So…

February 25, 2010 | Filed Under Main | No Comments

And we are back from my birthday travel. Amsterdam was great. I really love that city. Kerry and I didn’t have much time (Friday was beat by the post-flight nap), so we basically just went around to our favorite haunts. The weather was raw and damp most of the time, with a daily snow/sleet/rain interval. We had dinner at our favorite restaurant – Casa Di David – and I got to have my wild boar, as well as an antipasti that was one of the best I have ever been served. But Amsterdam, we have decided, isn’t a real food town. Went looking for that record store where I would buy vinyl, but never found it… opened at least. Yes – we visited a coffeeshop or two. We HAD to go back to Kadinsky. And I took pictures of bicycles. (It seemed important since I don’t have a car anymore.) Our hotel was a “five star” because it is Winter and cheap. The room was a very nice little suite with a bath that had little jets in it and a shower that doubled as a sauna… somehow. There were no instructions. AND the mini-bar was complementary and refilled everyday. (I know!) But I must say – walking the corridors made me feel like I was in “The Shining” and the restaurant and breakfast need some help. Worth it for a fast weekend.

The best was our trip to The Concertgebouw. This would be the first time EVER that I have seen music performed in a foreign country. Whenever we travel, no one plays. In the same way, it is like the fact that whenever we go to Amsterdam we are not allowed to see the Rijksmuseum (It’s always closed when we come. I bet that scaffolding came down the minute we left.) No one is ever playing the days we are in town. The night before was Springsteen and the day we leave would be Sonic Youth playing “Daydream Nation” in its entirety (both have happened). But when we are THERE, only the clubs are open or it’s karaoke weekend in Paris. But the symphony never leaves! Also I have a few live classical recordings from the Concertgebouw and Kerry is now spending every morning learning about classical music. So – it was time.

The Concertgebouw (Dutch for “concert building”) was built in 1888 and had some light refurbishment since. The Who have played here, Miles has played here and of course every major classical composer and artist has performed. I had bought tickets the day before – which surprised me… mainly because everyone else who walked up to the booth was told their request was sold out. We did not bring the umbrella which would insure that it would be raining when we left the hall (it was). The performance was at a civilized 2:15PM. We mingled before with the crowd of predominately Dutch concertgoers, well dressed but casual (I wore my cashmere sweater) and mostly older but wonderfully vibrant. They drank tea, coffee and wine from the totally complimentary bar outside the “Grote Zaal” (great hall). You got the impression that this was part of their lives – Sunday afternoon at the theater. It’s not a one-off like our little visit. They don’t pick and choose based on who/what is playing. This is what Sunday means. It was all very civilized.

Inside, the hall is beautiful. Not gaudy and gold leafed as many can be. It was very simple in its layout. There are only two levels – the floor seats and a two row balcony, as well as a set of seats behind the stage to the right and left. The acoustics are well known as some of the best in the world – and they were amazing. You could hear a pin drop on the stage. We watched the Nederlands Kamerorkest (a small chamber orchestra) performed four pieces: Shostakovich’s Prelude en Scherzo (entirely strings); Tabula Rasa by Arvo Pärt (wonderful piece which used a prepared piano); Stravinsky’s Dumbarton Oaks (winds and brass come out) and finally Serenade by Josef Suk ( a Czech composer I had not heard of before). All beautifully performed and since you could hear all the parts clearly, I tried to find who was making which sounds on stage (futile, really). But where did the piano go?

A few final notes to remember about attending a classical performance: Do not clap until the Concertmaster or Conductor let’s you know they are done. It’s not a jazz concert. If you have to cough, wait until the break between pieces or movements. Then cough your guts out. Be prepared to clap at the end… a very long time. They get up, they bow, they acknowledge the soloists, the main guy leaves, he comes back, and we do it all over again. There is no curtain. But if these good people can stand and clap like that – then so can I.

Bikes!!

February 23, 2010 | Filed Under Main | No Comments

See? At the store (w/the lovely Kerry in there>)
Bikes 1
On the street.
Bikes 2
At the train station.
Bikes 3

50

February 21, 2010 | Filed Under Main | 2 Comments

Today. Now I start getting the AARP mail…

But first! You know what I LOVE about Amsterdam?? Bikes! This is a biking town. The roads are for bikes and there are bike parking lots everywhere. Cars are a distant fourth when it comes to transportation (after public trans, bikes and walking). And none of those skinny road-n-town bikes that you have to wear spandex to drive. These are solid steel bikes – and they all have FENDERS… like every bike worth it’s salt should. I love this. These are bikes for the working class, just like I used to have in Boston.

Well, off to Concertgebouw and the symphony.

Wednesday Night

February 17, 2010 | Filed Under Main | 3 Comments

I’m sitting with a glass of wine – in front of the Olympics – with a small group of dogs at my feet. The rest of the family are in the city. Kerry went back in to have dinner with the sisters and Chris went back in to hang with friends tonight for their birthday. Me? I’m tired. Chris was in before with his friend Mike and I to see a Broadway play. It was my first play on Broadway since I left over two years ago. We saw a preview of the new Martin McDonagh play A Behanding In Spokane. It was very entertaining, though not as dark and biting as some of my favorite McDonagh’s plays. And Christopher Walken and Sam Rockwell are well worth the ticket price. Both are terrific and very funny.

