Hi, kids! Yes, I did play at Central Park last Saturday, as promised (or threatened?). I have pictures up at http://www.andersensilva.com/centralpark08.html. Obviously, I was a little too busy to be taking pics myself; thanks to Joe (the roadie), Rhonda, Dave, and Mike for playing photogs and sharing their photos with me!

Joe and I got everything stowed into his wagon and took off for New York City, arriving just after 2:30 PM. When we got to Merchants' Gate, there was a random group of horn players at one side, and a bunch of hip-hop break dancers at another side, so we set up somewhere in the middle beneath a tree. I soon ran into my sister and her family, and then Dawn, Dave, and Dillon, and then Stephanie and Nicol, who pointed out Susan and Brett who had already been there a while unbeknownst to me... My parents and Barbara soon showed up, and Margarita, and my uncle and his family...

I started playing about ten minutes late, because I was trying to give the Microwize guys a little time (who knew that Microwize Technology employees wouldn't show up on time?), but I had to go on without them. I opened with "Joy in the Now," and went through renditions of "Rockin' in the Free World," "For Dana," "That's Just What I Am," "Death or Glory," "Look at the Stars with Me," "Yer Blues," "Blond on Blonde," and "Steppin' Stone." I was still nervous, and had some technical difficulties to top it off, but I'm glad I did it, and it was great to see so many friends and relatives come out to support me. I closed with another run-through of "Joy in the Now," (which you can hear on my MySpace page), and was finishing up "Battleship Chains" when I was interrupted by a kvetchy old woman who demanded I stop making all that noise.  lol  I found it highly amusing, but my friend Margarita defended me and let her know that I was scheduled to play there, and it was a public park! Margarita tried hard to get me to play one more song, just to annoy the woman... Heh-heh. My colleague Jennifer was ready to go say something to this disgruntled person, too. All things considered, I think the whole experience, the good (compliments on the Danelectro, strangers listened and took CDs) and bad (mic didn't work very well, guitar went out of tune) aspects of it, made for a great learning experience, and I definitely want to play another gig! Probably heading back to Banjo Jim's and the open mic this Saturday...

Joe and Barbara and I brought all my gear back to the vehicle, then we joined my co-workers in a few hours of post-gig revelry. Didn't get home 'til 1 AM, and then I had to get up at 5:30 to depart for Florida, where I am now... I have yet to post pictures from our night in New York, and from Clearwater Beach, but they'll be up in a few days.

Thanks again to everyone who came out to the gig! Your support is greatly appreciated. Thanks, too, to Joe, who volunteered to be my roadie, and handled the job ably. And thanks once more to those who took pictures and let me have copies. If anyone still has pics they haven't shared, well, send 'em over!

OK, people, this Saturday, the 21st, is my Central Park gig! Be at Merchants' Gate, across from Columbus Circle (Central Park South and Central Park West; here's a Google Map if it helps), at 3:30 PM, or else don't complain that you missed it.  ;-P  

In preparation for playing at the Park as part of Make Music New York (see the official program here!), I brought my Danelectro to Banjo Jim's a second time last Saturday. I was still nervous, though not as much as the first time, and I got through "For Dana" and "Joy in the Now" without too many mishaps. Heh... It poured several times during the open mic, and I half-wondered whether the power was going to go out during my 'set.' When the weather had settled down a little bit, Margarita and I stood outside for a while to warm up, though we got rained on.

Yesika and I saw "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" Saturday night, and I'm happy to report that we both found it a welcome addition to the franchise. Indy and Marion still have chemistry, and there was no Short Round in sight. Now, to see "Iron Man" before that's gone... Despite more rain, on and off, I met Barbara in New Brunswick on Sunday, and we went to my parents' for dinner. Yesika and I are planning on doing a little more movie catch-up tonight and seeing "Iron Man." Yes, finally.

I'm going to Tampa, Florida, for six days on Sunday morning, to get trained on a new software suite. Good thing I didn't already have any pressure to deal with... The rest of this week is going to be pretty damned intense, but Saturday, though it will be stressful, will also be fun, and at least I should be able to relax on Sunday, once I get through Newark Airport. That reminds me, I should pack... I'm also planning on visiting with my cousins, who don't live too far from there.  :-D

As I slept well last night (for a change), and the weather was sunny and warm, I figured I'd head to New York for a few hours today. The bus was delayed to begin with, and then hit traffic while making its way to the Lincoln Tunnel, but I still got in with enough time to head to Central Park for a bit, then stop at Sam Ash for some new guitar strings. Light-top, heavy-bottom strings on the Danelectro make for that groovy Andersen Silva sound...

I had to deal with more delays thanks to a stalled A train and the fact that the L isn't running this weekend, but eventually I ended up at Banjo Jim's, where Rick Snyder, songwriter, pointed out to me that I was the fourth person (himself included) that walked into the place wearing black low-top Converse All Stars. I think there may have been a fifth and even a sixth after me.

Margarita didn't make it this weekend, but I enjoyed everyone else's music. Rick tried in vain to get me to play, but even he couldn't produce a left-handed guitar out of thin air. I did tell him that I'll bring my own southpaw guitar in two weeks, though, so now I'm committed.

I took the PATH back to Hoboken and walked along the river for a bit, and then back to the train station via Washington Avenue. At the station itself, I discovered that Meryl Streep was filming "Julie & Julia" there! There were a number of extras dressed in '40s-era garb in the lobby when I went by. I didn't gawk, though, since my train was boarding.

Haven't changed the strings yet, I'll probably do that tomorrow or Monday, but I did play for an hour or so tonight, and it felt inspired and productive. I've started putting together a short set list mentally for Central Park, but I need to really think about what songs I can and want to do. As far as Banjo Jim's goes, "That's Just What I Am" is a definite do-it, probably the best tune I have for that place. As everyone seemed to be doing three songs today and not the usual two, I should make sure I have two more ready, just in case...

:::gulp:::  The people behind Make Music New York decided, in their infinite wisdom, to increase the 15-minute time slot I'd requested to... one hour. Maybe I should tell 'em I don't want to do a whole hour, but dammit, I'm gonna go for it. So, yes, my first live gig in front of Joe Q. Public is going to be at the Wollman Rink Terrace at Central Park from 3:30 to 4:30 PM on Saturday, June 21st! I'm going to try to finish working out "Loster" so I can debut a new song at the park, in addition to my older stuff, and some covers. I plan to test my nerves at the open mic at Banjo Jim's at least once or twice before then, but I know it won't be the same. And yes, technically I've 'played live' (though that might not be the best phrase to describe it) as a member of the Hellevators, twice, back in '87, but again, not the same as being in the park in front of strangers.

Yes, if you're in the immediate vicinity of New York City, I do expect you to go. It is free... The best way to get to the rink is to enter the park at Sixth Avenue at Central Park South (W. 59th Street), it's a very short walk. Hey, even if you're not in the immediate vicinity of New York, it's worth a trip!  ;)

Anyone interested in being a roadie for a day? I haven't figured out exactly what I'm bringing and exactly what my setup is going to be (I'm still adjusting to the idea of playing four times longer than I'd intended!), but most likely it'll be a little too much for me to carry in and out by myself; an extra pair of hands would be great. You'd have to be available from, say, 1 PM 'til 6:30 PM or so. Let me know...!

Just a little more shameless self-promotion before I let you go...
my MySpace music page
my iLike artist page
my SellaBand artist page (buy, buy!)
and, of course, my own Web site