TCS in NYC As April, the poetic month, is almost over. I thought I would relate my experience on Saturday of seeing the Trash Can Sinatras in New York at the Mercury Lounge. It was a delightful show, the band performing admirably under, I'm sure, were the strains of an seemingly sempiternal tour in support of the masterful last album Weightlifting. Poetic to a fault, Mr. Frank Reader dedicated the new song "What Women Do to Men" to the new Pope:

someone else will meet her
stay awake and read to her
someone else will love her
did you forget to make up?
did you suppose your lovers' quarrel
would bring a renewal of your love
and then forget to make up?

and you don't know if it's right or wrong
what women do to men

the room is cluttered up with christmas cards
i can just barely see you
the room swirls around me

it's magic
it's magic
it's magic
what women do to men

or is it all just a trend?
the breeze carries summer scent
well maybe that's why she laughs a lot
do you still think we're all just
magic apes and trick dust?
well someone else will love her...

and you don't know if it's right or wrong
and you don't know if it's right or wrong
and you don't know if it's right or wrong
what women do to men

Not to be outdone in ascribing the new tunes ironically to topical world events Mr. John Douglas then claimed the tune "It's a Miracle" was a response, however prescient, to the last election (I'm assuming Presidential and not Papal):

gone...it didn't last too long
no lack of trying on our part
as i was saying to the others
it's a miracle we try anything at all
you pour your heart out
knowing full well

it could fail, fail, fail
but how could we know back then?
it's a rare old grail, pricelessly to fail
older sins cast longer shadows
when we watch them fade and die

it's a lovely day in sunlight's golden ray
but that just slips away - isn't it a shame
and it's cold now at night

and i hear your name
calling me back through the days
you're a rare old flame, burning bright again
all those things that we shared matter now
i just can't say goodbye
do i have to try?

honey, it's no crime to lose your way
everyone, in their turn, gets to fail

well how could we know back then?
such a rare old grail, (pricelessly) to fail
older sins cast longer shadows
when we watch them fade and die

it's a miracle

In either case, I left impressed that the Trash Cans themselves can refract their poetic intents through new lenses and layer on new meanings. One day, their work will be held up as classical pop masterpieces against which all others' will be measured. Not just the most under-appreciated band, but best period. Click on the link at right for TCS goodies at their web page.  ¶ 2:47 AM