Feb 4 2004

Smokin' and Drinkin' On A Tuesday Night!

Last night while I was with TK at The Gate (probably my favorite bar in Brooklyn), he gave me $5 to go crazy on the jukebox. While I of course played the requisite amount of Brit-pop, I also put in alot of stuff that reminded me of New York. It was then that I realized that even though I was moving, all it would take to take me back here was the right album. There are so many New York-centric records out there, I tried to think of some so I can have them at the ready. Unfortunately, as my entire CD collection is packed up, this was harder than it seemed. This is what I came up with off the top of my head. And by New York-centric albums, I mean albums that specifically name certain places or landmarks in the area or really sum up the experience of living here. These criteria obviously lend themselves a bit more to the hip hop genre but it doesn't matter if the band is actually from the area or not.

PJ Harvey - Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea - For You Said Something if nothing else...
On a rooftop in Brooklyn / At one in the morning / Watching the lights flash / In Manhattan / I see five bridges / The Empire State Building / And you said something / That I've never forgotten
That's Brooklyn in a nutshell for me.

Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique - Beyond Obvs. I can honestly say without a doubt, this record has taught me more about NYC than any book could ever hope to do. I figure out something new on this record every time I listen to it. This thing has lyrics for days and days, especially B-Boy Bouillabaisse.
Bust into the conductor's booth and busted out rhymes / Over the loud speaker about the hard times / Sat across from a man readin El Diario / Riding the train down from El Barrio
They should make everyone that moves to NYC listen to this record until they get it. It's essential.

Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) - Shaolin stizz. Again, obvs.

Luna - Penthouse - I'll explain this one below

Mos Def - Black On Both Sides - Brooklyn represent!
Cuz it's the B the R the O the O K / L Y N is the place where I stay / The B the R the O the O K / Best in the world and all USA
If I could pick up Brooklyn and drop it somewhere else in the country, I would be moving there no doubt.

Ted Leo - The Tyranny of Distance - It's pretty obvs to all my faithful readers that Ted Leo is my favorite NYC band (even if he lives in NJ). This record came out near the end of my tenure at my first (and best) music industry job and it was the one record that every single person in the office (all 20+ of us) liked and agreed upon. We always fought over the stereo but whenever anyone put this on, it made everyone happy.

I know I'm missing some good one's here, help me out.

Before I get to the Luna story, here is today's picture:

THE STORY BEHIND THE PICTURE:
The Date: Some time in either 1997 or 1998
The Place: Back bar, Irving Plaza; New York, NY
When I was in college, I absolutely worshipped the Beastie Boys. Along with the Archers of Loaf, they were easily my fave American group. There was one particular summer (I'm guessing 1997 as it was right after I moved here and it was before Hello Nasty was released) when the Beasties were EVERYWHERE. I literally couldn't go to a good gig without them being here. I was in heaven. This picture was taken at a Supergrass concert when I was drunk enough to go up and talk to him. He was with a guy from Capitol, their label, that used to work with my friend at Epic Records. A plan was devised and my friend went up and talked to the Capitol dude and I slid in and started talking to Ad Rock who is without a doubt my favorite Beastie. He was extremely shy, in fact he's the exact opposite of how he sounds on record. Very reserved and soft spoken. Still, he was really nice and finally agreed to pose for a picture with me. My only regret is the pic really doesn't show his hair, which was really long and blown out into an afro. Sweet.

Right, as for Luna...Picture me buying underwear at Century 21 after a particularly hard and long day at work, ready to go home to my nearby apartment and collapse on the couch and try and put the day behind me so I can get on with my worthless little life. So as I walk out the side entrance on Church St and start back home, I hear some music that sounds like it is coming from one hell of a boombox. I think nothing of it and start home. After about 10 steps, I place the tune.
23 Minutes in Brussels.
Someone is totally rockin' out to Luna! This seems strange to me so I stop for a second. I listen a little bit longer and then I realize that this song is being played live. Like Woah. I run across Cortlandt Street and when I make the turn into the small plaza that lied between the twin towers of the World Trade Center, I see a big stage and Luna totally tearing it up, as only Dean and Co. can do. I almost fainted. Where the hell did this come from? There are chairs set up for everyone to sit in and there are about 300 people all chillin' and grooving to the band.
I went right up front and started taking the whole scene in. It was beautiful. Bankers, Wall Streeters, janitors, random people, hot dog cart guys, everyone was hanging out and just enjoying themselves with a huge smile on their faces. A few people even brought some wine and were sitting on the ground indian style having an impromptu picnic. And the band were in TOP form that day. When I got there, they started busting out the hits, Sideshow By The Seashore, Rhythm King, Bobby Peru, Moon Palace, Beautiful View...it was just unreal. I had just had the shittiest day ever and now I was absolutely floating on air. And the twin towers are providing the most magnificent backdrop ever. They just go straight up for what seems like miles and miles. The sun was still out. It was beautiful beyond words. My whole outlook had been changed by a stupid little band playing some pop songs.
I looked around, took the whole scene in, smiled and thought to myself "THIS is why I live in New York."
Years from now, when I think back on my experiences in New York and what it was like living down by the World Trade Center before and after 9/11, the first thing that pops in my head won't be what I saw on 9/11, it will be how magnificent and perfect that day was and what it meant to me.

Thanks Luna.

**UPDATE** Many thanks to the venerable web presence that is Lockhart Steele for pointing out some pictures from that day. This one is the best and really gives you the idea of what it looked/felt like.

Words you don't understand / are all makin' sense tonight
It's hard to think straight / when you're feelin' so great
Only wanna get out of your head

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Comments

Posted by: Lock at February 4, 2004 12:18 PM

Posted by: Coolfer at February 4, 2004 1:21 PM

Posted by: frank at February 4, 2004 2:02 PM

Posted by: growler at February 4, 2004 5:09 PM