About an hour later I was calculating a few scenarios in my head of how I could venture into the City, catch a Show on the Lower East side, and then return to LI in order to catch said flight in the morning.
1 thing kept popping up - Paul Simon only 1000 people - seen him before but with only 1000 people in attendance this show promised to be special -
With a ride into the city covered, the 1st half of the trip proved effortless. When the Voyage ended in the Shadow of Katz deli
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I got a bit emotional, Not like the famous scene in When Harry Met Sally, emotional, but close. A few mins later we were in line with our tickets in hand (Katz tix) and only a few customers away from the Holy grail..... Pastrami on Rye.
When our turn came we strode up to the counter and placed our order - my nephew, knowing the drill greased the deli man with a couple of bills in the tip jar and out came two slices of gold to sample while the sandwich was built. Side by side with the Sandwich was a handful of 1/2 sour pickles and a Potato knish - all right on the mark and the view from where we ate wasn't so bad either. (No photos of this bounty as it was consumed before it could be photographed)
The Scene out front of Webster Hall was a bit Chaotic - from the looks of it there were 4-5 things going on within 150 ft of eachother - Multiplex Movies on the Corner and a few other Venues either nextdoor to the Webster hall entrance or in between the Movies and our destination.
There was no shephard minding the sheep so we began scanning the line for familiar faces edging our way forward when alas we reached a fork in the road - at which point a heavenly voice became clear over the drone of streetlife - wawa wawa wawa on the right - Paul Simon to the left - Sidestepping a confused bunch of foreign Sheep we appeared in front of will call signs - found our letter and walked up - Tickets in hand once again, we set fourth out of East Village into the Mecca of Good Stuff: Small Venue - Big Artist. (editors note: Big in Stature)
Having friends in high places is helpful in times like these - without any we were happy to settle for friends in the right places and we nestled in with a group of JC's friends that were all stoked to be there.
Show started and Paul took the stage and the crowd welcomed him amply.
Wasting no time he launched into Boy in the Bubble off Graceland and took complete control. The favorites kept coming all night "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover," "Kodachrome," "Mother and Child Reunion," "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes," "Late in the Evening"
Paul kept switching guitars and a few band members switched instruments or multi tasked - as in the Drummer who effortlessly switched between keeping time on the Drum set and playing acoustic guitar - with a slide so sweet it sang. one of the 2 keyboardists rotated on accordian, keys, guitar and possibly horns - a few others filled the void with the perfect touch of style.
A few minutes before the Encore shifted into high gear someone in our group threw David Byrnes name out as being scene in the VIP section. Sure enough a White haired man in a pink striped outfit took center stage and the crowd started to swell.
Byrne led a enthusiastic "Road to Nowhere" with Paul sharing Vocals and playing Harmonica. Ding Ding Ding ... we have a winner!
To complete his appearance David took the 1st verse of "You can call me Al" and it was evident it was far from "Same as it ever was" as David's Stoccato delivery put a stamp on the song and the evening - that was truly special.
Snappier Pix and a bit more details on the show here
Cab to Penn Station - LIRR to Syosset and home
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