I feel like I just got my drivers license, my library card, and membership to the cool club. Now, If i choose to leave the Tri State Area, its all kosher. One important item has been crossed off the list. What am I getting at?
Yes dear internet blog companions, I saw David Byrne tonight. I was sick of hearing “oooh, saw him at a show” “I saw him on his bike in midtown” “I saw him doing karate in washington square park wearing a toga” Now, I have a comment to make. I saw him on his bike talking with some girl, possibly his daughter, in the east village with a bright yellow bike helmet. Let me say, he looks immaculate. Totally a badass if there ever was one. Time seemed to move slower around him. I think he might be from the future, his hair is completely silver. Isnt that what people from the future look like?
The day was hectic in all sorts of ways. In the afternoon, I was sent out to record The Coen Brothers, directors and writers of my favorite movie ever throughout past present and David Byrne’s future….Big Lebowski. It was intimidating to say the least. It was either in their house or office or whatever it was, this ridiculous building in Tribecca. They occupied the whole thing, several floors, a few offices, and what looked like the most Pimp-a-licious Living room ever, although I only got a glimpse of half of it, because the stairs went down to it (it was 2 floors high). Very Serious Business. The interview itself was uneventful, they just got to it and left, but it was cool to sit alone in a room with the minds that created the greatest movie of our time or anyone elses. I was gonna ask them about it, but in the interview they said “people come up to us all the time on the street and quote Big Lebowski lines…and we’re not really sure what to say to that” So I just left it alone.
Last night we completed the move out of our temporary greenpoint secret bunker/home base. It was bittersweet, but lets hope better things are on the horizon. One thing is for certain, a Honda Fit is a Badass Automobile. Inside it, we fit an entire drum kit (3 huge drums) a snare, 2 cymbal bags, hardware the size of a person, 2 giant PA speakers, the PA head, a small tube amp and a seat. All this only in the back. Had someone needed a ride home, I could have provided it. Kudos to you Honda, I am doing a quiet clap right now in your honor.
Here is a youtube video that showed up recently, feel free to comment if you think I’m playing terribly and should shush it already. Please notice the excellent back up vocals from the rhythm section, and if you look closely at the end, you can see my extremely embarrassed expression when I knock over a rack tom:
Its my blog, I’ll post self indulgent band pics if I want to, ok? Am I not allowed one frikkin moment of glory to search flickr? Some dude took a great series of pics here:
And I want to give him a hi five. Lovely composition on those shots, flickr man. I especially like the way you caught my Excorcist/Alien moment. OK, now that we’re done with that, lets move on.
I had my 2nd workshop and first private lesson in a long time with Billy Martin this weekend. I spent several hours working on the material which I had severely slacked on this week, bringing my ability to somewhere between severe amateur and slightly less severe amateur. He built a barn out in his yard which now houses the lessons and workshops, and its pretty much my goal in life to have one. It creates this secluded vibe, where the only thing that exists is some percussion related voodoo. Wonderful stuff. I also feel slightly more confident in my ability as a drummer.
One Mister Paul Wagner solved a problem we had been having recently, and its pretty much going to make your brain explode with awesomeness. Ready? Our gate openers for our newly accessed parking lot would not work in the morning. This caused several minutes of delay getting out. So, the Wagner postulates that if we bring the gate openers inside, they will work in the morning, because the cold drains the battery. So i agree to test the theory in exchange for co authoring credit on the paper we’re going to submit to the scientific journal of gate opener medicine. Lo and Behold….BOOM! It worked. Yes, I know it’s going to be hard to continue your day after this.
Tonight will be a sad night. It is our last practice in our Meserole Avenue luxury condo/gold coast of Greenpoint rehearsal space. The bad has begun to far outweigh the good, due to some unprofessional shenanigans. There is this band of hoodlums who practice before us on Sunday nights, and we’ve pretty much narrowed it down to them. They’re not necessarily bad guys, just sketchy as hell. You almost feel bad for them at times. I’ve confronted them on several occasions, and they get to scared to even respond. Their voices shake, they cant form sentences. No, not making it up. I mean, we’re all aware that its my extremely gruff and intimidating biker personality thats causing this incredible fear, but really, come on. Pull yourself together man, just answer my questions. “Listen man, I can clearly see that you don’t own hi hat cymbals, but please stop using mine. You’re going to break them by putting them away incorrectly” “uuuh, but, i-uh, have cymbalss, uhhh somewhere”. They broke my hi hat stand, they used god knows what of ours, my PA no longer works correctly, all sorts of garbage.
