Maybe only Paris and London share the same iconic status as New York. How to define it? Quite easy. As soon as you arrive and drive over Brooklyn Bridge, you feel you’re on a movie set.
The first time I went was with work and I managed to get Tammy to join me. We arrived late at night; there was a difficult moment next morning when room service delivered breakfast. Do you tip? How much? This is America, they will starve in an alleyway if we don’t tip them. Here, have ten bucks. We got the vibe from the look on his face we needn’t have bothered.
Busy young executive that I was, I hurried off to Madison Avenue for my international pitch preparation. Half an hour after arriving in the agency offices, the news broke that my journey had been in vain. The main client had caught a cold and the pitch was postponed. I later discovered this client earned several million a year before bonuses, then spent too long working out which player I would purchase for Coventry City with that sort of money.
I wasn’t expected back in London for a week. The hotel was pre-booked. There used to be money in advertising. The guy running the pitch said “Hey man, why don’t you stay on for a few days? I’m sure they won’t miss you.” He might not have said ‘hey man’, but it helps the narrative.
So we did.
I got back to the hotel and Tammy had gone to Madison Square Gardens as it was on the same block and she figured she wouldn’t get mugged (we were like country hicks in the big city). No mobile phones then, so I had to wait till she got back at lunchtime. Then we had a magical few days, some of them with my friend Lewis.
And to bring things full circle, I’m up early tomorrow at his virtual birthday party in London. I’m also celebrating it with Nigel who gets a mention in this episode as the dude with whom I bonded over Marquee Moon in the college bar where I was serving drinks (“Two pints of bitter and a packet of crisps”). As The Wedding Present pointed out, you should always keep in touch with your friends.
Anyway, New York - we do love you. Get well soon.
Tracklist:-
Chapel Hill, Sonic Youth
Tell ‘em, Sleigh Bells
Down the line, Beach Fossils
The adults are talking, The Strokes
Dreaming, Blondie
Wide awake, Parquet Courts
Don’t worry about the government, Talking Heads
The magic number, De La Soul
Black angel’s death song, The Velvet Underground
Paul, Big Thief
Rockaway beach, The Ramones
Evil, Interpol
Two fat feet, The Fiery Furnaces
Venus, Television
Maps, Yeah Yeah Yeahs
New York I love you, but you’re bringing me down, LCD Soundsystem