"Lawman of the Year" (NY Times)

More on the travesty in Tulia. Hopefully, all this press will result in innocent people being freed.

Say What? [] 9:35:34 PM  Permalink  

 Kafka in Tulia. On the morning of July 23, 1999, law enforcement officers fanned out and arrested more than 10 percent of the tiny African-American population of Tulia, Tex. By Bob Herbert. [New York Times: Opinion]

I've been meaning to post this since this morning.  While we're all busy debating meaningless stuff, like the subject of a song, real evil continues to thrive unchecked.  This has got to be one of the most disgusting things I've ever heard about.  I wonder if anyone has written a song about this? By the way, a Google search on the subject will yield hundreds of hits.

Say What? [] 5:16:15 PM  Permalink  

I've been adding a lot more musical links over the last couple of days.  I've got plenty more but I don't think I'm going to put many more there because it's hard to scroll through a long list. If you know of anything I should include, please let me know.
Say What? [] 1:51:52 PM  Permalink  

Bob Dylan's Unswerving Road Back to Newport. Bob Dylan returns to the Newport Folk Festival 37 years after his earth-shaking 1965 concert, the first time he performed live with an electric band. By Tom Piazza. [New York Times: Arts] via [Steve's No Direction Home Page]

Even if you know the story like the back of your hand, as I do, you'll still appreciate this excellent piece. For the cultural significance alone, this is highly recommended to all.

And for more on the subject, see The legend of Dylan at Newport. (Boston Globe)

Say What? [] 11:25:16 PM  Permalink  

Steve Earle's John Walker song: Anders Smith Lindall has heard it and reports that "Earle doesn't pontificate and never breaks character, much less glorify Lindh." [Scott Rosenberg's Links & Comment]

I agree.

Say What? [] 5:48:21 PM  Permalink  

Cultural Treason?--The Right Targets Musician Steve Earle (The Nation)

First of all, Earle has the right to say what he damn well pleases, stupid or otherwise. We all agree with that, right?  Good.  I thought so. Second of all, if you don't listen to this because you're not a fan of him or this kind of music in general, fine. But if you don't listen to what will most definitely be another in a long line of killer records because of this so-called "controversy", then I think you're a jerk. And if this sets off a wave of hysterical record burning, I think I'm gonna puke.

Say What? [] 5:02:46 PM  Permalink  

Folk under fire
Newport and the conservative world of the singer-songwriter (Boston Phoenix)

"What’s surprising is that 37 years after Dylan started making his music crackle, the issue of going electric — or, to put it more accurately, reaching for a more expansive sonic palette — remains charged."

Racial bigotry, musical bigotry -- it's all the same.  When I went to Newport as a 17-year-old in 1967, I was hoping to hear some great folk music,  and I did.  I couldn't tell you the name of one acoustic performer I saw, however. But what I'll never forget, is seeing Janis Joplin with Big Brother and the Holding Company, Taj Mahal with Jesse Ed Davis on guitar, Tim Buckley with vibes and Carter Collins on conga drums, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells. 

Man, it was an embarrassment of riches and I loved it all.  And it was a shitload of fun.  Even sleeping one night in a local graveyard and another night in an alley that smelled like piss was the perfect compliment to carefree hours on the beach.  While these fools are busy taking themselves so seriously, still trying to define folk music in the 21st century, they don't have a clue as to what they're missing. 

Say What? [] 12:06:55 PM  Permalink  

 

Sara Krulwich/The New York Times

Celebrating the Vision of Merce Cunningham (NY Times)

" dance gives one nothing concrete in return, to paraphrase one of his most famous comments, only the pleasure of doing and seeing it. His dances are like small and large worlds whose mysterious daily events unfold in real time on the stage, with the viewer welcome to enter and explore without a map."

I am so grateful that Ann took me to see the Cunningham Company all those years ago.  If you don't approach this sort of thing with a completely open mind, with all preconceptions of what is and what should be put aside, you just won't get it.  But if you let go of all of that, the work of great choreographers can enrich your life in ways that no other art form can.  Thank you Ann.  Thank you Merce.

Say What? [] 12:27:44 PM  Permalink  

Drought drives rats to roam Beverly Hills! (CNN)

Arrgghhh!!!!!! Run away! Run away! -- hey, it takes one to know one.

Say What? [] 9:00:45 AM  Permalink  

The Hardest Working Back Catalogue in Show Business!  (The New Yorker)

Hit me! Good review of James Brown's often confusing catalog. If you can only get one (well, besides the '63 Apollo show) , get "Star Time."

