Walked up Delancey, and met up with Jason Darling, JoJo and Shanon McGee. Our old hometown friend Simone was playing, and A.A. Bondy a transplant from Alabama who was married to Simone’s sister Claire. I had played on the record “Nothing Gold Can Stay” and toured with the first incarnation of The Duke and the King with Jason also on guitar. We ran through England and Spain and had a blast. Simone slimmed the band down for phase 2 with Chicken shifting to bass while the Deacon moved to drums, and adding Simi on violin and vocals. They were much better than the last time I saw them at The Mercury Lounge. When the harmonies were tight it gave me goose bumps. “Union Street” and “Morning I Get To Hell” were well received. They closed with my personal favorite, “American Song” during which the house went silent and you could hear a pin drop.
I caught up with Simone downstairs; he was in good spirits returning from touring England and Germany. We reminisced about a Sea Horse Legion show, a band he played guitar in when he was 15 with my best friend Mike “The Flameblower” Billera. Simone carried a much cockier stance then, shirtless slinging a Gibson SG. I used to work Mike’s vocal echo box and triggers from the side of the stage while he would set himself on fire.
Last time I saw Scott was on my mother’s porch back in Palenville, on a warm summer’s day, not far from The Barn where he recorded his amazing album American Hearts. Jason said Bondy was incredible that night, as I had dipped out, still shot from the night before. I’m sure it was, the first time I saw him opening for The Felice Brothers in Brooklyn I cried. I was really sauced, but none the least I was truly moved. Good to see some hometown crew take the city by the throat on a Winter’s eve.
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