Stuff NYC Buskers Text About #TheSubwayDiaries #NYPD #Busk

When the world feels strange and out of control above ground in NYC, I head under, where ‘strange’ & ‘out of control’ immediately become relative & insignificant

                                                         #Busk #NYCSubways #TheSubwayDiaries

Ok so tonight underground I was playing La Bamba with 4 cops behind me when all of a sudden all 4 NYPD officers started dancing. All male, shaking & wiggling their hips & waving their arms in the air. If I’d only had that on tape. It looked like the NYPD version of ‘Sister Act’

Then….not 15 minutes later I’m approached by 2 more cops (not dancing) and they demand I leave. I told them I’lm legal singing on the platform unampllified & showed them the rules, (1st Amendment violation NYPD) which they were 100% uninterested in. Then 7 more cops showed up & immediately grabbed my guitar case (4th Amendment violation guys) & started to toss things around, coins, dollars, my case, all my stuff….manually packing it up to force me out of the train. They grabbed my arm & commanded me to leave the Times Square station & said I could not enter again even to take a train or I would be immediately arrested. & sent down to Central Booking….Seriously guys? I’m singing…no amp, no nothing, just singing.

One of those nights on the platform when people seem to gravitate towards you, one after another, and proceed to tell you their life story….their ENTIRE life story ‪#‎Busktherapy‬ Photo – Jennifer Thomas

Never fails to fascinate me how people show their appreciation or attempt to connect. Today a guy walked all the way over, the entire length of the platform, eyes fixed on me and smiling, not to tell.me something or drop a dollar in my case, no….he walked over to gently touch my strumming hand while I was singing. He touched it & walked away. ‪#‎NYC‬ ‪#‎Busk‬ Photo –Henning Fischer

Snow day hangin’ Uptown with Danny (aka Geechee Dan). Wokin’ on tunes with engineer David at the board

Hi guys, it’s been a while since I’ve posted here, reason being, 2 broken elbows (yeah, I know, it took talent 🙂

I’ve been ‘surviving’ in other ways for the time being & looking forward to being back under in the near future.

In the meanwhile, just a quick note to let you know I’ve been featured in Virgin Atlantic’s Publication & wanted to share it with you:

http://blog.virgin-atlantic.com/t5/Our-Places/New-York-s-best-busking-spots/ba-p/47933#.VkCa2bfhDmH

For anyone wishing to fill some holiday gifts you’ll notice you can enter the code VIRGINATLANTIC here on the site and get 10% off your autographed copies of The Subway Diaries.

Cheers & hope everyone’s been super!

First, blissful, ‘no-coat’ busk of 2015 

‪#‎happydance‬

Photo – Jennifer Thomas

#GiveMeSomthingICanBreatheWith – Lyrics from “Brighter Day” by Heidi Kole
Photo & Skin Grafitti – Mitchell Parsons

“‘Protect your Magic” door on abandoned building West 53rd St NYC NY‪

#‎protectyourmagic‬