Lounge

Every time I play in Rydges Hotel in Newcastle New Sount Wales I think of the resident musicians players in all the coastal cities around the world. New York, Barcelona, New Orleans, Sorrento, Galway and I'm grateful to count myself amoung them.
All just sitting there laying down a vibe man, week after week while you all soak up the view and have a good long hard think about what you've done.
There's a real leveller in the body of the Hotel lounge.
You can come in off the street with your shopping bags and just plonk down in your Active wear for a rest and I'll sing you a song. From the heart. I'll remind you that you matter. That you're safe. That it's going to be ok.
Or you can be a brash tightly wound investor talking about your recent racehorse purchase in a big voice wondering why the Muso is so bloody loud you can't hear yourself think! Ya it's me Carl.
Or you can be a family man that got an online deal so you took them all away and now you in the lounge waiting for them to get ready up in the room. I'll meet you downstairs you said as you practically ran for the lift.
This one beer is your only part of the holiday and all I have to do is not be shit.
Everybody is in the melting pot. The intune the outoftune and the inbetweeners. The hotel staff are brilliant at this. We got you.
The musos got you. We promise to not 'Ipenema' you to boredom and not blow your head off either.
Sing 'Piano Man!', they shout at the guitar player before them. Sure.
"They sit at the bar and throw bread in my jar and say man , What are you doing here?'.
That's a thing people say to musos. Because they're so happy were there for them. And we are. Week after week.
Another is " I've got a cousin can play anything, only has to hear it once". "Can pick up any instrument and knock a tune out of it". 
Oh really? Wow. Must be amazing!
But we've heard that line a thousand times "You're too good to be playing here. More people should have the opportunity to hear you".
Well, I'm here if they want to. I'm the no name resident muso. No queue for tickets. No desire for fame. Just a handy few quid and the joy of your company. No stars in this lounge.
"Witchetaw Lineman? Sure."