Songfight NYC v2

[roymond]

This may be a long shot, but does anybody that's coming play theremin?
-bill

I think Paco's the closest of the theremin slingers here @ SF to the show. Which really doesn't help y'all that much, does it?

I have a secret theremin that fits in my pocket. No, really. I'll bring it for show and tell.

[jb]

This may be a long shot, but does anybody that's coming play theremin?
-bill

I think Paco's the closest of the theremin slingers here @ SF to the show. Which really doesn't help y'all that much, does it?

I have a secret theremin that fits in my pocket. No, really. I'll bring it for show and tell.

Lemme guess, it goes up and down when you wave your hand.

[frankie big face]

So Roy, what time will I be performing on Sunday afternoon and how long of a set shall I prepare?

[Niveous]

Okay folks. It's May and it's time to get down to brass tacks.

Here is the line-up as it stands.

Afternoon Show @ Prospect Park:
Johnny Cashpoint
Frankie Big Face?
Niveous
Caravan Ray
Roymond
Noah McLaughlin
JB

Evening Show @ Sidewalk Cafe:
Dollar Bill & the Inkpoints (J$ & HInc + roymond)
Jim Tyrrell
Glennny & Friends
X-Tokyo-River-God (J$, Roymond, Niveous & Noah)
Ben Krieger
Caravan Ray
JB

Not yet stated which show:
levyamonster?
Slats/Slats Jr. (one act or two?)
Lord Of Oats
With one month away, here's the Current Line-Up

So does anyone have any preferences on where they wanna play on the line-up? Early/Late, I mean. Ben K is going to close at Sidewalk.

There was the question of how long the sets will be.
@ Sidewalk: I figure that since JB & Caravan Ray are only doing short sets that it would be something like 30 minutes per set with JB and C-Ray doing 15 minute sets.
@ Prospect: We have that space for a long time. So a 30 minute set there is fine as well. We could probably even accomodate longer.

[frankie big face]

Niveous, I can easily do a 30-minute set and I prefer to go early since I have to catch a train. In fact, if I go early enough, I may be able to get an earlier train (say, 5PM) which would probably be better for Mrs. Big Face. If you think my star appeal will get people to the park early, I would be happy to go first.

[roymond]

So Roy, what time will I be performing on Sunday afternoon and how long of a set shall I prepare?

Yeah, what Niv said.

I have yet to receive the damn permit! But they're a lowly parks organization so I remain positive. Even so, there's lots of room for us.

Bring Frisbees, bikes, roller skates, and shotguns. But wear a helmet because there may be crazies with shotguns.

I sure hope it doesn't rain like it is right now! OMG...

[Caravan Ray]

I sure hope it doesn't rain like it is right now! OMG...

What is weather like in May? I take it "May" is what you call your November. Is It hot yet?

[roymond]

It's the run up to summer. The end of May is when they "open" the beaches (put life guards on them) and people get their toes wet. It's gloriously spring time and generally bug-free. In short...the best.

[HeuristicsInc]

Based on where the two shows are (particularly the late one) can somebody suggest a place for me to stay (remember my wife requested someplace on the New Jersey side rather than in the city)?
-bill

[Caravan Ray]

It's the run up to summer. The end of May is when they "open" the beaches (put life guards on them) and people get their toes wet. It's gloriously spring time and generally bug-free. In short...the best.

So it's not bedtime for brass monkeys - like it is starting to be here in Taranaki? Snow appeared on the volcano yesterday, and the temperature headed south. Damn I hate winter.

[j$]

Just to say my afternoon set is unlikely to be a full 1/2 hr. My songs are short and the ukulele doesn't really have enough variety to justify boring people senseless for that period of time. I've been practising five SF songs from mah catalogue and one cute cover, so I think altogether probably 20 mins is nearer the mark, unless there is an impromptu 10 minute sing-along of the chorus to 'Let it Be'. Just a heads-up.

j$

[roymond]

I just got confirmation that we have a permit for the Music Pagoda in Prospect Park (not the Oriental Pavilion). This is the original location, preferred over the Oriental Pavilion.

Here are some photos of the venue from last weekend (click the photo for more):



The afternoon in the park will be very flexible and at times unstructured. Spontaneous BBQ break-out is encouraged.

