MySpace
myspace music my music  featured playlists  top artists  music videos  karaoke  shows  forums 


MySpace.com | rss | sign in
Kaiser Cartel



Last Updated: 11/17/2009

Send Message
Instant Message
Email to a Friend
Subscribe

Status: Single
City: BROOKLYN
State: New York
Country: US
Signup Date: 8/1/2005

My Subscriptions
melllll
Yuka Honda
snow pea

Blog Archive
[Older      Newer]
 /  / 
November 14, 2009 - Saturday 

Current mood:  breezy
Category: Friends
09/08/09  - Seattle, Washington @ Tractor Tavern 

In the late afternoon, as soon as we drove into town from Portland, OR, we headed straight to a radio show/interview, conducted by my good, longtime, friend from NYC, Jed Rosenswieg. It was another lovely, hectic, afternoon - and it felt like we were racing against time to make it Seattle. The show/interview for KBCS fm, was a pre-taped affair, so we had time to make mistakes, take songs again, etc. It wasn't our usual play-and-songs-and-go type of deal, which was nice. Jed was so thorough with his interview, generous as a host, that it was a lot of fun for us to come in and mess around in the studio. It's remarkably cool when old friends are also supportive fans, that help promote the music of Kaiser Cartel. Thanks again Jed!




It was our third show @ the Tractor Tavern, and it was a quiet, rainy, sunday night, The feeling of  'oh-god-gotta-go-to-work-again' seemed to be hanging over everybody's head, and I remember a somber tome in the audience. We came out and played to our most die-hardest fans in Seattle. People who were there ( I'm going to name names, you know who you are ) remarked on the direction of the new, harder-edged songs for our upcoming, 'Secret Transit' album. I liked that. The Tractor Tavern staff was totally great to us, yet again. Thanks to ALL @ Tractor Tavern. See you soon!

BC
4:20 PM 
0 Comments
(Add Comment) |
Translate
November 7, 2009 - Saturday 

Current mood:  fabulous
Category: Blogging
09/05/09  Fort Collins, Colorado @ Road 34

We played on the day of Tour De Fat, a combination bike ride/costume party in which hundreds of people from the town put on costumes, ride bikes, and get drunk. The event was sponsored by Fat Tire - a beer company, and was being held in 11 western cities.

It was obvious that Tour De Fat was easily THEE event of the weekend - I could tell by the sight of a great volume of costumed partiers in every corner of down town Fort Collins. Something about the event appealed to the college town, and I wondered what it could have been. Was the costumes? The opportunity to act completely silly? The Beer?

We played in the evening after most people in town had gotten totally wasted. We played our set to the drunken, slowly sobering, remains of the day. Some die-hard fans had come out as well. But there was no time to sign cds. We were there and gone from Road 34 so fast  that it made my head spin.




09/07/09  Portland, Oregon @ Doug Fir Lounge 

After an epic drive from Denver (stopping along the way in Boise, ID), we reached Portland. One of the most memorable things of this long trek, was listening to Anni Rossi's collection TLC songs, and Lil' Wayne on  the car stereo. 

After sound check @ Doug Fir, we hung out and ate dinner with some of Anni Rossi's friends, and some the Honey Brothers, the headlining band of the night. They turned out to be really cool guys. 

I talked with the drummer, Adrian Grenier, who plays Vincent Chase on HBO's Entourage. In the past he had been respocible for getting 'Season Song' on to a TV show called Alter Eco, so naturally I want to meet him and thank him.

We talked over our dinner and got to know each other, and asked me why he was getting sore wrists from drumming. I noticed he was holding his sticks - in a way that would indeed, give him very sore wrists, and told him to change his stick grip. I think he thought it was hilarious that he had been incorrectly for so long, and he said so from the stage when The Honey Brothers played. 
'Let's hear it for Kaiser Cartel, their drummer told me I was holding my sticks the wrong way.' Adrian was totally friendly, and easy going, and so were the rest of the band. I chatted with Ari, Andrew, and the tour manager and they were all totally cool. 

We hung out with them after the show as well. We all went out to a Karioke Bar and watched our good friend, and host, Rachel Robinson, sing a duet with Ari from The Honey Brothers. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at their performance.
A highlight for me was watching some dude, totally decked out in death metal gear, get up and do a note-perfect Slayer ( or somebody like that ) song, complete with hair flicking.


