So I'm a little late on this here post.
Let's see if I can make it through the whole journey.
If you get tired of reading just skip to the bottom and watch the #22 music video with footage from New York. All filmed on a handy iPhone.
May 25th to May 31st I was not in the country, well I started off in the country.
Gina and I were drivin' to New York State for a collection of 4 shows.
May 26 Piano's
May 27 Kenny's Castaways
May 29 Freddy's Bar
May 30 Boulder Coffee Co.
THis was supposed to be a vacation for the 2 of us. The idea started out as a week in Cuba. Somehow we end up in New york with me working 4 out of 6 days...I can't say any of it was Gina's idea.
The morning of we were getting ready for our drive (it's only a 9 hour trek but we would stop half way in Pennsylvania somewhere to allow for more drinking in more cities)
I'm off getting a car wash, who get's a car wash the morning of a road trip? Wasn't my idea.
When I return home one of the dogs had diarrhea in the bed room narrowly missing my luggage.
Thank God.
Since i was out getting a pointless car wash I did not have to clean up said poop.
i'm one who likes new CD's when starting out a drive. Since I no longer steal music I went and bought
Fleet Foxes.
I've heard alot of good things.
Sadly good things did not come out of my car stereo speakers.
I don't believe I've removed a CD from my stereo faster.
I've tried to listen to it 3 times.
I give up.
Finally on the road, I threw in a mix CD I made USA A-OK.
As we are listening
less than a minute in Gina turns and says.
"You did put the Beatles on here you shit."
Gina does not like the Beatles. When in the company of anyone other than me she tames her disdain for them by saying something like "I don't hate them I just don't like all of their songs."
I say "They are one of the biggest bands in the world (or were)."
"I'd argue that."
I end this ridiculous conversation, since I am clearly in the right.
But I'm sure to hear more about it when the second Beatles song comes on...track 7.
Close to the border Gina takes over the drive.
I've been fretting, (oh ya I fret!) about the border because
1. I don't have a visa
2. I have 4 shows in the US
3. I have t-shirts and CD's hidden all over the car.
I've been told if they catch you trying to come over and play shows without a VISA you can get banned from playing there. Not sure if it's true but worry about it I did.
I figured a polite smiling girl would be better to talk to at the gate rather than a growly bearded nervous musician.
And of course in all my intellectual glory I was right and we sailed on through.
TO celebrate I said lets stop in a tiny town and find a place for a pint!
We find a place called Weedsport, NY
It had a wood screen door hat would slam closed behind you and above the washrooms read:
Mr. John L. Crapper and Mrs. John L. Crapper, respectively.
It had a collection of old white, grey, and balding men all seemed to be wearing white or tan shorts that showed an awful lot of thigh and white New Balance or fake nike runners all stained green from I'm assuming cutting the lawn. There were a few black and tan vests as well.
Happy Hour is a fantastic thing. It is not allowed in Ontario, because it is believed to encourage the act of getting wasted. I believe that an establishment that's purpose is to serve alcohol does that on it's own.
Here the pints were 2.50 but if you got a Coors $1.25.
I tried Magic Hat #9. Horrible.
"It tastes like food." I said passing it to Gina
"More like plasticine." Was her thoughts
She went with a Yuengling, which she quite enjoyed.
I think anything is enjoyable after Magic Hat #9.
Gina's iphone was not cooperating. It was our gps map and communication device to those back in Canada. All around it was pretty necessary, we thought. But it did not think so and refused to work.
So we had to travel old school with those giant paper maps that fill your car window like a sun shield.
Map folding is an art I do not have.
Gina has made a few odd comments and questions while on the road. Here are a few:
"What state are we in?"- after just crossing the Ontario border.
"There's not electricity in the car is there?"
"The more we drive south it gets colder. That's not right."
We are listening to a song by the band Jet. I say:
"10 points if you can tell me what country this band is from."
"California."
"Not a country, nice try."
Both of us were really surprised at how nice the drive through norther New York was. We didn't really have any idea what it would look like. but there are beautiful hills and mountains. THe only think that was not great were the dead deer every 3 miles and the amount of toll booths. Those yanks sure love toll booths.
Gina's a rule breaker.
Cutting through Pennsylvania, we were thinking of stopping in Scranton, only for the sake that we like The Office and that is where it was based but ended up stoping in Clark's Summit, on the outskirts.
Standard hotel that hosts lots of meetings. Seemed like a lot of sales men that worked for Verizon and Bell floating around everywhere. Best part was when we went to the pool there was a group of 8 men discussing a meeting they just had. Gina takes off her towel to get in the pool and the men, who were not able to see her turned there chairs and watched her swim. Very smooth gentlemen.
Nothing really happened in Clark's Summit. Except the discovery of this awesome salad.
It has Steak, Chicken, prawns, cheese and french fries. I believe there may be some vegetable like substances in there somewhere too.
In the paper Gina read that Scranton University students were being given the option of dropping out of school for $100,000 to start their own business. Oh, you crazy American economy.
THe next day we were heading to New York. still struggling with the paper map we made it to Manhattan.
We had some time so Gina wanted to go to Staten Island and get up inside Lady Liberty.
I on the other hand was wary about how much time we had before rush hour traffic. I had no interest in driving during that. Gina didn't realize you had to take a ferry over, so we went to Staten Island park or something like that and looked at her backside. What a sexy back it was. Justin Timberlake.
Off we go to our Hotel. We had to drive through the Holland Tunnel to get where we was gettin' to, and right before the tunnel was a sign it read "Lincoln Tunnel Left" and starts turning.
"What are you doing?"
"I have to go left!"
