it was the afternoon of april 30 in the gentrified part of downtown long beach, now known as the promenade. right on broadway just west of pine. just a stone's throw from that beloved old watering hole "the blue cafe" where chris and his band 'the cold hard facts" would pretty much play every sunday afternoon. his family, friends, fellow musicians and loyal followers got together for a hell of a send off to one hell of a talent.
if youre from california, arizona or texas, i dont think i have to bore you with praise about this gentleman.
gentleman? sometimes... but i'd rather use the word "character" if i may, because that describes the chris i knew best (and i say this with the highest respect).
if you didnt know this rough and witty character- you left that night well aware of the power and prowess this dude possessed.
the upstairs room was filled with reminders...alters...shrines if you will, snippets of his past and pictures with those who loved him.
of course there was a full-on mariachi band on the patio and the smell of crispy carnitas and juicy red pollo adodabo wafted throughout the building and down broadway. for a minute there i even thought i heard chris singing "volver, volver"...but it was an old mexican gentleman who might as well have been attempting a gaffney impression.
anyone who had ever played with gaff and could add to the evening was there...at least those in southern california that werent gigging elsewhere.
there were hacienda brothers....guilty men....cold hard facts...john does...jann brownes....and honky tonk heroes from all four corners.
there were tubs of longneck budweiser on ice (im sure dave alvin saw to that) and marlboro reds just like gaff woulda wanted. there was bill kirchen stuffing his face with some dude in a hawaiian shirt. there was one of the west coast's most underrated guitarists. there was the official most recorded steel player. there were gratis memorial "vaya con dios" caps for all... and there were no dry eyes when dave alvin told us his many hilarious stories from the road.
and actually, it was well worth the parking meter violation.
all in all; an amazing and heartwarming evening with only one thing missing...