YOUR QUESTION:

09/23/2020 Geography

You don’t strike me as a NYC type at all--like the people who spend their youth dreaming of moving to the big city and view it as their destiny. Never mind lifelong New Yorkers, even transplants to the city seem to have some je ne sais quoi distinguishing quality about them that you don’t exude. However, as an adult, you have now lived in the city longer than you did in Northern(ish) California, which indisputably makes you a New Yorker. My question is, how do you see yourself? Do you feel like a New Yorker? If pushed, would you say you’re bi-coastal (lol)? Do you miss the Bay Area at all? Do you ever feel rootless? And lastly, what exactly was it about the NYC scene in contrast to the West Coast scene that drove your decision to move out east when you did in Y2K? Obviously there's a lot more opportunity and money to be made in NYC, but was there something more to the decision?
I lived in the Northeast for close to two decades and got really used to/spoiled by the music resources out there (jazz/improv/classical/new music/weird shit) but I moved to LA a year ago and quickly realized that I was mostly clueless about West Coast musicians, and I suddenly felt lost within the music scene I had once felt at home in. I soon discovered Zebulon (had moved out west!), bluewhale, and REDCAT, but I lack a network of friends and a foundational knowledge of the scene out here. Then COVID happened, so live music has been on hold now for most of my time living here. For when shit gets somewhat back to normal, can you recommend some West Coast musicians and LA-area venues? Thanks for your time!

MY ANSWER:

I’ve been in Brooklyn for over 20 years and they say at the 10 year mark you can call yourself a “New Yorker”. I don’t really feel the need to do so, especially since my idea of a ‘real NYer’ is a hunched back, cigarette smoking old man who’s probably ten years younger than he looks, shuffling across trash in the middle of the street (not the crosswalk) with bits of cream cheese in the corners of his mouth while a fire engine screeches for him to get out of the way. I’m California through and through, it just so happens that I’m very adaptable. Honestly, I could live anywhere. Mexico preferably. I would say I’m bi-coastal as I still have many ties on the West Coast as well as family. I do miss it. The weather is better. It’s easier to shop for groceries. I wouldn’t say I miss the Bay Area specifically, but I miss the redwoods. I don’t feel rootless but I am an American from a small town. My culture is heavy metal, chopping wood and steak ultimately. I was encouraged by people like Zorn and Kenny Wollesen to come to NYC. In SF, by the late ‘90s I felt complacent; working a lot for sure, but not necessarily going anywhere. I had to have that talk with my career: Where are we going with this? Couldn’t have made a better choice.
There’s a lot going on in LA. As you’ve probably noticed, it is it’s own culture. Less public transit being a major factor. You already nailed the main spots and probably know more than me at this point. Just keep showing up there.