So-back across The Endless Mountains…twice, this time…in torrential rains and the second time in pitch darkness as well. Ithaca NY to Scranton PA and back to play at the “The Governor’s Awards For The Arts” ceremony, held at “The Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple.” (Late 1800s stone architecture, lovingly restored.)
Read on.
I-81? Trucks everywhere, and visibility in some places so bad that traffic slowed at 5 or 10 MPH. Lots of construction, too. But…I got there and back.
The ceremony itself?
Long…lots of performers. Good music. This band played for the reception afterward…the same band as at the Scranton Jazz Festival, only this time we were playing the ’40s/’50s swing standards. Glenn Miller, Count Basie, etc. With a good band, that music comes alive. This is a really good band.
Anyway…not much to report.
Here’ ’tis.
#1-Downtown Scranton has no nervous, racially-produced jump on it, even late at night. A very peaceful feel to it. My finely honed urban spidey senses said “OK TO PARK ON STREET.” They were right. Kids…of all colors…were openly smoking pot at 10:30 PM, right around the corner from the venue and the police presence.
#2-I was surprised to see an almost nonexistent security system in place. I mean…there were cops there, but no tension, no frisking…no nothing, really. When I got to the beautiful old building where the ceremonies and performances were being held, there were troops of young girls in costumes singing outside the building and no signs anywhere about where I should go. I walked up to a group of policemen…remember, I’m carrying two large bags that could easily be chock full of weaponry…expecting to be directed to the metal detector/pat down door. Nothing of the kind. “Oh…yeah…just go through that door and hang a right.”
Nice.
One of my little hobbies on these kinds of gigs is to play “Spot the Security.” No muscled-up, earphone-wearing security was to be seen. I’ve noticed this in a couple of eastern PA universities where I have taught, as well. Easy access, no fear.
Nice twice, as far as I am concerned.
#3-While we were setting up, the governor came over to meet the band…Democrat Tom Wolfe. The real deal, I think. I could tell from his handshake, his easy eye contact and…when we shook hands I made believe I didn’t know who he was and said “Oh, hello. What do you play?” He cracked up and answered “Sousaphone!!!” Turns out that is what he played in high school. Good people. Down to earth. I’d vote for him.
Dassit…
Tomorrow another trek, this time from Ithaca to just north of Philadelphia for a recording session on Saturday, then back up the coast to da Bronx. I-81 again going south, then I-95, etc. headed north.
Pray for no rain.
Please.
Later…
ASG
P.S. I experienced the same AM radio response on I-81 as I encountered on the previous two recent trips. The words “baseball,” “football,” and “country” outnumbered the words “Trump” and “Jesus”about twenty to one.
Nice thrice!!!
We’ll see in November.
Won’t we.