The most confusing thing happened this weekend though. Our guitar player keeps his amps in serious road cases. Metal latches, giant heavy covers. To prevent people from getting to them, he stores them under 2 giant pedal board road cases, each weighing many many pounds, underneath yet another giant Pelican case of random things. You really have to be dedicated to remove this stuff. So, he goes through this elaborate disassembling process to practice. And things have been moved around. Not only that, the power was left on, after the amp was unplugged. Really, what? You’re going to use someones amp, who clearly does not want you using it, then you unplug it while the power is still on? Like, seriously? Who is that dumb? You’re lucky if the amp doesn’t explode, or some weird power failure kills all the tubes, or any number of things. For real guys, I just don’t understand you. We’ve thought about borrowing someones dog, and leaving it in the rehearsal space for a few hours after feeding it some ridiculous food. Anyone have a pet we can borrow?
Here on the blog, we never really discuss personal issues. I stick to music and food mostly, occasionally work. No one wants to hear that stuff, its not entertaining. Today was set up in theory to be a wonderful day. I had taken most of the day off after a brief but hectic morning recording session, and was scheduled for an all afternoon drum workshop, and some running around, which cut me off from nearly all forms of communication. Sometimes, thats the greatest thing in the world. You’re not really one with nature because of it, but you’re one with something, maybe its just a time for self reflection. Sometimes it causes stress. I’d like to go on a big tour or something, not check email or answer the phone for 3 months, it might provide some inner peace, music seems to do that for me, who knows. I’ve been learning a lot recently, positive and negative. Its all been some quest. Sometimes you’re looking for something that isn’t there. You buy the book, study your parts, learn some crazy ass chord inversions and think “this is totally going to blow everyone away”, then you don’t get the gig. What can you do though? You keep practicing, because it must be somewhere, right?
The workshop was with Billy Martin, as previously mentioned. There were 4 students set up in his barn, with an extremely hot wood burning stove. It felt great to be playing strange rhythms with people I had never met before. Its still fun when he interacts on a cowbell or something, I find myself listening very hard, really just trying to get inside the mind of percussion. Even on just a bell, or single drum, you can see why he’s such a respected drummer. Its hard to explain, it just works.
The quest will continue into the weekend, I have one more workshop and a lesson. Maybe I’ll come out of it on the other side of the mountain, musical shaman, accomplished percussion master. You never know. I’ve been outside too much in this cold, I think its getting to me.
Well, its 12:05 am , and I just finished work for the day. It was broken up into 3 sections, but its really too late to be doing any sort of job.
I found this pic on Flickr, it made me chickle a bit:
The internet is such a strange thing, you never know whats going on. Check out that ugly ass piece of Duct tape i stuck on the kick head to make it ring a little less. It really ruins that whole stenciled line motif i had working though, such is life.
I was just involved in a ridiculous ebay dispute with some dude from Canada, it went to paypal court, its a frikkin mess. I think I killed it by offering him $50, which is worth it in the long run, shipping bass drums to Canada is not fun at all.
This has been and will be an intense educational week. 4 lessons altogether- 1 Brazilian guitar, which is proving very difficult yet rewarding, 2 West African Polyrhythmic workshops, and 1 regular drum lesson. The last 3 are with my recurring percussion hero, Billy Martin, so it will be an intense and intimidating week. I’m hoping seeing him at the workshops before the private lesson takes out some of the nerves when he asks to hear a drum solo, or it might make it worse, you never know. I am happy about the fact that there has been much drumming happening this month previously, so I hope to be in ok shape.
Sleep seems like the most awesome thing on earth right now, I hope to have a dream about being a viking, or perhaps another mid evil warrior, or maybe just sitting at a giant table, eating a wonderful sandwich. I’ll let you know how it goes.