And I have a cold. That’s the main reason I’m tired. We all had a cold. Kerry started it. I tried to stay away but the germs were very powerful. So now – I sneeze. It sucks. It also sucks that I have not had a job interview yet. Granted – I have been very selective about what I apply to, but honestly. This needs to change very soon. Very soon…

This is all by way of saying that I am getting on a plane tomorrow to Amsterdam. Sick, exhausted and anxious is the ONLY way to sit in economy for seven hours. There is nothing like the feeling of being cramped and unable to breathe at several thousand feet in the air. But we have to go… because I’m turning 50. And for some reason I want to turn 50 in one of my favorite cities. Why not? I’ve had plenty of birthdays in New Jersey, Boston and Milford. This will make up for the two I had to have in Kuwait.

I have no issues with turning 50. It’s a number. There are more numbers to come. You just have to make the most of them. And hopefully I can.

Snow

February 12, 2010 | Filed Under Main | No Comments

CIMG0381

Yeah… I’ve been waiting for this for a long while.

Added to iPod

February 10, 2010 | Filed Under Music | No Comments

“Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow…”

It’s lovely outside. I’m not in the desert, the yard is redecorated with snow and the puppy LOVES rolling around in it. Pretty happy, right now.

So – music. It’s been a while. I haven’t been idle, but most of the add-ons are either my new Songlines compilations (beautifully sequenced as always) or some discs I forgot to upload – like the Pogues “If I Should Fall From Grace…” and Radiohead’s “Kid A” (which I only mildly like anyway). But let’s see what I can scrape together…

Massive Attack – “Heligoland” Brand new dark, smokey grooves from one of my favorite trip hop bands. Get it.
Afro Celt Sound System – “Sound Magic” and “Release” These discs are from 1996 and 1998 respectively. Why not meld African, celtic and Indian beats and rhythms? A perfect mix of sounds and worlds.
Ozric Tentacles – “Pungent Effulgent” You heard me. This is a 1989 record by a British psychedelic/prog rock band who have released 28 albums since 1984 and never been on a major label. That’s DIY. Never sluggish or noodly. Excellent musicianship. And guess who brought this one into the house? Kerry! Got stuck to one of her Springsteen CDs…
Carl Craig – “More Songs About Food & Revolutionary Art” I had no Carl Craig and the title was cool. One of his seminal pieces from 1997.
Azam Ali – “Portals Of Grace” I have been reading about many wonderful artists in the Songlines magazine. One was of an Iranian band called Niyaz, of which Ms. Ali is the lead vocalist. This is her most recent solo disc and it’s just beautiful stuff – very spiritual and moving. Reminiscent of the canticles of Hildegard von Bingen… if you have that record. I do.
Firewater – “The Golden Hour” I have been reading about Todd A. (aka Firewater) for some time but this is the first piece I have picked up. He traveled throughout the Middle East and Asia and tells stories of his journey in a style that’s sort of a cross between Nick Cave and Tom Waits only more youthful and a band that likes to rock ‘n roll. Pretend you’re drunk in a bar in Istanbul…
Sons & Daughters – “This Gift” Hard, fast, fun rock songs by this Scottish band. Two guys and two girls. This stuff must sound great in a club.

Finally – remember the Artists Against Apartheid? “I ain’t gonna play Sun City”? Steve Van Zant pulled together an all-star lineup back in 1985 to protest apartheid in South Africa. The single was great but there was some really cool stuff on the album/EP that came out. Well finally it is available in digital format on iTunes… or at least it was. I downloaded it and now it’s gone. Hmmm…

Thinking…

February 5, 2010 | Filed Under Main | 3 Comments

I was driving this morning, picking up the puppy from having what could only be his second bath after being rescued from the “kill shelter”. Noah cleaned up well, and they always look so adorable with that little scarf on – which I guess signifies that he is momentarily not covered in mud. Anyway, I’m listening to the radio and the announcer of this rock station is hawking a singles dance at some New York bar just in time for Valentine’s Day. The tagline for this singles extravaganza? “Come and meet your future Ex.”

….. now….

As you know, this country is insane (and I mean certifiably INSANE) over the idea that homosexuals want to marry each other. It literally makes some people’s heads explode. The very THOUGHT of a homosexual partaking in this most sacred and meaningful ritual makes them reach for a baseball bat double-quick. But this country is living with a divorce rate well over 50%, numerous infidelity, child abuse and other issues chronicled everyday on reality shows, Dr. Phil and Maury (or Congress) and NOW they are even advertising the fact that everyone knows the union won’t last. My question to the Insane is: What part of these blessed unions don’t you want to share? Is it the joy of screwing up someone else’s life or do you just not want to share your attorneys? I get confused on this. There are many reasons for divorce and I’m not dissing those who have gone through it. Remember – I am talking to the Insane. If the majority of heteros can’t stay married – especially the pompous elected ones – why not give someone else a crack at it? Maybe they can lead by example. Honestly, if John Edwards and Newt Gingrich have this right – then ANYONE should be allowed to be married. Make it mean something. Or else we are all just dancing with our future Ex.