Kevin Banks
Monday, January 23, 2023
Friday, January 13, 2023
Michele loves the blues
Michele loves the blues
There's a thing Michele probably doesn't know I love about her
I love that she loves the blues
She is part of my conscience
Its sweet to watch her listen to the blues
Michele said she didn't know the Lemon Song by Led Zep
Realizing what the song must be about, she appeared a little grossed out.
I was playing Let Me Love You Baby from Truth by Jeff Beck with Rod Stewart.
July 1967
Trying to explain how Jeff invented Led Zep six months before there was Led Zep
She was diggin the song
She really digs Jeff Beck
That girl loves the blues
She let me know that she was never really into Led Zep
Derek Trucks was on 1010xl with Rick Belew
Rick asked him for a Jeff Beck story
Derek said they were at the White House about to play with B.B. King
They were in line at security and he has a photo of Jeff leaning against his daughter Sophia when she was about six
He said he sent the picture to her knowing Jeff was a little ill
Michele loves the bluesThe walk to the Circle K is about as far as I would have to walk to find a subway station in its hinterlands of Brooklyn
I knew I would run out of cigarettes before I ran out of beer and I definitely was not driving
So I bundled up, found a scarf, wore the Chuck Busey jacket for a little but moved on the leather with gloves
The winter jacket is great but I knew it was a little bulky for a mile walk
I probably should have added one more layer under the leather
Like my new sweater
But I didn't.
I was still warm.
Brought my earbuds, just in case I wanted to listen to Slaughterhouse 5 chapter 3
Its really a nice walk. Especially at night
Lots of little landmarks along the way
I remember Chuck walked this way when he discovered one day that there was no lighter in the house.
At some point on walk I realized I had all the lighters in my pocket and Chuck would discover this and be irritated.
So along my way I see someone 100 yards away probably on a bicycle
He kind of ducked in to a little place and then emerged
He didn't make eye contact but I could tell he wasn't necessarily dangerous
We went the opposite direction at first but circled back in my general direction
I eyed him again. Could immediately tell he's probably harmless
I say, Hey man, how's it going?
Homeless 5 years 33 yo. A little smaller than me.
Just got a job
He never asked me for money
I think he just needed to talk to someone
Hey, it's gonna be cold as fuck tonight
Yeah I know
I asked him how he became homeless
He said it all his fault
He said he wound up jail. Drugs. Really?
When he gets out he thought his family would support but he basically got disowned
He asked me for a light
He'd been saving a cigarette
Now this guy is on a bicycle with all his belongings
When he first saw me and attempted to hide, he was a lot more afraid of me
That's why he hid, sussed me out and then got back on his bike
So at some point we're walking and scooting along when his stuff on his bike starts falling
I say,You need a hand?
Yeah can you hold this pizza box? It was a stack of stuff
I held while he gathered his other stuff up including a huge piece of wood that I knew was meant for his campground
I commented on it. He said yeah its a dried out piece
After this he was still in that bicycle lane. I told him, Get out of that. It's not safe
We talked more. It was quite pleasant.
We got to the corner of Monument and St Johns Bluff
We both needed to cross
I asked him if it was safe
He said yes and we began to cross together
In the middle of the street I said, Let's stay together. We look like two homeless guys, I said.
Knowing there is strength in numbers
The fear I saw in that guys eyes at Popeyes when I had him by the throat
He knew I could kill him. Right now.
When we parted ways at the Circle K I asked him if he had a lighter
He said, I think so back at the camp
I said, Take this lighter
We wished each other well and departed
I spent much of this walk feeling like it was winter 1983 in Manhattan
Cold is fun if you can stay warm
I love how the God that I doubt gives me experiences that affirm his love for me.
Thursday, January 12, 2023
Jeff Beck taught me to be me
Jeff Beck taught me to be me
To have no fear at all
When other musicians fear me
I don't know why
They never know what I'm about to do
Neither do I
Jeff Beck Spinal Tap
There is no Spinal Tap without Jeff Beck
Nigel Tufnel is based on Jeff Beck
The amps go to Eleven
D minor is the saddest of all keys
Lick My Love Pump
Don't even look at the guitar
Can't you hear the sustain?
News Flash Beck's Bolero was written by Jimmy Page
News flash
Beck's Bolero was written by Jimmy Page
And recorded by Beck Page Jones Moon Hopkins
Though no one can agree on who the producer was
Jeff Beck Greensleeves
I'm not that crazy about his Greensleeves but it was 1967 and Steve Howe hadn't been invented yet