I was lucky enough to re-join the April March crew, and play a New York show at The Bowery Ballroom Friday night, opening for the band Au Revoir Simone. I was incredibly excited, and surprised more than anyone that it actually happened, I really did not imagine I would get to play there…so If I get a little excited on this here blog-thing, don’t take it as some ego maniacal douchebag rant, it just means I felt like a five year old who was given an awesome toy machine gun, or whatever makes kids happy these days. Maybe a Wii? I have no idea. I guess its all relative, the Bowery to some is a small venue, compared to, say, an arena, but if you’re used to playing small clubs…its like a stadium in comparison, so theres that.
The practices with this group were a lot of fun. We had some long sessions, which I always enjoy, because practicing drums alone in a room gets old fairly quickly. And as crazy as it is…its true, that playing a bunch does make you better. Yes, I learn basic logical concepts more every day…damn you logic and the need for dedication.
Playing out in the New York area as a drummer sucks, plain and simple. In most situations, you are forced to use a house drum kit, on which the heads have not been changed in years, and sounds as if you’re hitting cardboard boxes filled with newspaper. So, we were told to bring our own gear for this show, I did a small victory dance, which might have been more than small.
It was just altogether different than I’m used to. The rest of the band is far more experienced than I. Sure, I’ve played more punk rock VFW shows than you can shake a stick at, but when the others’ stories start “So when we opened for U2 in Glasgow….” ya kind of feel like…yeah. So, this to me, was living the life. For instance, we had an actual sound check. Again, to some, this may not seem that cool, but really, its a rare occurrence. If you had hit me with a truck at this point in the evening, I probably would have still been content. My kick drum was incredibly loud and awesome, which I guess is a straight up ego thing, like dudes who make the engine in their Honda Civic really loud and race down the boulevard.
The show was sold out, which made everyone very happy, but nervous that our friends wouldn’t be able to get in. I told some people just to get tix at the door, so I felt like an ass for that. It was silly. Just plain silly. The Bowery holds a lot of people and it was truly packed when we went on. Usually, there is like a 7 foot gap between the stage and where people want to stand in the crowd at a bar show. In this case, they were right up front, as illustrated here, in a pic I found on Flickr:
Check out all that spacious legroom! I mean, for me, it doesn’t matter, but for the rest of the dudes, yeah! Also, please take note of our matching Pink Outfits, we felt very slick. I really didn’t want to be that guy who snaps a picture from the stage, but my camera was in my pocket anyway, and I just completely didn’t think about it. Thats probably a good thing. It really went by in the blink of an eye. I started a few songs too fast, knocked over a rack tom in a fit of fill inspired glory, and did a false ending on one song….but I didn’t drop a stick, didn’t spill water on myself, and didn’t mess anything up too bad. Some dude even mentioned me in a review, although he talked a little smack on the show overall, so I might have to rough him up, which should not be a problem, you’re all aware of my intimidating biker personality:
Really, the reason it says that is because I have several Jersey Girlâ„¢ friends who drank an incredibly amount, bought advance tickets, and screamed ferociously when I was introduced. I turned to Blasco and said “I guess my mom showed up” but no one heard me. I think the review dude just didn’t get the style of the whole thing overall, so I’m not going to review the review, people have opinions, its cool.
Everyone performed at the top of their game, all the instruments and voices sounded totally badass. Our bassist was running through a giant ass Ampeg SVT and a 2×15 cab, the guitars both through Twins…wonderful sounds all over the place. We got to relax after the show, drank some delicious Patron Anejo, and listened to Au Revoir Simone, who were truly fantastic. We were hanging out as they did vocal warm ups, their voices are so endearing, like you want to just bake some cookies or something and be happy. They were also incredibly nice to all of us, and shared their dressing room, so I love them. We actually have the rehearsal rooms next to each other at our space in BK, which is ironic.
