House of Blues interactions
So about 2 hours ago I'm purchasing a couple of tickets to the TV on the Radio show at the Lansdowne Street House of Blues (coming June 4th), and there is barely anyone on the street. But I do see about 7 or 8 men, all about 50 or 55 years old, all with scruffy beards and jean jackets, waiting at the corner alley between the House of Blues and Bill's Bar. There are all chatting away, and a few have Dunkin Donut coffees. I'm thinking they're Teamsters.
I buy the tix, ask the nice woman a few questions about the new place and general admission policy, etc, when a van pulls into the alley. Suddenly the men swarm the van, and pull out Sharpie markers, vinyl records, and two guys actually pull guitars out of their backpacks...
Two security guards pull out the metal barriers, yelling "On the sidewalk, get back on the sidewalk!". One fan is escorted off of the van's rear window.
The fans start yelling, "Jeff just a couple of autographs!" "There's only a few of us!" "My daughter's a huge fan, Jeff!"
But Mr. Beck slides right into the side entrance, only outside for 2 seconds, without acknowledgment of the men who waited patiently for who-the-hell-knows how long. One of the security guards looked back and said, "Sorry guys."
I got a little depressed, not for the fans, but for Jeff Beck. I think it's great he has people holding 30 year old copies of his albums they want signed. Yet he seemed so aloof and not appreciative of what he himself had done. It would have taken 3 minutes and made a few dudes' day if not month. Sure, it's not 17 year old girls throwing underwear, but why wouldn't you want to reaffirm what you've accomplished? It seemed like a 3 minute win/win scenario, and it bummed everyone out, me included.