Tour Recap - Rome, NY and New Gloucester, ME
Upstate New York and Midcoast Maine treated me awfully well.
The drive from Syracuse to Rome, NY was a quick one, especially compared to my first two commutes of more than five and a half hours each. The hourlong cruise was a breeze and I ended up dropping by the venue a few hours ahead of schedule.
I messaged my friend and host, Mike Kohli to let him I was in town and to see if he wanted to snag a beer with me. Kohli, as he’s called by everyone, was slated to work that evening at the brewery whilst I played, but he had time for lunch and a cocktail.
Kohli and his charming wife Carey met me at Copper City Brewing where I would be playing later in the evening for a pint. From there, we headed out to Crust, a local sandwich spot with a bar for lunch. I had a delicious hot Italian with a pair of Old Fashioneds and felt the buzz of early afternoon day drinking. The sun shone down on us as we walked out from lunch and I felt fabulous, but totally in control.
Once back at the brewery after a long and enjoyable lunch, I got all of my gear in order and Kohli took his post behind the bar. I enjoyed a huge glass of water and crafted a set list for my two set night. Most of the shows on this tour are one hour sets or so. These two set nights give me the opportunity to stretch material I play far less often than the songs that usually populate my one set nights. It’s a fun challenge, and a great chance to flesh out new material.
At a very prompt 7:00, I took the stage to a full house. The crowd was attentive, generous, and very enthusiastic. The patrons ebbed and flowed throughout the evening, but there was always a steady stream of folks watching and listening intently.
I worried that on a fourth consecutive night with a few cocktails in the afternoon and a lot of driving over the previous three days that I might feel sluggish for the sets, but I could not have been more wrong. I shot out the gate with a blistering version of Harborcoat’s ‘Transit Town’ and was off to the races. I felt as confident and assured in my playing and signing as I ever have. I rode the wave and enjoyed the night.
After I wrapped up my sets, several locals came up to purchase merch and make conversation. For more than a half an hour I greeted and spoke with folks who are now new fans. I was reminded of the privilege of this endeavor. It also felt pretty great to get that validation, not gonna lie.
With a very long drive to Maine the next day and an early curtain, I had to say my goodbyes to the Kohl’s and make my way eastward. After about an hour and a half, I got so groggy I was compelled to get a room. I opted for a Super 8 Motel just east of Albany, NY and was set back $150 for the sum total of seven hours sleep and shower I would get out of the deal. Still, I was a couple hours closer to my destination, and I still had some driving to do.
Maine is a long way up there, and I must confess I felt every mile as I crept to New Gloucester and Brickyard Hollow Brewing. I arrived after having driven for more than five hours in severe rains with about 90 minutes to spare before my 2:00 start time. However, before I even got going, there was a slight complication.
Nick, the assistant manager informed me that there was he hoped was a “small gas leak” in the kitchen. A tech had been called and would arrive within the hour, but until the issue was re[paired, they would have to lock the door to new patrons. I was assured that the repair would likely be an easy fix and they would be able to reopen by about 3:00 pm. In the meantime, I could enjoy some lunch and a drink.
I ordered a Caesar Salad with salmon and whiled away the time with Spelling Bee and action on the TV from the College World Series. Eventually, at about 2:30, Nick informed me that the issue was almost fixed, and the restaurant would indeed be opening by 3:00 pm. I was relieved to have not driven all the way for nothing. I began to unload my gear and set up shop.
Nearly ready to go, I heard a familiar voice. It was my dear friend and former Pantone bass player, Jacob “Shooter” McCarthy. He moved back to his native Maine from Michigan a little over a decade ago. I was thrilled to see him and his daughter, Maggie. Shooter had also brought along some of other members of his family as well.
Sadly, because the restaurant had been closed to new patrons for 90 minutes, Shooter and his family along with one other table were the only patrons during my first set. The small crowd were attentive and kind, and I still had a fabulous time sharing my songs. They are not all perfect, but this one was still better than many. And for what it’s worth, the staff at Brickyard were great about the entire situation.
