Biker Rock

So Chris Gogan asks, what is it about the West Village that people don't want to play there? All of the musicians and bands he knows in the East Village won't touch the place. Is it a style thing? Chris is fresh from Boston, our newest member of the band. The best bassist alive quite probably. No dude, I said. Its more than that. 

Well there we were at Kennys Castaways playing a benefit for a good cause, the American Heart Association. I thought we had a good show. The place was filled. Mostly with bikers and other colourful riffraff. Everything was good until I sat in some biker girl's chair. Up to this point I started reconsidering why I never play Bleeker Street. Well, she got all bent out of shape that I was in her chair and when her Harley guy got all up in my grill about this perceived infraction, I became the local pariah. 

Somehow I have always felt I could relate to all types of people. But I hate how people use the Village as a dumping ground for all of their bad behavior. Why is "NY" permission to shit on people? A number of these huge guys came up to me to say I looked like dinner to them. Meat. And even though we left unharmed something did not sit right with me. Devon explained in the cab that I was being rude and I should have got up for the lady. And even though, it wasn't very um, ladylike to say, "hey faggot, get the fuck out of my chair", I realized Devon was probably right.

So I walked back over and these guys were like, "hey, lets get him".

I am like, "hold that thought", and walked right up to the couple and said, "look, I owe you an apology". I said I was all into the music and just should have been a bit more gracious. Well the girl gave me a kiss and the guy a handshake and a smile. 

What is important to those biker guys and their women I guess is the issue of respect. In spite of the cultivation of an atmosphere of violence, It seems they could relate to way I did not disrespect myself by respecting them. 

"Don't worry about a thing," he said. I asked him if he got a record. He said, yes. Anything for a fan. However, if you want to see the band, we'll be playing in the East Village.