The Luckey’s Show: How’d it go?

Lucky, Lucky,Lucky, Luckey Me, again:

We left Phoenix at 7:30 am.  We had just finished packing no more than two hours ago.  We landed in Eugene in a short two-and-a-half hours.  I say we, because along on this trip I have My lady (Jimmie) and our friends Maggie and Jim.  We all are going to attend the Churchill/Teeters wedding on the banks of beautiful Lake Odell – (One hour and 20 minutes southeast of the town of Eugene, Oregon).   And we are all heading into Eugene for the show at Luckey’s.

Come August 5th; there was a wedding, jetlag, and a 3 hour drive and a great show.  In my experience, I have had show’s with only the staff in attendance.  I have had shows where there was only one person at the bar facing a way from me and…tapping their toe?  At Luckey’s I have had a show where I was in an unfamiliar town, with three of my most valued friends, the staff and a few stumble-in’s.  Everyone at the wedding asked: “How’d the show go?”  My answer?  “Good.”  True.  It was good.  But the process, the journey, us driving 3 hours plus, missing hitting a deer on the highway, making an illegal u-turn in front of the first cop I have ever seen in the Northwest, and getting away with it.  Us going through ‘the process’ was great.

One great process deserves another, and now me and my girl are posted up at a life-long friends beautiful house in West Eugene.  Ralph is one of those friends among those that I can count on one hand.  One of those people you meet in life that stick.  Friends for life.  He and Karen have welcomed us into their home and we are hunkered down until tomorrow night.  Tomorrow I play at the Keg Tavern in Eugene.

August 9th: The Keg Tavern in Eugene, Oregon

The Keg Tavern and Steakhouse in Eugene, Oregon is one of those quintessential, useful bars.  My friend Ralph helped me book a show here and when he said to me a few weeks ago “you should play at my bar”.  I didn’t know if he owned the place, bartended here, or just drank here.  The words “my bar” can mean all of those things.  I thought that was all right and I didn’t ask him to clarify.

There is a book called The Great Good Place by Ray Oldenburg, and a short-story on the same theme called A Clean Well Lighted Place by Ernest Hemmingway.  Both works speak to the fact that we need a good pub.  A warm place close-by that always leaves the neon light on for you.  Serves you a hot plate of food, and a cold glass of suds, or a three-finger pull of fire-water.  Puts you under, picks you back up, and throws your drunk ass out cause it’s good for ya.  The Pub will forgive you the next day and welcome you back in with open arms when you are a little hungry or thirsty.   Daughters get married here, Lovers get found here, and some get lost here.  The bar truly is a beautiful place.