What’s The Matter With You?

A warm breeze was blowing through the East Village last night as I stumbled to the NR from Ace Bar. The city doesn’t smell like garbage… yet. It will, though, when it really heats up, when the pavement begins to soften and the air turns heavy. For now, though, the wind was a sweet, promising sign that summer’s almost here: short sleeves, long rides, cafes, picnics… and the beach.

Kevin Anthony (who produced my ‘Summer’s Gone’ Remix EP) threw a party last night in his loft on 23d Street across from the Flatiron building. Across the street, the Met Life tower — fresh out of scafolding — was gleeming white. And Kev’s joint was rockin’: he was spinning, and a friend of his, Dave (a.k.a. Bitschifter), was performing digital music through a Gameboy. And there was free booze. Kev painted his studio the color of a green apple, and got some new soundproofing and new monitors. I’m excited to get back into the studio with him. He’s good people, and does good work.

We headed down to Ace Bar (I took off my sportcoat and untucket my shirt) where Erin, Noel — who recently married her longt time punk rock boyfriend — and I proceeded to get way heavy (and maybe just a little drunk) on marriage and babies and work and truth and art and… you get the idea. It was great. I love having people in my life that I’ve known for years and years and years. There’s zero bullshit.

I started watching the Wilco doc (‘I Am Trying To Break Your Heart’) this morning — there was no way I was running, and was reminded at what an incredible lyricist Jeff Tweedy is. I mean, “I am an American aquarium drinker / I assassin down the avenue / I’m hiding out in the big city blinking / What was I thinking when I let go of you?” Genious. Wish it were mine.

I started to feel the creative stuff flowin’ a bit and started something — I hesitate to call it a song until it’s done — called “What’s The Matter With You?” We’ll see how it goes. It’s the second new song idea in as many days, which, after a long, dry winter, is a warm, welcome breeze all its own.

Tonight — assuming my brother’s very pregnant wife is still up for the trip — the three of us will pile into their Isuzu Trooper, point it south on the Garden State Parkway, and keep on truckin’ ’til we hit Stone Harbor, New Jersey. Sunday morning, Chris and I are competing in the Cape May Biathlon. I’m psyched. Stone Harbor means Wawa hoagies, Slurpies, and balsa wood gliders from Hoyt’s Five & Dime.

Top Five Summer Songs:

Summer Song – Buffalo Tom
American Girls – Counting Crows
Pop Song 89 – REM
Diggin’ For Fire – The Pixies
Sister Golden Hair – America