BIKERS AND BLUES
You know
it just irks the real bikers, and I mean the real dudes, when the weather gets
sunny and every weekend warrior biker is out in their "colors". It is good for
Harley, it is good for the economy, it is good for everyone so why do the real
bikers dislike it so much? Mainly because it is not a hobby to them, it is
life. And because it is their life, they don't take kindly to just anyone with
enough money to buy a Harley to sport their lifestyle for the
weekend.
Well you know blues music can be the same. I have played dives and I have played nice joints. One thing about the blues, it has made great progress attracting crowds. Used to be you had to go to joints that were not that inviting to hear the real music. Now there is a blues festival in almost every southern town during nice weather. Well you know those who live the blues think that these weekenders are make believe and would not know the blues if it bit them in the butt. I for one am glad though that people get to hear some of the real greats before they pass on. Some are getting down right old.
Once I was stranded on Lake Travis, Austin, Texas. And by that I mean no money. A guy heard me playing guitar and asked me if I had equipment. I told him I did and needed a gig. He said he owned Lake Austin Lodge and there was a family reunion booked that weekend and there was going to be over 300 guests. He had an outdoor stage with lights and needed someone to play. We made a deal and me and my runnin' buddy showed up to set up equipment that Friday night. Well it wasn't long before the "family" started to arrive. It happened to be a Bandido Nation affair. The bikes roared in, my friend took the keys to my truck and split, and the bikers removed the owner from behind the bar and started to pass out every case and keg of beer he owned.
I was somewhat apprehensive but needed money, so I stayed on stage and played my butt off. Anyway towards the end of the night I went into the kitchen area to collect my wage and the owner, who had lost thousands of dollars already that night, not only was not going to pay me but was in an altercation with one or two "customers." A big dude named Terry took me under his arms and went to evey dude in that park and made them put money in his helmet. Apparently when Terry said to do something the others complied because when a couple looked at him sideways and did not immediately reach for there money stash he knocked the fire out of them and repeated his request. I was going to play that night for $150.00 and instead I picked up over $1200.00 and got a personal escort back to my truck.
Point to make: Bikers are bikers and blues is blues.
Well you know blues music can be the same. I have played dives and I have played nice joints. One thing about the blues, it has made great progress attracting crowds. Used to be you had to go to joints that were not that inviting to hear the real music. Now there is a blues festival in almost every southern town during nice weather. Well you know those who live the blues think that these weekenders are make believe and would not know the blues if it bit them in the butt. I for one am glad though that people get to hear some of the real greats before they pass on. Some are getting down right old.
Once I was stranded on Lake Travis, Austin, Texas. And by that I mean no money. A guy heard me playing guitar and asked me if I had equipment. I told him I did and needed a gig. He said he owned Lake Austin Lodge and there was a family reunion booked that weekend and there was going to be over 300 guests. He had an outdoor stage with lights and needed someone to play. We made a deal and me and my runnin' buddy showed up to set up equipment that Friday night. Well it wasn't long before the "family" started to arrive. It happened to be a Bandido Nation affair. The bikes roared in, my friend took the keys to my truck and split, and the bikers removed the owner from behind the bar and started to pass out every case and keg of beer he owned.
I was somewhat apprehensive but needed money, so I stayed on stage and played my butt off. Anyway towards the end of the night I went into the kitchen area to collect my wage and the owner, who had lost thousands of dollars already that night, not only was not going to pay me but was in an altercation with one or two "customers." A big dude named Terry took me under his arms and went to evey dude in that park and made them put money in his helmet. Apparently when Terry said to do something the others complied because when a couple looked at him sideways and did not immediately reach for there money stash he knocked the fire out of them and repeated his request. I was going to play that night for $150.00 and instead I picked up over $1200.00 and got a personal escort back to my truck.
Point to make: Bikers are bikers and blues is blues.
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