"No we go through the Holland tunnel it's is right there!"
"But it said to turn left."
"No the sign said Lincoln Tunnel left."
"What do I do? Get The map."
"We don't need a map. Just turn around."
So we get to our hotel at 14th and 8th. We are on the 5th floor. There are no elevators. Carrying my backpack, a guitar and Gina's suitcase in 30 degree weather was a work out. But having to climb up and down this thing multiple times was horrible. Everyday our key would quit working we'd have to go back down to get a new key scanned then back up again. My favourite time was when Gina for got her phone after just coming down, so back up I go, to find our key didn't work, then down get it switched over back up to get said phone then back down. I was damp.
THis hotel was in a great area across the Street Was Mc-something I can't remember but it was an Irish pub with not one but TWO happy hours. 12-7 and 12-2. Such a magical place it was. So basically 2 for one drinks every time we went in! on one particular afternoon I wanted a quick drink before we set out. I paid for the one and ended up drinking 5. (went back and looked up name McKenna's)
We met an Irishman by the name of George.
He moved to the US to marry a girl just to get a VISA after the marriage she got pregnant by some fellow in Texas. Because of some Texas law because they were married the kid had to be his. Crazy Texans didn't they know it was just a paper marriage?
He was a fun character but got drunk super fast. I'm not really sure if he stopped drinking from the night before to when we met him.
Another awesome place we discovered was this one
La Taza De Oro
This turned out to be our favourite eatery on the trip. We only got in twice on the third day it was closed for Memorial Day. But those black beans and rice were glorious!
Alot of the trip was exploring pubs restaruants, pizza places. Stuff like that. We were carelessly consuming. round bellies were expected on our return.
The first gig was at Piano's, upstairs. This was one of the hardest room I've ever played right up there with the middle bar of Ottawa's Pub 101. There was a bar underneath us that had full bands. and a bar just down the stairs that had a dj or someone's ipod blaring. plus we tended to be a bit of an overflow area so loud conversations were held all around us. Needless to say not many people were listening. but Gina went around and managed to score tips from everyone up there. Nothing wrong with a hot chick asking for donations.
Our friend Kelsey Warren from the band Pillow Theory came out and toured around town with us. You can see some of him in the video for #22. We went to Frites a place that does not put cheese and gravy on their fries. Here I thought it was common place.
THe next day We were going on a tour and Gina has a pouty look on her face before we leave.
"What's wrong?"
"You didn't say how I look."
"Well you didn't say how I look either."
"Yes I did!"
"What did you say?"
"I don't know but when I remember I'll tell you."
"Ha!"
Little did she know I remember what she said and it was the day earlier...I have nice calves apparently.
We do some exploring Rockefeller Centre Trump Tower, Central Park, half naked rippling abbed guys in Abercrombie Fitch.
The usual stuff.
At a stop light Gina says "I have a feeling." goes back to a short fellow at the light post and puts $5 in a satchel over flowing with bills. "How did you get like this she asks?" Turns out he was born that way. he has no legs and on his hands only thumbs. A perpetual thumbs up. She asks him some more questions I wasn't paying attention to turns out he is a public speaker, and a hip hop manager. He shows us his iphone. I show him my old 90's flip phone and then he shows us his ipad2. Gina you just gave money to the wealthy. When we said good by there was a slight, should I shake has "hand"? I kinda wanted to I grab his nub while he plays thumb war with the rest of my hand. Ah well, next time.
The next venue was quite a bit better. Kenny's Castaways. The sound was great, people hung out and listened to my whole set and I got to see Gina get up walk over and tell a bunch of cackling girls to be quiet and watch the show. Kind funny. I've been hearing more and more about performs telling the audience to be quiet.
During the evening instead of a drink up we did a pizza challenge. Every pizza joint we came across we got a slice. Here are a few Fat Sal's, Two Boat, Brick House, Ravioli. I didn't write down any other names but we went back to the hotel quite full. My favourite was probably John's, great pizza!
Brooklyn was the next stop. Freddy's bar in South Slope. The downtown area was dead Memorial weekend on a Sunday 30plus weather. People were at BBQ's or out at a cottage. Not a great evening for music. but play on we must. before we went to the bar we found a different bar called Quarter. I loved it nice vibe stiff drinks a great staff. After our gig we ended up back there for 3 or so more!
Freddy's bar is pretty unique but I was surprised that the bands were playing in the side off shoot room. down a hallway behind a door. The night started off with a full band then me, then an folk musician. Kind of the opposite of a standard musical night. The band( their name escapes me even though I bout a shirt, something about a Shark) Had cue cards for their chorus'. So even though we've never heard the songs we were singing along. Good idea, says I.
After the show we played a little guitar in the street while sitting on the back of a Truck. a roof top party was going on and some boys came down to bring us beer. Once again, I love New York.
Rochester was the next stop packing up in Brooklyn we sail northward. Nothing exciting on the drive as I recall. Just more dead deer.
Didn't see a whole lot of Rochester. But the Boulder Coffee House is a great venue. I'll be trying to get back over there sooner than later. just quirky art great lay out and shares an outside patio with a barbecue joint next door.
This is a long blog. I may have missed something here or there but that is the gist of the vacation/tour.
Here's is the music Video to #22 with footage from our New York venture. Hope you enjoy!
-Neil
www.eyeswide.ca
Wait one last Gina dig...
WHile conversing with someone I don't remember who, The Beatles came up again.
"I'm just more into music from the 40's and 50's." says Gina
"Oh ya who?" ask I.
"Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe..."
"What?!?"
I'm pretty sure the Happy Birthday to the President doesn't count as a top 40 hit.
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