That Cellist on the Promenade Is Living Off Your Tips
He’s Also Playing the Same Songs Over and Over, Spending Hours Waiting for a Good Spot, and Dealing With the Occasional Hostile Clown
We made the decision in December of 2005.
The two of us had just returned to Los Angeles from a 10-week nationwide tour in support of the debut album that we released independently to showcase our minimalist sound. (We describe it as “cello rock.” Others may call it folk rock.) Boxes full of CDs from our ambitious first pressing were stacked in the corner of our rehearsal space. We sat there brainstorming ways to sell them in an effort to fund our next album. Before we left for our tour, Ed …