I spent much of Friday planning then replanning, then rereplanning Gord’s Gold. I didn’t finish until tonight. I’ve more meticulous about the show’s timing. I now try hard to have been 54 and 55 minutes of music. On the bright side I have an entire set already organized for next week. I have 655 songs in my “future plays” queue. I could do a show just picking songs from the list at random. I won’t. I’m quite sure I can plan things better than chance. Was the top adventure yesterday dinner? Maybe, I had poutine. I was bad and didn’t take a walk. I am now at full food emergency. Yesterday I finished the ice cream. Yesterday I finished the coffee. I am NOT going to have coffee for breakfast today. How am I supposed to walk to Maria’s Coffee without fueling up with coffee? It’s going to be an odd day. I am meeting Dan in the City in the afternoon so I will walk to Marie’s, then walk to the subway, and carry around a pound or two of coffee all day.
Yesterday started early. I went to see The Rainbow Girls at Lincoln Center Outdoors. You could reserve seats, so I did that and asked Erika to join me. The show was at noon, thus the early start. I wanted to get there at 11:30 but the D train hates me and sat in the tunnel between 125th street and 59th. We had to be there by 11:50 to keep the reservation. That wasn’t an issue. We made it by 11:45 and we were one of the first people there. We sat in the second row as the first had a reserved spot for a wheelchair and wheelchair companion. Nobody used that so we were effectively in the front row.
I first saw the Rainbow Girls at Caramoor, thank you Maggi, she booked Caramoor, and fell in love immediately. This was a band I was excited about. Then came the plague and I have not seen them in person since. I did watch their streaming shows. They had an advantage over most bands, they all live in the same house or at least same property. The first thing I thought was, “They are the Beatles in Help!” That is how the Beatles should have lived, in one house with four doors and John living in a sunken bedroom. After the show I talked to Caitlin, the one in the red cap, about this and discovered to my surprise that everyone doesn’t think this way about them. She does want to live in the sunken bedroom.
The Rainbow girls hit every mark, songwriting, harmonies, singing, and banter. They are political but also funny. I went away both musically enthralled and entertained. They were performing under a handicap. They were in New York, but their luggage ended up in Seattle. Fortunately, they had their instruments, other than the upright bass, on the plane with them. They were wearing yesterday’s clothes and their internal clocks were on Pacific time, three hours earlier. Check In for them was 9 AM, their bodies thought that was 6 AM. Christine Lavin says that a dedicated folk musician gets up at the crack of noon whether they have to or not. I feel for them. Remember, I thought of this as an early start to my day.
They were joined by other Bay Area musicians and a brass section from Handmade Moments. I firmly believe that every folk band needs a Sousaphone and Saxophone. Two of the musicians that joined them, so they became the Rainbow non-binaries. This was exactly the kind of free summer show that I love in New York.
I tried to talk to the band after the show and as I said managed to talk to Caitlin. I also talked to their “Momager,” Hannah. She is the one I correspond with when asking for music. I like to be able to put a face to a name.
I wanted to spend more time with Erika, and she was up for walking to Trader Joe’s with me. It is almost worth it to take the subway there so save just on the price of eggs. It is much more fun shopping with someone else. I of course forgot to buy one necessity, mozzarella cheese. I had butter in my hand but not when I got home. Did I forgot put it back and forgot? It is so hard not having a brain. Erika and I have a tradition. Every time I see her, I say, “we don’t see each other often enough.” I say it because it’s true.
Dinner was interesting, I just reheated some pork loin, but I made mac and cheese from scratch to go with it. I usually cheat and use a sauce I make in the microwave. This time I made it on the stovetop. It is so much better. I have learned my lesson. For now, on I make it on the stove. I have one more improvement to make. I didn’t have a block of cheese, so I used shredded cheese. Next time I go shopping I buy a block of cheddar or jack and use a grater.
The Mets played a doubleheader against the Cubs and won both games! That will always put me in a good mood. Today I’m off to see Dan’s friend Jeff Jakobs’ CD release show. I better leave soon as I have to go to Marie’s Coffee. I will stop at DD for my free Dunkin’ Donuts birthday drink. I will have a caffeine fix. I can listen to the Met game until the 4 train goes underground.
Wise Madness 