SHARING THE SHOWS
tooSeven shows in seven days. Most civilians (non-showgoers) I told about my five-night WSP run, accompanied by two Phish shows as bookends, looked at me as if I was crazy (they’re completely justified there). Most of the other showgoers gave me some version of a thumbs up.
By day 7, though, I was drained, but reinvigorated by a different band and a different venue from the Beacon. After a day exploring the laid-back beachscape of Brighton Beach, I napped in my Airbnb and headed down to 34th Street to grab my last slices of NY pizza before my departure. From there, I got onto a Long Island Railroad train to get to Jones Beach. I was hoping to see a bunch of Phishheads engaged in some low-key partying on the way, a la this favorite video of mine, but it was mostly packed with commuters. I got an Uber to the venue (I had to direct the driver to where to drop me off, despite having only been to Jones Beach three times, the last of which was in 2008 to see Jethro Tull). But I found my way inside, and despite not being able to hook up with Sean or Fred, we still communicated via text. I was blown away by “The Curtain” opener (Jesse’s favorite), and “Say it to Me S.A.N.T.O.S” always ignites my inner dancer (or outer one). The guy next to me, Chris, also went solo and we commented on the jams. We were shushed by an older dude behind us, which I understand (I tend to get annoyed by people who spend the whole show talking). So we did. The highlight of the first set for me was the jam that accompanied the “Bathtub Gin/Maze” flow, and I can’t not play air piano during “The Squirming Coil.” Set Two was a scorcher. I saw “Leaves” for the first time live, which gave me a skingasm, as it did many times when I played Sigma Oasis on repeat for a few weeks during the beginning of the pandemic. “Everything’s Right” always sets my grooving gears in motion, as do the Picture of Nectar classics, “The Mango Song” and “Chalkdust Torture.” The real adventure happened after the show. I took my inspiration from Pete and inched my way out during the second-set closer, “Julius” so I could get to the Uber pick-up spot before the traffic starting getting really heavy. It turns out the joke was on me – hard. My Uber driver cancelled on me, and the Uber and Lyft apps kept having trouble finding drivers (a shortage on Long Island, I suppose, and many drivers just don’t want to deal with the hassle, despite a price surge and the ability to make good money). While waiting on a second driver, a Lyft, a dude asked me and the other potential passengers, “Anybody going to the Wantagh train station?” I said, “Yeah.” He introduced himself as John and offered to split the fare. Despite my anxiety riding high, I was happy about that, until my Lyft cancelled (although later, I did get a $5 credit for not being able to find a ride, and, in a display of my own schadenfreude, I’ve heard the drivers do get charged when they cancel their own rides unless the passenger refuses to wear a mask). From that point, he and I hustled after cabs while my app waited to find other drivers. Here’s a quick rundown: Driver #1 wanted to charge us $150 each to get us to the train station, about a 15-minute drive away. F ___k no. Driver #2 was charging a more reasonable $60, but could only take cash. Tip: if you’re driving a livery cab, try Venmo or CashApp or get a damn credit card swiper! You’ll make more money that way! It’s 2022; less and less people are carrying cash. The third time was a charm. John was able to negotiate the driver from $70 (I think) to $60, and this driver had Venmo. He was also a native Virginian. We got to the station at 12:14, three minutes before the train back to Manhattan was scheduled to arrive. One of the nice things about these shows is you never know who you’ll meet. One of the reasons I love public transportation is that it’s an additional opportunity to meet cool folks. John and I swapped stories about the shows we’d been to and were planning on, and a drunk guy nearby was going on about Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor. He also informed us there’s a Rodney Dangerfield memorial in Kew Gardens (note to self: check it out next time in NY). John and I parted ways at Penn Station, and I caught a late-night subway to my Airbnb, where once again, I was out the moment my hit the pillow. Seven shows in seven days was a phenomenal (if draining) experience, and I’d do it again. And I love doing them solo because, for me, I have more flexibility in terms of experience. And a huge congrats to my friend Jaclyn (6/17/22), who did her first solo show and credited to the outings to Uncle John Band’s I organized. As part of my work in Singles Studies, I always try to inspire others to be comfortable doing things solo, and hearing that makes all my labor worth it. That being said, I’m ready for a two-day nap with Chester. Besides, I have another show planned for Jerry’s birthday. Gotta gather that energy. Stay frosty, folks!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
May 2024
Categories |