I met Ray Blue at 57th st on the downtown R/Q platform. He was blowing away on his tenor. We chatted. here's a little slice of a subway performer's life.
Memorial Day parties are fun, but remember .. Remember
My brother sent me an email mindful of the irony of Memorial day, it showed cartoons of BBQ's and a picture of the only person standing at a parade was an old man in a wheelchair. This Memorial Day our Military is still fighting the 'war on terror,' we're still at war in Afghanistan, and presently still involved in many conflicts throughout the globe. It's fleet week here in NYC and I'm seeing so many young men and women who have enlisted to serve our country enjoying a fun time in NYC. Whether I agree or disagree with war, we're in it and they represent our country. So I am all for honoring them and memorial day for all those lost in conflicts. This year I'll be in a small upstate community standing on a town green on memorial day saluting the fallen, honoring the men and women of our national guard, and all the other branches of military.
Many lives are lost every day to give us the world we believe we want to live in.
Politics aside, this is a day to remember those fallen.
This Memorial day go out and find where people are gathering to remember. Maybe it's a local VFW remembrance, or a visit to a cemetery, especially with your children, they need to know.
Be a part of honoring our fallen men and women who have lost their lives for our Country.
MEMORIAL DAY not just a party...
Memorial Day cartoons by Joe Heller (used by permission, thanks Joe)
2012 Music Under NY auditions
2012 Music Under New York auditions were held at Grand Central Terminal Vanderbilt Hall. May 16, 2012. As a MUNY artist I was asked to be a judge. I captured the event and I asked my favorite question, "what's your inspiration?" Here's what I heard:
- NY Guitar Festival artistic director and judge David Spelman: "sounds of NY, I don't wear an ipod, there are too many wonderful sounds..the wild polyphony of mayhem that we hear all around is an inspiration."
- Music Under NY violinist Ebony Hillbillies and judge Henrique Prince : "Life, …art, that music can allow you to be different all the time that you can keep growing until the last minute, and you can get better and better, how many things in life are like that except.. food."
- Music Under NY artist and volunteer Jahstix: "Life + possibility of magic at every moment, + the goodness and love."
- Auditionee and accordionist Melissa Elledge: "feeling grateful that I'm in a city that I can make a living doing what I want to do." Update: since her audition, now now a MUNY artist.
- award winning recording artist and judge Dane Zanes: "I felt that I was part of the NY musical overground."
- Music Under NY classical guitarist and judge Don Witter Jr. "music making and the boldness of young people who believe in what they are doing and do it."
- documentary filmmaker, 78 Project and judge Alex Styermark: "authenticity and people who are just trying to make the most out of what they've got."
MTA clip of 2012 auditions
check out the clip made by MTA's Joseph Chan, nice that I had the chance to be interviewed by Joe.
The auditions are really a true NYC experience. All I can say is that although I'm exhausted (I was a judge), I'm exhilarated by the talent and the dedication of the 33 volunteer judges that heard 70 acts over 6 hours. The MTA Arts For Transit and Music Under New York program is as important as any musical institution or museum, it's a treasure.
Music Under New York annual auditions
2012 MUNY auditions. Getting ready for this years annual Music Under New York auditions. For the past few years they have been held in the upper balcony of Grand Central Station with a wonderful view down to the main hall. Now the balcony is an Apple store, so this year the auditions have returned to the illustrious grand Vanderbilt Hall in the station. That's where I had my audition in 1999, and t he acoustics alone are worth going for the price of admission=FREE.
Hope to see you there.
Here's a little idea of what you can expect, NYCSubwayGirl style, as the 2011 clip I enjoyed getting more of the behind the scenes perspective.
Agua Clara May 2012
One of the treasures of the Music Under New York program is Agua Clara. I was passing through 34th street last week and there they were, sounding so joyful, musical and lovely. I always like to film other performers and usually edit clips down to 1 minute or so, but this one speaks for itself. The camaraderie of seeing another busker like myself as they acknowledge and smile is a fun part of the underground musical community. Performing in public spaces is such a wonderful way to share our art.