LAST, BUT SOOO NOT LEAST -
The crowd at the Doug Fir was also totally cool! I could feel our fan base building, and the energy in the club felt familiar - like another Minneapolis for us ( a far away city -that becomes familiar thru the warmth of real fans ). And as before, the staff were great as well - which always makes a big difference when you're constantly on the road. Doug Fir remains one of our favorite venues. And if you haven't there, and you're close to Portland, Oregon find a good show, and go immediately! Or better yet, wait for to come back, because we WILL go back, and we'll see you there!



BC

7:10 PM 
0 Comments
(Add Comment) |
Translate
October 27, 2009 - Tuesday 

Current mood:  excited
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities
Hey Fans,

More than 1 month ago, in September, Kaiser Cartel had 2 songs featured on the new HBO show, 'Bored to Death'. 'Favorite Song' from March Forth, on episode #1 and 
'Inside Out' ( also from March Forth ) on episode #2
You can view both episodes @ the two links below:





Since the airing of these episodes, a very low- key, youtube video of 'Favorite Song' - from a show @ Bell House, in Brooklyn has gained hundreds of views!!!

Observe the power of HBO and 'Bored to Death'... 
Thanks in advance for viewing this Youtube.com classic:


Thanks again to all our fans!

WE LOVE YOU!!!

-Kaiser Cartel

8:02 PM 
2 Comments
(Add Comment) |
Translate
October 26, 2009 - Monday 

Current mood:  enlightened
Category: Travel and Places

9/02/09   Evanston, Illinois @ SPACE (Society for the Preservation of Art & Culture in Evanston, Illinois) 

This was the night of our first show on the road with Anni Rossi and our second show at SPACE, which at this point has become one of our favorite venues in the Chicago metro area!
The crowd at the show were lovely, just a cool as you'd hope for, and so were all the folks at SPACE, whom started to feel like family. The Space people are exceptionally kind,  and good. It's one of the sweetest venues we've ever played. If you haven't been to SPACE - and you live in or near Chicago - GO. You won't be sorry.

We've also started to feel a growing love affair with Chicago audiences. They took a while, I'll admit. I think they'd been playing hard-to-get. Looking forward to the next trip to SPACE!



9/03/09 Des Moines, Iowa @ Vaudeville Mews 


We had played more than a few times @ the Mews by now, and this show might not have been the most thrilling experience in DM, to be quite honest. But the young, all-age crowd was filled with optimistic, un-jaded, energy, and this was a fun, shot of adrenalin for us. 

The other enjoyable thing about our early evening show, was watching our number 1, teenaged fan, Andrew Fish, do a solo performance to open the show. I felt like I was watching one of our fans growing up - before my eyes.  I got to meet Andy's dad too, and we talked about his boy. Mr Fish mentioned that Kaiser Cartel had big influence on his son, which immediately feel we'd become some kind of role models. Jeez, what a concept! 

That night I  could see - the more we go around and play in different towns, meet the locals, etc, the more I begin to feel somehow, personally involved in the lives the people in these towns. 


9/04/09  Denver, Colorado @ Hi-Dive


After a ridiculously long day of driving we reached Colorado. All I can remember from the drive was eating some truck stop food and being SHOCKED at how good it was. Or was it that I, through constant touring, had become a trucker and felt instantly at home with the food of my trade. I may never know the answer to this...

Another BIG THANKS to Bill Kelly and family, our very generous, hosts in Denver. Not only were they great hosts, but lots of fun to talk with - and jog with ( as I discovered on my morning run with Bill - before our show ) I think Bill gave me a run for my money. For the first time, in a while I felt I had to prove myself ( as a serious jogger) to someone else.

The show @ Hi Dive was fun because of the fact that WE Kaiser Cartel, for the first time were the headliners, and the audience were all there to see US. There crowd was totally cool, easily our best show in Denver! 
Also on the greatest hit list- for this trip to Denver, was a HUGE picture in the Denver Post to promote the show. There was great write-up to go along with the photo, written by our new friend,  Ricardo Baca. When we interview with Ricardo, he was exceptionally  easy-to talk with and, laid back. Thanks for the excellent interview Ricardo!

