Houston is a great town for Brushes with Greatness (BWG). For men especially, because the region is popular with so many pro-athletes who make this their off-season home.
We have our share of musical stars that haunt our local watering holes or other manly establishments.
And unlike New York and L.A., where guys risk brushes with greatness with some clueless actor from a Soap Opera or a botoxed-filled model/actress/singer, the Houston brand of celebs are more down to earth.
Take for example our BWG this week at the local beer-trough in The Heights, the Pearl Bar.
Our crew ran into Billy Gibbons, co-founder and the lead axe man for that Little Old Band from Texas ZZ Top.
Of course Billy and anything ZZ Top is officially a guy moment as the trio were honored by Spike TV last year at the Guy's Choice Awards.
Billy had bellied up to the bar and was enjoying some adult librations.
We joined him.
The talk was very little on music or tours -- although he did let his know he, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard hit the road in the next two or three weeks, including a May 3 date in Beaumont. No Houston show is scheduled yet, although Billy said the big city dates would follow after the band hit Europe for a few months.
No, our chats centered on Billy's other passion - cars and dice.
We mostly talked about cars, but then I recalled another BWG with the bearded one at an Astros game where he showed off his slight of hand skills with a deck of playing cards.
I asked him if he would entertain us with his talent. He reached into his coat pocket only to produce a pair of dice.
Billy proceeded to go over how dice are made, the concept of making sure that for every number, the exact opposite side will add up to 7 -- (The 5 on one side is mirrored on the other side of the bone with a 2, for example.)
He then went into Vegas Craps dealer mode and started rolling the bones on the bar. We joined in for a good natured - and no money at risk - half-hour long session of craps.
At one point, our play so impressed the ZZ that he suggested we hook up for a trip to Vegas.
Now how cool would that be? Spending a weekend on the floor of the Golden Nugget or the tables at the Mirage tossing the bones.
That's what is cool about brushes with greatness; we get to imagine what'd be like to have one of our favorite celebs, or sports stars as a running buddy.
Of course, it rarely comes to fruition, but for a few minutes, we are best of friends.
And we have a cool story to tell all our other buddies to boot.
So, what's your cool brush with greatness?
Last week when Bruce Springsteen was at the Toyota Center I was sent to get video for our broadcast. As far as news assignments go, I figured this one was as good as it gets. Once I got there I was escorted to a dark hallway that smelled like stale beer and vomit. I hooked up a tape deck to record the feed and waited for the show to start. I sat for an hour in that dark vile hallway. So much for great assignment. As the crowd got ramped up I noticed Bruce and the entire E. Street Band walk up about 20 feet away from me, they all joined hands and Bruce said a prayer for them to have a good show, then they all gave a cheer and ran off to the stage. A few moments later "Cadillac Ranch" was shaking the walls. It was a rare sneek peek and my BWG.
Homegrown, talented, legendary and Supremely Manly. I've long been a ZZ fan and ridiculously proud that the little band hails from my Home State. Billy Gibbons is awesome. Imagine the outburst of joy in my home when Mrs. A.B.M. and I caught Billy's cameo appearance in an episode of Bones. Now that was fun.
Probably my most memorable BWG also involved a ZZ sighting. I was a kid who went with Sergeant A.B.M. Sr. to an Oilers game. I don't recall the details, but somehow we got amazing seats, way better than I was ever used to. We were so high up that the linemen looked small. Anyway, none other than Dusty Hill himself happened to be a few rows down. I managed to get his autograph (Dusty if you're reading this, I apologize for making you put the drink down to sign for me, but thanks) and had a thousand watt smile for at least a week. About a year later, another BWG occurred when me and the Sarge ran into Earl Campbell at yet another Oilers game. I'll never forget his legs being as big as I was at the time (man do things change). He had a vice grip and an awesome demeanor. This time, the old man had the thousand watt smile. I was a little league footballer and I came away with inspiration and a cool story to tell. Thats about it for Houston. About 10 years ago I ran into Rob Zombie while working at Planet Hollywood in Dallas. Not a BWG for some, but it was cool for me, and thats all that matters.
Misty with nostalgia (in a manly way of course) I remain,
IncogNegro
1978 Texas Tumbleweed restaurant on fm 1960 My band and I were playing for the grand opening and a vent backed up filling the place with smoke. The owners had all the staff pouring free beer outside until it was fixed.
When the smoke had cleared, almost everybody came back in and enjoyed their meals and the band played on. The event was a big draw to the social crowd at that time. In the audience were city officials, bankers; I remember being introduced to Farrah Fawcett’s parents, as he was a prominent plastic surgeon in the area, hmmm. An awkward moment, I was in the men’s room and as I looked to my right, there at the urinal next to me was Billy Gibbons of ZZ TOP. In his deep guttural voice he says, “Ya’ll sound good.” I think I might have muttered something in return, but I certainly wasn’t going shake his hand or ask for an autograph
1979 Northwest Houston, 1960 area. I had a little band and was playing at the Texas Tumbleweed when they had the Grand opening. The place filled up with smoke from a bad vent. My band and myself were serving beer outside on the parking lot waiting for the smoke to clear. When the smoke had cleared, almost everybody came back in and enjoyed their meals and the band played on. The event was a big draw to the social crowd at that time. In the audience were city officials, bankers; I remember being introduced to Farrah Fawcett’s parents, as he was a prominent plastic surgeon in the area, hmmm. An awkward moment, I was in the men’s room and as I looked to my right, there at the urinal next to me was Billy Gibbons of ZZ TOP. In his deep guttural voice he says, “Ya’ll sound good.” I think I may have muttered something in return, but I certainly wasn’t going shake his hand or ask for an autograph.