GREECE: Burger Disco Club

May 17th 1:24 a.m.

I truly believe that life has made me old, cranky, and with short patience. 

Everything is annoying me. I’m thinking I’m the only one who has a problem with the way things are on this flight. 

The flight attendant is so loud and noisy. He wants to be humorous and familiar with the passengers, which I can appreciate. However, people are sleeping!!

This isn’t a good time to be loud and tell jokes. 

Another attendant was collecting the small bowls from everyone who had finished eating. When she put the bowls in the bin, she didn’t place them in. She dropped them in. Yeah. Literally dropping dishes on top of each other. This made the loudest noise of all. Not to mention I was awakened with a CART THAT WAS RUN INTO MY KNEE!

Anyways. GREECE! Yay!!!

I’ve been invited to spin some records, which will be a delight. The place is called “Burger Disco Club.” I'm not sure what I’m playing, to be honest. I have a bunch of new music that nobody knows. Let’s see how that goes. LOL. 

I make the records and rarely get to play them. I’ve been focused on my singing career with my band, and also been working with Louie and EOL a lot. So there’s little time for anything else. 

The man sitting next to me is Korean. Maybe early 60’s. His son is maybe late 20’s. He’s sitting on the other side of me. 

The problem is the son and I are both big guys. I’m almost 300 pounds and 6’3”. The son is easily bigger than I and just as tall, maybe taller. 

The flight attendant saw us together and decided to help. The son was asked to move to a more comfy seat, which he appreciated. The father, on the other hand, kind of panicked when he saw his son leaving for another seat. He seemed scared or uncomfortable without his son there. The man got up and said something to his son in their language. His voice rose in a panicky tone. At this point he’s talking to his son but screaming in my ear. 

I finally gestured to him with my hand to bring his voice down. 

At that moment, he looks at me with that New York-style look. Almost as if to say “what you say?” in a threatening tone. 

Now we have a situation. At least I thought. I said, “Sir. You’re speaking very loudly.” Surprisingly, he said, “Oh. Sorry.” 

I thought we were going to start this trip on a high, Brooklyn note for a second. 

Unfortunately, I have a stop in Zurich. It was the only flight that would get me there, so I had no choice, but I highly dislike connecting flights. Landing from a long flight, then running through the airport to catch another flight because you’re delayed. All of that is behind me. I won’t do a connecting flight if I can avoid it. I thought about connecting with Dawn. She’s here but four hours away. So that’s out of the question. 

Dawn is doing a gig in Germany as one half of “The Weather Girls.” I’m so proud of her. 

May 17th 9:23 a.m.

I forget how racist the rest of the world is. America is the home and mother of racism as far as I’m concerned. However, that same, ignorant energy is everywhere. I went through customs, and the woman was very kind and sweet to the man in front of me. When I got to her, she completely changed into a monster. She was looking for a reason not to let me through. She was being really short and nasty with me. 

I felt sorry for her. It’s sad because she’s doing what she was taught, probably from childhood. 

Most people are the same. We’re born into the world with standards and morals that were instilled in us by our parents, whom we love. We don’t choose what we believe in until we’re adults. Some people stay believing in what their parents taught them without ever questioning it. So they exist with that one perspective. Not their own. Are you like that? Are you doing what you were taught, rather than what you truly believe? 

The very dope Burger Disco Club. Athens, Greece

9:55 a.m.

I’m on my connecting flight to Greece. The attendant informed us that there is a delay due to air traffic controllers on strike and a lack of workers. WHAT?!?!?

May 18th, 12:41 a.m.

Anna took me to see my good friend and little brother, DJ Harry V. He’s rocking at this bar/restaurant in town. Sweet vibe. He was playing obscure soul records. The drinks were fresh-tasting. The fruit was squeezed. I had an outstanding chicken salad with bacon and mozzarella cheese. There were these sweet cherry tomatoes in it also. The flavors made it clear that someone in the kitchen really cared. 

Well, I guess I’ll sleep. My clock is off. I feel kinda awake. Let’s see what happens... 

Behind the decks at Burger Disco Club

May 19th, 9:25 p.m.

Chillin with Pedro and Anna. Pedro is one of the owners, and Anna is sort of an assistant manager. They have a system that works well. 

So now we are sitting on the steps of the joint. As though we’re on the stoop at a Brownstone in Brooklyn. 

Pedro is going to feed us. His place is also a restaurant. I don’t think I mentioned that. 

I no longer drink alcohol, but if I did, because they have a mixologist here, I would have enjoyed that. Whew. It’s nice. 

I knew they’d be playing music. I thought a DJ would be rocking some soft dinner music.

There is a Jazz quartet jamming some standards. A female on the jazz box!! Killing scales and modal jazz, turnarounds, the whole bit. Improvising over complex chords seemed to be easy for the sax guy. I didn’t get his name. 

All of the musicians — drummer, upright bass player, guitarist and featured sax player — were students of Jazz. You can hear their love in their playing. It was very clear that these were cats. Wow!!!!!! They’re really good too. 

Live Jazz in Athens

This trip has inspired me to play more. 

When I play music, I hear music. 

When I hear music, I do music. 

LOVE Y’ALL.