So after work, I took the train into Penn Station. Met up with
We had some time before the show, so we wanted to grab a bite to eat. Remembering an amazing Empanada place that I visited with
Back in 1998, I was reading the New York Times Magazine when home from


At this point, I was nervous. Just like the Santana show, things weren't looking up, but I didn't have the feeling in my heart that things would come together like I did back then. I had led us astray to a place that was closed. I had led us astray, causing us to get there so close to the start time that we were forced to stand. I feared that
Holy shit was the show absofuckingfugling amazing. Tuli spent most of the show sitting in a chair, sometimes with his fingers in his ears. Yeah, you can tell he's in his seventies. Not just from the song, ``Septuagenarian in Love'' (updated version of ``Teenager in Love''), but from the way he looked and staggered about the stage. His banter with Ed was amusing, and he seemed to get younger as the night went on.
Updated version of ``Kill for Peace''! Updated version of ``CIA Man''! Updated version of ``River of Shit''! Who knew that antiwar hippie 60's songs would be so fitting in modern times, eh? I was chatting with
Now, don't assume that they just did songs about protest or humor. Fuck that. They also did one of the most powerful and touching tributes I've heard in my life. Tears, meet the corners of my eyes. After they did the aforementioned river song, they mentioned how that song was Allen Ginsberg's favorite, and how they wouldn't exist if it wasn't for him. After a few more kind words, they launched into a tribute to him. ``He was one of our heros!'' They said such kind things about him, spoke such wonderful simple truths about the man, and expressed an unconditional admiration and love for him that left me speechless. The line about the amount of Blake he had memorized gave me pause, and the rest of the night they illustrated how a huge deal of their softer songs were Blake-inspired. I mentioned to
They did plenty of songs off their upcoming new album, ``The Fugs Final CD (Part 1)'', which they kept on plugging. Unfortunately, they didn't have any copies with them, which was pretty amusing. At one point Ed commented, ``We're not very good at this capitalism thing.'' Some guy near us in the audience yelled, ``THANK GOD FOR THAT!'' It sounds like a great album, with songs like ``Cameleon'' and ``Where is my Wandering Jew?'' based in lore, and fun songs like ``I've Been Working for the Landlord.'' Looking at them, considering how the last album came out almost twenty years ago, it might very well be the final CD.
We kept on looking at each other, saying wow over and over again. At one point during the break, I pointed out that some seats near us were free, which led us into a conversation about the seats on the subway for the elderly/crippled that you always feel guilty sitting in even if no one who needs them is there. We agreed that there were plenty in the audience who needed the seats more than us. Pete was wondering what the crowd would be like, and it was an interesting mix. Rows and rows of bald or grey heads, some old guy wearing a Korn shirt, and some hipsters behind us, including one particularly hot young hipster.
Also during the break, we talked about how they were shaking hands. We talked about going over to them, but
As we were walking to the venue, I joked about how
Walking out, we agreed that this was going to be a tough act to follow for the rest of the great summer of music. We ventured back up to Penn Station,
The announcer's comments were great. ``This is the last train going out from anywhere to anywhere.'' ``This is the last train out west. Transportation at this time is difficult to find, one taxi in Dover and one taxi in Morristown, so stay awake.'' I could have napped more while waiting to go, but a couple of pretty young things were chatting loudly about life. When one said, ``Isn't it funny that we can say, "Remember back in high school?"'' I felt incredibly old. Finally we started to roll, just as
Right before I got off in Madison, two drunks were discussing Madison. It was amusing to hear them go on about what a great town it was. As I got off with them, I grabbed a PowerAide from the gas station on Kings as I usually do when I find myself in Madison around three in the morning. First listening to two wandering drunks talking about the town, then walking around the corpse. The usual flood of ghosts... between the PowerAide reminding me of the Hackensack Y to the phone booth and
At exactly three in the morning, while listening to Rachel on WSOU, I saw a shooting star. She was doing a show dedicated to songs about hating everyone, and I was just about up to the 287/80 junction. The shooting star filled me with an overwhelming sense of selfless love and joy.
I'll post about Game Night later. I gotta get home, tomorrow is XDfest with