Without any further delay, here is said write- up:

Courtney Kaiser and Benjamin Cartel lead a charmed, if sometimes tricky, life.
The best friends tour the country as KaiserCartel, spreading their sugary-yet-substantive indie pop to the masses as they visit some of their closest friends across the lower 48. But they're also independent musicians, and that means broken down vehicles, inconsistent paydays and pay-as-you-go benefits.
It's a lifestyle that works well for the Brooklyn-based Kaiser and Cartel, who will drive into Denver for tonight's gig at the Hi-Dive in support of their forthcoming EP, "Rock Island." They were born for the road, as they've spent nine or 10 months of the last year on tour.
"We enjoy this kind of life with the travel and the music, and we're lucky to be able to do it," Cartel said via speakerphone last week. "It's special for us to do these shows in our friends' towns. One of the songs on our new EP is called 'Memphis,' and it's about a story that was told to us by our friend Brad Postlethwaite, who lives in Memphis.
"You're out here making music and touring all the time, and the people who are supporting you, they are everything. And they're the best people you could know. A lot of our new EP is about hanging out with those people, and some of the stuff we have on 'Rock Island' are about conversations we've had with our friends."
Sure enough, one of the "Rock Island" songs focuses on another long-distance relationship.
"My friend Matt Suhar has a booking agency and management company in Chicago, and I've known him for years," Kaiser said. "He's married, and they have a daughter, Stella. The song 'Stella' is about that family, Matt and Susan and their life. I love to go to Chicago and see them. The kids come to the sound check, and it's so great to be in their life for 24 hours.
"When I'm there, I play with Stella all day long. She wakes up at 6 a.m., and she's outside my door asking, 'When will Courtney be awake?' Because as soon as I'm awake, she wants to play and brush my hair and put it in ponytails. If I wasn't in a touring band, I'd have to fly there, and there's no way I'd see them more than once every couple years."
Traveling defines much of KaiserCartel's creative life. The band was in Denver in late July, playing a couple of big sets at the Denver Post Underground Music Showcase.
And the "Rock Island" EP, out Sept. 22, was hastily recorded onto quarter-inch tape after a lengthy, sleep-deprived drive from Colorado Springs (where they have some good friends) to Columbia, Mo., and eventually Rock Island, Ill., the home of the Daytrotter studio/blog.
The low-fi EP is the obvious result of a live recording sans overdubs. The songs, all originals save for a cover of Lucinda Williams' "Something About What Happens When We Talk," contain an immediate and raw electricity that is as stunning as Kaiser's blue eyes.
"When we listened to it, we could tell that we hadn't slept very much before the recording," Kaiser said.
Added Cartel: "But we also really liked it. At the time, we hardly knew what we sounded like. It sounds like an intimate, homey record, like we're in your kitchen singing to you."
The band recorded its debut, "March Forth," with producer Matt Hales of Aqualung in London. The songs were so undeniably winning that the duo went back across the pond to record their next full-length, tentatively titled "Secret Transit," with Hales. And now they're on their way to Los Angeles, where they will finish the recording for "Secret Transit." And play some shows. And hang out with some quality friends.
"It can be hard," Kaiser said. "The long drives are tough, and our management jams a lot in there. We'll play Nashville, and then have a radio gig in Louisville on the way to Cincinnati the next day. But to be able to get to a place and have someone you know, someone you're happy to see, it keeps you grounded."
-Ricardo Baca

BC
7:33 PM 
0 Comments
(Add Comment) |
Translate
October 22, 2009 - Thursday 

Current mood:  relaxed
Just had to share this great JustPressPlay review...

ROCK ISLAND EP
Written by Bryon Turcotte
Sunday, 18 October 2009



If you push through the sea of buildings, concrete, and hustle-bustle lifestyle that make up the New York City landscape, you will find many organic gems to make the blood inside your veins warm and comfortable. In the borough of Brooklyn there are two individuals who work together in life, love and music, to give us their beautiful, pure visions of music. Courtney Kaiser and Benjamin Cartel of Kaiser Cartel have mastered the art of touching souls through music as few, with as little as a guitar, voice and simple drum, have accomplished before. Since the debut release of March Forth in 2005, they have delivered a raw sense of perfection through numerous songs, performances and EP’s. Now, their gifts are again captured for all the world to hear. Five songs which, as I’ve read, were quickly recorded to quarter inch tape after a long road journey. These songs became their next short but soulful masterpiece, The Rock Island EP, which takes your heart prisoner at every listen.
“Carroll Street Station” starts the recording with a wonderfully simplistic and hooky shuffle with great spirit and harmonies. The depth, texture and warmth of this recording remind me of the wonderful songs of days passed when a needle-touching-vinyl created magic. A raw, bouncy tune with the grit and emotion of a classic Nashville 45RPM record, they start the EP off in the right direction. The heartwarmingly sad and melancholy “Stella” was written about their relationship with a friend’s family, especially their young daughter. “And you know I’m gonna leave the light on…just in case you come back late” brings a tear to my eye each time I hear the line. The lazy grit of every strum makes you picture the tenderness of every moment they felt with those children and that family. A warm water color painted with strokes of loving vocal and guitar. A sweet and perfect tribute to family memories was never documented so kindly. The brilliant cover of Lucinda Williams' "Something About What Happens When We Talk," is soft, sad and staggering. The combination of voices is brilliant in this tune with an overall mood of beauty and love. The line “the only regret is that I never kissed your mouth” is delivered by Kaiser with such desperation, Williams herself would cry for Courtney’s own heartache.