Say What? [] 4:56:34 PM  Permalink  

According to Dave Marsh, a source I completly trust, Alan Lomax wasn't exactly a great, selfless champion of obscure blues music afterall. Oh well, another illusion bites the dust.

Say What? [] 11:50:50 AM  Permalink  

Joe Conason's Journal. How WorldCom woes were laid out last year -- but dismissed by a Republican judge with deep ties to the party. [Salon.com]
Say What? [] 11:38:16 AM  Permalink  

Ballad Honors Taliban John.

Now this takes guts. Steve Earle has, according to Fox News (aka the Republican Broadcasting Network), recorded a song praising John Walker Lindh. I'm a fan of Steve Earle, but this does seem a little extreme.

The controversial ballad called "John Walker's Blues" is backed by the chanting of Arabic prayers and praises Allah.

Earle's lyrics describe the United States as "the land of the infidel." Those fighting Usama bin Laden's declared jihad against the United States and Jews are said to have hearts "pure and strong."

The song says when Lindh dies, he will "rise up to the sky like Jesus."

Well, we gotta see. I saw a rerun of Steve on Sessions the other night, with the Del McCoury band. He was terrific.

 The Lindh ballad is on Earle's forthcoming album "Jerusalem," which contains other songs that touch on political and social issues, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Earle is currently in Europe and could not be reached for comment. But he told an audience at the Mariposa Folk Festival in Ontario, Canada, this month: "This song just may get me f---ing deported."

Music-industry heavyweights are already expressing outrage over the controversial song, and many predict it will be banned from the majority of radio playlists when it is released in late September.

[RobotWisdom] via [Steve's No Direction Home Page]

Boy - and I always thought Dylan's George Jackson song was dumb. It'll sound like "America The Beautiful" next to this.

Say What? [] 11:44:43 PM  Permalink  

Love is in the air
Hard-luck '60s band making big comeback (SF Chronicle)

Now this is something I didn't expect. I was really into their first album in highschool. James Sullivan has written a very funny article about the most recent comeback of Arthur Lee. (kind of a West Coast Lou Reed)

Say What? [] 2:46:58 PM  Permalink  

For something completely different...

Floating Body Turns Out To Be Sleeping Woman (SF Chronicle)

Book 'em Dano!

Say What? [] 2:24:07 PM  Permalink  

Members of Congress To Hold Press Conference In Support Of Medical Marijuana [Marijuana.Com]

Hats off to Reps. Barney Frank (D-MA) and Ron Paul (R-TX). [Steve's No Direction Home Page]

If Steve couldn't read so much, so fast, of the right stuff, I never would've seen this.  There was a period of a few years, when the only thing that reduced my spasticity enough for me (and Ann) to get some sleep, was a few hits on the sacred pipe.  To be fair, I've needed something a lot stronger for pain.  Namely morphine.  But for spasticity, there's nothing like a harvest from Humboldt County.

Thankfully, I haven't needed anything for nausea.  Hopefully, I never well.  But it's not at all impossible and may be closer than I think.  Do I expect the Feds to ever back off?  No.  Fortunately, I don't need them.  But there are so many others who don't know who to go to or where to go.  It's downright mean.

 

Say What? [] 1:51:19 PM  Permalink  

The Jazz Wife: Muse and Manager (NY Times) - Come on guys, give it up.

Say What? [] 1:10:03 PM  Permalink  

The Other Dolly Parton (NY Times) - "Ms. Parton just released her 72nd album, "Halos and Horns" (Sugar Hill), which she produced herself. Like her last three records, it is steeped in bluegrass and reflects her mountain roots."

I've got "The Grass Is Blue." It's wonderful. I guess she figures that she's earned the right to do whatever she damn well pleases. 

Say What? [] 4:38:42 PM  Permalink  

Musicologist Alan Lomax Dies (NY Times)

"Alan Lomax, the celebrated musicologist who helped preserve America's and the world's heritage by making thousands of recordings of folk, blues and jazz musicians from the 1930s onward, died Friday. He was 87."

This is a great, great loss. His contribution (and his father's before him) to authentic music can't ever be overstated. His gift to humanity was profound. Don't miss the official web site.

Say What? [] 5:40:06 PM  Permalink  

Throw Them Away!.

Jaguaro.org gives you the list of the 100 CDs/tapes/albums you should throw away. :)  [The .NET Guy] [Steve's No Direction Home Page]

I've only looked at the first 25 so far. Agree or not, this is a fucking riot!

