Tags
Beer, Black Sabbath, Car Service, Club, Crazy Train, DJ, Drinks, Go-Go's, LA Woman, La'Mour, Music, Popeye, Roadhouse Blues, Stray Cat Strut, The Doors, Waitress, We Got the Beat
Here is part 1 of my ‘night on the town’ with the late George Brossard.
George Brossard and I drove out to L’Amour where we parked on a deserted street.
“George, where we going?”
“Don’t worry Red, just follow me.”
I walked behind George down a dark street filled with auto repair shops. Up ahead I saw a long line of people. I also heard some music being played. The closer we got, the more I realized we were going to a club.
“Yo George, what kind of place is this?” I asked nervously.
“Don’t worry about it, just follow me.”
I did as I was told. We walked past all the people lined up and headed straight to the front.
“Me and the bouncer went to Ford together,” George said.
As we approached the front door, people on line were dressed in jeans, black leather jackets and a few were smoking cigarettes. And they seemed pissed at us for passing them.
“Brossard, what’s up my man?” said a huge dude with Popeye forearms.
“What’s up my man,” George answered as they shook hands. I watched George’s hand disappear inside the bouncer’s hand, it was huge and the bouncer’s hand.
“This is my buddy Red,” George said to the bouncer as he tapped me on the shoulder.
“Hey Red, nice to meet you.” We shook hands, his grip was incredible.
George’s bouncer friend opened the velvet ropes and escorted us inside the club.
“Have a good time fella’s,” the Mighty Hulk said as he went back outside and left us alone.
The music was blasting. I recognized the song; it was ‘LA Woman’ by the Doors.
The club was dark. I could barely see in front of me.
“You want something to drink?” George screamed at me.
I looked at him and said, “WHAT?
“DO YOU WANT SOMETHING TO DRINK?”
“SURE, GET ME A BEER!” I shouted back to him.
George walked away and disappeared into the crowd..
I looked around the club and saw a lot of people; mostly dudes but I did notice a few babes. There was a stage where it looked like a band was setting up and about to perform.
A few minutes later, George was back.
“HERE YA GO!” George screamed as he handed me a bottle of beer.
“THANKS!”
“CHEERS.” George said as we raised our bottles and toasted.
As I sipped the beer I wondered if they had Wild Irish Rose?
We stood there and watched all the action. Girls passed by and I would stare at them; they were gorgeous. We watched people dance to LA Woman and then the band got on stage and began to play. They were actually pretty good.
“HOW YA LIKE IT SO FAR?” George shouted in my ear over the loud music.
“IT’S GREAT, THANKS FOR BRINGING ME!”
“NO PROBLEM!”
Just then a pretty girl came up to us carrying a black tray above her head wearing a ton of makeup and a really tight black top.
“Can I get you guys anything?”
“No we’re good,” George answered.
She smiled and walked away. I watched her make her way to another group of people. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She was amazing looking. Her ass was amazing in her black tights.
After a few songs by the band, the DJ came back on and began to play some more great music. People began to dance; actually I wouldn’t call it dancing, they were jumping around having a great time. I kept my eye on the waitress.
“Red, go rap to one of these babes.” George said to me as he pointed to a group of girls standing in a circle drinking and talking.
I looked at him and smiled as we watched a ton of people dance to Stray Cat Strut.
“GO DANCE!” He shouted as he gave me a slight nudge.
I looked out on the dance floor and spotted a pretty girl dancing with her friend.
George began to push me even harder.
“Stop man, I’ll go, give me some time.” I said to him.
The music seemed to get louder and louder as the night went on. After a few numbers, panic set in. I looked around and couldn’t find George. It was close to 1 A.M.
Did he leave?
How was I gonna get home?
Shit, I was screwed.
The DJ was spinning Black Sabbath’s ‘Crazy Train’. Every time I heard this song I got juiced up.
I walked around the club and tried to find him. I checked the bathrooms. I even went outside the club to ask his bouncer friend.
“You see George?”
“Nah man, haven’t seen him all night.”
I went back in and kept on looking for him. Three different times the pretty waitress I had my eye on walked past me smiling, asking if I needed a drink.
“I’m looking for my friend, have you seen him?” I asked her.
“Sorry sweetie, there are a lot of guys in here, I don’t know what your friend looks like.”
“Thanks.” I said.
She walked away, this time I didn’t look at her ass.
Finally at about 1:30, I stood over by the bar looking out on the dance floor. I spotted George. I quickly ran over to him and came up behind him.
“George, where ya been man?”
He turned around and his eyes were glassy.
“RED, what’s up my man?”
“George, what time we leaving.” I asked.
He looked at his watch.
“We got a couple of more hours,” he assured me.
I enjoyed L’Amour so much I started going every weekend…without George. I liked it so much I took the train there one night! George’s bouncer friend recognized me and let me right in.
“Yo Red, what’s up my man?”
The big fella opened the velvet ropes for me and I got right in without waiting on the long line. I felt important.
The DJ played rock songs that everyone danced to; it was amazing. I listened to Roadhouse Blues by the Doors, We Got the Beat by the Go-Go’s and many others.
The girls were amazing. They wore halter tops and short shorts.
Afterwards, when is was too late to take the train back home I hopped in a Car Service outside the club. L’Amour became my favorite spot, I’d go out every chance I could, it was the place to be on the weekends.
-Steve
Hoops135@hotmail.com
David Cullen said:
I remember L’Amour, a favorite hotspot for a lot of people at that time. The band that played Doors covers, such as LA Woman, was probably the Crystal Ship. They played in clubs in Brooklyn in Bensonhurst and Bay Ridge. There were other groups, that played covers of the Who, too. Those clubs were pretty hoppin.
Bklyn64 said:
That place was fun!
Glenn Thomas said:
That place was fun! I went there one night with you and George. Wendy O’Williams and The Plasmatics were playing. They had some pyro special effects and at one point the ceiling over the stage caught fire. Now after the recent incident in Brazil and the other incident in Rhode Island a few years back. I can only think of how serious and potentially dangerous that all was back then and I never once gave it any thought until now.
Fr. Peter said:
Hello Steve, hope all is well. Enjoy your grat writing!
There was another band that played all the Doors music, Commonwealth! They sounded better the more beer you drank. Played in Dingy Dan’s in Rockaway very often.
David Cullen said:
Dingy Dan’s in Rockaway!!! Now that is a blast from the past. I remember they had their “nickel drink night” (or something like that) and the guy walking around with the ball and chain on his leg!!!
Gladys Mastrion said:
“Lamourz” (as we called it), had the best music in all of Brooklyn!
Don Cush said:
Lamour was big early 80s Anyone remember the Bay Ridge discos of the 70’s . Jasmines on Third, 2001 Odysey, Revelations, the Upstairs lounge?
hoopscoach said:
Don,
You are right, it was rocking.
I heard a lot about those clubs you mention. My fun was at Mustaseed.
TonyF16th St said:
How about Banana Fish Park?
hoopscoach said:
Tony,
Where was Banana Fish Park?
Tom said:
4515 New Utrecht Ave –> Loew’s Theatre
Vinny s said:
Don’t know if anyone realizes but George was also a very talented bass player ( He is well missed) he used to make me sit out in his car and listen to tapes from his 70s cover bands outside Mcbears !!!!! lol miss ya George..lammours (Twisted sister!!! every fri night!!!!!) .