The tone and texture of “Memphis” is reminiscent of older traditional classics. It’s Mr Bojangles-quality comes through in it’s underlying swing. It’s another beauty which adds a different level of depth and warmth to this record. It will go on to be a classic for them in the future. The layers they create with their voices are heavenly and charming. The release ends with “Shira”, a less spirited song driven by the vocals of Benjamin Cartel. His voice is less enriching as Kaiser’s purity and emotion, but he holds steady and keeps his individuality above all things. The song is less infectious as the others, but it’s authentic, heartfelt emotions weep openly to the listener, which makes it and their other compositions consistently masterful. The pure vocal compatibility of Kaiser Cartel is a gift that we only hear rarely. When two can vocalize, compliment each other’s subtle inflections, and feed off their companions’s emotional texture, we are witnessing something higher than ourselves. A recording such as this should be held to the light to exhibit the brilliance of music captured in a pure form. There is no doubt that the genius of song is alive in Brooklyn. Thank you for sharing your gifts and soul with us.
4:45 PM 
0 Comments
(Add Comment) |
Translate
October 19, 2009 - Monday 

Current mood:  artistic
Category: Travel and Places
08/28/09  Kirksville, Missouri @ Kirksville Arts


For our first show back in the mid-west, we played at a cute, lil', college town of Kirksville, MO. We actually played in the town square out doors to everybody from the farmers, to the college professors, to the paper boys, and girl scouts. I think we rocked the professors, all the students, and the farmers too - but some of the farmers were troubled by our jokes about corn being 'EVIL!'

08/29/09  Indianapolis, Indiana @ The Vollrath

This show was a big, homecoming for Courtney - the born n' bread hoosier from Indianapolis. Lately we've had some really great shows back in Indy. The last time around , we played really great show at a combination performance/art opening in the back of a record store called 'Vibes' owned by our friend John Zepps.

This time around we worked with our good friend, and former roomate Molly Flynn. Molly was the booker, promoter, venue manager and managed to do a excellent job getting the show together. 

The Vollrath itself, was in a less-than-fancy neighborhood, and it was actually was a scarey experience for some of the people who came out to see us - sadly.  But the people working at the funky, old bar were really nice, and think the enjoyed that we had filled the room. Who wouldn't?! For us, getting to see a packed room full of great friends and fans was really not a bad thing at all - to say the least. Thanks to all in Indy for make it a great show!



08/31/09 - Chicago, Illinois @ Millennium Park Festival


This gig was a trip! We played in a tent, in the middle of a park, in the middle of the afternoon. I really didn't know what to expect, but fans turned up, as well as the midday, summer time, curiosity seekers. And in the end it felt like an almost normal, Chicago show. We sold and signed cds to strangers, and fans - as per usual in chicago. But it was strange to play so early. I felt like we had gone back to day jobs, but our day job was now more like our night job.


BC





9:56 PM 
0 Comments
(Add Comment) |
Translate
October 19, 2009 - Monday 

Current mood:  busy
Category: Travel and Places
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN...

You may be wondering "where have you been," faithful readers. It's been so long we've blogged about our touring. It is high time we catch you all up on what's been going on. So here it is, the beginnings of condensed version of the last 3 months on the road with Kaiser Cartel.

07/31/09 - Club Helsinki  
Great Barrington, Massachusetts  

For the first time, in a long time we played a show with my brother Milton. Club Helsinki in the Berkshires, was a folk/americana type of club, The staff at the club were kind, easy to work with, and helpful. The crowd were a laid-back, mature sort. Some had come up from NYC, and others from Boston. They sat in seats, ate, but were totally lively and responsive. It was very grown-up, respectful, warm-hearted night which was all the more reason it broke my heart a little to find out the club had closed -a few months later.

