On any given Monday, my brain moves slowly. Today more so than usual, because on Saturday I had a gig out in Delaware County (New York state) that I could describe as a long car ride, a concert, and another long car ride. There would be a certain sparse truth to that. But it leaves out all the good stuff. My accompanist Tex Arnold and dear friend and fellow singer Wendy Lane Bailey were also in the car. And it was a beautiful day, a perfect Goldilocks day - not too hot, not too cold, not too cloudy, not too bright but in every way just right. We headed west from the city and drove for several hours through lush green hills. Every now and then we would pass through a town, and always someone was mowing a lawn. The scent of the cut grass is enough to make me weepy, as childhood memories fill me up and spill over as tears. We arrived in Narrowsburg (population approximately 400) about an hour early for the sound check, so we sniffed out a little cafe and had burgers.
Once at The Tusten Theater, we were ushered into a small wonder. Built in the 1920s as a dance hall, it became a 160-seat theater at some point, and is now the site of concerts and other performances under the auspices of the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance. I heard about it from Jay Unger and Molly Mason, the heads of my beloved Ashokan family. Tony Trischka and guitarist Frank Vignola are doing a concert there later in the season, and that's family, too, in a way. I sang some harmony vocals on one of Tony's CDs a few years ago, and Frank played on JaLaLa's That Old Mercer Magic CD. The sound check went very smoothly - thank you, Zoot! - and in a short time Tex and I were on the stage, in front of (I think) about 100 folks - 1/4 of the town! - and having a fine time. Of course,I always have a fine time when Tex is on the piano. He is the most exquisitely expressive player and arranger, and wields a wit as dry as a James Bond martini.
It's always wonderful to find these small theaters so far from the big cultural centers. Though thousands of them have been lost to fire, to neglect, to some developer's land lust, there are still hundreds across the country, legacies of pre-TV days, of actual in-person social networks, of vaudeville circuits and traveling theater companies and touring dance bands.. Wherever there is one still alive, it is a sign of passion and community and stubborn persistence. There's a little leftover magic from previous performers in these places. I felt uplifted by knowing that Jay and Molly had just been there.
After the show, we lingered a little to chat with folks, and then cruised back through the brightly-starry night toward the city and our respective nests. Early to rise that day, and late to bed, but a good time had by all. A tip of the hat and many thanks to Executive DIrector Elaine Giguere, Zoot, and Robin (who showed us a better route back to Rt. 17) and to all the good folks of the DVAA.
