New York City: Frostbite and Fugues (A Drummer's Dispatch)
okay, so. new york. i’m back. and i’m pretty sure my toes are still thawing. i just checked and it’s…a proper arctic breeze out there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. seriously, the wind cuts right through you. i’m used to sweaty clubs and humid tour buses, not this…this glacial hug.
I was here for a week, subbing for the usual drummer in some jazz quartet. fancy stuff, you know? Lincoln Center, smoky rooms, people in tweed. not really my scene, but hey, a gig’s a gig. and the pay was…decent. enough to cover the extra layers i needed.
Honestly, the music was great. These guys were tight. But the whole vibe…it felt a little…stuffy. I kept wanting to throw in a little extra swing, a little more grit, and the conductor would give me the look. You know the one. Like i’d just suggested replacing the cello with a theremin.
I spent most of my downtime wandering around. I’m a sucker for *architecture, always have been. The sheer scale of Manhattan is just…bonkers. I ended up in this tiny little record store in the West Village - Rough Trade NYC, check it out if you’re into vinyl - and spent a solid hour digging through crates. Found a first pressing of a Sun Ra album. Score!
Someone told me that the coffee scene around SoHo is insane. Apparently, there’s this place called La Colombe that everyone raves about. I tried it. It was…coffee. Strong, sure, but not life-changing. I’m more of a black coffee, no frills kind of guy. You can find some decent spots on Yelp, though.
I overheard some drunk guy at a bar complaining about the tourists in Times Square. He said, “They’re like moths to a neon flame, man. Just wandering around, staring blankly.” He wasn’t wrong. It’s a sensory overload. I only went once, and that was enough.
“A local warned me about the pigeons. Apparently, they’re organized. Like, a feathered mafia. Don’t make eye contact.”
I did manage to catch a show at the Blue Note. Incredible. The bass player…wow. Just wow. You can find their schedule here: https://www.bluenote.net/.
If you get bored, Philadelphia and Newark are just a short drive away. I didn’t make it out this time, but next time…maybe.
Pro-Tips for Surviving a NYC Winter (as a Drummer):
*Gloves: Seriously. Get good ones. Like, the kind that let you still feel your fingers.
*Layers: Obvious, but worth repeating. Thermal underwear is your friend.
*Hand Warmers: Stick ‘em in your pockets. Trust me.
*Earplugs: The subway is loud. Like, really loud.
*Comfortable Shoes: You’ll be doing a lot of walking.
*A good attitude:* It’s a tough city, but it’s also amazing. Embrace the chaos.
I’m already missing the energy, even with the frostbite. And the music, of course. I’m checking TripAdvisor for some good pizza places next time I’m around. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g60763-New_York_City_New_York.html. Until then, back to the grind. And maybe a hot bath.
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