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 blues 


The 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

Jeff Beck Hendrix

To be like Hendrix without compromising himself

Perhaps to live longer