It takes a lot, including an occasional physical threat, to get me out to a club in Manhattan. Thirty years ago, it would have taken a physical threat to get me to go home. But times have changed. People have changed. Ticket prices have changed. And a shot and a beer could set you back $25, depending on where you are.
Sometimes though, the stars align. Good friends, an interesting new bar, and a Replacement playing on a tiny stage got me on a subway last night.
Tommy Stinson with his almost country/still kinda 'Mats-ish band Cowboys In The Campfire played at Lucinda Williams' new honky tonk on Avenue A and all was alright for an hour, especially with a couple of $6 Miller High Lifes to keep things rolling. (It is the "champagne of beers," you know.)
The hour long set was broadcast live on Sirius Outlaw Radio and Mr. Stinson seemed into it, in that very Tommy way, greeting everyone with a smile and assuring the crowd that it wasn't "all request Monday. You can keep shouting, but you'll hear none of it." So, no Replacements songs, but he did do a few Bash & Pop tunes, as well as a couple of new tunes from an upcoming Cowboys album, that honestly, sounded like 'Mats tunes anyway.
When all was said and done, it was as close to a perfect night out in the Big Shitty as someone as difficult as me could expect. As for Lucinda's, it's small and friendly with a great sound system, and could be on my dance card in the future on a night with a lesser known act. I could see myself getting comfortable at the bar with a bit of country twang on the stage.
8 comments:
Looks like it was a lot of fun, and Lucinda's sounds wonderful.
I'm with you about going out in NYC these days, however. We were at the upstairs room at City Winery Wednesday night (seeing Willie Nile do a one-man early career retrospective). It's a great club -- seats 200 max, so it felt really intimate -- but if Willie hadn't comped us, it would have been quite an expensive evening what with food and drink.
I saw Chuck Prophet in the upstairs room. You're right, a great small room. But, City Winery's new spot might as well be in Weehawken. And $95 for a barstool is a laugh.
Is Lucinda's at the old Brownies/ Hi-Fi Bar?
It is. Do you remember a club on Third Avenue between 11th & 12th, or 12th & 13th, early 90's? A few people said The Space At Chase, but that's not satisfying me.
Now if only Paul would make an appearance....somewhere
Hey Sal -- does Lucinda's have food?
I don't think so, Steve.
Sounds like fun -- the artist and the venue.
In other news -- I dig the Cover of the Day and it highlights a musical problem / challenge / ... I have. Why don't I play music like Aimee Mann / Ted Leo more often? I have the album. I like the album. I was pleased to hear "Honesty Is No Excuse" this morning but even if I think to play Aimee Mann I most likely would go to more "mainstream."
I guess that's why I turn to Burning Wood! :-)
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