Songfight NYC v2

[Caravan Ray]

Okay, so figure somebody should get things moving again, since I think Niv is kinda busy this month. Here's a list of who said they were interested so far:
Niveous
Dollar Bill & the Inkpoints (J$ & me)
Bjam
Ben Krieger
Caravan Ray
Slats/Slats Jr. (one act or two?)
roymond
Jim Tyrrell
JB
Lord Of Oats

Looks like that's 10 acts... that's a lot! Niv/Ben, how long do we get? We were trying to work up a tentative setlist, so I was wondering how long we'd be likely to have per act.
-bill

OK - things are starting to firm up (and I'm not just talking about the inside of my trousers, ladies) - still no definite booking yet but it is very looking likely I will be there.

As far as sets go - I guess I am more interested in just meeting everyone and having a few beers than trying to get any band together. I still recall the feeling at Santa Cruz when it dawned on me that I was the only person in the band that hadn't actually bothered to learn the songs I had suggested we play. Oh well....

Anyway - 10 minutes or so solo guytar should be more than enough for me (and everybody else).


FWIW: The Caravan Ray USA Roadshow is currently looking like:

Early May - land at LAX - go to Disneyland!
Shoot north to SanFrisco for a few days for a conference
Go to NYC for 2 weeks or so
possible side trips yet to be decided
Late May - land at LAX - go to Disneyland again!
back to Taranaki via Auckland.

..also an option of skipping the 2nd LAX/Disneyland stopover by going direct from NYC to SYD on one of those new big-arsed planes

[jb]

Bought my ticket. Fly in 5/15, fly out 5/18.


JB

[Bjam]

So there's an Amtrak at 3am on the Sunday night/Monday morning that leaves Penn Station and gets into Boston at 8am. Figure that'll do for getting me back to Boston in time for classes.

I have nowhere to live May 12th-May 17th, so I guess I'll crash with some people in Boston for the weekdays, then head down to NYC and get a hotel room for the Friday and/or Saturday night. Ohgodexpensive. But worth it to see lovely SFers?!

How far away is this venue from Penn Station? Likelihood of me getting murdered on my way there at 3am(most likely in a taxi I would imagine)?

[j$]

I land 15/5 2pm in the afternoon, and fly out 19/5 about 9pm. I'm staying in a hotel somewhere round 50th and 9th - which I'm led to believe is near the Alvin Ailey, in Hell's Kitchen.

So once I've spent the first few hours pretending to be Daredevil and then sourcing a cheap ukelele (any music shop reccommendations from SF NYers?), I'd be up for meeting people for drinks / food etc in advance of the Sunday. Although you may want to ration your cashpoint 'good'ness

Also, Bjam, miaow on the avatar!

j$

PS that's 5/15 and 5/19 for you people who refuse to put the date the right way round.

PPS I am not-so-reliably informed that Hell's Kitchen is the new Christopher Street. Anyone care to confirm or deny that? Just planning my Friday night .... heh

[Niveous]

How far away is this venue from Penn Station? Likelihood of me getting murdered on my way there at 3am(most likely in a taxi I would imagine)?

It's over 2 miles away. Low likelihood of death.

[Niveous]

I land 15/5 2pm in the afternoon, and fly out 19/5 about 9pm. I'm staying in a hotel somewhere round 50th and 9th - which I'm led to believe is near the Alvin Ailey, in Hell's Kitchen.

So once I've spent the first few hours pretending to be Daredevil and then sourcing a cheap ukelele (any music shop reccommendations from SF NYers?), I'd be up for meeting people for drinks / food etc in advance of the Sunday. Although you may want to ration your cashpoint 'good'ness

Also, Bjam, miaow on the avatar!

j$

PS that's 5/15 and 5/19 for you people who refuse to put the date the right way round.

PPS I am not-so-reliably informed that Hell's Kitchen is the new Christopher Street. Anyone care to confirm or deny that? Just planning my Friday night .... heh

- Ha. My old high school is at 49th and 9th.
- I'm up for some pre-show food & drink
- 49th b/w 6th & 7th, there is a string of music shops (Sam Ash, Manny's Music and some others)
- Ditto on the Bjam
- I'm not sure about the whole new Christopher St. thing. The neighborhood has changed in large amounts since I went to school there over a decade ago. All I do know is that it's 100x nicer.

[jack]

man, i'd really like to make it to this, if for no other reason than to meet my friend j$ in person. i may show up at the last minute, but don't really have a desire to play, just hang out and meet those i don't know. and drink of course.

my sister lives in NJ, an easy train ride to NYC. and i can stay with her, so other than time restrictions and work (and money of course), i don't have much of an excuse not to come.

i'm not ruling it out. i'd like to go to glenn's party too. and i have another trip i have to do in june to virginia.

so i'm a big maybe.

