Also on the bill was Drunken Barn Dance who sounded really cool, though unfortunately I had to run off to Jackson Heights to play another show. This one was set up by NYC singer/activist/bicycle-accident-survivor Gio Safari and took place in a 'pop-up' community book shop in an abandoned storefront on Broadway. It was another cool space to play in, though there weren't many people at the show. There were some very earnest young men and women, including Human Hands dueting protest songs in the Pete Seeger mold. I guess it's kind of heartening to think that this still happens in NYC. Gio himself is currently occupying Wall Street! Rage against the machine...
Here's Half Rational Animal playing a song at that show:
Before coming down to New York I played a show in Pawtucket, RI which was in a kind of dive bar with some, uh, 'characterful' locals. Everybody was really friendly and funny, but they were there to watch 'Wheel of Fortune', talk about baseball and to drink, rather than to watch music. So the show was just the musicians playing to each other. Luckily they were all lovely people and I enlisted Mike and Alex to play in my 'band' for the night. Alex played violin beautifully and Mike played drums like a cross between Keith Moon and Animal from the Muppets. It wasn't the most nuanced set I've ever played but it was fun to rock out a bit. I made $2 from the show, which covered half of my bus fare up from Providence, but I also made a couple of friends so I guess I'll call that a profit!
Here's The Honey Brown playing:
And the first show of the tour! This was in Allston which is kind of a run down part of Boston. Some kid at the show explained to me that "Allston is Anarchy". I'm not sure about that, but the Secret House of Pancakes, where the show took place, is definitely dealing in a kind of chaotic exuberance that is probably a lot more fun than actual anarchy would be. I played a short set because I felt like the young punk kids in attendance were probably waiting for something a bit more high-energy than I, still a bit jet-lagged and blurry feeling (not to mention being maybe the oldest person in the room!) was capable of giving them. Still, people seemed appreciative chatting after the show. After I played things heated up a bit both figuratively and literally. Here's a photo of 'Fort! The Band' playing. It was sweaty...
In between sets I went outside to cool down a bit and was surprised to find myself being assailed by a police officer. For the heinous and dastardly 'crime' of drinking a small can of lager in public sight I was told (by an impolite man with a GUN) that I could accept a ticket for $200 or accompany him to the police station. What a country! Luckily, he also implied that if I don't pay the fine, as a non-resident of Massachusetts, there's not really anything they can do about it. The kids standing next to me at the time are not so luckily. God bless America.
Well, strikes and gutters as is ever the case, but definitely a whole lot of fun so far. Tonight I'm playing in Brooklyn with the wonderful Prewar Yardsale, who I haven't seen since The Wave Pictures did a 3 date tour with them around 11 years ago! I'm looking forward to the show a lot and I'm delighted to be in New York City, which might just be the best place on earth in my book. The area (Ridgewood) that I'm staying in reminds me of Peckham in some ways and I don't have much higher praise for a place than that! Tomorrow I take the megabus down to Philadelphia and who knows what further adventure.
Alright. I hope everyone reading is well. Keep in touch and stay tuned for another update the next time I get a chance to use a computer.
Hugh
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