Hypnotic

I can't remember the last time that I heard or saw a subway performance that made me stop to watch, forget buying a cd. I have to admit that the subway and street performers were a contributing factor in my moving to New York. What I didn't realize until moving here and seeing the same amazing and not so amazing acts repeatedly is that most of these performers don't change their acts. Ever. Por ejemplo, there's this brother who plays versions of Bob Marley on the R train sometimes, always seems to get on the same train as me. I tipped him once, but never again, as I soon realized that he only plays one song, and mostly just the chorus. I have no problem with that, we all do what we can to avoid doing what we must, or something like that. My favorite performer was the guy in the Times Square station who I never saw play his violin because anytime I saw him he was tuning it. I doubt he actually ever played. Although his performance of tuning a violin was compelling I never stopped to watch.

Then every once in awhile there will be something that forces me to stop, and inadvertently yell out, "oh, shit!" like today. In the Union Square station there was a brass band playing ridiculous music in that hot, funky, N.O. style. The group is called Hypnotic. Their sound was huge. I'm listening to the cd now, it doesn't fully capture them. I hope we all have the chance to see them live again.