A Saturday at Arlene’s Grocery

by wildwestrocks · Published November 12, 2017 · Updated January 2, 2019

Prince Hal and John Law. Two out of the Three Statues of Liberty at work. Picture taken by Alan Rand!

Saturday, October 28th. the Statues of Liberty returned to Arlene’s. First time in a while. First time in a couple years. I guess the last show they did was at Arlene’s around the holidays three or four years back. They returned tanned, well rested, and just ready to go.

In their absence it was perhaps a tad quieter. Maybe. Probably not. I just missed their absurd mix of punk metal rock. I missed Hitomi’s drumming and Prince Hal’s bass. I missed John’s theatrics as he sings. And damn he was in good form on Saturday. Last time or two when they were just passing through, his voice was a little ragged. Doing a show Christmas week was probably a crazy scheme. I am sure life just intruded on that and his voice was was the consequent. Still enjoyed.

It was nice to bask in their glow. . .more like to be hit. . .rocked by their waves again two Saturdays ago. It was nice hearing Beautiful again. Coke and Cigarettes was cool, and complete with that little tidbit of history on how it came about. The Rise and the Fall was of course part of the set, and sadly only more appropriate today. Jiggle Bum was in the mix. I still do not know what that is about, well I do and I do not. Crushing was done, which was especially nice as John’s daughter was there in the crowd.

Ms Hitomi doing her thing. Courtesy of Alan Rand’s Facebook albums!

Of course ran into Alan Rand before the show. His pictures now borrowed for this. And for once I had some folks join me. A husband and wife, and they actually found their way to Arlene’s. I work with her and she routinely hears my stories of this and that band. Originally from India, she was curious. She had never seen such before. So she dragged her husband into the city from Secaucus for the Statues of Liberty. I think they liked! I hope. Before the show I was a little nervous. I felt a little responsible for them as it was me who had encouraged them to attend. All worked out and who knows she might come back.

Hitomi and John. Do notice john’s gestures. Just a mime at heart! Again courtesy of Alan Rand’s Facebook albums.

The amusing thing was her and her selfies, my guest. Not sure what she did before she had her phone. It was all cool and John and Hitomi were nice to hang out for a few and just say hi. Case of the old and the new regarding guests and company. . . The old, as much as I wanted it to happen over in NJ at the Brighton Bar. did not happen.

It was simply nice to be among old friends and music I know so well. Music I was able to watch develop and evolve. We are talking 2007, 2008, 2009. I remember Hitomi one time saying to Hal as they walked outside, again at Arlene’s, that she had changed up the beat on one of the tunes. I enjoyed hearing something they had just penned, had just put together over the last few days.