18th October State College PA and Ithaca NY
Interstate 80 is probably the longest road in these United States. It runs from New York City to San Francisco, south of the Great Lakes rolling on across Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah and Nevada before crossing the Rockies into California, 3000 miles of freeway from sea to shining sea.
The first 240 miles, from Manhattan to State College, Pennsylvania, are beautiful in the bright autumn sunshine. The hill country of eastern New Jersey is in stark contrast to the industrial wasteland that I’ve come to associate with this place after years of slogging up and down the NJ Turnpike. Once into Pennsylvania we enter the Appalachian Mountain region. Here the foliage is breathtaking, green giving way to yellow and orange, then to rust-red and crimson as the leaves prepare to fall.
Our visit to State College happens to coincide with Homecoming Weekend – so the main route into town is closed off. We find a friendly cop who guides us through the roadblock and around the back of the town to the venue and while Andy, Grant and Vaughn set up the set up, I mingle with the crowds on Main Street watching the Homecoming Parade. It’s a noisy procession of all those things we Brits don’t quite understand about American student life – fraternities, sororities, gridiron and nice white teeth.
The theatre is an ideal setting for a first night show, intimate but also a bit rowdy – some of the homecoming weekend spirit must have snuck in. Having got into New York in time to see the last presidential debates two nights before, I litter the set with references to Joe the Plumber and his morbid fear of redistribution of wealth.
Ithaca is a small town in rural New York state and home to Cornell University. We get there early enough to hit the record stores and for yours truly to get a seriously great haircut. Asking the barber to summarise what he had done, so I could get my barber in Bridport to do the same, he said it was ‘kinda freestyle’. J.C. Knight’s Barber Shop is located at 208 Commons. Just walk right in and ask for Ivan.
It being Saturday night, the crowd at the State Theater is up for it. A rousing cheer greets the fifth line of opening song ‘Help Save the Youth of America’. How odd I think, until I realise that Grant has only just managed to get my voice into the PA.
Despite this setback, the gig is highly charged, with a predominantly young audience responding vocally to my comments to the forthcoming election. At the end of the evening a sizeable crowd hang back to speak to me and have their shirts written on. Concerned about a noisy drunk lingering at the fringes of the group, Vaughn asks the security to eject the noisy character acting strangely at the back of the hall. Three burly guys proceed to try to throw Grant out. Given how the evening had begun, maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea.
5 Responses to “18th October State College PA and Ithaca NY”
By Stan on Oct 22, 2008
Hey Bill rockin’ good show at the Somerville Theatre Tuesday night. As usual we also enjoyed the Insightful (or incite-ful) lesson in Braggology as well as the witty Billy Banter! Do you think that 10 year old has figured out how to spell tumescence yet? Hilarious! Thanks again for the pic with me and the Mrs. I will die much happier now
By Bruce on Oct 22, 2008
Bill,
Great show in Ithaca–probably my favorite of all the times I’ve seen you. Excellent song selection, good energy and the usual pithy and funny commentary; what more could we want! I was the bloke who shouted for Levi Stubbs for the encore. Thanks for doing it, and thanks, mate, for being you. In these weird political and economic times, we need your insight and music more than ever.
By Andrea on Oct 24, 2008
Yes, the scenery on the trip to Penn State is incredibly beautiful . . . oh, Billy, you should see it when the sun sets! I wanted to thank you for such a wonderful night. Before the 17th I had never been to a concert and now, a week later, I’m still lost in the afterglow. Also, thank you for playing I Keep Faith. Coming from someone who has not yet reached the age of 20, it’s a comfort to know that someone has faith in the people. Great set and a great night! Hopefully I’ll see you again soon!
By Missy on Nov 2, 2008
I was at the State College Pa concert. I wanted to thank you for coming out to see us. I have followed you for 22 years and getting my 17 year old “Don’t try this at home” shirt signed was just awesome! I must admit I believe this was my all time favorite concert of yours. I told my husband getting tickets to your concert for my birthday was and will be one of my best memories. So thank you for really making my birthday special.
Don’t ever change!
Missy McNutt
By Steinn Sigurdsson on Nov 5, 2008
That was a good gig but not exactly rowdy, at least not by the standards of Great Billy Bragg Gigs I Have Attended Before.
Thank you for making the long trek down the I-80. Very refreshing.