Finally, a good musician practicing in the distance . . .

pitu

I've had my share of wretched loud music floating over the backyards and into my home: thudding muddy bass on streetparty and car speakers, hopelessly offkey salsa trumpet every week for YEARS, hideous flute lessons, Barbara Streisand on Sunday mornings (whoever you were, thanks for moving!)

Now, for the first time ever, someone is practicing and it sounds kinda nice. What might be a dobro guitar, some percussion and a tambourin, at volumes that don't maim. Go neighbors!

nuclear redaction

Always a pleasure to encounter enjoyable music.

Just the other night I was walking up 9th Street on my way home from the gym and came across a group that had set up in front of Smiling Pizza. It was a four-piece: snare drum, tom-tom, trumpet/cowbell and sousaphone. They were playing some funky jazz/jazzy funk that sounded improvised and lots of fun. Much better, certainly, than the guy I heard recently in the subway murdering Neil Young's "Southern Man."

daniel

Be glad you don't live on Union btwn 5th & 6th. It seems like every summer night when I walk down that way, some idiot is standing in his doorway playing the electric guitar very loudly, and very poorly, with all of his windows and doors open. The other week, he was "jamming" along to some crappy Doors song that was blasting on his stereo, letting the entire block enjoy his rudimentary guitar skills.

armchair_warrior

do what i did once. some idiot was singing a love song to a girl very very poorly and loudly. i went up to him and told him to pipe it down, that i'm trying to study, and he sucked lol.

pitu

daniel wrote: Be glad you don't live on Union btwn 5th & 6th. It seems like every summer night when I walk down that way, some idiot is standing in his doorway playing the electric guitar very loudly, and very poorly, with all of his windows and doors open. The other week, he was "jamming" along to some crappy Doors song that was blasting on his stereo, letting the entire block enjoy his rudimentary guitar skills.

HA! I actually walked by that exact abomination on that night.
Or some other Doors playalong night.
Not too fond of 6th Ave (Union /Pres) jazz thing either...

lucky11

Ugh. I have a neighbor who loves to blare Barry, Judy and Barbra, and I know that when I cringe, I do not cringe alone. But there's also a lovely pianist across the way and a pro woodwind player next door. Their sounds are always welcome.

eggcream

311. Sorry, but I don't want to listen to your music no matter how good it is which it usually isn't. What if everybody just set up on the corner or hung out their window "playing" their instruments or blasting their stereos. No thanks.

livetotravel

Ditto 311 - I live next to a very good jazz musician who never heard of respecting someone else's right to privacy. No matter how good the sound, if it comes when I'm trying to sleep it's fucking annoying bordering on oppressive. I hope over time pitu that you don't come to regret your welcoming comments :dj:

pitu

ha, I hope you're right
I think nonamplified strings and hand percussion instruments are part of what was working well . . . once you're into the woodwinds, there's a volume issue even it's agreeable music.

apollonia666

daniel wrote: Be glad you don't live on Union btwn 5th & 6th. It seems like every summer night when I walk down that way, some idiot is standing in his doorway playing the electric guitar very loudly, and very poorly, with all of his windows and doors open. The other week, he was "jamming" along to some crappy Doors song that was blasting on his stereo, letting the entire block enjoy his rudimentary guitar skills.

If he's giving a public performance, there's nothing to stop you from joining in and singing along at the top of your lungs. Even if what you're singing isn't the same thing as what he's playing. Maybe you can annoy him back inside?

pitu

apollonia666 wrote: [quote=daniel]Be glad you don't live on Union btwn 5th & 6th. It seems like every summer night when I walk down that way, some idiot is standing in his doorway playing the electric guitar very loudly, and very poorly, with all of his windows and doors open. The other week, he was "jamming" along to some crappy Doors song that was blasting on his stereo, letting the entire block enjoy his rudimentary guitar skills.

If he's giving a public performance, there's nothing to stop you from joining in and singing along at the top of your lungs. Even if what you're singing isn't the same thing as what he's playing. Maybe you can annoy him back inside?

oooo grrrl, I was THERE. That guy wasn't hearing anything but the Doors cranked up into whatever was already in his own head.

The problem was volume, ground floor apt, and windows open.