Guerrillas on Broome Street

Stained Glass at Broome Street Bar

Last night was a total blast I just have to write about it.

About a week or so ago we met Flo Mariñez. She came into Moto with a sad face on and sat in the back. She said she started smiling in about 45 seconds. I love that. Flo is a self-described social butterfly and is beginning an event planning agency with some friends called Contaminate.

Last night was Flo’s 29th birthday party in Soho. She had a 1929 themed party and invited us to play. She cooked some yummy’s and her very international set of friends showed up. Many Italians, Venezuelans, French, Panamanians and some American’s too even. Everybody seemed to be in the event planning and club promotion industry so it was a pretty good place for us to get seen. A fun party and typical in that everyone always gathers in the kitchen at these things. A huge loft space with all this interesting art and fun sofas and yet everyone is just hanging real close together in the kitchen. I feel like many of these people are accustomed to going out and being pressed real close to each other in clubs and that is just the way they prefer to hang out. Funny.

The music was fun and we had a good time schmoozing and eating and drinking. There was a bizarre and passionate looking stuffed goat mounted on the wall who was staring amorously at us all night. We, in turn, dedicated several songs to our new fan, including: “Sister Goat” (I wish I could shimmy like my sister goat. I chased her all the way over the moat. Now our kids don’t have to wear a coat. etc…)

Party party fun fun but then it was time to drink for real! So we went around looking for a good spot and wound up at the Broome Street Bar. It wasn’t too crowded a few couples at the bar and a table full of theater types still in make up from their dance show. We were all in suits, looking good, and we rolled in to the spot with our instruments in tow. As often happens, someone makes a joke like “Oh, cool! The band is here!” The bartender says, “If you guys play three songs, I’ll buy you a round of drinks.” Clifton counters, “Top Shelf?” “Sure, why not. If you’re any good.”

We so killed it! It seemed like an impromptu thing but when our arrangements came in so tight and constructed, it was a dazzling surprise. Stefan started “Comes Love” on his own and and then he’s joined by the trumpet making that sweet harmony on that held note. Every new sound brought added attention and a breath from the theater table. Then the rhythm section kicks in with that driving beat. And soon after, the vocals start and the thing is chugging along. We were fully validated as total stars in about thirty seconds of music! The rest was a cake walk and a crazy fun set of three songs: “Comes Love”, “Lord, Lord, Lord” (some folks were singing along), “Putting on the Ritz” Everyone’s dancing by now.

Now the drinking part. I orded a double pour of a single malt and the bartender gave me a little bit of a dirty look but poured me the drink. “Man, a double, huh? Wow. You know if I wasn’t totally enjoying myself, I’d throw you the hell out of here!” Me: “I was hoping you’d say something like that.”

We had some food and drinks and were asked to play again and did 5 more songs. Sold some CD’s. The Cd’s paid for the food. The other tables and folks at the bar bought us a few more rounds of drinks. The night ended with crazy grindy dancing and Stefan howling his tenor while walking on the bar. Obviously.

We walked out on the street together as a band and I had that canary-eating grin on my face. The “my band is so awesome” grin. The grin that says “That felt so easy and natural. I’m in heaven.”