Music Under NY auditions Wednesday May 16
Wednesday is the annual Music Under New York auditions held all day in the Vanderbilt Hall of Grand Central Station. I was lucky enough to get an audition back in 1999 and am proud to still be a member of such a wonderful program.
This year I'll be one of the many judges and look forward to hearing the different musical acts vying for a slot in the MUNY program. For a truly NYC experience come and witness the art of performing in public spaces. It will not disappoint.
Wednesday May 16th Grand Central Terminal Vanderbilt Hall 9-3pm
WNYC our amazing public radio station is calling for video and photo submissions of your favorite subway performer. I know of so many fantastic performers, you pass them every day. It would be wonderful if you come and find me too and capture it for the WNYC audience. follow the link and submit.
here are my 2010 and 2011 audition clips:
2011
2010
Recharged and ready to go
Well now dear friends, I have returned from a wonderful break recharged and ready to return to performing. Check my performance locations here.
But my first exciting event is to go hear the Nashville Symphony perform at Carnegie Hall this coming Saturday. I was contacted by their promotional people, and over the past months as an interesting project, I've been filming New Yorkers asking them about good tips and things for the Symphany members to do when they're in town. Here are a few of the clips they put together from my footage.
Nashville Symphony NYCSubwayGirl style
I am looking forward to the Nashville Symphony performing at Carnegie Hall. I was contacted by their promotional people, and over the past months I've been filming New Yorkers asking them about good tips and things for the Symphony members to do when they're in town. Here are a few of the clips they put together from my footage.
I love this clip because I asked a passerby "Do you know how to get to Carnegie Hall?" He unfortunately didn't know the tired old joke, nor the punchline...."Practice, practice, practice."
Going offline, a meditation
In my life I try and have balance, although having a career in music, something I love and am passionate about, means I live in a world where a 40 hour work week or weekends and holidays off seems strange or impossible. When I work, I work. As a DYI (do it yourself) artist, there always seems to be something to do, Off is hard, On is usual. So I haven't truly allowed the art of letting go to enter into my days as much as I would like. The older I get the more I try and allow space for letting go. In creativity, it's in that stillness where seeds of ideas find space to germinate.
So I will be going offline as a meditation, as medication, and hope to be in some lovely stillness until May 7th. In truth it means I'm taking a vacation!
Peace,
Cathy
Levon Helm
Levon Helm was a true musical genius a leader, a drummer who caressed musicians together with his unique style. His drums talked, they sang, they told huge stories. His voice pulled everything together into a stew of good. Most of us have been influenced by his musical presence. He will be missed.
I honor how he took his celebrity and just kept on working, crossing boundaries, supporting young and old artists with his studio and Midnight Ramble.
My little personal Levon story, in the early 1980's my group Troia/Grier opened for The Band at the celebrated Lone Star Cafe. I'll never forget it. Levon listened to our set, we hung out in the dressing room, it was magic. He had a sense of humor he filled out our mailing list card just signing it "from the band."
I heard he was gone as I was singing in Staten Island Ferry termial today when someone walked by and pointied to his phone saying "Levon Helm just passed." I had a lump in my throat, sang a bit of "The Night They Drove Ole Dixie Down" RIP Levon.
image by Ahron R. Foster
Earth Day 2012
Earth Day is Every Day. I have a wonderful image of billions of people around the planet consciously thinking, acting and learning about our Earth in the most healing and positive of ways. She has given us so much, and now more than ever we need new tools to listen and ultimately change the way we have been treating our home.
We have to take responsibility for our consumption and our waste. We can't just throw it all away, it's got to go somewhere. What goes up must come down, what goes in must come out, so just because we can't see it (unless you live near a landfill, or happen to watch a garbage barge float by) doesn't mean it's not there. What is mine becomes yours, for better or for worse, so let's try and do better.
Observe the wonderment of Nature, and give thanks.
walking through the woods, found this acorn nestled perfectly. Nice catch.
