The return of the Clone of Ben Harper
Things happen in the course of our lives that define us. It lets you know what kind of a man you are. Am I a forgiving man? How do I know unless I have to forgive someone? Let me tell you a story of forgiveness, one that let me find out what kind of man I am...
So it's was night. Mike and I are out on the town. Just walkin. The town tells us stories, it directs us where to go. The dirty streets we walk on. The dim lights that guide us.
We decided we wanted to go to the Swan where we've had a few gigs and talk to the mixer dude Garth. He's a dude.
It was about 8pm. We walk in, the place is dead. Reaaaaally dead. Mike and I mosie up to the bar.
"Lookin' for a man. Name-a Garth"
This bar guy is tall and broad in the shoulders. He leans over the bar with one elbow.
"Whats it to ye?"
Mike slides 20 cents across the bar. He gives the knowing 'nod'.
Mr Barman doesn't touch the coin. He doesn't even look at it. He plays it cool. "Garth ain't around tonight"
We both ask for water. Free from the tap. The 20 cents is gone.
Then I turn to the stage. I can't believe my eyes. There he is, Mr Ben Harper clone, the gu
y that tried to (did) ridicule me at ECU in Joondalup. He's there with his expensive guitars. That liar. That fiend. For what reason could fate cross our paths tonight?
He catches me looking at him, we lock eye contact momentarily. I see a hint of recognition in his eyes. He knows who I am, but he pretends not to. I look away.
He's sitting on the stage trying to get a sound out of his guitar while his friend is adjusting sliders on the mixer. His friend turns and approaches us.
He talks like an imbecile. A stoned imbecile.
Turns out they can't get the PA working. Previously I told Mike about this Clone of Ben Harper, so he knows the score. I knew how to make the PA work, I can only presume Mike does, and he was quite happy to leave them stranded.
"hey man, the pa aint workin man" This guy was a dipshit "like man, you know how to, man, work the pa" Every breath he took annoyed me "it's not workin. man"
Mike says he doesn't know how to use it. Staring the imbecile in the eyes, they turn their attention my way.
"man" I've locked eyes with him. Why should I help these guys? Clone of Ben Harper lied to me, used me as a pawn in his malicious little game up at Joondalup to make himself look better. Now here I am, the situation reversed. I could leave, let him play to the bar man and his friend with no PA to the couple of drunkards in the bar.
Something in me tells me to be a bigger person. I turn to face Clone of Ben Harper, and he stares at me. I walk across the floor, the Clone, the imbecile and the bar man watching my every step. I keep looking at the Clone. My fingers touch the faders, I push them up and unpress the mute buttons.
We leave.
Mike turns to me. "Why did you do that? You didn't have to help them"
"Im a Rock God Mike, its my duty. Wherever there is a rocker needing direction, I'll be there. Wherever there is injustice on the stage, I'll be there. Wherever a rocker, good or evil, needs help rocking out, I'll be there. It's my duty Mike, I have to rise above common human response and keep my mind on the greater good. It's not always easy Mike, but its just a responsibility I was born with, and I'll keep it till the day I burn out."
I saw Mike looking at me. "You truly are a wise man"
"I know Mike. I know."
We left that pub and got some Thai. It was good.
So it's was night. Mike and I are out on the town. Just walkin. The town tells us stories, it directs us where to go. The dirty streets we walk on. The dim lights that guide us.
We decided we wanted to go to the Swan where we've had a few gigs and talk to the mixer dude Garth. He's a dude.
It was about 8pm. We walk in, the place is dead. Reaaaaally dead. Mike and I mosie up to the bar.
"Lookin' for a man. Name-a Garth"
This bar guy is tall and broad in the shoulders. He leans over the bar with one elbow.
"Whats it to ye?"
Mike slides 20 cents across the bar. He gives the knowing 'nod'.
Mr Barman doesn't touch the coin. He doesn't even look at it. He plays it cool. "Garth ain't around tonight"
We both ask for water. Free from the tap. The 20 cents is gone.
Then I turn to the stage. I can't believe my eyes. There he is, Mr Ben Harper clone, the gu
y that tried to (did) ridicule me at ECU in Joondalup. He's there with his expensive guitars. That liar. That fiend. For what reason could fate cross our paths tonight?He catches me looking at him, we lock eye contact momentarily. I see a hint of recognition in his eyes. He knows who I am, but he pretends not to. I look away.
He's sitting on the stage trying to get a sound out of his guitar while his friend is adjusting sliders on the mixer. His friend turns and approaches us.
He talks like an imbecile. A stoned imbecile.
Turns out they can't get the PA working. Previously I told Mike about this Clone of Ben Harper, so he knows the score. I knew how to make the PA work, I can only presume Mike does, and he was quite happy to leave them stranded.
"hey man, the pa aint workin man" This guy was a dipshit "like man, you know how to, man, work the pa" Every breath he took annoyed me "it's not workin. man"
Mike says he doesn't know how to use it. Staring the imbecile in the eyes, they turn their attention my way.
"man" I've locked eyes with him. Why should I help these guys? Clone of Ben Harper lied to me, used me as a pawn in his malicious little game up at Joondalup to make himself look better. Now here I am, the situation reversed. I could leave, let him play to the bar man and his friend with no PA to the couple of drunkards in the bar.
Something in me tells me to be a bigger person. I turn to face Clone of Ben Harper, and he stares at me. I walk across the floor, the Clone, the imbecile and the bar man watching my every step. I keep looking at the Clone. My fingers touch the faders, I push them up and unpress the mute buttons.
We leave.
Mike turns to me. "Why did you do that? You didn't have to help them"
"Im a Rock God Mike, its my duty. Wherever there is a rocker needing direction, I'll be there. Wherever there is injustice on the stage, I'll be there. Wherever a rocker, good or evil, needs help rocking out, I'll be there. It's my duty Mike, I have to rise above common human response and keep my mind on the greater good. It's not always easy Mike, but its just a responsibility I was born with, and I'll keep it till the day I burn out."
I saw Mike looking at me. "You truly are a wise man"
"I know Mike. I know."
We left that pub and got some Thai. It was good.
