Subway Sects Fight For Their Right To Play “Feelings” Using A Wind Chime

Anyone who’s ever descended into a New York City subway stop has been greeted by the ceaseless woooooo sound of a little free-form pan-flute playing. Today, the Sun takes a look at the rivalry for prime subway-station real estate among such undergound-dwelling musicians, and while the story doesn’t get as hardcore as the Biggie and ‘Pac saga–heck, it’s not even as hardcore as the Mr. Show East Coast-West Coast puppet wars–it does include the best quote you’re likely to hear all day:

“Subway musician Lester Schultz, a self-described “nut for the harmonica,” has been playing beneath the official Music Under New York banner for six years…

“We used to have a problem with acrobats and dancers,” Mr. Schultz said. “There’d be 10 of them, one of us, and they could do somersaults, and they didn’t care if we had a pass. They just wouldn’t leave.”

Wait–ten acrobats? In the subway? We’re thinking Mr. Schulz has been playing down below since the Koch era. We’re also thinking that if Mrs. Schulz hears him give off that “nut for the harmonica” line one more time, she’s taking the A-Train to spitsville.

Competition Can Be Fierce To Bring Music Underground [NY Sun]