This photo appeared on the front page of the Metro Section in the New York Times – 5/2/08
Yes, I guess we made an impression on somebody!! The audition for the Music Under New York program was actually a lot of fun. We were as cool as cucumbers back stage waiting our turn. We were cracking jokes and dealing with the fact that it was pretty early. Drinking coffee. It seemed that there was quite a bit of nervous energy around us but we were keeping it cool.
The performance itself was good but not great. We did nail the ending so at least that. Starting and stopping together are obvious landmarks of ensemble playing and we did get good support from the staff and the media their and not everyone did. It was funny how some of the judges seemed like enthusiastic people who were smiling at our music and others were determined to be as stone-faced as possible. I was having a great time as a front man and leader and it didn’t phase.
Immediately afterwards we were ushered to the side where we were interviewed for a Korean TV station (!!?) and a new york arts radio pod-cast. We were really, really big stars! And then that was that. We’ll find out in a few weeks whether we made the grade. Fingers crossed.
Next stop, Central Park where Cassidy met us (Tuba Joe had to return home) and we had the best set we’ve had to date as far as CD sales are concerned. 29 Cd’s in 40 minutes. Nice. Then two Central Park Conservancy people came over and told us to move on so we went about two hundred yards away to the Hans Christian Anderson statue on the other side of the pond and did ok there as well! We’ll be back soon although the weather looks a little sketchy for the next few days.
Wound up the night playing at Super Fine with Tuba Joe again in the Bass chair. The first set was rough as we tried to adjust to the sound there. Juliette (from Shanghai Mermaid) sang a few songs with us as did the wonderful blues singer, Mamie Minch. The second set however was killer as we shifted in to our wheelhouse of dirty blues and grindy minor key tunes. Did Bill Baily in Minor again and it was awesome. It seemed a slow night there due to the rain.
A busy day for certain.