A pretty eventful past few days was had. On Thursday night, i went into the city to see my neighbor Rachel's band play at the C-Note in the east village. This was the show I was supposed to play with them. It turned out to be a very good thing that I didn't, mostly because I underestimated how much time I would need to practice with James for our show on Sunday. But back to Rachel's band. They sounded pretty good. Their new guitarist and new drummer sound pretty good, but I must admit that I liked their old guitarist and drummer much more. They sound more dream-pop now, and they used to have a nice rock and roll edge. Anyway, Rachel told me she would put me on the guestlist, but I figured she'd forget, so I didn't even bother asking. After the show, she asked me if I'd gotten in for free, because I was on the guestlist. That sucked. She offered to pay me back, but I did the polite thing and refused. I would've felt extra weird asking if I was on the guestlist and wasn't. This terrible cover band played right after them, and I couldn't understand why they were even there. They opened with a "Purple Haze" cover, and it was all downhill from there. I didn't mind paying the seven bucks to see Rachel's band, but the longer this band played, the angrier I got.
So after we'd had enough, we left. I went with my now-former neighbor Miss Charming Melodee and her friends to the Life cafe on east 10th and Avenue B for a bite and a drink, then over to some bar on 10th and 3rd ave. Lots to drink there. Miss Charming Melodee's friend was leaving for Yale over the weekend, so it was sort of a last night out affair. She and another friend sprung for champagne as well, which I'm sure was needlessly expensive. But it was a very nice thing to do. Then someone got the idea to go to a karoake place on Ave. A. So off we went. I'd never done karaoke before, and had adamantly refused in the past. But I was all for it now. So we got there a little before one AM I think. The only song I really bothered to try to sing on was T Rex's "Band A Gong," and that was only after everyone else had sung and I had spent most of the time sitting there laughing. It was a lot of fun. I think that sort of thing is more fun with relative strangers. I'd been in sort of a rut for the last few weeks, and this was just the sort of thing I needed. Hanging out with different people, doing different things. And I really like talking to a lot of the people who were out that night. A fun time was had. And I'm a big fan of that Miss Charming Melodee girl.
Friday morning, I needed to see some apt. in Williamsburg and Greenpoint. It was insanely humid, and all I wanted to do was to go home and take a shower. I took the G train to the Metropolitan Ave. stop, and made some calls. Then I went back up to Greenpoint and saw a terrible apartment. Then back to the same train stop I came from. Saw a dead mouse or rat outside the diner right there. I took a picture of it, then went inside the diner and had breakfast. It was kind of gross, and I felt pretty sick afterwards. Then to another apt. I wasn't crazy about. Then finally home to shower and nap for 10 minutes.
While I was out, Kathy showed up. She'd just flown in from SF the night before. I was leaving town, so I didn't get to see her. I packed up my stuff and busted my ass into the city, stopping briefly at West 4th st. to get a cd from James. Then off to Port Authority and then to PA, where I was expected at my grandmother's 94th birthday party. Did a lot of eating, listened to complaints about my terrible attempt at facial hair, the came back to New York on Saturday morning.
In the evening, I headed over to James' place in Williamsburg to practice with the band. It went well. Then late that evening off to Daddy's, a bar on Graham ave. in Williamsburg. Finally met up with Kathy, who was with former PFC Katey and her boyfriend. It was really good to see Kathy after a year and a half. Talked with them quite a bit, had a drink, then took a cab home.
Sunday, I was all nervous about the show at Tonic that night. We had another rehearsal in the early afternoon, then headed to Tonic. I'd never even seen a show there. So I was terribly nervous all through the soundcheck. A whiskey and a beer helped a bit, and halfway through the whiskey I declared "I am now ready to play." I couldn't wait. I was really excited. When Miss Charming Melodee and Rachel showed up, I got a little more nervous. Then Jen and Kathy arrived, and the nerves were now a bit of a concern. This was my first show in more than four years, and I was sure I'd screw up my meager contributions. All in all though, I think it went well. James thought I was consistently too loud, but I didn't hear that from anyone else. Though it's his call, and it's his music, so I guess he would know better than anyone. After the show we hung around and watched the next band. A great fringe benefit of playing is the endless free alcohol you get for being in the band. I managed to finagle rachel and Miss Charming Melodee a coupla drinks. They'd also gotten in on the guestist. For a while I didn't want to put Rachel on the list, since she owed me an attendence anyway. I also didn't think she was coming. But once again, she made me regret my underestimation of her and showed up. So I talked with those two for a while, and talked briefly with Kathy and Jen. They all seemed to like the show, but I'm sure there're criticisms I'll never hear. All in all though, I was pretty happy with it. I was really nervous at first, but after a while I was able to get into it, and almost forget that I was on stage, and just really enjoyed the experience. I missed the F train going home, so I took a cab. I figured my cut of the door would at least cover the cost of the cab, so that's why I took one. That's what rockstars do. And as it turned out, my cut of the door payed for the 13 dollar cab ride and I had two dollars left over. Yee-ha.So spent all day today walking around Brooklyn with Kathy, seeing terrible apartment after terrible apartment. It's good to have her along though. She lends some sort of credibility I just can't attain on my own. We met up with Katey, saw a few more places, then went bowling down in Sunset Park. I beat everyone, but it was no big deal, or challenge. I rolled a 120 and a 147. Hadn't bowled in a while. Then Katey dropped us off at Great Lakes for a nostalgia drink for Katey. And now home. But we are exhausted. She's asleep right now. She's staying here for a while, and taking my side of the bed. I guess I should let her, seeing as she's only here for a few more days. But still....