Not only were we the last band on but we were (sort-of) the first band there.
I got out of work at 5, made it down to the rehearsal space, loaded everything out of the closets and hailed a cab. My cell phone talking, African French speaking driver and I had to ride around the block once first and he seemed pretty pissed at me when I said I had to load up the car, but after he saw a.) how little stuff it was, b.) how it was all ready to go, and c.) that I was doing it by myself, he lightened up a little.
"Do you play music?"
"Yeah, I'm in a band. We have a show tonight."
"Oh, what do you play?"
"Guitar. And I sing. It's fun, I think."
"What kind-of music do you play? Is it rock music?"
"Yeah, I guess they call it pop punk, but it's rock music."
"That's very nice."
"Thank you."
Sean and Debi were there to greet me and help me unload. Here's the thing though- my Mom and her friend Lynn came to New York to see this show. Right before all this stuff happened I called her and asked if I could join them for dinner (free food! woo-hoo!) Unfortunately, this meant missing most of the benefit myself, but you do what you have to. They were in Little Italy, so I took another cab down and had a lovely time.
Actually, I had such a lovely time that I didn't want to leave. Lynn and my Mom have been friends since college and I've heard all these great stories about her (Lynn), but I haven't seen her since I was 5. Maybe less. So we're at Benito One, I finish my wine and my gnocchi and we're talking about politics and geography and life in general and finally I realize that not only do I have to leave, I shoud have left over an hour ago.
Shit. Why do I always do this to myself?
I get on the train, I get home, it's something like 9:45 and I'm supposed to pick up John at 10 and I'm no where near ready. Fortunately he called (because he's good like that) and I said,
"Ok, I'll be there at 10:3- let's make it 10:45 so I actually get there when I say I will instead of having to call at 10:30 and say, 'I'm not there yet.' "
I leave my house at 10:45. Shit shit shit. As I'm running down the stairs I realize that we go on in about an hour, it takes me 15 minutes to get to John's house, 30 minutes (at least) to get to the rehearsal space to get the rest of our stuff, and another 10-15 to get to the club and find parking. Which gets us there at about... let's see... 11:45. And we go on at midnight. Right.
I get lost going to John's because I'm trying to take "the fast way" which I don't really know that well yet. John and I get on the road and instantly hit traffic. Bad traffic. Traffic that's so slow I decide to pay a toll and go a way that I've never been so I have no idea where it actually goes because that's how much I don't think we'll make it. So I jump out of our lane and drive like a motherfucker towards the tunnel, just as I realize that the traffic is only happening because everyone's merging and just past the merge point the road is clear.
"Oh... should I be an asshole? I don't want to be an asshole, but I think I have to. Just this once... oh I hate it when I do this."
And I cut in front of EVERYONE. And I NEVER do shit like that, because it's just annoying, and that's exactly WHY the traffic was so bad... but... it worked. We got there. We got there and Crashbox started at about 11:20(?) so we were fine.
My Mom is so cute- "You can tell you practice a lot." I love my Mom. Her and Lynn were so sweet to say all the things they said afterwards. They forgot their ear plugs, I have to call them and make sure their ears aren't bleeding or anything today...
I also have to ask Sean how much money we ended up raising. That doesn't matter so much, because it was an important thing to do and I hope we do more things like this in the future. Just because. It's good to do nice things for people in need. Right? I think so. :)
And again, a big hug and kiss and thanks to Sean of Nefarious Bovine Radio, Ren from Insomnia NY, and Debi from... (where is Debi from again?) for organizing everything and making this event possible. And thank you to everybody who came out and showed their support, you guys fucking rule and we love you all! :)
Now... because of all of this I missed Battlestar last night, so if you'll excuse me, I have to go do something about that.