There is a Lyle Lovett song called “All Down Hill From Here”, which is funny, because there was a drunk Texas girl who snuck into the dressing room and accosted myself and our guitar player, telling me that he looked like Lyle Lovett, which I don’t see at all. Maybe because he’s tall? So who knows. I’m sure the next public event I play will put me right back in my place, in an empty bar, and I’ll be yelling at the sound dude to give me more of something in the monitor and he’ll be all “Shut the hell up, you don’t even HAVE a monitor, dude!” But for the net few minutes, I’m going to enjoy it. So I owe much gratitude to the crew involved, Elinor, Blasco, Christian, Nick and Stacy, who are all incredibly awesome, and the ARS crew for asking elinor to play, hi fives all around
If this rain right now stays as rain, that would probably be ok with me. I’d love to take a snow day, but it’s just not in the cards this week. Maybe next. Where is Al Gore when you need him.
Its been a weekend of very long practices, and I really can thing of nothing else I would rather do. It feels like the best therapy I can think of. In recent weeks, its been kind of a musical hiatus, playing only short amounts and things like that. But getting back into it, playing 3 hours a night, it just reawakens things. Some say “work begets work” is that the correct spelling? I don’t know, it makes sense though. I feel like I’ll take weeks or months off from playing seriously, then hit it very hard all at once. Maybe its not the most efficient way to live, but it works for now.
Some people drink a lot, and express their love to everyone they know. I want to do that after practicing. So if you get a text message from me, professing my undying love for you, yes, of course I mean it, just take it with a grain of salt. Like, you look around at the musicians with you and think “Oh my god, I absolutely LOVE our guitar player! is there a better bass player alive? NO! The other guitar, how awesome! vocals?? YEAHHH!!!!” I know I’ve lost my mind, but its cool, these things happen. It could all change at the drop of a hat, and you’re in a room full of enemies.
Totally different note, I know Paul Stanley lives to win, but this shit?
http://paulstanley.com/
You call that painting? Really? Come on Paul, I expect a little more from you. Do as the song says.
I might have the opportunity to go on a Cheesesteak Road Trip later this week, I will let you know how that goes.
I watched about 5 min of the movie “The Wizard” featuring a very young Jenny Lewis. I could not stop cracking up. That girl had some ATTITUDE back in the day. The movie was god awful, but seeing her opposite Fred Savage was kind of fun. I dont know if Savage got to make out with her in a final scene, i’m guessing he did, and that he feels pretty awesome about that right now. He definitely got a lot of Post Hipster Cred for that role.
Sometimes, I really want to work in a corporate office. What type of office? It doesn’t matter. I’ve been discussing this plan recently, let me know what you think. I’ll start in the mail room, as the guy who pushes around the mail cart, giving witty quips to the corporate masses, brightening their day just a bit. I’ll continue until some head honcho decides that I’ve got the goods to go far in this business, and he’ll stick me somewhere in middle management, where I can slip through the cracks, until I save up enough money to move to some remote country and become a Goat Herder. I feel like thats pretty realistic, no?
I took that Goat Herder idea from a professor I had, whose name was Moe. He probably had the greatest impact on my life out of any educator throughout my career as a student. One day in some sort of audio class, I believe it was called Audio For New Media, he was demonstrating a program called Super Collider. This guy was a phenomenal guy. He had this old school mac laptop running OS8 , and he would just show us random little ideas, or give us assignments such as “Do Something Cool”. But it didn’t at all seem like he was slacking, he truly believed in each assignment. Anyway, Super Collider has this thing called “Grain Pitch Shift” which basically fucks up any sound put into it beyond belief. So he’s giving a lecture on how it works, and has a little microphone attached to the laptop. As he’s speaking, this thing is processing his voice in ways no one can imagine, at random intervals, just making fantastic noises, each building on the next, because its feeding back from the speakers in the room. So, as his lecture culminates in this mess of noise, he has us start tapping on our chairs. Its like an army charging…then he closes his eyes and says “Now, if you would join me…..OOOOMMMMMMMM” and starts singing this meditative note….wow. It had a profound impact. Much like Sedaris’ Chrystal Meth period, I went into conceptual music, only without the Meth. I would go up on my roof at 2am to record the sound of the city, then combine that with the black keys of my broken Rhodes piano only on the left channel of a recording…the white keys in the right. Supercollide some drums….Watch Out John Cage. Yes, the period was brief and silly, and the point of this story I’m not so sure, but the signifigance is in there somewhere.
