Category Archives: I Love Music

A Well Respected Man

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Well I was a bit crabby yesterday. The disheveled drunkards can do that to you. On my way home I got a text message from Rand who was telling me about his buddy Karl having an art opening last night at Maxwells.

Yes that’s right, I wrote Maxwells.

I was weary, and merely replied ‘Sweet’. Rand invited me and I couldn’t say yes or no. I came upstairs and wrote over 1000 words and felt a bit better, and less bitter. Bill came home as I ate a turkey sandwich.

He was pretty tired. I continued writing and thought about going to the art opening. Last time I went it was pretty crowded and all I could do was think about how the art openings at Maxwells were so much more fun 20 years ago. Free beer and wine and familiar faces made the difference.

Bill went to take a nap and asked me to wake him up in a few hours. I mentioned that I was probably going out. Though his body was tired, his mind was racing and was unable to nap so he wandered around the apartment.

By the time I was done writing and posting entry 1601 I had decided to head out. As I walked down the stairs I texted Rand and told him I was on the way.

Got to Maxwells and it was crowded and loud but I enjoyed Karl’s artwork. Very comic book style, a lot of fun. Talked to Rand and Mike C and Mike’s girlfriend Sarah who was very sweet. I talked about busking and music and made Sarah giggle a bit.

Chris Repella showed up and bought some artwork. I thanked her once again for the photographs of the civil union thingamajig on Saturday. She joined Rand and Mike and Sarah as well as Lisa, Rand’s wife. I spotted Todd and told him I needed to talk to him.

Todd and I used to butt heads back in the day. We went out side and I told Todd about the civil union and asked if he would let me use the back room for a few hours on a Sunday afternoon in the summer. To my delight he said yes.

I thanked him profusely and offered an invitation to join us. He asked that I send him an email today to remind him to keep the date booked for us. Quite nice. I called Bill and told him the good news and also called Annemarie.

After Maxwells I walked home with Chris Repella, walking with Mike C and Sarah. Chris and I sat in front of her building just talking about music. Mainly about the Kinks and how she doesn’t like the Beatles. Chris went off to either the supermarket or to Starbucks to see her daughter and I came home and invited about 120 Facebook friends to the summer Civil Union event.

Then I remembered that not all of my friends are on Facebook or even online so I text messaged about 20 more friends about it. I know that not all of the invitees will be able to make it, so I’m not worried about too many people.

Anyway if it gets too crowded there could be a nice back and forth between the front and back room at Maxwells.

A few trays of pasta and salad, paper plates and plastic utensils on the back bar and if you want a drink, you’ll have to pay for it in the front bar.

Today was a good day for busking. Yesterday while playing I spent too much time in the sun and my nose was bit red. Bill mentioned that this morning while kissing me good bye. So today I applied the sun block and wound up playing in the shade.

Today’s songs were Lola, Sunny Afternoon, I Should Have Known Better and You Can’t Do That, as well as the toddler’s favorite, The Lion Sleeps Tonight. I even sang today. Loudly and to the sky. Tariq joined me. Couldn’t keep up though. Not good with the sevenths still.

I indulged Tariq somewhat and we played Hotel California. Then the guy who sat next to me on Sunday showed up and it turns out Tariq knew him. The guy asked how to pass a screening for alcohol and I said the best way to pass the test is to not drink.

Tariq went off to buy some beer and asked me to watch his guitar again. I did and played my guitar while ignoring the guy to the best of my ability. Tariq came back with some beer and I took that as my opportunity to leave, saying that I had to bounce.

Sorry if this was a little disjointed tonight, but there were a few phone calls going on while I wrote. Perhaps I should shut off the phone while I write.

But still it was Jane who called who was thrilled to hear about the party and she said she will be there this summer, as will be Connie who plans on buying a new dress for the occasion. And Harpy who will probably show up naked.
FLOWERS

Heartbeat (It’s a Love Beat)

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Well I just got back from almost three hours of busking. I’m getting better at playing, but the fun that I had on Friday hasn’t come back. No support you see. I had hoped some friends might stop by but no one did.

Some drunks stopped by though. One guy who’s front teeth broke a fall, walked by then turned around and asked ‘Do you know ‘Every Rose Has it’s Thorn’?’ I replied that I didn’t. Boy was he surprised to hear that.

I know it’s a song by Poison and I also know that it’s a song that if I hear on the radio (which is rare since I don’t listen to the radio) or if the video comes on TV I change the channel.

Then another drunkard walked up and asked me to play some Dylan, which I had just played a few minutes earlier. Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues which is the perfect Easter song. So I played a little bit of that before taking a break.

Drunkard situates himself on the bench next to me and asks me to tell him a joke. I oblige with my Easter joke. ‘What is Easter? Easter is when Jesus comes out of his tomb and if he sees his shadow it’s six more weeks of Lent.’

Oh the drunkard was offended by that and that was fine my me. He starts going off about how I shouldn’t say anything like that. He has Muslim friends.

I say so what. Religion is bullshit. There is no god. This is all there is. Make the most out of it and be nice to others. What more can you ask for? He asks about heaven and I say there is no heaven and there is no hell.

He asked if I was an atheist and I told him yes. He goes on about how he was an altar boy and believes there is a god. I tried to just say the most outrageous things in order for him to move on but he wound up sitting there on the bench mumbling to himself.

A woman came up to me just then and told me she had a brown guitar she was looking to give away and did I want it? I told her no. The drunkard asks if she’s a gypsy and she said she was Albanian, Russian, Italian, and a few other ethnicities thrown in the gene pool.

The two of them had a conversation while I turned my backs on them and played whatever songs came to mind. Though I don’t play for the money, it is nice when someone throws some money in my guitar case.

If I was in it for the money I certainly would be discouraged.

I made a dollar today and I can’t say it’s a dollar more in my pocket than there was when I left the apartment since I went to the ATM and took out a twenty. But like I said, my playing is improved and today added Rebel Rebel to my repertoire repertoire.

I did run into Tariq. He and another guitar player were heading into the city to play at Washington Square Park. I showed him quickly how to play Rebel Rebel and also Whatever Gets You Thru the Night.

The other guitar player was impressed, she was a John Lennon fan and also told me I had a nice voice. Ah but I don’t sing unless there’s a friendly face around.

They invited me a few times to go with them but I begged off, thinking that some friends might stop by. But the friends did not stop by and I didn’t sing. No big deal. I will still go out and play.

I don’t think I would be comfortable playing in Washington Square Park since from what I’ve seen when walking through is just some perfectly horrid songs being played and sung. I won’t do Dust in the Wind or crap like that.

I think it all boils down to the fact that I don’t play well with others. I have no problem with that.
Heart stoop