Set List:
-Without You
-This Happens
-Don't Look Back (Ice Scream Song)
-Not That Bad
-Six Degrees
-Guiltless
-Longest Time
-Stuck In My Head
I got out of work at 5, made it down to the rehearsal space, loaded everything out of the closets and hailed a cab. My cell phone talking, African French speaking driver and I had to ride around the block once first and he seemed pretty pissed at me when I said I had to load up the car, but after he saw a.) how little stuff it was, b.) how it was all ready to go, and c.) that I was doing it by myself, he lightened up a little.
"Do you play music?"
"Yeah, I'm in a band. We have a show tonight."
"Oh, what do you play?"
"Guitar. And I sing. It's fun, I think."
"What kind-of music do you play? Is it rock music?"
"Yeah, I guess they call it pop punk, but it's rock music."
"That's very nice."
"Thank you."
Sean and Debi were there to greet me and help me unload. Here's the thing though- my Mom and her friend Lynn came to New York to see this show. Right before all this stuff happened I called her and asked if I could join them for dinner (free food! woo-hoo!) Unfortunately, this meant missing most of the benefit myself, but you do what you have to. They were in Little Italy, so I took another cab down and had a lovely time.
Actually, I had such a lovely time that I didn't want to leave. Lynn and my Mom have been friends since college and I've heard all these great stories about her (Lynn), but I haven't seen her since I was 5. Maybe less. So we're at Benito One, I finish my wine and my gnocchi and we're talking about politics and geography and life in general and finally I realize that not only do I have to leave, I shoud have left over an hour ago.
Shit. Why do I always do this to myself?
I get on the train, I get home, it's something like 9:45 and I'm supposed to pick up John at 10 and I'm no where near ready. Fortunately he called (because he's good like that) and I said,
"Ok, I'll be there at 10:3- let's make it 10:45 so I actually get there when I say I will instead of having to call at 10:30 and say, 'I'm not there yet.' "
I leave my house at 10:45. Shit shit shit. As I'm running down the stairs I realize that we go on in about an hour, it takes me 15 minutes to get to John's house, 30 minutes (at least) to get to the rehearsal space to get the rest of our stuff, and another 10-15 to get to the club and find parking. Which gets us there at about... let's see... 11:45. And we go on at midnight. Right.
I get lost going to John's because I'm trying to take "the fast way" which I don't really know that well yet. John and I get on the road and instantly hit traffic. Bad traffic. Traffic that's so slow I decide to pay a toll and go a way that I've never been so I have no idea where it actually goes because that's how much I don't think we'll make it. So I jump out of our lane and drive like a motherfucker towards the tunnel, just as I realize that the traffic is only happening because everyone's merging and just past the merge point the road is clear.
"Oh... should I be an asshole? I don't want to be an asshole, but I think I have to. Just this once... oh I hate it when I do this."
And I cut in front of EVERYONE. And I NEVER do shit like that, because it's just annoying, and that's exactly WHY the traffic was so bad... but... it worked. We got there. We got there and Crashbox started at about 11:20(?) so we were fine.
My Mom is so cute- "You can tell you practice a lot." I love my Mom. Her and Lynn were so sweet to say all the things they said afterwards. They forgot their ear plugs, I have to call them and make sure their ears aren't bleeding or anything today...
I also have to ask Sean how much money we ended up raising. That doesn't matter so much, because it was an important thing to do and I hope we do more things like this in the future. Just because. It's good to do nice things for people in need. Right? I think so. :)
And again, a big hug and kiss and thanks to Sean of Nefarious Bovine Radio, Ren from Insomnia NY, and Debi from... (where is Debi from again?) for organizing everything and making this event possible. And thank you to everybody who came out and showed their support, you guys fucking rule and we love you all! :)
Now... because of all of this I missed Battlestar last night, so if you'll excuse me, I have to go do something about that.
Set List:
-Without You
-This Happens
-Don't Look Back (Ice Scream Song)
-Not That Bad
-Six Degrees
-Guiltless
-Longest Time
-Stuck In My Head
