No, this is not about me in la la land, but a trip to see Bonnie Parker band at CBGB’s, NY, NY with several 340 inhabitants. This story was previously mentioned, but I have a few notes to add to this unforgettable trip. Kenny was the driver with the van. Phil, Tee, one of Tee’s “sisters”(not sure which number) and one other(I forgot; drugs are b..a..d)
I only remember certain events so if you’re looking for an orderly, coherent story, well, skip to another blog. I remember as we headed into the big apple, Tee asking the sister he brought to appease him and/or all of us (I’m not sure). I remember her saying no, and the next that I recall, Tee kicked her out of the van on 42nd street (where else!). Kenny stops in middle of the city at a red light, stands outside the van near the pedestrian crossing and pees. I don’t recall anyone even caring that walked by, hey, its NY.
We arrive at the CBGB’s which I hadn’t visited for about a year and walking in I noticed a few changes. On the left side of the entrance were the tables and most at the tables were gay, smoking the herb and no one was drinking. On the right side was the bar, and I noticed we could have our choice of seats, there was no one at the bar nor did I see anyone in the club drinking!. We sat down at the bar but there was no bartender for about 15 minutes. During our wait, a huge bull dyke covered with black leather and spikes coming out of every joint of her body walked up to Kenny and wanted to take him outside and beat the crap out of him! Kenny laughed and refused but she continued to harass him until she got bored.
After a few drinks, Phil asked me to escort him to the bathroom, which was down stairs. We walked past the small “stage” or platform, and went down this corridor which consisted of several small rooms with torn curtains and a broken chair in each room. Each room was occupied and each person had a belt or strap around their arm as they prepared for their next fix. As you go down the stairs, you notice there are two bathrooms of which both doors were broken off their hinges and lying on the floor. It didn’t seem to matter which room to use, but Phil selected the “men’s” room, I guess as I didn’t see a sign. Phil didn’t make it to the urinal before a tall, thin long hair young man started rapping to Phil with more then a casual friendliness and interest and saying hey ho, let’s go! Ok he didn’t say that but it was…Joey Ramone and I swear he was hitting on Phil! I laughed as Phil seemed to move a lot quicker heading up the stairs and back to the bar.
Finally I noticed Bonnie Parker walking toward us but didn’t seem as if she recognized us. Since we came to see her, and we were all avid fans of the band, I expected a better reception. After all she party at the 340 and we knew her for several years. As she approached us, I noticed she seemed to be more zoned out then normal, in fact, she didn’t know who we were at first when we said hi to her. I guess she may have been coming from one of the smaller rooms in the back!
I guess they played well, I don’t remember as I was kinda zoned out and only remember we were headed down the middle of the street for Mc Donald’s around 3am and Phil was singing, yes singing, and LOUDLY, the song “I love LA”. When I told him we may get killed singing that in NY, I and noted I was not packing a heater. Phil swore at me and said that he couldn’t believe that I would come to NY without proper protection.
I recall a minor disagreement over sleeping arrangements inside the van, but I was too wasted to remember or care at that time. Perhaps, one of you can add what the tiff was about. I know Tee either left the van or Phil threw him out!
Around 5am, we woke as there was a lot of noise around the van. I think they were either going to tow the van away since we parked in a no parking zone or maybe it was the garbage truck trying to dump us in. We took off trying to find our way back to the ferry. I remember later, we were in this line of traffic and not moving for some time. Phil saw a guy walking by the van and asked the New Yorker for “directions”. Phil said do you know what road we get on to get to the ferry? In a typical New York congenial response, he said; your in the line for the ferry, you fking asehole! I love NY….
I only remember certain events so if you’re looking for an orderly, coherent story, well, skip to another blog. I remember as we headed into the big apple, Tee asking the sister he brought to appease him and/or all of us (I’m not sure). I remember her saying no, and the next that I recall, Tee kicked her out of the van on 42nd street (where else!). Kenny stops in middle of the city at a red light, stands outside the van near the pedestrian crossing and pees. I don’t recall anyone even caring that walked by, hey, its NY.
We arrive at the CBGB’s which I hadn’t visited for about a year and walking in I noticed a few changes. On the left side of the entrance were the tables and most at the tables were gay, smoking the herb and no one was drinking. On the right side was the bar, and I noticed we could have our choice of seats, there was no one at the bar nor did I see anyone in the club drinking!. We sat down at the bar but there was no bartender for about 15 minutes. During our wait, a huge bull dyke covered with black leather and spikes coming out of every joint of her body walked up to Kenny and wanted to take him outside and beat the crap out of him! Kenny laughed and refused but she continued to harass him until she got bored.
After a few drinks, Phil asked me to escort him to the bathroom, which was down stairs. We walked past the small “stage” or platform, and went down this corridor which consisted of several small rooms with torn curtains and a broken chair in each room. Each room was occupied and each person had a belt or strap around their arm as they prepared for their next fix. As you go down the stairs, you notice there are two bathrooms of which both doors were broken off their hinges and lying on the floor. It didn’t seem to matter which room to use, but Phil selected the “men’s” room, I guess as I didn’t see a sign. Phil didn’t make it to the urinal before a tall, thin long hair young man started rapping to Phil with more then a casual friendliness and interest and saying hey ho, let’s go! Ok he didn’t say that but it was…Joey Ramone and I swear he was hitting on Phil! I laughed as Phil seemed to move a lot quicker heading up the stairs and back to the bar.
Finally I noticed Bonnie Parker walking toward us but didn’t seem as if she recognized us. Since we came to see her, and we were all avid fans of the band, I expected a better reception. After all she party at the 340 and we knew her for several years. As she approached us, I noticed she seemed to be more zoned out then normal, in fact, she didn’t know who we were at first when we said hi to her. I guess she may have been coming from one of the smaller rooms in the back!
I guess they played well, I don’t remember as I was kinda zoned out and only remember we were headed down the middle of the street for Mc Donald’s around 3am and Phil was singing, yes singing, and LOUDLY, the song “I love LA”. When I told him we may get killed singing that in NY, I and noted I was not packing a heater. Phil swore at me and said that he couldn’t believe that I would come to NY without proper protection.
I recall a minor disagreement over sleeping arrangements inside the van, but I was too wasted to remember or care at that time. Perhaps, one of you can add what the tiff was about. I know Tee either left the van or Phil threw him out!
Around 5am, we woke as there was a lot of noise around the van. I think they were either going to tow the van away since we parked in a no parking zone or maybe it was the garbage truck trying to dump us in. We took off trying to find our way back to the ferry. I remember later, we were in this line of traffic and not moving for some time. Phil saw a guy walking by the van and asked the New Yorker for “directions”. Phil said do you know what road we get on to get to the ferry? In a typical New York congenial response, he said; your in the line for the ferry, you fking asehole! I love NY….
2 comments:
Coach,very good recollections of a cloudy event.I recall we got to CBGB's as Bonnie was performing her last song. Your bathroom description was "on the money", although I can't tell one Ramone from the other.
The eviction from the van occured because it was so uncomfortable to sleep and more room was needed. Tee and his date had already reserved a hotel room, I merely strongly suggested that they "go there NOW", which they did. As far as singing I Love LA, I was lulled into a comfort zone when I saw a wooden handle of a weapon protuding from your pocket. I assumed it was some type of heater. When you pulled it out and showed me it was merely "numchuks" I quickly stopped my musical inclinations.
That woulda been #103 ... Phil described the event pretty well. It was one eviction not two. 103 and I spent the remainder of the night in the hotel lobby waiting for the room to be readied. 103 is now happily married with a recent child and living in Harrisburg.
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