[Caravan Ray]

See you there. I'll bring the Bundy rum.

...or if not in NY, I am tossing up the idea of maybe driving from SF to LA down Hwy 1. Might be looking to do lunch in Santa Cruz. My daughter wants to see the otters. I'll let you know.

[Niveous]

PPS I am not-so-reliably informed that Hell's Kitchen is the new Christopher Street. Anyone care to confirm or deny that? Just planning my Friday night .... heh

- I'm not sure about the whole new Christopher St. thing. The neighborhood has changed in large amounts since I went to school there over a decade ago. All I do know is that it's 100x nicer.

Upon talking to some of my sources, I have found that your sources are correct.

[leyvamonster]

I WANT PLAY___!!

[Caravan Ray]

Just booked my flight.

I'm arriving in NY on 14/5 and staying for about a week and a bit on East 78th St

[Niveous]

Good stuff! I'm really looking forward to see everyone in Manhattan. I hopefully will be talking with Ben Kreiger today to get some more info on the show & venue.

[Niveous]

Okay, I am in talks with Mr. Kreiger and it seems that Sidewalk has us booked from 9. So we are now trying to figure out the best way to faciliate 10 bands.

Perfect world scenario. The show runs from 9 to 1. That's 4 hours. 240 minutes. That's 20 minute sets with 4 minutes for set-up and tear down.

More likely. 9 to 12 (it is a Sunday). That's 3 hours. 180 minutes. we could pull together 15 minute sets with 3 minutes for set-up and tear down.

Thoughts....ideas.....

[jb]

Well, seems like we'll just play "pass the guitar". Maybe have an extra guitar/mic on the side for duets. Anybody coming who doesn't use guitar primarily?

Basically an open-mic-night setup.

[Caravan Ray]

Well, seems like we'll just play "pass the guitar". Maybe have an extra guitar/mic on the side for duets. Anybody coming who doesn't use guitar primarily?

Basically an open-mic-night setup.

Suits me. I can do 4 or 5 songs solo in 10 minutes. Enough for me.

Are there going to be any actual "bands" playing? From the list posted earlier it seems that Hinc/J$ may be the only act more complicated than simple guytar.

[Niveous]

HInc & J$ would definitely be more complicated.

As for the "full band", I'm not sure. At SF:NY V1.0, Jim Tyrrell played with a full band.

Another idea to possibly cut down on the time issue is to get some team-ups going.

[roymond]

I'm game for playing guitar (maybe bass) and singing for a band that plays songs from its members for a set.

[Caravan Ray]

Things to do in (or near) New York?

In accordance with Murphy's Law - the friends we are going to visit will be in New Orleans when we arrive in NY, so we have a few days to kill before they return. I want to use that time to visit somewhere else for a few days, then come back to NY for the show on Sunday.

My first thought was to get the train down to Washington DC and stay a couple of days there - but I'm not sure if my 4.y.o daughter will get a lot out of it.

Any other suggestions?

Where do locals go for weekends away? Are there any beach type places, or places in the country that are easy to get to? we will have just come from Disneyland and will be about to go into a week and a half in NYC - so a 2 day hiatus somewhere quiet might be nice.

[jimtyrrell]

I had planned to come down with the trio again. Let me know if that doesn't make sense, I guess.

[Niveous]

I had planned to come down with the trio again. Let me know if that doesn't make sense, I guess.

Bring the band.

[HeuristicsInc]

ouch, starting 9pm on a sunday? that puts a crimp in the monday work schedule. ok.
yeah, our setup is more complicated. tho currently we have 4, maybe 5 songs planned, not much.
roy has agreed to play bass for us. that's a trio also.

c.ray: the train (amtrak) between nyc and dc is pretty good. i enjoy dc, particularly museums and such. probably the us-specific things like lincoln memorial and washington monument won't be to your interests
you're asking where nyc locals go for weekends? i think some go to southern new jersey? there are some beaches there. not that warm, though.
-bill

[roymond]

Things to do in (or near) New York?

Here are some quick ideas:

A little early for beach weather, but Montauk(eastern end of Long Island) is pretty nice for a visit, and May is early enough not to get caught up in too much traffic, etc. The ocean, small town feel, sand dunes, and very comfy Bed & Breakfasts can relax a stressed-out 4 year old no problem.

The Catskills (north of NYC) are beautiful rolling hills (flat-landers call them mountains) with pretty wonderful scenery, hikes, B&Bs, etc. Consider the Mohonk area near New Paltz, but find a B&B rather than pay resort prices at Mohonk Mountain House. The views, hikes and eats are great around there.