His whole theory on computers, was that you need to find a machine you can be friends with. Get to know it, treat it with respect. I think this is something most music people try to do. We like to give super powers to pieces of hardware. A little bit of mythology, maybe some voodoo, some vibes if you will. In reality, gear is just gear, right? But I could swear there are times when my Elvin Jones Drum is affecting the feel of things. Or like some old drum will just react differently to certain songs and players…who knows.
Cuica Sugimoto and I recently revived our hopes and dreams of becoming professional gymnasts. I’m totally paying the price for that right now. Lifting my arms above my head is not so much happening today. If there was a way I could make a career out of jumping into one of those foam pits, I would be totally set for life.
I had a thought this morning, then I totally forgot it. I tried to remember all morning, and it just wasn’t happening. I was trying to follow my thought process to recover it, but nothing was working. Then, TB said “why do all old bands who try to sound new suck?” THAT WAS IT! not the most revolutionary of thoughts, but it was important.
The problem is the word “modern”. Whenever a band attempts to sound “modern” they’re already too late, its happened, done. Boston took like 15 years to make that last album sound current, and it was God Awful. Chuck Klosterman has an essay in his recent book about 70’s and 80’s bands still touring the cruise ship and casino circuit. His main focus is Journey. They continue to release albums of new material, but no one at all notices. I quote Eric Tarn: “How many bands who have been around more than 10 years make albums better than their early stuff?” We really couldnt think of many. I said Wilco, he said “if Wilco released an album of Tweedy hitting a wall with a telephone book, you would still buy it” I said “you’re right.”
I really don’t think there is a band out there doing such. Maybe the error is in the approach? Klosterman says “When an older band tries to sound modern, how come it just sounds like a bunch of old guys trying to sound modern?” And there it is. Maybe if these bands continued t try and write Power Ballads it would work? I don’t know, I’m sort of changing my mind as I write. On 2nd thought, they should give up on releasing new material altogether. Tour all you want, play the hits, but stop releasing albums, unless you’re going to get weird and stay creative. Some fine examples would be David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, David Byrne, and Elvis Costello. None of these artists ever hit a standstill, they just kept going, no matter their level of success. Wait (I really just noticed this) They are also not bands, thats a huge thing. Here’s my conclusion;
If you’re in a band, you’re screwed. Enjoy your success while it lasts, hope that your publishing will pay for your retirement, or hope that you’re in The Rolling Stones, because thats pretty much all you get.
I don’t know what brought this on. Maybe its this new cd compilation I picked up, its 1 song from each of Bob Dylan’s Sirius radio theme shows. Not Dylan songs, but old roots music he picked out for the show. Phenomenal stuff. Weird things I never imagined existed. Great soul singers, perfect saxophone solos, a few classic tunes.
The main one was “I Put A Spell On You” by Screamin Jay Hawkins. I think most of us know this song in theory, but this was the first time I have actually listened to it, and I’m pretty sure it changed my life. I just Wiki’d that shit. It was recorded in 1957. Go listen to it, and tell me a record made in the years since then that sounds better. I don’t think you can do it. Its 100% completely perfect. All the sounds, the spookiness of the vibe, the feel of the room, the arrangement….wow. The main horn and bass line do a call and response thing with a Banjo, I just can’t get over it, and will have to steal that.
Also, there is this, which is some very serious business:
When Tipper Gore and the PMRC went on their crusade to put warning labels on albums in the 1980’s, there was all sorts of hooplah surrounding the big ass senate hearing they set up. 3 of the musicians called to testify were Frank Zappa, John Denver, and Dee Snyder of Twisted Sister. To everyone’s surprise, Denver gave a badass testimony, standing up against censorship, supporting the heavy metal bands these housewives were against. Dee Snyder, surprised by his response said “if anyone talks the smack about John Denver, I will kick their ass” This is all historically accurate. Today, I feel like Dee Snyder. I think he’s even Jewish.
