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Putting Some Manners On The Big Apple |
| Posted by Administrator (devilskitchen) on Dec 26 2007 |
| News >> General Ramblings |
I'm sitting in an apartment near the Williamsburg Bridge which is owned by a friend of Alix's - a film maker called Jasper Goldman. Through our third-floor window I see vacant lots, yellow traffic lights, billboards and a playground that reminds me of Sesame Street. This part of Brooklyn is very cool: there are lots of warehouse buildings and red apartment blocks, each with its own exoskeleton of black steel fire escapes. Cool little boutiques and art galleries share the streets with warehouses occupied by guitar vendors and glass blowers. The trendy young things mince from cafe to bar, while the old guard sit around playing dominoes on the street. It's like walking into a film but it's not showy or naff: everyone is really relaxed and friendly. Listen to Dylan's 'Visions Of Johanna' and you'll find the picture painted for you more skilfully than I can manage. We touched down in New York two nights ago after a glorious fortnight on the Outer Banks: the weather was mostly hot and sunny but occasionally really thunderous, with huge and exciting lightning storms. In between fishing, reading and going to the local karaoke hotspots, I recorded five songs during my stay on the Outer Banks. In addition to 'Good Morning Caroline' and that cover of 'Cupid', there is a blues song called 'Sixes And Sevens' and a sort of sea-shanty thing called 'A Trick Of The Light'. Finally, I put some rhythm down on a song of Scott's called 'Mama Was A Surfer For The FBI', a skanky surf-rock thing. Listening to the tracks as a whole is a pretty cheerful experience; and I have bits and pieces of about three other songs that I hope to finish over the next week, before I come back to the UK. Alix is sleeping peacefully in the other room; in a minute I'll wake her with coffee and blueberry muffins, before calling my old drummer friend Alex Proner. He has an apartment on the West Side of Manhattan where I believe he has an electronic drum kit set up; we've even talked about finding a gig somewhere in the city along with Vahco, a songwriter on his way up from San Francisco. Watch this space!
Last changed: Dec 26 2007 at 5:20 PM
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