08/03/09 - IOTA
Arlington, Virginia

Our show at Iota was part of a sunday night show called 'The Federal Reserve' hosted by our friends in the band, These United States. There were lots of great DC area soloists performing @ the show. We were the featured artist of the night. Being in the 'spotlight' helped to build up the anticipation for our show. There were lots of fans from all over the DC area coming out of the woodworks and surprising us at the end of the night.


08/22/09 - Private Party
Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania 

We played @ a private party outdoors, under a tent while there was some seriously, heavy rain happening. We were in the suburbs of Philadelphia, and hosted by a kind and gracious fan named Danielle. 

At first we thought, 'Oh no, are we going to be rained out of our own show,' but alas, we are pros, and don't get scared away so easily. We managed to play a full show and NOT get wet. The people at the party were fun, good natured, and not scared of the rain either. Our potentially, soggy show turned out to be good times in the tent!

BC







5:15 PM 
0 Comments
(Add Comment) |
Translate
August 15, 2009 - Saturday 

Current mood:  determined
Category: Parties and Nightlife
US MIDWEST, SUMMER TOUR - WEEK 2

HIGH LIGHTS  /  LOW LIGHTS


Day 8
7/20/09 Carbondale, CO @ Steve’s Guitars

High Lights: Getting to play on some of the coolest vintage guitars I’ve ever seen. Looking up all the starts in the sky of Carbondale (you can hardly see any stars in the Brooklyn sky ). Last but not least, seeing that John Oats was coming to play @ Steve’s 2 nights after our show.

Low Lights: Knowing that Steve doesn’t want to part any of the best guitars in his shop.


Day 9
7/21/09  Colorado Springs, CO @ Shuga’s

High Lights: There always so much love and support coming from the folks in Colorado Springs and Shuga’s -just playing there is a high light in itself. That being said, one high light was drinking Shuga’s lavender lemonade. Another was drumming, joking, and taking pictures with 7 year old Sebastian (one of our youngest, Colorado, fans) after our show. It was waaaay past his bedtime, (and his mom’s bedtime too).

Low Lights: It’s always so hard to say ‘good bye.’


Day 10
7/22/09 Fort Collins, CO @ Hamiltons

Hight Lights: The self proclaimed, Wednesday nighters! We had a rowdy, heavy-drinking, crowd who kept the show fun for us -with all their hootin’ and hollerin'’. They were a totally random, unexpected, group of fun people, who made most of the show fun for Courtney and I.

Low Lights: The Wednesday nighters wanted to sing with us and talk to us, and wouldn’t stop hootin'’ and hollerin'’ as attempted to play a very quiet, intimate and unplugged, ‘Shira.’


Day 11
7/23/09 Denver, CO @ - Hi-Dive 
(Denver Post Underground Music Showcase)

High Lights: Wearing my new, fancy, black and aqua blue Rockmount western shirt on stage. Coolest shirt EVER! We got to go to the Rockmount store (in downtown Denver), meet Rockmount’s owner/manager. Another highlight was the actual playing of the show. The audience, was energetic and fun. We couldn’t have asked for a better return to Denver!

Low Lights: At every festival type of show, the sound, and set times, are always little hectic and strange. A usual ‘low light’ in the biz of being a band.



Day 12
7/24/09  Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive
(Denver Post Underground Music Showcase)

High Lights: I found a the perfect green tie at a vintage clothing store across the street from the club. We got to see some Denver friends,  hang out with John and Tammy of Dressy Bessy, and see Craig -our booker. We closed our tour by playing to a packed house at Hi-Dive!

Low Lights: At the second show, it was ridiculously hot in the club, and our show felt even more rushed than the night before. 


BC

9:53 PM 
0 Comments
(Add Comment) |
Translate
July 25, 2009 - Saturday 

Current mood:  busy
Category: Food and Restaurants
US MIDWEST, SUMMER TOUR - WEEK 1

HIGH LIGHTS  /  LOW LIGHTS


Day 1 
07/12/09 Garfield Artworks @ Pittsburgh, PA

High lights: Having our order taken by an 11 year old boy @ at a family run Pizza Restaurant -down the street from the venue (for dinner).

Low Lights: Waiting 30 minutes in Hamburg PA for breadsticks 
@ Pizza Hut (for lunch).

Day 2 
07/14/09  SPACE @ Evanston, IL

High Lights: An incredible audience, and amazing live room, and getting to listen to Jim’s recordings. Jim was the sound man who had recorded Benny Goodman, among many other legends of American music

Low Lights: Losing a video camera, searching all day for it, sitting heavy in traffic, while headed back to the venue the following day, only to find that the camera was NOT at the club.
.

