ny dispatch 1.05.03
bank st. west village. all the way down to west st and it’s the top floor of the corner bldg. fourth floor walk-up. there’s a lift outside with a basket and as i watch my amp and keyboards ascend in the grey drizzle i think of what a hassle it might be leaving in five hours if this thing isn’t working. or if it’s pouring rain.
loft. 180 degree view through floor to ceiling windows. he’s a photogtapher and i wonder why he’s having a catered party for people he doesn’t seem to know. a wedding reception. rent party.
‘nice glasses,’ he says to me, ‘who’s are they?’
‘mine,’ i say.
‘oh, i know,’ laughing, ‘i just thought they were moschino ar tachini.’
‘nope. ten bucks on the street-ini.’
‘wow.’
yeah, wow. what a fucking douchebag.
so we do the gig. he sits watching the gig from behind a computer over in the corner. about every half hour he comes over and waves a decibel meter at the bandleader till finally the bandleader has the singers whispering ‘boogie-oogie-oogie’ into the microphone. i’ll say this much for him, he had top notch hootch and about 4 or 5 macallan later, i had my stuff piled in front of the lift ready to split. ‘we can’t use the lift late at night, so,’ and he picks up one of my keyboard stands and says all perky, ‘what goes down?’ ‘all of it, duh.’ ‘you know,’ planting himself on one leg, ‘fuck you, you’ve got an attitude,’ and he puts down the stand. ‘fuck you, you’re a retard.’ on my last trip i overhear the bandleader and douchbag arguing,
‘you’ll never work here again.’
‘wow, you must be psychic. how did you know that?’
and i was impressed because most bandleaders that do this kind of work are gutless ass-kissers.
new year’s eve was fun. jammed with renee at this party moby was throwing. he sat in and rocked whole lot of love. i know a moby song now. i did not know i was made of stars. jammed with the wollesen’s till 5 in the morning. it’s getting to be a tradition. saw a lot of friends down there. norah sang some songs with us. adam rogers jammed. i’m pretty sure we all got drunk. happy new year.
