always, I found Lúnasa mesmerizing. They appeal to the Bach part of my brain. They will typically have three melody instruments, flute or whistle, uileann pipes or flute or whistle, and fiddle. The three melodies weave their ways around each other while the guitar and bass hold it all together with the rhythm. I imagined each melody as a bird with the three birds dancing together in flight. I think that would be a great animated video. Show then flying across a musical staff with each bird at the height of the corresponding note.
Dan and I were good and didn’t joke with each other during the show. That shows great restraint at least on my part. Sure, I called the emcee a penguin and asked as the second half started why Pat Wictor was playing uileann pipes but during the music I was silent.
After the show Dan and I walked to the D train and rode together until he got off at Columbus Circle. I get to take it the entire trip. That’s a convenient place for me to get too.
I still need to write of my adventures with my new phone but that will have to wait until tomorrow as I’ve already written 1087 words.
The picture at the top was taken in front of a barber shop we passed. That barber must have been great if they were willing to wait that long. I wonder If he changed the two-headed guy double.
Wise Madness 