[Niveous]

Woo-hoo. The park show will be a bit more of a free-form hullaballoo than the Sidewalk show.

Hey Roymond, how are the acoustics? Do we need to figure out some sort of amplification? Also, I know there's a picnic area near there, but how close? Do people need to bring blankets, towels, etc.? How is the area in case of rain?

Info for travellers:
Music Pagoda

By Public Transportation:
• Q, B or S Train to Prospect Park station
• B-41 bus to Flatbush Ave. and Empire Blvd.
• B-43 bus to Ocean Ave. and Empire Blvd.
• B-48 bus to Empire Blvd.

By Car:
• From Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges: Take Flatbush Ave. to Grand Army Plaza, continue on Flatbush to Empire Blvd. and Ocean Ave.
• From BQE: Take BQE to Prospect Expressway, 10th Ave. exit. Make left on 11th Ave. Make right on Prospect Park Southwest to Park Circle. From Circle, follow Parkside Ave. Make left on Ocean Ave. to Empire Blvd.

[ElaineDiMasi]

Re: the afternoon venue, it looks like there must be electrical outlets in that thing. Is that right? I'm leaning more strongly towards driving in, which means I could throw some gear in my car - a little Peavey singer-songwriter amp which can mix a mic and a line, and a mic and stand, say. Maybe my piano . I would think we'd play to each other all up in that pagoda unless we're really numerous, and if we talked about setting up a big PA and having bunches of channels it sounds like too much work. That said, any gear requests? Guess I could find a couple beach towels and chairs while I'm at it.

[Caravan Ray]

From the Prospect Park website:

• Cricket is not allowed in Prospect Park for safety reasons.

WTF!?!?!?! Is this some 200-year-old rule left over from the Revolution?

[ElaineDiMasi]

From the Prospect Park website:

• Cricket is not allowed in Prospect Park for safety reasons.

WTF!?!?!?! Is this some 200-year-old rule left over from the Revolution?

At my college (Penn State) the squash courts had a big sign with numbered rules. Rule 8 was painted over - though the "8" was still there, and you could see the underlying letters of Rule 8 by going close, "Women are not permitted to use these courts."

[roymond]

Re: the afternoon venue, it looks like there must be electrical outlets in that thing. Is that right? I'm leaning more strongly towards driving in, which means I could throw some gear in my car - a little Peavey singer-songwriter amp which can mix a mic and a line, and a mic and stand, say. Maybe my piano . I would think we'd play to each other all up in that pagoda unless we're really numerous, and if we talked about setting up a big PA and having bunches of channels it sounds like too much work. That said, any gear requests? Guess I could find a couple beach towels and chairs while I'm at it.

It's strictly acoustic. Yes, we're playing largely to ourselves and anyone who wants to come up and join us. We can stay largely within the pagoda, or face out the front if more people gather, etc. Nice thought, but we can't have any electronics.

[Niveous]

So, if it's all acoustic....how are the acoustics?

Or does someone have one of those battery powered practice amps?

[ElaineDiMasi]

My guess is the acoustics are "huddle in a circle". And although I think my Peavey thing might be battery-capable, that's probably not in the spirit of "no amplified instruments".

I'd argue that my digital piano isn't an amplified instrument too, but with the "no vehicles" restriction I have very little desire to try to bring it. It's heavy!

[Caravan Ray]

So, if it's all acoustic....how are the acoustics?

From the photo it look like a standard issue band rotunda. It should go OK.

Just bring your best busking voices people. Get up and belt it out.

[j$]

Is someone planning on bringing a chromatic tuner? It'll save me an hour at the airport explaining exactly what a chromatic tuner is and how it won't explode, honestly.

j$

[roymond]

Is someone planning on bringing a chromatic tuner? It'll save me an hour at the airport explaining exactly what a chromatic tuner is and how it won't explode, honestly.

j$

Yes, and my iPhone has a tuner on it as well.

This has been an acoustic park gig from the beginning, folks. No surprises there. What isn't discussed enough is: does anyone have dietary restrictions? (no dairy for Bill) It's a tremendous place for a picnic so I'll be bringing muchies. As Oats has pointed out, my tastes tend to be on the yuppie side (WTF?) so bring your own junk food.