Just before I finished my second set, the rain abated and the sun shone through the window. Within minutes folks from the neighborhood began arriving to occupy picnic tables and benches in the courtyard outside. Sadly, my timing window for this gig was just not set right. If we had been able to play a bit later, the outdoor gig would have been packed. If we’d not had the gas leak, the inside show would have been quite busy. Sadly, the dice rolled another way and we made the best of it. I am certainly looking forward to a return trip to Brickyard on a beautiful day when we can party on the patio.
I made the one hour drive back to Shooter’s house and spent the rest of the evening feasting on tater tots, chatting with Jake and Maggie and learning the machinations of a reality TV program called Below Deck. I hit the hay quite early the night before as I was running on fumes by the end of a long stretch of gigs and road time.
The following morning, we dropped Maggie off at school and Shooter promised to show me some of the best of what Maine has to offer. First we headed out to Pemaquid Lighthouse and fort. The original fort itself looked out over a section of peninsula that juts into the Atlantic, but was burned repeatedly by the French and British as they fought heatedly over the land for years. A replica of the fort has been constructed, and there are some interesting foundations that are still in tact form the original settlement. And the spot where it resides is nothing shy of breathtaking.
After our brief perusal of the fort and surrounding grounds, we made our way out to the lighthouse which sits at the edge of a dramatic rock formation that cracks out in to the ocean like so much dried timber. Standing at the edge of the continent I was reminded of how small and insignificant most of our troubles truly are. It felt good to be humbled by nature.
Inside the lighthouse there is a small fishermen’s museum. Shooter and I strolled through the antiquated rooms to study gill nets, fully systems, massive sinkers, and more. I am always charged by these small museums with their humble collections and the pride with which they are displayed. I adore the fervor with which these folks have clung to their own local history.
After the natural wonders, we decided to drive into Rockland to look at some manmade beauty at the Farnsworth Fine Arts Center. The museum is home to a host of paintings by the great American painter Andrew Wyeth who spent his summers on Maine’s coast and painted what he saw.
A special exhibition of abstract watercolors was on display when Jake and I visited. The paintings are mostly done on kraft paper and feature very quick renderings, or flashes of a scene. Hastily slashed out lobster cages and seashells are sprinkled in amongst less identifiable imagery. The paintings had the feel of being the ghost of a Wyeth. I enjoyed them quite a bit.
The rest of the Farnsworth’s modest but impressive collection is made up mostly from Maine artists or painters who spent summers in the region. I was most captivated by the work of Marsden Hartley. The Farnsworth has a full wall of Hartley’s that depict an array of harrowing seascapes in thick brushstrokes.
With a bit of time to kill before we were scheduled to pick up Maggie from school, I suggested that we stop for some raw oysters. Shooter knew just the place. We stopped at the Shack Station on Route One in Damariscotta to share a half dozen oysters and a basket of fries.
Raw oysters are a favorite of mine. I eat them at every opportunity when I am on the coast. There is no point in trying to enjoy oysters in Michigan, but damn if I don’t scarf them up when I get near the shoreline. The sample platter at the Shuck Station hit just the spot and we settled in the car for a short drive to pick up Maggs.
Over the course of the evening, we played some of the Goose Game on Switch, watched some more Below Deck and Maggie and I made BLTs for dinner. It was a genuine treat to spend time with my friend and his daughter. She is a very cool young lady and Jake is a great Father. Seeing them together was a nice way for me to not miss my own kids quite some much.
The next morning I was ready to roll as Maggie and Jake hit the road for school. As they went to work, I began my drive southward to Kingston, NY. More to come soon.
Cheers,
Matty C
Matty, because of the travel do you sometimes find it difficult to reach the same level of energy night after night, especially a stretch of five gigs in five nights?
I loved hearing about Jake and Maggie. Great memories. Very proud of you for getting out there. And love the setlists. Keep playing Better by the Day.