Say What? [] 2:05:38 PM  Permalink  

Gadfly has had to stop production for lack of money, so I've removed the link from the left side of the screen.  I hope they can come back. Over the last year, so much good independent journalism has gone the way of the dodo.  It really sucks.

Say What? [] 12:07:49 PM  Permalink  

There's a hat trick of good shit in today's Boston Phoenix:

* Solomon Burke hits a new peak

ooooohhhhhh - i'm really lookin' forward to this one.

* The Byrds and the Dead do Dylan

as far as Dylan covers go, it doesn't get better than this.  On that Dead collection, I prefer the songs that Jerry sings. the playing, of course, is killer all the way around.

* Robert Plant - DREAMLAND

I've been listenin' to this one a lot lately.  It's really a good album, and will be in heavy rotation around here for a while.

Say What? [] 10:00:09 AM  Permalink  

Tears of rage  [InfoWorld via Expecting Rain] --- I really admire this piece. Somehow, Steve Gillmor weaves an obituary for a brilliant, troubled young man with the creative process of Dylan and The Band in the basement of Big Pink, among other riffs, and uses it all in service of his main theme regarding the idiotic controversy over MP3s, etc..

Say What? [] 11:30:45 PM  Permalink  

We've just returned from a sacred, fun-filled, hidden place.  First, a little catch-up --

I've known for some time, through our dear friend, Frank Ostaseski, that Philip Whalen was terminally ill.  But I only learned last week, while on the mountain, that he had died.  And so I went backwards and found this obituary:

Philip Whalen -- co-founder of Beat poetry

I didn't start reading Whalen until my 30s, but Snyder and Kerouac are a different story.  They, and the rest of their clan, have been important to me since high school.  Ann just gave me the book you see below for our 27th anniversary.

for teaching me every day that I am not my disease, I love her.

 

And while we're at it, have a glance at Zig Zag Zen: Buddhism and Psychedelics.

Say What? [] 10:10:44 AM  Permalink  

We're out the door until Sunday. Until then, have fun with The Covers Project.
Say What? [] 2:16:03 PM  Permalink  

"Songs for Swingin' Lovers"  (salon)

I'm grateful to Charles Taylor for this gorgeous, swingin' piece on one of Sinatra's many mid-fifties masterpieces. I've got many of the mentioned CDs, and this reminded me of just how great they are. I'm definitely gonna revisit them. "And stars fractured Bam-ma! last night" - yeah, baby!

Say What? [] 9:59:16 PM  Permalink  

      WOW!

The Bishop of Soul returns (Rock's Back Pages)

 

Janis Ian on Downloading. Courageous article by Janis Ian puncturing the music industry hysteria surrounding free music downloading. Excellent stuff, must reading for anyone who cares about the future of the interent. I see it has multiple links in my news sources, but want to make sure I highlight it too. [Steve's No Direction Home Page]

Right On!

Say What? [] 11:47:09 AM  Permalink  

Maharishi promises to raise anti-terrorist meditation army [bOing bOing]

I gave at the ashram.

Say What? [] 1:19:14 PM  Permalink  

Free Prozac in the Junk Mail Draws a Lawsuit. A Florida woman who received an unsolicited sample of Prozac has filed a lawsuit that raises questions about the use of medical records for marketing purposes. By Adam Liptak. [New York Times: Health]

I heard about this yesterday on the news and was stunned, dumbfounded, fit to be tied. If you missed it, check it out. Incredible!

Say What? [] 1:17:58 PM  Permalink  

Ted Williams, Baseball's Last .400 Hitter, Is Dead at 83 (NY Times)

It mighta been before my time, but as a kid who played ball in the 50's and early 60's, the exploits of legendary sports heroes like Williams were the lifeblood of my dreams, the flash of heat lightning on a humid east coast summer night.

Say What? [] 11:29:16 AM  Permalink  

New  Frontier (got to open the gate) somewhere in west Texas 1979

(Peter Macchia)

Say What? [] 11:31:22 PM  Permalink  

"I'm a leaf on a windy day. Pretty soon I'll be blown away."                                                                                                          Brian Wilson

I'm skating on thin ice, boys. Meditating in a graveyard. Walkin' a black dog by the shores of an oily sea.

I just got back from the hospital, again, after another bout with sepsis (a serious, severe illness caused by infection of the bloodstream.)

Don't talk to me about Independence Day. I ain't had an independent day in years.

Say What? [] 3:47:43 PM  Permalink  

Jazz bassist Ray Brown dies on tour at 75 (CNN)

Say What? [] 1:07:35 PM  Permalink