New York and Accordion Players.

I have only been living in New York for about a week but I have discovered a musical phenomenon scattered all around this great beast of a city: Accordion players.

I feel that almost every day I hear the romantic sounds of the accordion when I’m going about my day (or night). I couldn’t be more thankful to these artists. Whose day doesn’t benefit from that amazing wind instrument.

Here is a short list of the places and presentations of accordion players that I’ve encountered thus far:

1. Dining at Moto. Twenty minutes into dinner a woman with blond hair and a slightly berated chic appearance sits on a stool with a see-through white light up accordion and a microphone attached to her head. She proceeds to play accordion and sing french songs.

2. In the subway at Union and 14th street. A young bearded gentleman plays a black and red accordion backed by a banjo player and washboard artist.

3. At the farmer’s market at Union Square. I had just purchased apple cider and was sitting at a cafe table when a man wearing a “prince of darkness” mask sits on a wood block and proceeds to rip into his black accordion.

4. The same afternoon, by the bakery tent, a gorgeous Persephone character with a flowing, floral designed dress sings folk ballads backed by her silver and red accordion.

5. In the park yesterday I am sitting on a bench reading when a man in a top hat and a circus outfit sits across from me and plays, very well I might add, his black and red accordion.

6. At the Lorimer St. stop. A punk girl played a blue and white mini-accordion to the songs of Sonic Youth and Sex Pistols.