Earth Day 2012 10 Actions
Earth Day is every day in my world, but this week and especially Sunday April 22nd is the 'official' Earth Day, now 42 years in existence. I remember the first one back in the 1970's and thank my Mom for opening my eyes to being more mindful and earth friendly.
Why bother with Earth Day? Living a life with consideration for our planet's sustainability takes time, takes conscious effort and intent. My take is the effort is well worth the time well spent, it’s good to feel good about caring about our world!!
In time, even one thing done to help make a difference, does make a difference.
Below are 10 actions for My Earth Day is Every Day: Call it sacrifice, learn to embrace it, or better yet, find a solution. But….Doing nothing is the wrong option.
!0 Actions to consider: it's not if but when you...
1) ...will decide it's too expensive to drive alone for one trip you could easily consolidate with other trips. Rethink your relationship with your car and consider some kind of commuter transportation.
2) ...unplug all the electronics in your home when not in use, and do anything you can to truly understand your energy consumption. Then make adjustments.
3) ...reduce, reuse and recycle. How many bags do you throw away, how many items could you reuse but find too time consuming to do anything about. What do you do with all your now obsolete gadgets? Find an e-waste depot near you. http://www.lesecologycenter.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&id=4&Itemid=7 and http://ecycler.com/
4) ...ask local and national government to consider next generations, not next election cycles. If you find resistance, vote for change.
5) ...switch to homemade or non-petroleum based cleaning products (yes most household products from dish detergent to shampoo use petroleum). And no fooling, switching is much healthier for your home environment.
6) ...support your local economy. There is a reason you can get cheap goods at big box stores-off shore corporations pay labor cents per hour and get huge tax breaks to do so.
7) ...eat out less and use what you have in your cupboard more.
8) ...update appliances and recycle the old (do not reuse those energy guzzlers).
9) ...take advantage of state and national tax credits for updating your energy systems and home weatherizing.
10) ...teach a child to care about the environment and they will carry it with them throughout their lives. It's their future.
One thing is certain: the world of today will be different tomorrow - and the day after that, and on and on ad infinitum. The question is not whether we must learn to live sustainably, but how fast we can do so. from University of North Dakota
Equine Advocates 2012 Sponsorship Drive
I have been invited to perform once again at the annual Equine Advocates Horse Sponsorship Drive this Saturday April 21st. 4-7pm at TK Home in Hudson, NY. I hope you'll join me and learn more about this important and wonderful organization. Joining me in the festivities will be Joe Condon veteran Radio & Talk show host WOR in Albany.
Tessy Keller and Jay Neuschatzat owners of TK Home and Garden 441 Warren Street, Hudson, will open their store and lovely gallery space for the event.
Equine Advocates Mission statement:
To rescue, protect and prevent the abuse of equines through education, investigation, rescue operations and the dissemination of information to the public.
I have experienced the tireless work of Susan and Karen Wagner of Equine Advocates in Chatham, NY
who have dedicated their lives to rescue equines. I first visited the Sanctuary in 2010, when a NYC Carriage Horse named Bobby was brought to the refuge to live out his life in freedom. The 140 acre Sanctuary, is currently home to 80 equines plus 2 pygmy goats and an alpaca.
Here's a clip I made from my visit to the Sanctuary:
Update on 2012-04-18 21:41 by NYC Subway Girl
walked past all the carriage horses lined up in the crazy heat along 59th st the other day, SAD, then saw a equally long line of pedicabs. HAPPY, now if we can just make pedicabs seem as romantic as a carriage ride....certainly way cooler
stillness, air and Haiku's
I have just returned from an empowering retreat in NH last week called Coming Into Your Own. I spent 4 days with 15 other women (and one amazing 3 mos old) sharing our life stories, understanding a deeper connection with ourselves and how to better navigate the world around us. In the process of witnessing, we learned tools on how to listen, interact and communicate more deeply and authentically. I am taking the day to reflect on my inner work which I believe has sparked new inspiration in me.
I return to subway gigs on Wednesday at my favorite spot Grand Central Shuttle.
