Aug. 7, 2007 - It Was A Real Good Lunch

As many of you know, this "real estate blog" does not always stick to the topic of real estate as such.  Every now and then I get moved enough by some off topic event that I feel the need to share.  In a market as slow as this one I have my nose to the grindstone for my clients, trying to get their home sold and so I have blogging low on the priority list.  This time it was yesterdays lunch that inspired me to take the time to pay attention to my blog.

Well OK, it wasn't the lunch itself that inspired me, I had an Italian Sub with everything but mayo at Potbelly's in Metropolitan Square.  It was the entertainment that got me raved up.  When I walked in there was a slight sort of man wearing a pork-pie hat sitting in the window playing a Pink Floyd tune on an acoustic guitar.  I had noticed him there one time before playing something that the lunch time troubadours don't usually play.  Some deep cut or another, I don't remember.  What I do remember is that he was just finishing up his lunch time gig and he vanished really quickly before I had a chance to talk to him. 

Any way, I didn't have a chance to speak to him this time either, but he, or should I say his music, sure did speak to me.  He went on to do Neil Young's "Southern Man", "Five O'clock World" by whoever the heck it was that did that and some other foot tappin' ditties that had me humming along.  He put his own style on everything he did and I must say I was very impressed.  I find that there are those out there that can cover one or two artists really well but aren't versatile enough to run the gambit on an entire era.  This guy certainly is.

Who is this guy who could stir the musical soul of a crusty old curmudgeon like myself?  His name is Noel Rivera.  His business card gives him the title of "Guitarist/Vocalist".  His tag line is "BEST OLDIES AND ROCK N' ROLL".  The truth be told, his tag line hits the nail on the head.  He is really damn good.  I am going to find out what his schedule is and pass it along as soon as possible.  If you have the opportunity to catch his act you should take it, you will be giving yourself a real treat.

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Aug. 7, 2007 - re: It Was A Real Good Lunch

Aug. 7, 2007 - re: It Was A Real Good Lunch

Hi Gene,  First of all I'd like to thank you for your blog and for feeling the way you do about my music.  It is probably the only reason that I wanted to become a guitar player is to see the reaction of the people when I play and the reaction has been overwhelming.  I have made it a point in my life and to my music not to do the song identically to the record and I always add a little bit of myself to the songs.  I am glad that you enjoyed the music, thanks for stopping to see me play a couple of times and I hope to see you again up there.  My locations at Potbelly's are:  Monday through Wednesday in Des Plaines on River Road & Perry and Thursday and Friday across the street from the Allstate Arena in Rosemont on Manheim near Touhy.  I will send you an e mail of other places that I will be playing in the future as they come in.  Thank you again for your fantastic letter and until then Shine on you Crazy Diamond!

Noel Rivera