2-2-22 Patti Smith Broadcast

For her Subsstack Subscribers Only From Electric Lady Studios

Woke up this morning and dressed in black.

Guess I have been in Melbourne for a while now.

2-22-22 had passed here in Australia but it was still that day in America. It was on a Tuesday too.

My goddess poet, Patti Smith, was doing a special Substack Broadcast on Mandolin.

There was no way I would miss it even if I had to watch it delayed, but the planets aligned as they do with Patti, and I was able to watch her perform live.

Electric Lady Studio. NYC. The same room where so many records were recorded. Horses to name one.

My memories of Patti Smith take me back to the days of CBGB’s and roaming the streets of NYC.

Bobby Andersen and I rocking at her feet at the Woolman Skating Rink in Central Park while she performed at her peak.

St Patricks Day 1979 was the perfectly named day to see her at Stony Brook on Long Island. That day began with the parade in New York City with a posse of friends that continued celebrating well into the 18th of March.

The last time I saw Patti live was in 2017 when she came to play Bluesfest. A few nights before Bluesfest I danced at her feet again while she rocked, screamed, and spat at the State Theatre in Sydney.

Placed in the 12th row I said to my partner, “As soon as we see any movement towards the stage, WE GO!” I don’t think it took more than one song for the rush to occur.

But then up in Byron for the festival, 3 of my children ran to the stage when she came on that very rainy night. Although her voice was a bit worse for wear, she made it through the set and my progeny were all blown away.

Seeing Patti, Lenny, and Tony Shanahan on the screen last week was an emotional Waring Blender.

Tears for all the musicians who have been throttled by the pandemic years.

Tears for the memories of the friends who are gone.

Tears for all the missed moments with friends, family and strangers that we can never have back.

But overall, this was not sadness.

This was just a dump truck full of feelings.

It was so delightful to watch Patti and her childlike wonder and the simple innocence she possesses. And that voice!
Or watching her smile as she searched for a chord on the guitar and she connected with us through the magic we possess.

No matter this torrent of my cinematic memories the brief connection with these musicians filled me with love and beauty and life.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.