Titus Andronicus: how do I love thee, let me count the ways… Well, I love you more when you aren't ignoring my requests for an interview. And I love you much much more, when your New York concert for the beyond eagerly anticipated Local Business, at Webster Hall, where you killed two years ago, isn't on the same night as the Monkees without Davy (sadly enough) but with that tall glass of water Mike Nesmith back in the fold for the first time in decades.
It wasn't a quandary at all: sorry Titus, Monkees come first however much I love you. But there was a way out. TA are at Maxwell's on the night before Webster, Saturday December 1st. Now here are the problems with this plan.
1. Fucking Hoboken, what the fuck? It's miles away.
2. Ceremony who… yeah, I know but… and Alyson loved them in L.A., but I thought they were a little sleepy at LPR earlier this year. Maybe because they were like the fifth hardcore band and I had frankly had my fill. Or maybe because NOBODY wants to follow Pissed Jeans in 2012. Or maybe the cluster fucking the stage irritated me. But I wasn't overjoyed with the set.
3. Yeah, and they don't go on till 10pm which means I'm gonna be taking the PATH TRAIN back to Manhattan at 1 in the morning.
On the plus side.
1. If I can con my Hoboken buddy Bert Contestible, we might be able to catch the always great Wreckless Eric and Amy Rigby at the early 7pm show.
2. And I get to hang with sometime rock nyc writer Bert… who is a great guy and a pleasure to hang with. Titus in NJ is like Bruce in NJ -ground zero.
4. And finally, and most importantly, I'll have six weeks to listen to Local Business and then have the joy of watching Titus Andronicus play it live.
Anything else? yeah, maybe I can get them to sit still for ten minutes and let me get some choice replies. Like, why do they call themselves a punk rock when they are self-evidently an old time rock and roll band? Riddle me that, Stickles.