Blues Theme

It's Getting Harder All The Time

Iran bike thugs

I hate that the Iranian Basij(Islamic milita) are using motorcycles to attack protestors:

Pitstop Liquors

The other day I saw these great billboards behind Pitstop Liquors on 16th Street across from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Living in Indy day to day it's easy to forget just how much amazing stuff has happened here. These ads for the IMS centennial are a great reminder.

That's Kink-y

I ran into my ex-father-in-law at the gas station this morning. When I was married to his daughter we shared a love of motorcycles, classic horror movies and rock n roll records. He's a very cool guy and we are still friends, though we don't get to spend much time together as we used to.

In the mid 60s when he was a young man starting his career as a news photographer he got an assignment to film the Kinks on their first American tour as they swung through his home state of Illinois. He still has an unseen reel of the Kinks performing live in (I think) Champaign, IL. I've asked him about it a couple times. He always describes Ray and Dave Davies as complete asses; two English pricks who were always (fist) fighting with each other and generally making everyone else miserable.

A couple summers ago I read a great piece in MOJO about that very tour. As it turned out, the promotor for central Illinois was none other than John Wayne Gacy, the infamous pederast and serial killer. It seems Mr. Gacy took a very unnatural liking to young Dave Davies and wasnt shy about telling him so.



I asked my father-in-law if he remembered Gacy. His initial reply was no, not specifically. But he did remember a very odd, greasy American man who was attached to the band and seemed to always be on right on their heels. That's not all he wanted to be on I'd reckon. I lent him the copy of MOJO. After reading the article it all came back to him and he confirmed the whole story. Crazy stuff, I thought him just meeting the Kinks was amazing by itself!

A message from the grave

Today I went out driving around with the kids after dinner. As we drove past Holy Cross/St. Joseph cemetary my daughter asked me to turn in. Though I had read it (because I'm an Indy History obsessive) I had forgotten that Louis and Gaston Chevrolet were buried there. That's right, the Chevrolet brothers. Like many other automotive pioneers attracted by the Motor Speedway they called Indy home until their dying days. Strangely, their headstones are rather humble.


Anyone paying attention to the news has taken notice of the recent chaos involving the legacy of the company the Chevrolet brothers started. With that in mind I took the small token of tribute in front of Louis's headstone to be heartening:


USA-Never Give Up.

The Sweet...sweet!

Stuff and things

Started a new job this week.
10 minute commute is nice but I miss seeing my family every day.
I'm looking forward to less driving and getting more stuff done.
I need to refocus on making this summer a productive one.
Time with my kids, family and friends is always time well spent.

Less computer, more guitar.
Worked on a couple songs.
Reconsidering my disdain of open mics.
Any chance to play is nice.

I bought a sewing machine at Goodwill today.
What the hell was I thinking?

Buying a 1974 CB 750 stocker.
I should have it in about a month.
Money and gremlins continue to conspire against the BSA.
I need to obsess less about the things I cant control (politics) and more on those that I can (motorbikes).
The shape of things to come, sorta: