well, said i’m so happy, got me singin’ la! la! la!

October 17, 2010

I work until 10:30 four nights a week. Most customers who find out that Strand is open so late every night are surprised, and sometimes grateful. This is because, despite what you may have heard, New York is not the “city that never sleeps.” Indeed, I can’t even get a slice of pizza from the corner shop when I get home Sunday nights.

Since I haven’t completely broken the habit of being asleep before midnight—and I am a creature of habit—I am left with only three nights a week to go out and enjoy what nightlife NYC has to offer (and that I can afford). I wasn’t able to get the 21st off to enjoy the Punch Brothers once more, but they live in NYC, so I’m not too bothered by it. But this past Saturday (when I only work till 6:15pm) found me in Brooklyn at the Southpaw venue (incidentally where the Punch Brothers are playing their show this week).

The band was one of my discoveries at the Newport Folk Festival in July. I hadn’t gone over to the third and smallest tent at the festival on the first day, so on the second day Sam, Vina and I decided to check it out. On stage was Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three, from St. Louis, Missouri. The 26-year-old Pokey plays old tymey ragtime blues in a way that makes the music accessible to a new generation. The music is peppy and danceable, and when I saw them at NFF he joked that all his songs were about murderers.

For his show at Southpaw I dressed in my incomplete Dr. Who Halloween costume: A blue button-up, light gray skinny-slacks, boots, and red suspenders. I fit in somewhere between the casual audience and the people who were really dressed-up in their old-tymey garb. Sam and I met her co-worker and friend Ben and a few of his friends at the venue. Only a couple danced despite Pokey’s numerous attempts to get people onto the dance floor.

Overall, it was a fun time and hopefully I’ll get out more often. I’ll update on the other shows and events planned out.

-amelia

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