8th of October 2003

Briefly contemplating exercise

It's hard to remember what has been happening, because of the amount of stuff that has been going on here in NYC. I feel at home now, I have my coffee shop, I have my rituals, there are even people turning up to our gig every night which is getting better every time we play. No boredom, no playing by numbers, I think we are improving as a band every time we play. This, of course is putting me in a great mood.

Some things that have happened:

I met Norah Jones's management who let me know of a "secret" gig down in the lower east side at a bar called the Living Room. It is where she used to play before she hit the big time. She just did a small unannounced gig in front of about 80 people who couldn't believe she was doing such a casual gig. What struck me was the great feeling that the scene that she is part of (the folky, jazzy, singer-songwriter thing) existed before her 15 million album sales, still exists now, and will continue to in the future - and she will be a part of it because she loves music, loves playing and loves her scene. After the gig, she counted the money in the tips bucket herself and shared it around the band. I spoke to her and her boyfriend briefly afterwards, they said they might even come down to my gig! Her voice, as ever, cut through the music like a diamond.

Saw a film called, Lost in Translation, directed by Sophia Coppola with Bill Murray which I thought was amazing. Really subtle, funny, sad and goofy. It will speak to anyone who has ever had a holiday romance. It made me so happy to watch this film. SEE IT! I also saw School of Rock with Jack Black, directed by Richard Linkater which I thought was really funny and made me want to play my electric guitar.

Went out in Chinatown on Friday night to a wicked bar that played great music and never seemed to close (with my bro, Solomonos, and some new NY friends) and did the whole tequila thing, beer thing, and late night pizza thing. Got to bed at six, legs hurting from dancing like a crazed idiot.

Central Park is truly amazing, especially now the weather has suddenly turned really warm and the leaves are just starting to change colour. Going to rent a bike next week and really check the place out. The lake that everyone jogs around made me very briefly contemplate exercise.

Met jordy from the forum.

Found the coolest Jazz club on Seventh Avenue called the 55 Bar - cheap, real and underground. Been here twice already and met loads of musicians I know totally by chance. Music makes the world a much smaller place.

Going to Brooklyn tomorrow.

Loving this town, loving it, loving it.....

jc

x