A little over a week ago I went to see an Artist friend's opening show at a gallery, and while I was there I saw another Artist, Eric, who I had reconnected with a few weeks before that at another Art event in another area of the City. We had been talking at the other event only briefly, and when we saw each other again the conversation continued for much longer. He was with a Writer, Emily, and at one point they mentioned that they needed to find a friend of theirs who was available for some event they were going to the next night because they had an extra ticket, and when I asked what event it was they said it was for John Cale at Lincoln Center.
Lincoln Center is one of those places I love to go to for just about anything, and when I heard it was John Cale I said something along the lines of, "Wow, if you can't find anyone I'll go!" I absolutely love John Cale, and I didn't know he was still performing. If nothing else it would be an adventure and a historical event to experience, and I knew it would be much more than that because John Cale is one of those Artists who is always awesome.
Interestingly he had been on my mind because I had just posted a photograph a few weeks before that on Instagram, and when I was looking for a song to add to it, the song "The Dream" from the album "Songs For Drella" he created with Lou Reed had appeared, and I had used a clip from it for the post. Thinking about seeing him live at this point in time seemed like something that I wouldn't want to miss, but I also knew that although I had met Eric a while ago and have known him for a few years, there might be other friends they had already asked who would want to say yes.
Somehow or other, after reaching out to some of their friends and sending some messages, Eric came back and asked if I wanted to go. I said of course and absolutely! But also said that if they still wanted to take some time to ask someone else I'd understand. But somehow the ticket ended up being mine, and on Sunday evening I met them at Lincoln Center for what turned out to be one of the highlights of my concert and performance going experiences.
The performance, titled John Cale's Steam on Glass, was in the Wu Tsai Theater in David Geffen Hall, and was part of the Krakow based Unsound Festival. The evening opened with Heinali and vocalist Andriana-Yaroslava Saienko, whose 2025 album Гільдеґарда (Hildergard) was described on the Lincoln Center website as "a striking decontextualization of the music of the pioneering 12th century composer Hildegard von Bingen." It was one of the most lovely and deeply meaningful sound and music experiences I've heard, and their presence and performance was breathtaking and mesmerizing. I performed in a play in college about the life and music of Hildegard von Bingen, and hearing their performance of her music also had that added echo from my own past.
The Lincoln Center website went on to say that "Unsound is co-organized and co-presented by Fundacja Tone – Muzyka i Nowe Formy Sztuki and the Polish Cultural Institute New York. This project is co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland from the Culture Promotion Fund in partnership with the Adam Mickiewicz Institute. The main partner of Unsound Web KRK – NYC is the Polish National Foundation."
When John Cale came out on stage I already was so filled with the wonder of the evening from the opening experience. Though I knew that I'd enjoy whatever he decided to do that night, I was not prepared for just how incredible the experience was from the first chords that rang out on his guitar and the wall of sound from his band. He had projections of films and art visions throughout, gorgeous, fun, joyful and so full of his creative energy that every moment was full of something to look at, hear, and take in, and smile, laugh, cheer, dance along to and celebrate. Everything was so memorable that I am still seeing the projections and the experiences of that evening in sound and vision.
Afterward, Eric and Emily and I were able to share some time together in the after hours of the hall at the reception. When we headed home it was very late, or rather very early in the morning, but I didn't even notice the time or question it until I arrived home and saw my clocks. Even then, I was so elated that though I couldn't believe the time, I didn't mind it, and I woke up the next morning feeling so jubilant and happy and full of a wonderful peace and joy.
With so much gratitude Eric and Emily for inviting me, to John Cale for all the years of amazingness, his band and other performers with him, to the opening performers, and to everyone who contributed their beautiful and inspiring gifts to make this evening of experimental sound and music such as wonderful experience!
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