Last night I went to Miwa Gemini’s 50th birthday/Album Release concert. This was her first full band show since the plague started. That was worth a trip to Littlefield in Brooklyn to see. This was my third time seeing her and each was a revelation. The first was a porch concert and the second a show at Rockwood. She was joined by Rebecca both times but that’s a far cry from a fully band. In addition to Rebecca on vocals and trumpet, there was a drummer, a multinstrumentalist on accordion and some instrument in the mallet family, and a guest harmony singer. I don’t know any of their names, but the harmony singer was referred to as “A Queen of Israel.” The only Queen of Israel I know is Jezebel, but the singer was nothing like her. Well, what do I know? She was nice and put out birthday cupcakes, so I like her. Did I mention the cupcakes? My writing teachers told me to stress what’s important. Where was I? Oh right, cupcakes. As My Gentle Readers know I go to a lot of concerts. They also know that I’m a tough audience. I’ve been to shows that people have raved about, and my response is, “Yes that was pretty good.” This show was not pretty good, it was special. In my personal musical box score I put a circle around it. I wish I had a working memory or took notes. As the show reached a crescendo it reminded me of nothing so much a Moxy Früvous concert. Früvous were not the greatest musicians, but their concerts were the best. The song was Misbehave (do not trust my memory), the band was dancing, and best of all the audience went wild dancing. I was clapping and dancing in my seat. There was the magic of a music bacchanal. There was nothing in the world but the band, the music, and audience, entwined in a supernova. This is what live music is about, or at least one of the things music is about. Unlike Früvous Miwa is a great musician and her songs feed the intellect and soul.
Bizarrely and bravely the show was not primarily songs from the album. Though it was the release show the album came out in 2020; the pandemic delayed its coming out party. She said that 75% of the songs were new. I know that Misbehave is. What makes it brave is that the male half of the band only learned the songs in the last few days, they had hardly any time to practice. I was going to show you a video, but I shouldn’t until Miwa approves it. I’m just uploading them now.
I missed the train I wanted to take by less than a minute, then the D train I was on hit delays. That meant to got to Littlefield about 10 minutes last. The opening act had already started. That was a shame. It was the Main Squeeze Orchestra, an all-female accordion ensemble. The only thing I’ve ever seen similar was Those Darned Accordions, a San Francisco based group I saw at the Bottom Line over 20 years ago. One of the members of the Main Squeeze said that she moved here from San Francisco. Was this a coincidence? Does SF have a vibrant accordion scene? I still don’t know but her accordion teacher was in Those Darned Accordions, they are connected. I wrote the band today and asked them to send me their album. Hearing them play God Only Knows was pretty much the best thing ever.
The only disappointment of the evening is that I did not have a chance to say hi and wish Miwa a happy birthday. I did join in singing Happy Birthday. Added bonuses were the nice people that sat on either side of me. This was the rare, packed house show where I knew no one not on stage. A second regret I that I didn’t get up and dance. Miwa’s audience is younger than Miwa so I would have had 25 years on the other dancers but that shouldn’t stop me. It didn’t. It was that I was taking pictures or videos and I would have had to ask the nice people on my sides to get up and let me out. Next time I know to sit on the aisle. Hopefully, I won’t be alone and whoever is with me will dance too.
For the ride home I eschewed taking the R one stop and walked to Atlantic Ave – Barclays Center for the D train. I got involved doing a crossword and then writing on Facebook when I noticed everyone getting off the train. We were at the last stop. I live by the penultimate station. Fortunately, there was just a short wait to return. That’s necessary. There is no place to put the trains at that terminal. They go past the station where there’s a switch so it can go to the downtown track. When it’s at the switch the motorman has to walk from the old front/now rear car of the train and walk up to the new front car. As soon as he makes it the train starts back.
Coda
I know that I haven’t written in days and I’m writing late. There are reasons based on my state of mind. I’m not going through any sort of crisis. It’s just that what’s been on my mind is things I can’t share here, and I write about what’s on my mind. It’s much easier when I have an adventure to write about.
Wise Madness 