On the boundary edge of the known is creativity. Creation itself is sharing a divine dream that is inhabitable by engaging in creative processes. Excitement characterizes the anticipation of the “What’s this!?” that’s emerging from the primordial. Riding the prow of expression, slicing the surface of attention, and bringing the formerly non existent into being is stimulating. We are invited to participate in the process of updating reality. The quality of existence grows, and so do we as eternity gains expression. -Who can stop what must arrive now? Something new is waiting to be born. – Crazy Fingers. Grateful Dead
Shakedown Citi played Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn again on October 28th with an Acid Test tribute night. Their scene is a buzz right now. Starting up the alley way off the street to the entry door begins with a spontaneously unanswered question. Playfully not following security’s directions is met with a sort of restless nervous ambivalence by the bouncer, and a silent wrist bracelet wrap. It appears as if the bouncer is unsure. “Why do you need to see my license?” I ask. Not even shoulder shrug, or the first move to obstruct entry. Just move along like an inflow drift. Up the alley I go.
Up to the next threshold of entry. The theme for tonight is honoring The Acid Tests that Kesey and The Pranksters held in the Sixties. Informality abounds in the collective countenance of the staff. Ticket, ticket, ticket, go ahead, go ahead, enjoy the show. The metal detector wand wave seems more like a sage smudge than weapon scan. Breaching the entrance of the bowling alley theater plants one right in front of the man with the bucket full of notes. “Here. Here.”, he says. “This one’s for you.” It’s a miniature manilla envelope. I ask him to open it for me. Inside is a fortune cookie like message. The message says, Ask a stranger what your name is for the night. Tell someone else what it is. “Well?”, I ask. “Well what?”, the guy asks back. “You’re the stranger. What’s the name?” I assert. “Cornelius”, he responds after brief thought. I thank him, then presently forget the rest of the instructions on the fortune. In, past the coat check, through the lobby, and into the theater, bar, bowling ally. Strike!
It’s early. Not too many people here. There’s a man bowling on one of the lanes adjacent to the stage. He bowls a frame with his right hand. Then bowls the next with his left. It appears as if he’s playing versus himself in an ambidexterity game. Worth the watch for a minute. He’s good each way. The ambidextrous bowler.
Vendors display their wares at the back of the still relaxed dance floor. A young lady soliciting attention says hello. We seem to pick up a conversation that began before we met. Shirts adorn the racks surrounding their table. The prints on these shirts!! The images are recognizable, but they are coming from some kind of creatively interpreted place. It’s captivating work; mad interesting. I think her name is Kate. “He makes them.”, she says, “I help with the stitching.” The detail! The precision! The depth of color! Fractal roses and a partial Stolen Face shine richly groovy. Ones of a kind. Now she’s explaining the process, “He dyes, I sow.’ The process is old, repetitive, and it results in this intense perma-dye finish. In the midst of browsing the clothing gallery, Kate pulls on bucket hat, and exclaims, “I make these!’ She’s eagerly pointing out the recycled denim material used to, kind of, patch create each hat. This is all custom stuff. Kate and Lee help me decide which two shirts to buy. We square up, and they agree to hold the shirts until after the show. They both appear glad for the happening. P.S. It’s Lee INSTA: lsdbatik crossstitchandpainless What do you know?
Moving around the perimeter of the floor I go, really appreciative of being able to make it here. The next guy looks like he has mandala like carvings. Staring at the ornaments on the table I’m taken again by the intense detail! “What is that, a carving?”, I inquire. I’m struck immediately by this outrageously detailed flat ornament, about the size drink coaster. “It’s macramé.” the inconspicuous proprietor informs. Stunning. Just plain stunning! Across the table the eyes and focus go. It’s all quite amazing. Andrew welcomes me to, what turns out to be, a mobile gallery. Friendly and interesting Andrew is. We talk, and I get a lesson in the art form, while standing there frozen fascinated with these pieces. Freakin beautiful work. People continue to fill the theater, admire the macramé, and bargain for Andrew’s attention. Fare the well. The inspiration is palpable. There’s still a rock and roll show to come. P.S. happyhempin.com
Music is a miraculous medium. There’s infinite amount of space in which to move around musically. It’s built on silence. (I heard Keith Richards say something like that.) Through the contrast of quite the band maneuvers with alacrity, care, and some consistently bountiful joyful energy. So much originality can come through songs. Old or new, songs link us to heritage. It’s a testament to the quality of the songs these guys choose, what they’re hearing while listening to each other play, and their abilities. What’s old is perpetually new. you wanna talk about a good time shot in the arm!? Sometime add a Shakedown Citi jam to the playlist. The group is unrehearsed and poised to follow the songs wherever they may lead at any given “in the moment” time. Privileged once again, and wanted to have it known.
After the show I got caught up with Lee while picking up the shirts. Very engaging guy. He broke down the dye process. I said out loud, “This sounds like a school lesson.” “It is.”, Lee assured me. On the way out I bumped into David Mendelsohn. Having completely spaced the Acid Test reference, Dave provided a quick reminder. “Did you get a envelope on the way in?” I did. “What did it say?” -Ask a stranger what your name is for the night. Tell someone else what it is.- “What was the name?”, Dave inquires. “Cornelius” Serendipity. I had just spent the evening in some very creative space. This kind of space can really help raise culture. It’s being held consistently by Shakedown Citi, among others. Dig into it where and when you can.