I was chilling here at the ol Renaissance Nashville Hotel, doing my usual daydreaming about either a) a better job making a shit load of money playing poker or c) getting the fuck outta town and going on tour for a while. In the midst of this, I see a familar person in the lobby. Almost immediately I recognized him as Harvey Pekar, the genius behind the American Splendor comics and the subject of the film of the same name. He seemed to wandering, as if her were looking for somebody. Without thinking, I called out "Mr. Pekar!". He turned around and looked at me strangely for a moment and then smiled and walked towards me. I said I was a fan and I introduced myself and I shook his hand. He was in disbelief that anyone would recognize him. I mean he was in geniune disbelief. But I got a sense that he was almost relieved that there was at least someone in this strange place that could relate to him. I asked what he was doing in Nashville and he said he was "working with Billy Bragg." I guess at that show coming up or something. Anyway, we talked for about 5 minutes. I told him that if he was looking for some good records he should go to Grimey's but he said he didn't really collect records anymore, he had enough already and he was always being sent stuff to review. I told him I was from Columbus and we talked about Ohio State.

Anyway, I gotta go here, but the amazing thing was, immediately, right off the bat, he talked to me like he knew me for years. I think part of this was like I said he was relieved to see a sympathetic face in a strange land. By watching the movie you'd think he was a cantankerous grump, by he was very warm, he smiled, made conversation, and seemed to be happy to meet me. Its a cliche but could'nt have been more down to earth. He asked if i'd be around tomorrow and I said yes so maybe i'll have more to tell tomorrow. Just thought i'd share.....

that's a good story.

maybe you'll like your job more now.... since you'll have fond harvey pekar memories....

then again, maybe not.

(But does this mean you work with meeks?)

ah wow.
he seems like such a genuine grump, though.
not even grump.
just person.
i would love to meet him and talk about comics, or other things.
that movie is one of my favorites.

do you tend to see publically known people there?

Wow, roadie, that's an amazing story. Two months ago, if I'd heard it, I would've been pretty nonplussed. But after seeing American Splendor, I feel a deep respect and admiration for the man.

That is really cool. I wonder if these kinds of things happen more to him lately. I hope to someday get to the point where I don't have to collect records anymore because they get sent to me!!