Early Memories with David

David and I understood the Charles Bukowski/Hunter S. Thompson ethic. Dave had a Sunday morning, 2:00 AM radio show. Before starting our music careers, David brought me up to the campus radio station and played selections from the Bonzo Dog Band, Firesign Theatre and 13th Floor Elevators.

Before Big Duke and the Blues Machine, Dave and I had the Big Duke Revue. Dave on guitar, a drummer who only played with brushes and an out of tune, honking and squeaking sax player. Well before Cat Power or The Cowboy Junkies, we performed a 15 minute, very legato version of “Satisfaction”, a psychedelic version on “Season of the Witch” and closed the show with my very own number, “I'm Your Frenchloaf Man” (bake it in your oven whenever I can...).

Our only gig was in the dingy, bongwater carpeted band practice room at Stevenson College two days before Winter Break. I bought two cases of Heineken beer in order to bring people in. Most drank our beer and left prior to the end of your opening song. The tape recorder was behind the drummer, so the final product was mostly brushes on the skins.

Though not a successful gig, neither of us got lucky, (ever), we were undeterred. David said he'd learn more blues songs over the break and we'd start a blues band, after all the Rolling Stones started as a blues band...