With only 2 hrs of driving left to go before I arrive home after the Nameless to Famous tour, I decided to treat myself to a nice breakfast out at The Starved Rock Lodge in Utica, IL. There I can take a moment before getting back into the daily routine of booking gigs, practicing, etc.. But what I experienced in the restaurant there was kinda bizarre, so I had to write a little about it.
Although I snapped a picture and posted it below, let me describe the whole scene for you. I arrive at Starved Rock, a park well known for it's wildlife, waterfalls, Native American history and folklore. As I make my way into the lodge and through the main hall with it's massive double sided fireplace and old 13 star American flags I feel like I stepped back in time. I also feel the undeniable craving for pancakes and bacon. So, from there I make a right and head for the restaurant. From there I can see yet another roaring fireplace and the tree tops beyond the room's windows due to the high ridge location of the lodge. The early morning sun is shining in and Inside are many thick wooden rustic looking tables and chairs with about 15 elderly hungry patrons enjoying their breakfast.
Although I snapped a picture and posted it below, let me describe the whole scene for you. I arrive at Starved Rock, a park well known for it's wildlife, waterfalls, Native American history and folklore. As I make my way into the lodge and through the main hall with it's massive double sided fireplace and old 13 star American flags I feel like I stepped back in time. I also feel the undeniable craving for pancakes and bacon. So, from there I make a right and head for the restaurant. From there I can see yet another roaring fireplace and the tree tops beyond the room's windows due to the high ridge location of the lodge. The early morning sun is shining in and Inside are many thick wooden rustic looking tables and chairs with about 15 elderly hungry patrons enjoying their breakfast.
As I get closer to doorway I can hear music but can't make out what the song is. It must be ending and it's fading out I thought. Anyway the hostess greets me and begins to lead me to my table where I will dine on my pancakes, sip my coffee, sit, relax and enjoy the ambiance of this great historic lodge and scenery.
As we're nearly at my table a new song begins. Now, let me ask you.. after all I described and looking at the picture I took, what would be appropriate for this moment? Well, whatever your thinking it wasn't that.
Here comes the song now... there's the ever increasing volume of guitar feedback... wheeEEEEE SLOW RIDE! da na na na na TAKE IT EASY! Yea, it was "Slow Ride" by Foghat. Don't get me wrong, it's a cool song but SO inappropriate for the hour and the setting. But wait, it gets better! I order my food and ponder if these folks hearing aids are on. They all have at least 30 years on me. How can I be the only one that is thinking this? Then, that song ends and I figure it was just a fluke in the mix. Maybe what's next is lighter Beatles's tune like "Yesterday". Nope, it's Dio's "Rainbow in the Dark"!! Are you f-in kidding me! It may have been a few decades since you've heard this song so I posted it below as a refresher. Hit play, look at the pic above and I bet you never would have guessed that this song was playing at that moment. Ha ha.. just so weird.
As we're nearly at my table a new song begins. Now, let me ask you.. after all I described and looking at the picture I took, what would be appropriate for this moment? Well, whatever your thinking it wasn't that.
Here comes the song now... there's the ever increasing volume of guitar feedback... wheeEEEEE SLOW RIDE! da na na na na TAKE IT EASY! Yea, it was "Slow Ride" by Foghat. Don't get me wrong, it's a cool song but SO inappropriate for the hour and the setting. But wait, it gets better! I order my food and ponder if these folks hearing aids are on. They all have at least 30 years on me. How can I be the only one that is thinking this? Then, that song ends and I figure it was just a fluke in the mix. Maybe what's next is lighter Beatles's tune like "Yesterday". Nope, it's Dio's "Rainbow in the Dark"!! Are you f-in kidding me! It may have been a few decades since you've heard this song so I posted it below as a refresher. Hit play, look at the pic above and I bet you never would have guessed that this song was playing at that moment. Ha ha.. just so weird.
I pointed all this out all this to my waitress thinking she would think this is as funny as I do. She had little reaction to was I was saying. So I thought. Eventually the manager came over.
"I was told you have a problem with the music Sir?"
"What? No.. I do find that it's really inappropriate for your clientele especially for the morning though."
"Well, I can't change the station Sir but I can turn it down if it is bothering you."
Wait a second, I'm the young one here. What the hell is going on? I told her, "If you think this is all Okay, by all means crank it up. This is just pure entertainment for me at this point."
A couple songs later in was Glen Frey's "The Heat is On"... I left.
"I was told you have a problem with the music Sir?"
"What? No.. I do find that it's really inappropriate for your clientele especially for the morning though."
"Well, I can't change the station Sir but I can turn it down if it is bothering you."
Wait a second, I'm the young one here. What the hell is going on? I told her, "If you think this is all Okay, by all means crank it up. This is just pure entertainment for me at this point."
A couple songs later in was Glen Frey's "The Heat is On"... I left.
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