Taking to the Streets – Lansingburgh Memorial Day Parade w/Ginger Geezus

Taking to the Streets – Lansingburgh Memorial Day Parade w/Ginger Geezus – by Matty D.

I can’t remember the last time I was part of a Holiday Parade, or if I ever was.  Perhaps in Cub Scouts.  I don’t remember those type of things in Clifton Park where I grew up, although they may have existed.  “Downtown” Clifton Park isn’t a residential neighborhood, it wouldn’t have made any sense.  So when I got a call from Tony Buchanan, the owner of Jimmy’s Pizzeria in Lansingburgh, about being in the Memorial Day Parade, I was intrigued and eager for the opportunity to be a part of it.  I had sung a whole bunch of crooner Christmas songs outside Jimmy’s on Christmas Eve, and the reception from the people of the Burgh was amazing.  A chance to be part of another holiday celebration in the Burgh, I’m in!  I asked Tony if he was looking for me solo, or “the band” (a.k.a. Ginger Geezus).  His response was essentially, “Whatever ya wanna do Matty!”  I cleared it with the boys, James, Alex, and Austin, and then the plan was hatched. Ginger Geezus, on a float, in the Lansingburgh Memorial Day Parade.

We all show up on Parade Day at Lansingburgh High.  This is the first time the band has done anything like this, and we’re doing the Chinese Fire Drill as they say (Can I still say that?).  Halfway into setting up we ask the flatbed driver from Fane Concrete about the generator, and now we’re all standing around like, huh, what generator, what?  So we all come to a screeching halt, and James manages to flag down Tony who is driving a golf cart around coordinating everything.  And to their credit, the people of the Burgh are a hearty folk, always ready with a generator just a few minutes away.  Tony throws up the Bat Signal and two generators appear in the bed of a pickup in less than 10 minutes.  We’re back on track, all plugged in, generator fired up, and sound checking to a jam on Voodoo Chile (Slight Return mind you).  Getting some (approving, I think) looks already.  Our driver explains his hand signals if he has to give any, and then with a slight lurch, we’re under way, with some of our closest friends and family on board.  Alex and his drum kit are on the “riser” at the front of the flatbed, and he says “Ohh boy!” as we start to roll through the streets, and everything moves around just a little, just enough to make us all realize, it’s time to grow some sea legs, and fast.

We’re a couple blocks in, and already it’s a wild scene.  Heading up 5^th Ave, we’re getting all sorts of love from the people already.  I’m shouting out Hot Dog Charlie’s and Jimmy’s Pizzeria as we roll by.  Lawn chairs are lined up next to the sidewalk, everyone is out in front of their house.  I can barely see anything, or make out anyone, as I’m wearing fancy non-prescription sunglasses, but all those little peach and brown and tan blobs sure looked happy to me, waving their flags, dancing, and cheering us on.  Speaking of cheering us on, I realize that Lansingburgh Elementary School is the group right behind us in the Parade, and these kids are absolutely LOVING it.  It was like a scene out of a music video, or a movie, I felt like the pied piper, leading these kids through the streets of the Burgh.  At this point we’re making the first turn at 115^th St, on our way down to 2^nd Ave, where I would shout out Verdile’s Restaurant.  And this is when things started to go truly “Off The Rails” as the Ginger Geezus song says.  For the first, last, and only time on our trip, the float comes to an abrupt stop.  I start falling towards James, he falls off balance himself, and his stack starts to fall over along with his guitar rack.  The Hero of the Day is our friend Eric, who is able to save James’ precious Ibanez guitars and Friedman cabinet and head from the potholes of 2^nd Ave.  James and I are able to recover ourselves with no harm, therefore no foul.  The Parade marches on!

We are safely on 2^nd Ave now, in the home stretch, heading towards Powers Park.  At this point, we get a visitor on our float, none other than the Tri-City Valleycats Mascot, Southpaw Cat.  I had just sung the National Anthem at the ‘Cats game the previous Friday. Southpaw gave me a knowing look, and pointed to his head, then to me, as if to say, “I know you Matty D, let’s go!”  And go we did, Southpaw was playing air guitar with James and Austin, dancing to the music, and now the Lansingburgh Elementary kids are going absolutely bonkers behind us, jumping up and down, keeping right up with our float.  We finish a song, and I hear the kids chanting “Let’s Go Cats!”  So I join them on the mic in their chant, and give a shout out to Che and Jaz at the 112^th St. Stewarts as we roll by.  Only a block away from Powers Park now, and I’m feeling the heat, it’s a beautiful day and probably in the 80s.  And of course I didn’t bring any water, why would I do something sensible like that?

Southpaw bids us farewell, after thanking me in his secret cat language.  The kids and the other groups make the turn around the park, while our driver brings us back to our cars at the high school so we can unload our gear, and then reconvene at the park and then the Forty One Sports Pub.  Our float passes another musician who was in the parade as we are passing the park on our way out, and we are playing Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers by ZZ Top.  He just shakes his head and laughs, and I think about whether the song is appropriate for this parade, settling on a solid yes.  Several other cars run into us in traffic on our way back, and we get some amazed and funny looks.  I ask the boys if we should stop playing, as we’re out of the parade now and just heading back to our cars.  Austin looks at me and says “Play on!  You never know when we’ll get this chance again!”  I realize he’s right, and we rock it right back to the High School parking lot.

I’m a sweaty, borderline heat stroked mess, and my mates aren’t much better.  Before we pack up all the gear into James’ truck, he needs a minute.  He takes a minute to reflect on what a real honor it was to be a part of this, in the neighborhood where he grew up, seeing friends and family from his whole life lined up on the streets as we rolled past.  We spoke about how my father and both of his parents, all deceased, would be proud of us for being part of something like this.  And we spoke about honoring all the Veterans, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice and never returned.  All in all it was an experience none of us will ever forget, something that made me feel proud to be an American and proud to do it for the Burgh.  God Bless Lansingburgh, God Bless America, and God Bless You, you beautiful readers, parades rock!  Until next time, keep takin’ it to the streets, I’ll see ya out there.