I wrote these Haiku's which sheds some light on where I'm at, a good time to be in Spring:
Here I am safe
Wonderment an easy Reach
Aware I forgot
The essence of Love
Steeping just a bit longer
Now a stronger me.
Columbus Circle happiness
I'm inspired by a fun day performing at Columbus Circle yesterday, must have been Spring in the air. People danced, many smiled. I sang full out for almost 3 hours.
I love singing on the uptown 1 platform because I can actually see light from the outside and watch people coming in and out of the station. I can also perform for the commuters across the tracks waiting for the downtown trains. What that also means is I am completely at the mercy of the 2/3 uptown and downtown express trains and their rumble and screeching wheels. Of course doubly noisy if uptown and downtown trains pass at the same time. I work with it. I mark my time, pause my vocal and vamp through the chords. The game I play is to return to the point where I left off so listeners won't miss part of the song. It's the express train musical bridge!
A guitarist friend who also lives upstate stopped by and we chatted. He commented on how amazingly loud it was. I said it takes me a few minutes to Zen into the sounds and then I'm set for my 3 hour gig. Many people took pictures and stood close to listen. It was a big kid in stroller day and I love watching their reactions. Their societal filters aren't up yet. They move to it or they don't. My favorite is to watch how many times a child looks back when leaving, and then a perfect moment of joy when one spontaneously waves.
Why do I do it? Music and Art in public spaces is integral to a city's soul. We can't stop artistic expression just because it costs too much to either produce or to experience. Live music in this almost frenetic environment is truly honest, there is nothing timid about it. There is nothing commercial about it. It's pure, sometimes imperfect, but always real.
It was a good day.
Thanks NYC.
Fallen Friends since 1989
April 4th has had a huge significance in my life
On April 4, 1989 Peter VanderPutten lost his fight with AIDS in Key West, FL at The Cypress House the guest house he owned. I was by his side. Peter my cousin, my teacher age 48. I returned to Key West this past Feburary to visit The Cypress House one more time before it was sold, having been in the VanderPutten family since 1986. It was a lovely and emotional visit full of memories.
I wrote a song called "Fallen Friends" for Peter and for all those lost to AIDS so many, so quickly in the 1980's. We haven't forgotten, now more than ever.
On April 4, 1965 Richard Grier, my father slipped into a coma, and lost his battle with cancer on April 25th in Middletown, CT age 33
On April 4, 1968 Martin Luther King was gunned down in Memphis, TN age 39
listen to an MP3 of Fallen Friends from my 'Comin' Back To Me' recording
Lyrics
Fallen Friends Words/Music-C. Grier Sesac Singerfish Publishing
Where Have My Friends Gone
They Have All Fallen
Where Are My Many Fallen Friends
I Hope They Are Somewhere
Where No Anger Resides And There's No Hate
Where No One Decides What's Wrong Or Right
Before Its Too Late
Where Have My Friends Gone
Last I Looked They Were Healthy And Funny
But Where Are My Many Fallen Friends
I Keep Looking Again
Chorus:
And They're Falling
My Falling, Falling Friends
My Falling, Falling Friends
Some Saw Denial
And There Lifestyles On Trial
Some Tried To Say
Why Has The Government Looked Far Away
Number Days Are All Gone
And What We Are Missing
By Not Taking A Stand
Are The Many Numbers Too Afraid To Lend A Hand
And There's Such A Demand
Lives That Are Cut Short
It Doesn't Make Sense
Why Can't We, Why Can't We Rise Up
And Help Find A Cure, Others Aren't Sure
And They're Falling Falling Lovers, Falling Men
Falling Women, My Falling Friends And They're Falling Children
Falling Lovers, Falling Men, Falling Women, My Falling Friends
Will The Falling Ever End
Adrienne Rich poet
Adrienne Rich left us March 27th. Born in 1929. What a world she carried on her poetic shoulders. She taught me to think, to question, to not feel so alone. And to understand the elegance of contradiction.
Driving Into the Wreck by Adrienne Rich
First having read the book of myths,
and loaded the camera,
and checked the edge of the knife-blade,
I put on
the body-armor of black rubber
the absurd flippers
the grave and awkward mask.
