Summers Gone

August 20th: Summers Gone

So that's another years hols bit the dust. A wee break in October sounds good though. It's funny how I seem to always look forward to my next one all the time. New York is a busy busy place that's probably why.

So full of contradictions it's clean, dirty, exciting, alienating, disgusting, beautiful and it will certainly leave an imprint in my minds eye for a while to come.

The hotel room was on the 41st floor, right off times square and when I looked out the window I had a panoramic view of everything.

Will publish some pics soon I think, probably I should open a flicker account or something.

Highlights were BB King's blues bar and seeing the Harlem Gospel Choir do their thing (praise the lord, oh yeah). These folks were members of the choir from U2's rattle and hum period and they were very good. Harlem was great, I loved seeing the Apollo where James Brown lay in state at the scene of where he did his thing. The Dakota was interesting, basically because it's nothing of note really and it's such a shame that a guy as talented as Lennon ended his days there due to some mad bastard. But I was there to see it for myself and pay respect so that's what matters. Also got to watch Maxi Priest sound check which was really good too and saw some street kids doing their hip hop which was magic for an old fart like me to see.

Watched a couple of Broadway shows. Loved Chicago, really well done, so it was. And of course we did all the touristy things. Got a couple of bargain ipods as well so it was all good. The Statue of Liberty was strangely disappointing however. I wonder if it's cause I question just who's liberty does it represent?

Couldn't let this post pass without mention to the King as well. 30 years since he died and I remember hearing it on the news as clear as if it were yesterday (God I sound like my parents). I have a number plate on my car which has 77 for various reasons. The year we got the victory and the crossbar fae Wembley, the year Elvis died, the number of my bairns and wifes birthday and the hoose. It'll never win me the lottery but it's important to me for all those reasons none the less.

I've been to his house in Memphis you know, Elvis that is. Paid homage to the greats there once, Presley, Cash, Sun Studios et all. Enjoyed seeing the best Elvis impersonator ever aka Joe Kent (pictured) at the rock n' roll cafe straight across the road from the pelvis's hoose. He was magic and I've got the pictures and videos tae prove it. You know the seven degrees of separation thing…there might be some truth in it you know. Seems old pal McGee's chums with his daughter now. I wonder if she's got any old Jasmine Minks records?