Day 3
07/15/09 The Frequency @ Madison WI 

High Lights: The view from our hotel room -which overlooked and indoor water park!

Low Lights: We didn’t get to go swimming in the water park.

Day 5 
07/16/09 Minneapolis, MN @ Bryant Lake Bowl

High Lights: Having our friend Jeremy Messersmith join on stage for ‘Okay’. Playing an playing to our faithful Minneapolis fans! We LOVE you.

Low Lights: Making the-never-ending treck -driving up on 94 and 90 to Minneapolis. It always seems to take LONGER than you think.


Day 6 
07/17/09 Depere, WI @ Baba Louie’s

High Lights: Depere, WHO KNEW. What a  cool, scene with great bands and lots enthusiastic fans. Tom, promoter/booker, made us feel at home. 

Low Lights: Waiting and not knowing when and if the club would open, those 2 hours felt like an eternity.

Day 7
07/18/09 Des Moines, IA @ Vaudeville Mews

High Lights: Sharing the stage with our good friends Stephanie’s Id from Asheville, NC.

Low Lights: Leaving a drum seat behind @ the club.


BC

12:43 AM 
1 Comments
(Add Comment) |
Translate
July 11, 2009 - Saturday 

Current mood:  contemplative
Category: Writing and Poetry
06/19/09  Manchester, UK @ 02 Academy 

This was our second trip to Manchester, and it was an improvement form the first trip to Manchester. 

Two years ago - we played a show in London, then took an all-night bus to Manchester (a very bumpy ride), hung out in the bus station for a half hour - waiting for our Mancunian host to show up. I got threatened by a random drunk man who  came up to me to say," I saw you looking at me, if you look at me one more time I’ll f%$@in’ kill you!"

We took a 1 hour nap at our friend Jay’s apartment, slept on couches and chairs, then went to a radio station for an interview with Mog at ALL FM -while nearly falling over with exhaustion. We continued to be exhausted as we went on through the day - shopping, hanging out in a bar, eating (too tired to eat), playing a show, and then going on to skip another night of sleep. 

This time around, we started out from Bristol well rested from a night a t the Travel Lodge. We started to start out, but the van had battery problems, and we had to wait around for an hour or so - to actually leave Bristol. The trip was a smooth ride, and almost totally unmemorable. All I can remember is that we were happy to be eating the food from Thelka’s dressing room from the night before.

We got into Manchester with a few hours to spare. I think it was in Manchester that I dubbed all bottle openers - ‘chiiiit’ (the sound of a bottle opening) I would say excuse me do you have a ‘chiiit,’ when I needed a bottle to be opened. This was an endless source of amusement for me -all tour long, and continues to be. 

One memorable thing about this show was that Phil came up and joined us on drums for ‘Okay.’ He continued to be the ‘Okay’ drummer for the rest of the tour. For the record, Phil, I think you are MORE than just an ‘Okay’ drummer, you’re really good. THANKS! The show was a lot of fun. There were a lot of all-age kids, which always adds some excitement to what can some times feel like a well mannered, grown-up, and too mature show. The crowd was totally responsive - it was a pleasure to play for the Mancunians again. Thanks MANCHESTER. YOU ROCK!

We had some interesting feedback from the locals after the show. A man told me that coming out into the audience to sing the last song 'Shira' was ‘very New York.’  I had never thought of it as such, but now I put this question to YOU good readers. Is it a very ‘New York’ thing to do - walking out into the crowd? Is it American? Is there a city that gives birth to crowd-walking musicians more than other cities. Hmmmm, I wonder.

After the show Courtney and I went over to our good friend Tom Barnes’ house for a low-key after-party. Courtney went to bed. I stayed up for a while with Tom and friends, listening to country LP records on the phonograph, joking, talking about music, etc. Everyone played their favorite youtube videos. And by the end of the night I remember standing out on the deck watching neighborhood, would-be tough guys - passing down below on the street, and having somebody point to the area where Morrisey grew up - across Swinton Grove park from where we were staying.
 
And now, the ipod shuffle @ Baked (Red Hook, Brooklyn) - where I’m writing this blog, just landed on a song by the Smiths. Wow, cosmic!

To finish up -At end of the night in Manchester we managed a few very comfy hours of sleep, and felt a little more rested we had - last time in Manchester. I've got to admit, it's getting better.


BC
5:34 PM 
1 Comments
(Add Comment) |
Translate