I was sent out to record an interview with Donny Osmond this evening. Its not like I had much against the guy, I just figured we wouldn’t gel because of our conflicting interests. He’s a little “Puppy Love”, I’m a little “Run To The Hills”. His hotel was in the middle of hell, Times Square. The elevators were packed with extremely loud and irritating tourists, and it was 3 degrees outside while carrying several large bags. Not the makings of a pleasant evening.
So, I get to his room on the 30th floor. We shake hands, exchange hello’s, and I begin the setup. I put my bag down, and he goes “Hey, do you want some chocolate?” I mean, you can’t resist that…it was the dark stuff! So, he has set off on a good foot. Round 1- Mr Osmond. As I begin to unravel things, he starts talking shop about recording, and we have a good conversation about technique and equipment. I guess he’s been around it all his life…he knows a few things. Then he goes “Yeah, I used to use Nuendo, Elliot Scheiner told me about it” well…Scheiner is pretty much responsible for the recorded sound of Steely Dan. You’ve won this round as well, Osmond. The interviewer calls on the room phone, and we get to work. It was a documentary about the Jackson Five. He tells some genuinely interesting stories, and shares some insight. I’m no journalist, but I’m guessing this is what the point of an interview is. At the end he goes “Ok Steve, ready to start recording?” Yes, its an old trick, we’ve all used it after the dude in the band does that one take of the end of a song where he runs around the room screaming his head off, bursting blood vessels around his eyes, then we go “ok dude, we’re ready to start now” (Remember that one?)…but I chuckled. Yes, he had me at “want some chocolate?”
Then the most surprising thing ever happened. We stop recording, I start breaking down…and so does he! He’s taking off the pop filter, unplugging the mic, he even rolled the cable up! Normally I would be like, “no, i got it, dont worry about it” but I was so genuinely stunned, I couldn’t get the words out! So, that was that. Game- Osmond. He’s a good dude in my book.
PART 2
Post Osmond, I went a bit downtown to see Hubert Sumlin at a jazz club. Sumlin was Howlin Wolf’s guitar player, he’s one of the few remaining true blues legends. When I was about 13, I was taken to a badass dive bar (an actual one, not like some current east village shit with 9$ beers) to see Sumlin, with Jimmy Vivino and Al Kooper. I was blown away, just virtuosity all over the place. As Hubert left the stage, he came right over to Skater Punk Steve, with the band still playing the walk off song, he grabs my hand and shakes it for a minute, and leans over to my dad and said he felt good to see young people there. I felt badass for several years, until he released an album in which the liner notes had pictures from that night…with KEITH RICHARDS sitting in. Yeah, we left before the late set, thanks man, you couldn’t have said “Stick around, good stuff is happening later” eh? bitch. Years later, I met him during a live radio thing and told him I saw him when I was 13, he looks at me and goes “how old are you now, 2?” I was really confused, and just walked away.
Anyhoo…tonight his band was Vivino (from conan obrian’s band) Bob Dylan’s bass player Tony Garnier, and David Johansen on Vocals, of The New York Dolls, and Buster Pointexter. Yes, the dude who sang Hot Hot Hot. Well, we all knew enough not to mention that tonight. It was the perfect matchup. There are 2 white dudes alive who can probably sing closer to Howlin Wolf than anyone, and they are Tom Waits and David Johansen. Also, the juxtaposition of a punk dude who used to dress in drag playing with a blues legend is just too awesome. Here’s a photo:
Hubert, being easily in his mid to late 70’s, Tore It Up. The band plays the complicated stuff, he just solos, but its really tasteful stuff! Johansen also had an extremely cool leather jacket. Anyone who has seen a recent New York Dolls photo will know, he weighs probably about 100 lbs, literally. He’s all bones. And just as I had hoped, they played “300lbs of Heavenly Joy” A fat dudes ode to the woman who loves him- “Hoy Hoy, I’m your boy, you get 300 lbs of heavenly joy” The irony was not lost on us.
Vivino also was just stellar as a band leader. I learned my first blues riff from watching him back up Johnnie Johnson at the Turning Point in my younger days. They only gave him about 2 solos, as a good band leader just backs up everyone, but when it was time, he blew everyone away, the picture of tastefulness and skill. Genius.
