The Reinharts invaded New York on December 31, 2001 to play for about 1500 of their closest friends. Linking up with Dave Barton, Kevin Pryor and Michelle Saud from BS&M, the boys showed the fine folks of New York how we do it in Virginia. The venue was an old mid-19th century gothic-styled synagogue near Soho called the Angel Orensanz Foundation. We rocked them until about 3am then had to find Lowry so we could find the hotel. Finding Lowry was almost as hard as finding the hotel as he'd decided he needed a slice of pizza before he could rack for the night. Having no money (and this is my theory), he had to exchange his gloves for the slice.
Meanwhile, Buster and Rick had gotten dropped off at the wrong Chelsea hotel by their cabbie at about 4:30am and had no idea where to go. Having only a vague description of what the hotel was like and where it was located, the boys wandered about 30-40 blocks in 15 degree weather carrying guitars - in the snow! (O.K. I made the part about the snow up, but it was cold!!!). The boys learned that not every homeless person in New York is a bastion of knowledge when it comes to finding places in the City. Anyway, they finally found the hotel and rest of the band (who had already taken all the prime sleeping spots) about 5:30.
Many thanks to the Novagratz boys for hooking us up as well as the BS&M crew for inviting us along. Thanks Dave for doing all the driving!
And on a somber personal note:
Though we didn't have a chance to go to Ground Zero to pay our respect, while
roaming the streets before the gig in that bone-chilling cold, I stumbled upon a
building (and I apologize for not knowing which building it was) that had
missing posters of loved ones from 9/11. I slowed to try to take in the
faces and read the messages but was not prepared for what I saw as I rounded the
corner of the building. The faces of nearly a thousand missing and loved
ones came into view. It literally took my breath away which I know
is clichéd but really happened. It was the most overwhelming monument to
those beautiful, tragic people imaginable. Their faces haunt me and inspire me
to this day and will probably be with me forever.
-Rick
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