I am burning the candle at both ends; let’s see how long I can keep this up. Last night, Dan and I went to see the incredible Kaia Kater at Cafe Wha in Greenwich Village. Before I got to the show I taught a full day of school, prepared the Facebook Event for On Your Radar, and posted the promo for the next On Your Radar. I also investigated what was wrong with my phone. Starting with my ride home from the Met game I could not access the Internet using data on my phone. I spent one of my breaks at school texting Samsung Tech Support. They were very slow. At the end of it all he said that I had to either mail it in and wait a few weeks to get my phone back or bring it to a store and get it back the next day. Guess which i opted for. When I found the closest store, not the one the Tech Support guy told me about, I called them. When I described the problem he said, “The problem is not with your phone but with your provider. When I got home I called Boost Mobile. I immediately heard, “If you are having trouble accessing the internet using data we know about the problem and are working on it. They ended up fixing it by the time I got off the train. L
Dan and I ate dinner there. My Buffalo Chicken sandwich and fries was excellent. I heartily recommend it. The opening act was not excellent and I would recommend not listening to her music. There’s no need to give her name. I don’t want her to search for her name and find that I didn’t like her music.
Calling Kaia excellent is an understatement. Kaia is as good as it gets. Last night she was joined by her usual bassist Andrew Ryan and for the first time at a show I’ve been to, Alec Spiegelman on clarinet, sax, and synth. You can’t do better than having Alec in your back up band. It’s not relevant here but he’s also a great songwriter. I’m going to see him perform next week. He’s very much a part of my musical circle but like so many others I have not seen him much since the plague hit.
I’ve seen Kaia countless times but noticed something new last night. Her primary instrument is the banjo. It has almost no sustain and creates a staccato sound. Kaia’s voice is smooth and lyrical, a legato, as are the clarinet, sax, and synthesizer. The effect of that contrast is part of her appeal. It gives her “a sound.”
What I have noticed before is the most important thing about her songwriting, she makes me think. Sometimes I get caught up in the music, listening to every part. Sometimes I get caught up in the lyrics and what she says in her banter. I’m pretty much always immersed in her songs. There is so much there, there.
I’m spoiled. How can I go to a show in an arena and pay $400 to sit hundreds of feet from the performer when I can sit right by a world-class performer like Kaia for far less money and get a hug as a bonus.
After the show I had a nice simple one train ride home. It was simple but delayed. I should have made it in an hour, instead it took an hour and a half. When I get up at 5:30 in the morning, that’s a big deal to me. My solution to balancing my work and outside life has become giving up sleep. I don’t want to give up sleep but I’d be in a constant state of FOMO otherwise. I can’t miss Kaia or seeing the Mets. Tonight I’m off and I’ll make sure to take advantage of it and spend the night watching TV and working on this week’s Gord’s Gold. Tomorrow I’m seeing the Mets, unless it rains, Saturday I’m seeing Carolann Solebello. I might see the Mets again on Sunday but I think not as the Knicks will be playing. My plan if I’m not seeing sports is to not get dressed and stay home. That’s part of the work/life balance too.
Wise Madness 