New York City. These three
April 14, 2002
New York City. These three words can be so heavy now. The Philly show was fantastic. TheTower Theatre is legendary and the crowd is loud and ready to go from word one. Great to see Kevin Gandel and his buddy Dave after the show. They spent so much time on the first Odds fansite I feel I still owe them a lot. The change in running order and the efficiency of the crew really is turning the show into a well oiled machine that can still careen of the road in appropriately beautiful ways. Its humid now and things finally feel sweaty. This is an important component in a rock show so finally now there can be a crossover effect that integrates me into the sweaty comedy show. We listened to music on the drive to NYC and pulled through the tunnel and onto the north end of 6th Ave to the Black Crowes “Shake Your MoneyMaker” album. I think its an objective reality that that album ROCKS!! Whatever anyone says about the Crowes...if you crank up any rock that involves a cowbell and an open tuned telecaster...its a good way to pull into New York on a late night tour bus. My room faces north from the 35th floor of the ______Hotel. Dave Foley, “his significant other” & I went out for a pint at an Irish pub near Carnegie Hall. They were loading a show out the back. It was late and we peaked into the Russian Tea Room before wandered farther in search of a beer. So red & so gold.
Tonight things smell nice and there is a rock video “after the rain” gloss to the streets. For those of you who, like me, haven’t been here since last September’s events....New York is much bigger and more resilient than you imagine. Nothing is different until you go “down there”. I’m so relieved to feel how much of a solid cultural base is here. It still feels like it could lean into the arm wrestle for “centre of the world” and win in a heartbeat. There are so many people here to exert their personalities and live interesting lives that is seems like noone could ever extinguish the inner flame of this place. How could I have doubted that?
My doorbell just rang. Yes...its a “nice” hotel. I have a doorbell. It was someone from security to come to tell me that I didn’t lock my door properly. No lie. Are they on it or what? I’m on the 35th floor of this huge complex and somehow they knew I wasn’t safe and came to tell me at 3:13am that I hadn’t closed my door properly. This hotel room is a work of art. All the lights are designed to land on each object in such a dramatic way. Why is it that new York decides to build up a false sense of reality then smash it in front of you? It is truly the zen city. If you see the buddha on the road then punch him in the face. If you see me on the road just point me to the Buddhist vegetarian restaurant.