my friend michael's brother plays the lap steel in Toby Keith's under cover road band and on some of his recorded albums. as it turns out, TK and his 'Incognito Bandito' band were playing in a small dive joint down near NYC and Michael, who has to be one of the most interesting and genuinely nicest men i have ever met, was invited as VIP to visit with his bro Jim and sorta hang with the gang down at the show. WOW.
he was, of course, stoked to see his memphis residing bro for sure, but he also was glad he got to snap some pictures of the gig up close and personal cause he was basically with the band. so cool. plus the gig was totally underground, so only a handful of people were going to be there in contrast to his name-sake, tricked-out-by-Ford-trucks mega concerts.
upon leaving work that particular Friday i asked him where he was headed for the weekend and he mentioned the show, and i told him how much i adored Toby Keith and how awesome i thought it was that he got to go see his brother play live with him, and so on.
when i got to my desk on monday morning a plum colored guitar pick lay waiting for me in front of my computer keyboard. the end of it was worn, as were mostly the silver words that inscribed across it's plastic face. i knew right away it was from Michael, but could it have really been....?
i marched right into Michael's office and said with a huge smile, ''is this for me?! from you? from--??" and before i could even ask if it was TK's, Michael said, 'Yep. That was one of the picks Toby played with during the first set," and he laughed.
now, i know it's no big deal really, in music land anyways, that musicians toss out pick after pick to loving (or sometimes completely random) fans. and i know it's probably not worth any more than it was the day it was bought from whatever music supply store Toby Keith frequents, it's actually prob worth less maybe since it's worn?? haha.
but i also know that i probably won't ever come across another one, that was specifically given to me, from such a neat secret gig by such a HUGE time star. and furthermore it wouldn't be from someone like michael, that i admire so much, or who i could tell genuinely was enjoying his own being at that show with me in mind. nothing could demonstrate that more than him managing to snag me a sweet momento from the night.
and it is for these reasons that i was bummed when i realized today that the TKGLGP was left behind at a friend's house last night. i foolishly offered it up to a friend temporarily who was playing an acoustic guitar. and as it happens, this friend whose house it's at is moving to Colorado TOMORROW... so i kinda would like to sorta make sure the TKGLGP doesn't end up going too! ... i think it will be okay. at least i really hope i get it back. i'll have to follow up and give an update if/when we are reunited.
in the meantime, this little guy is all i can picture when i think about me leaving without it last night. haha. hehe. ....ho hum. :(
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