Uh. Yeah. So, I’ve been busy. Travelled to NYC in April, and I don’t even know really. Procrastination? Maybe. Video games? Definitely.

I Love New York

I do, really I do. Yet, I did mention in a short post on my bsky… the pollution is all true. Garbage on the neighborhood streets? Sadly. Walking around neighborhoods I am crossing smokers at every corner. The sidewalks are small. I don’t let it ruin my experience, though. Brooklyn is a wonderful place. It’s full of dense communities, delivery workers on bikes, and street clothing stores. Wanting to be a part of that old school vibe, I had acquired a pair of the original style Timberlands, and some light colored jeans with a baggy shirt. I took the subway everywhere. On April 10th, I got my first tattoo from Hand of Glory.

I did a lot of searching before the visit, and ultimately choose to get a Zelda I fairy illustration. Nico smartly edited it so it didn’t look like she was wearing a hat! LOL. I would have never noticed. I am so pleased with the outcome. It’s placed over VERY old self harm scars – sorry if that’s uncomfortable to anyone. I figured, she shows up kind of randomly, and can save you from the brink of death. It’s not a full heal, but can still be a life saver. So, “she’s always there when I need her.”

Yoko Kanno & The Seatbelts

Now, for the real reason I came. To me, a once in a lifetime opportunity. Yoko Kanno and The Seatbelts coming overseas to the US for the first time. Yoko Kanno has credits and collabs with what seems like an endless amount of anime. Rumored to also be “Gabriella Robin”, Cyberbird from Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex is one of my favorite tracks from her EVER… and for all I know she is singing. Also credited for the mysterious made-up language in Escaflowne, but most well known with her band for of course: Cowboy Bebop.

It felt like a party. Woos and screams from the crowd, sing alongs for “What Planet Is this” and “Real Folk Blues” (no I don’t know all the Japanese lyrics..), the explosive entry and light show into TANK was unforgettable. Yoko danced around the stage with her key-tar, living in the moment and embracing her band.

The following day, at Town Hall, there was a Piano Concert dubbed “Piano Me” with Yoko Kanno as well. I was so pleased to hear songs from Ghost in the Shell. Scott Matthew was there, with his heart wrenching singing to Beauty is Within us, the end of all you know, and is it real? What was most emotional, was the spirit of Origa. Essentially, this entire performance and light show was performed before me. Rise into Inner Universe.

The Seat Belts also showed up with Steve Conte (again, he was there last night too at Kings Theater) where he performed Rain with the addition of an incredible group of gospel singers. Gotta knock a little harder, as well. She also performed Ave Maria on piano, with one of the male singers singing so beautifully… more cheers from the crowd, standing ovations. What a pleasure!! An honor. The “soul” is there. I felt it.

Otherwise

My spouse and I did also visit Times Square proper, where things were… not what I remembered from some 15 years ago. Nintendo’s former “Pokemon Center” was now mostly a clothing store with merch from various IPs, Pikmin to Animal Crossing, Zelda to a tad of Metroid. Demos for Mario Kart World. Before, it had sort of a mini museum… an old game boy, history of the consoles. I’m older of course. Jaded. I see it now not as something I grew up with. It’s a place that, if I had kids, I’d take them too. It’s a bit silly, I think of it like indoctrination. Vloggers were out ((weird)) and the Lego Store was busy, but had really nice staff. The former Toy’s R Us was now some M&M abomination… so strange. We just sort of toured the stores. Nike. H&M.

Luckily, a good friend recommended BOOK OFF. We travelled to Japan Village and found Bandai Gacha, Taiko Drum Master machines, tons of resale PVC figures, manga… and more. We had lunch, and it was a good time. The subway experience was a bit of a mirage. Performers with QR codes… just playing music, not really singing or performing at all. The graffiti, very cool. NYC is a special place in it’s own right, it is it’s own living thing. It’s just… different now. I would have liked to visit the arcades, but was strapped for time.

The subways were like banshees flying through the dark tunnels. The engineers were hard to hear. It felt like we were travelling through ghosts, as a spirit, departing, then ascending into the light. It was an experience… and truly the soul of a deep culture was felt there, one that I yearned to learn about, be a part of. I knew I would be accepted, regardless of my identity and differences.