I am having to do this
not like Cousteau with his
assiduous team
aboard the sun-flooded schooner
but here alone.
There is a ladder.
The ladder is always there
hanging innocently
close to the side of the schooner.
We know what it is for,
we who have used it.
Otherwise
it is a piece of maritime floss
some sundry equipment.
I go down.
Rung after rung and still
the oxygen immerses me
the blue light
the clear atoms
of our human air.
I go down.
My flippers cripple me,
I crawl like an insect down the ladder
and there is no one
to tell me when the ocean
will begin.
First the air is blue and then
it is bluer and then green and then
black I am blacking out and yet
my mask is powerful
it pumps my blood with power
the sea is another story
the sea is not a question of power
I have to learn alone
to turn my body without force
in the deep element.
And now: it is easy to forget
what I came for
among so many who have always
lived here
swaying their crenellated fans
between the reefs
and besides
you breathe differently down here.
I came to explore the wreck.
The words are purposes.
The words are maps.
I came to see the damage that was done
and the treasures that prevail.
I stroke the beam of my lamp
slowly along the flank
of something more permanent
than fish or weed
the thing I came for:
the wreck and not the story of the wreck
the thing itself and not the myth
the drowned face always staring
toward the sun
the evidence of damage
worn by salt and sway into this threadbare beauty
the ribs of the disaster
curving their assertion
among the tentative haunters.
This is the place.
And I am here, the mermaid whose dark hair
streams black, the merman in his armored body.
We circle silently
about the wreck
we dive into the hold.
I am she: I am he
whose drowned face sleeps with open eyes
whose breasts still bear the stress
whose silver, copper, vermeil cargo lies
obscurely inside barrels
half-wedged and left to rot
we are the half-destroyed instruments
that once held to a course
the water-eaten log
the fouled compass
We are, I am, you are
by cowardice or courage
the one who find our way
back to this scene
carrying a knife, a camera
a book of myths
in which
our names do not appear.
NFL Pop-up Store and NYCSubwayGirl
Okay Football Fans here's your chance to visit the new pop-up NFL store and hear NYCSubwayGirl perform. The ribbon cutting will be April 2nd at 10:45 by none other than NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
Yours truly will be performing on the corner from10:00-10:45am to those waiting to get inside.
Here's hoping to great weather and a fun crowd. Only in NY folks! hut…hut.hut
NYCSubwayGirl appearing Monday April 2nd 10-10:45 am corner of 42nd and 6th avenue
The NFL SHOP AT DRAFT located at 1095 Avenue of the Americas at 41st and 42nd Streets
Divas Underground 2012
Thursday March 29, 12noon-7pm 14 Street/Union Square
NYCSubwayGirl Cathy Grier performs 3:40pm-4:20
Union SQuare 14th Street subway station above N/R line will have a very exciting event of women performers of the Music Under NY program throughout the day. check out the line-up and come and support live music in public spaces:
* Divas Underground: In celebration of Women’s History Month, Music Under New York’s divas will perform a marathon concert with some dedications to the beloved divas Etta James, Amy Winehouse, and Whitney Houston, whom we have lost recently.
12:00-12:30Wendy Sayvetz www.abacaproductions.com
12:30- 1:10 Arlethia www.arlethiagospel.com
1:10- 1:50 Lindsay Dragan www.Lindsaydragan.comwww.Wearesunshowers.com
1:50- 2:20 Marcella Adame
2:20- 3:00 Heidi Kole http://www.thesubwaydiaries.com
3:00- 3:40 Martine Bruno www.martinabruno.com
3:40- 4:20 Cathy Grier www.nycsubwaygirl.com
4:20- 5:20 Left on Red www.leftonredmusic.com
5:20- 6:00 Samantha Margulies www.samanthamargulies.com
6:00- 7:00 SisterMonk www.sistermonk.com
Music Under New York's DIVAS UNDERGROUND March 17, 2011
I was able to catch a few of the other women artists of MUNY, Samantha Margulies, Natalie Gelman and Martine Bruno to share with you.