I had a blast. I left NC at 4:25, met my Dial7 driver at LaGuardia, caught the PATH train and arrived for Pizza with Mike right at 7:15. Contrary to broadcast reports, the group there wasn’t ghoulish in the least. Although I have to say that the pizza wasn’t the best NY Style I’ve ever had. It is true that Mike was holding court, but he had earned it.
At my table were the very kind and interesting Lisa Jane Persky and her husband Andy, the fellow long-distance traveler MasterofSparks, and the aptly monikered AndrewVDill. Jess and Peter from the Shamblers were there, along several with other FOTs.
In addition to those worthies, I spent a good amount of time talking to several FOTs from different places, including ChrisL (the zinger chat one, not the, uh, other one). There was a lot of Scharpling and Wurster nerdery in these conversations, lemme tell you. But then there were about 100 people singing along word for word on Rock and Roll Dreams’ll come through, so it was that kind of crowd.
Also talked a good bit with the very talented playwright Jason Grote and the very talented multimedia artist KicktheBobo. And I met (the I’m sure talented in their own rights)
Auntie Christina, cutout, methanolcereal, GoreMarie ericluxury, and Officer Tom among others.
Hats off Jason and his ladyfriend Christina C. who arranged this whole thing and painted the awesome life-size “Oboy” painting of Tom (respectively). Terre T was also very gracious and was coordinating up a storm the whole time.
I complimented this guy named Brett on his Petey 4.0 call without even knowing that he was also the famous MC Steinberg.
Several of us went and got coffee at what can charitably called a Jersey City dive afterward. Big thanks to the previously unknown Ben from Nashua who bought us all coffee and diner food.
I owe a special thanks to Neil Numberman and Nick for helping me negotiate cab fare back to LaGuardia – the FOT evening ended for me with Neil and Nick screaming “don’t mess with this guy, he REALLY knows the city” at my cab driver, who could not have cared less but got me there at the negotiated price anyway. Thanks, guys!
I was sitting within about a foot of the stage the whole time (the back of my head is in several of the pictures HaroldBlvd posted). Great show, very funny and genuine. Great crowd.
It would definitely be unfair to leave out what a genuinely interesting, interested and nice guy Ted Leo is, in addition to playing a blistering guitar. I became aware of TLRx through the Best Show, which is great. I haven’t met many well-known people, but it would be hard to imagine a more grounded and decent individual who also can be recognized on the street as somebody famous. Class act all the way.
The only real disappointment of the night is that I didn’t get to meet John Hodgman in person.
Of course, shaking Tom and Jon’s hands was great. They seemed genuinely gratified that their little radio prank 12 years ago had blossomed into this really cool thing that could pack a 3rd floor deck in Jersey City with rabid fans.
People I saw or heard were there but didn’t get to talk to include: senorcorazon, JonfromMaplewood, Kittykittymeowmixhead, Ughwhy, haroldblvd, theyellowchair, keithwhitener (I think he was there under a different name), frankfromweehawken, scratchbomb, Spoony, Zookeeper Joe, Patrick Chew, Brian from Brooklyn, Ben K., Kid Pain, gravy boat and Emily. And I assume Wes was somewhere hiding in the corner.
Maybe next time, folks!
Apologies to anyone I spent time with but have left out – PM me and I will add you in!