Everyone sat on stage, I desperately wanted Johansen to get up, grab the mic stand and Strut a bit, but lo, twas not to be. He did start clapping and dancing a bit while seated… I sort of caught that here:
Overall, good music. In recent years I had given up on the blues genre, I just don’t believe it when its coming out of some really famous guy, or some kid who plays too fast and shit. But this 70 yr old guy who wrote many many classics, yet never got too much credit, its still the real thing. To have some Glam Rock thrown in is not a bad thing either.
Well, the 2nd annual end of year T Bone and Steve-0 celebration occurred last week, tying up all the loose ends, closing the book on 2007. We’ve grown a little older and perhaps wiser, perhaps not. This event was scheduled at Peter Lugers in Williamsburg, the greatest steak venue on earth.
One thing is for certain, our alcohol tolerance has grown. In Dec 06 when we stepped up to the bar and ordered some Scotch, we felt like badass professionals. Little did we know, we were not. They gave us each a very large glass. One beverage was too much to handle, leaving us in a steak educed euphoria that seemed to last for weeks. This year, we were a little more weathered. My favorite part of the evening is that the bartender said “Enjoy your meal, boys”. It made me feel like a 9 year old in a suit my mom made me wear to a Bar Mitzvah, and really, that feeling is priceless.
So they don’t give you a menu. The waiters are very old school, only accept cash, and you make reservations weeks in advance. You say “steak, spinach, potatoes” they say “anything else?” you say “bacon? ” they say “bacon!” and thats it. Also, an appetizer of humongous tomato and onion slices, just phenomenal. Overall, its the most expensive yet simple meal I have ever eaten, but worth it in all aspects. The tables feel ancient, the restaurant itself is over 100 yrs old. Here is an iphone pic of our dinner:
It was just plain scary. The plate they serve it on is literally 400 degrees. You order it a little underdone, then cook it on the side of the plate. I’m not kidding at all. Here I am, contemplating important things, such as eating:
While I contemplate, TB attacks. Notice the Official Blown Mind look on his face, complete with near eye explosion:
And finally, peaceful solitude, complete with beverage:
We destroyed the steak, and 2007. I ran like 11 miles that week, so I figured it just about evens out. We also read somewhere that the meal had less calories than a Big Mac…I’m not sure how true that is. I’m determined to get desert afterwards next year.
2008, who knows. There will be no New Years Eve re-cap, or any shenanigans like that. I woke up on new years day, and as if in some sort of trance, went to do some work. It was very peaceful- the studio is in times square, so it was completely dead. I’d like to make this year a more music centric thing. Its not as if I’ve neglected music, but if I could be one step closer to being Steve Weiss: Mega Producer/Musician/ King Of All Sounds, it would be nice. There are several projects on the horizon which I am excited about, much sound to be made.
I just ordered a “Copperphone” this strange microphone which sounds all distorted and whatnot. There is one dude that builds them, I was wait listed for a minute, but it finally came through. It looks really weird, kind of like a mix between a gun and a mic. I’m hoping its the key to making my golden pipes shine. I was describing it to my friend BUD and he goes “dude, why don’t you just go out and get an old phone and make it into a micrphone?” I thought for a sec, and didn’t really have a response. I felt a little ridiculous. But really, I’m not resourceful enough to do something like that, and I would definitely break an old phone while recording.
My ebay addiction was briefly revived last night. It has been well documented throughout these pages. There was a time I would drive to the ends of the earth for a drum with some restoration potential, and those days have calmed down just a bit. On one occasion I drove to rural upstate New York, long out of cell phone range, the guy told me to watch out for bears. He could have easily killed me, thrown me in a ditch, and no one would be the wiser. But…he was incredibly nice, we hung out for a bit, and I bought 2 old school Gretsch kick drums from him for $30. But, as ebay often goes, these drums did very well and will now finance a gear purchase. I have a huge list of things I would like, but I’ll probably do something stupid, like see an accordion on the CL and somehow rationalize it. Maybe an electric mandolin, or maracas.
