Brass Knuckles and a dream...

In the midst of the trying to build-a-home-on-denial I still was trying to sing.

Brass Knuckles was an all-original R&B/rock band led by Stan Kaiser (in print shirt), boy did he have stars in his eyes, he was determined to “make it”….band-mates would goof on him. I don’t think he did ‘make-it,' but he wrote a decent tune or two and all-round good guy. The band was fronted by me, Stan (tenor sax) and Carla Bryson (Carla , from Maine and also with stars in her eyes, was AL Franken’s sister-in-law..and still is), Eric G. is top-right.

We performed showcases at the Troubadour, The Ice House, The Improvisation…among other clubs. These photos were taken at The Improve the night of the show. I was at the top of my game, in spite of. It’s amazing I functioned as I did. I simply loved to sing and perform.

For me… a funny thing happened on the way to The Improve (the night of these photos);

The night before our scheduled showcase, was our dress rehearsal in Stan’s garage, after practice a few of the band mates and I had a few drinks, hung out for laughs. I then attempted to drive home via the Ventura Freeway. I was a little all –across the road and pulled over by the CHP. The cop found I had a warrant for my arrest for an unpaid ticket several months prior…I developed a nasty habit of not paying attention to some of life’s details. I was taken into custody and booked at the Los Angeles County Jail. It was a harrowing 24 hours, not only for me but also for poor Stan; his lead singer/front man was locked-up the day of his band’s showcase at a major venue…The Improve!

We were scheduled to go on at 9pm and Stan scrambled all that day to get me out…even got his lawyer on it and put up the bail. I was finally taken down to the release/processing area about 7pm that night, told that I was getting bailed out. It took forever; I was, at last, set free at 8:50, ten minutes before Showtime, into the arms of a very nervous and very sweaty Stan. He had brought my white (wedding) suit newly pressed and cleaned; I was loath to put it on… I was filthy, having been on the floor of a holding cell all night. I twisted in the back seat… squeezing into it as we raced down Melrose Ave.

We got there at 9:05; the band was on stage chomping at the bit in front of a packed buzzing crowd. Stan and I jumped on stage and hit it!! Remarkably, I was on that night…the adrenaline flowed …great Show! Omnipotence was the feeling. After the set…, had a ‘few beers’ and basked in the praise. Denial loves praise to.

Susanna never came to any of my intermittent shows......was too focused on my brother, his sycophant and others.