Sometimes I do these lil' reviews of shows here in New York. Having been a college DJ, I'm pretty douchy about what I'll review...I know bands and their record labels and everything in between...oui, I'm douchy about it.
So last night I covered Shout Out Louds, granted they put on a phenomenal show, but it was the aftermath I adored most. I took a cab back to Manhattan...my taxi driver was a Pakistani fella who was wondering what I was doing in Williamsburg, so I told him. He pulled over his cab on First Avenue to tell me how he dreams of going to college here in the States once he has the funds...he dreams of being a writer just like David Sedaris. Don't we all?
I've seen David read three times in my life, and the first time, I gushed to him: "When I grow up, I want to be a writer just like you." I trembled when I handed him his book to sign, and I rarely tremble...he wrote in my book, "Amanda, when you grow up, I can't wait to read the stories you have to write..." I'm sure I wasn't the first whom he wrote this to, but it's this book I keep on my desk as inspiration.
My cab driver had never seen David Sedaris read out loud. He'd only read "Naked" and I told him to read more, but there was something so magical in the moment. He looked at me over his shoulder and said: "You don't come to New York City, unless you have a dream to be something more than what you've always known..." And I fell in love...not with him, but his words, because it's so painfully true. His words are burned on my brain, not because of him, but because it's the same reason I came here also...
And if that wasn't enough, when I got out of the cab I went into the bodega on my block to get some bread, and the song on the radio was "New York City" by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys...normally this is not a genre in which I delve, but the bodega fella behind the register turned it up...and when I looked at him inquisitively, he said "I dream of being just like Jay-Z when I grow up." I was stunned, but humbled...
I live in the greatest city in all the world for dreams to come true, and even if we fail, at least we can still go home and say: "I went to New York City and I tried..."
That aside, I'll be Austin for South by Southwest to cover shows from March 15th to March 19th...so any readers out there in Austin or thereabouts...let's get drink, oui? My treat...I promise to be nice and civil and witty...well, the witty part, yes...
10 comments:
FUCK YOU, REALLY? I'M EMAILING YOU MY PARTICULARS RIGHT NOW! AND I'M BUYING!
I'm still waiting for you to come to Alberta.
Great. My mother just HAS to get married on the vernal equinox which falls the same weekend as sxsw this year. Now not only will I be missing the joys of SXSW (read: the american spirit after-parties and making fun of hipsters who wear 6 ft. wool scarves in Texas in late March) I wil;l also be missing an oppportunity to get drunk and make fun of people with one of my favorite bloggers. Have a great time and ridicule someone for me.
The Project...i'll be there all week! you have to sneak in time for beverages and ridiculing with me! i say i'm going for the music, but i'm going to be mean...
Ew, if you come to Canada, go to TORONTO not Alberta. All it does is snow there! Atleast Toronto has subways that stink faintly of urine. Also I think anonymous might be excited to meet you, just my impression.
Banff is much nicer than Toronto. And it doesn't only just snow in Alberta. There are at least one or two months without it. Some years.
Oh wonderful! I'm a transplanted New Yorker living in Austin and really enjoying it. I've been reading your blog largely bc you remind me of my sister. I hope you have a wonderful time and if you ever want to do drinks....
Enjoy Austin! I was planning on making the drive up there for a few shows, but I hate the crowds SXSW has started to draw. It used to be fun, now it's just hipster paradise.
I can't wait to read your reviews on the whole thing...
As far as living in NYC, I'm jealous. My dream is to live there, if for no other reason than just being there. I love that city. It's me. The first time I went, I witnessed some random dude screaming and banging on and at the cab that almost hit him. Classic!
...also still waiting for drinks in Alberta...
MANDIZZLE! YES, I am Torontonian ('Fo shizzle?)Actually I have been 'out west' - my sister lives in Saskatchewan - and the parts I saw were generally breathtaking. The hours of driving in between sucked hairy ass though. If you do go to Banff, you must see Chateau Lake Louise in the summer. MUST, I say.
I envy you living in NYC as well. I've always wanted to see a live taping of Daily Show/Colbert Report so that I may strip naked and jump on Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.
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