Greetings:

Today was a homecoming of sorts. I was the opening performer in the first annual Kew Gardens Music Festival, held in what was once known as the Interlude. See my posting from January 6, 2007, for an explanation of the role the Interlude played in the New York folk scene of the 1960s.

Anyway, the place is now called the Bliss Gourmet Cafe, but the interior is pretty much as it was back then, but with a slightly larger counter and a much larger variety of food served. The small stage is gone, but the performances take place from the same southwest corner of the room where it once stood. The bathroom is entirely unchanged.

The house was packed to capacity, which means about 50 patrons. But that came as no surprise, since admission was free. Most of the audience was there to hear their favorite local songwriters, but instead of doing any of my own songs, I sang instead three that I regularly performed at the Interlude from 1963 to 1965: Woody Guthrie's Hard Traveling, the traditional Worried Man Blues, and Jesse Fuller's San Francisco Bay Blues.

Those proved to be the right choices, since I got a more enthusiastic reception that I ever got in the old days. I wish to believe it's because it's because I've developed a modicum of musicianship and showmanship since then. On the other hand, maybe they were just applauding because this old gray haired man was making a bloody fool of himself on stage. The festival organizer, however gave me the thumbs up sign and wants me back for next year. So maybe I really have picked up a rick of two in the past 45 years.

--- Steve