New York jamming at open mics, songwriting started and vinyl collection getting better. Big success is just around the corner. The season is christmasy and neon lights and glow worms are shining bright. When we arrived in the evening, the New York city just glistened and sparkled in the dark.
Arrived and landed in New York 19.11.23 at 7 pm. Songwriting has started and today we found Rough Trade records after heavy seeking. Tomi still buys vinyls despite of tips from relatives and today he bought from Frank Wright’s LP, counting on that it must be worth listening to, because it is ESP record production. There is tenor saxophone playing too, and the guy is supposed to be the most ”underground” of them all. A-1 records store is also one of favorites.
”Friendly and pleasing service, nice dimmed atmosphere, beautiful and real flavours, a symphony of taste.” We wrote a review to google maps for one two week old restaurant. And once again the Matilda Mother band songwriting camp turns out to be a smashing success in New York Jamming.
It was still a beautiful even though a bit chillier morning than the day before. Our stroll headed for the Rockefeller Plaza, even though we didn’t know it at the time. Going past the Times Square and it’s giant led screens trying to keep up with the pedestrian flow rhythm so as not to block the sidewalk. Even though it’s the 21 st of November. It sure was very christmasy all around Christmas sale lanes built, Christmas trees already giving out their scent. What a parade and New York jamming in the streets!
Our mission was to find Rough Trade record and that turned out to be a difficult task. The hop on hop off guys and girls kept hanging out their brochures as did the Hare Krishna enlighteners. As it was we were walking in circles caught in this bermuda triangle of Hard Rock Café – hop on hop off – Hare Krishna. Getting dizzy with the hullabaloo decided to stop and take a look at the map at this New York jamming.
It showed the record store location to be smack dab in the middle of the Rockefeller Plaza. And sure enough there in the midst of Radio City building all these Christmas spectacular advertisers was a twin door that we’ d been looking for. The store was very nice and all, maybe return on friday.
Now there was a feeling building up, that the couple of Ravi Shankar records in East Village record Store A-1 should be bought
At the hotel the rain and the wind outside made us consider the next days program again. Maybe we would revisit Dream House and it’s eternal sine wave humming, New York jamming in a way too.
Yesterday(20.11.23) we participated to an open mic Jamming in Greenwich Village Moshava CoffeeIt was a success, though when we were supposed to start short soundcheck, Tomi hit a chord to check that the guitar is on and all of the sudden he found himself playing with the houseband. They we really amazed and the hostess of the night said to Tomi that he really knows how to play guitar and lead the band.
The situation left the firecracker of a rhythm section of Matilda Mother band not too happy. The deal was that we play our own songs together. We did that, after Tomi asked it politely as always. It was a success or one could say instant smash. After the rough short set, Frank an elderly man and his wife said:”you really blew up the open mic. He sang Bob Dylan song accompanying himself beautifully on electric guitar. His wife was kind enough to film our appearance so we got film material to youtube.
We really need a proper gig in New York, should we just go and ask some places?
I love performing arts, as long as people can choose style, clothes and programme themselves. Go to jams and open mics in New York. You can see different personalities, ages, races, genres: some of doing more concervative material like covers or established texts. Some are seeking own style or even going more experimental direction. But all of them take a big risk and are on stage on their own. You can notice immediately attitude toward life and art. Are you just enjoying your own lovely you or do you want to express something bigger and take the audience with you.
New York jamming continues(23.11.23), though we got badly lost in Queens and were Late for an hour. Big success got some slight obstacles, because the Little mic events had been cancelled totally over two months ago. We were even asked to seek from another place nearby. ”But I have tickets” I said and the bar guy got really surprised. He was very nice and offered us non-alkoholic Tonic drinks. That really hit the spot after struggling in the dark along the Queensbury bridge and then back and forth 43, 44, 45 streets and drives but missing the 44 th avenue.
Well, songwriting gathered new themes and we shot some amazing film material while walking the bridge glow worms and neon lights glittering over the river; true New York jamming. That was a success and an experience that left us breathless.
We filmed in Washington Square Park this year song for Eurovision song contest called Fine and Dandy. By accident a wonderful red ballerina happened to start her show and it fit perfectly to the lyrics.
Today (29.11.23)back to Finland, but the flight was cancelled, so we tried to figure it out. Last days we participated some stand up clubs. They really do it well here and there ois lot of clubs. Monday we went to the The Rose 160 West 25th street, NYC on Mondey Madness and next evening Duplex in Greenwich Village. Maybe next time New York jamming at Village Vanguaard
We saw a parade, recorded 13 new songs, Filmed Season greetings in Central Park. For poor and rich a new song ” Hobo’s Bells” a Christmas carol to die for.
We forgot to share our CD:s and last morning I was standing between the 8 av and 14th st. wondering if I just give them to someone. Tomi said that give few to that postman. He was gladly surprised and told that he had heard all the New York bands live and was a true music lover and a marathon runner as well. He promised to ask his friends gigs for Matilda Mother band Story behind
