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June 9, 2007
The front bar of Parkside Lounge (317 E Houston St, NYC) is filled with loud music, a pool table and plenty of interesting people. The bar also boasts some of the best happy hours in NYC. Well, they're more like happy days since they run from 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM daily. The back room is a small, cabaret-style venue. Complete with glittering red backdrop, cocktail tables and old fixtures this room would be perfect for burlesque shows, but that's not why I'm here. Tonight I'm here to see my friend David Calamoneri. Yes I know, it is cliché to refer to a folk-type singer as an 'everyman', but in this case I think I deserve a little slack. Mainly because I'm right. Sure many songwriters will tell tales of real life, drama, politics, suffering, love, etc. The difference here is that I actually know this guy and can relate to what he's saying. We've hung out until late in the night drinking and talking all about this messed up world of ours and in particular the people running (or ruining) it. We tend to agree on just about everything except the status of a certain folk music icon (who I've sworn will remain nameless). His songs are not only well-written, but filled with true-grit honesty and completely free of pretense. They are presented in a no nonsense way that kicks you in the head and makes you want to listen. It's the classic man with guitar and harmonica spinning yarns about real life. Although that American troubadour style may conjure thoughts of early 20th century dust bowl, there is no denying the reality of city that lies in David's work and how it touches those who hear it. Tonight there were several folks wearing shirts proclaiming 'I (Heart) DC'—much like those tees tourists will gobble up by the dozen in Times Square. It's good to know that we have someone like David Calamoneri out there in the trenches proclaiming freedom and musically fighting for the rights of everyone. Yes there are others who have been awarded that moniker of 'everyman'—hence its unfortunate cliché status. But with few exceptions, they've grown into legends that, aside from having good imaginations and time to study up on the news, can no longer really relate to the common man the way they could when they themselves were hungry. Of course I would love for my friend David to gain every success this crazy music business has to offer. I just hope the truth that lives in his work now never gets lost or compromised. Thanks to our many long, late-night conversations, I feel pretty good that such a fate is not a problem. So I will continue to watch as other people discover this talent and hope we can get over the hurdle of our one musical disagreement. Oh ... sorry I forgot. I'm sworn to secrecy on that last subject. But I'll give you a hint ... his name rhymes with Mob Mylan. ;) Links:
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