Drink Upstream

I love NPR.

How great is this.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94315732

Austin City Limits - Lineup

Okay, I think most of you have heard me spread the gospel of the ACL Music Festival before, so I won't rehash the old stuff.  The lineup for the festival came out last night, and I have to say, it's a masterful piece of rock 'n roll festival greatness.  Just off the top of my head, I'm thrilled to see:

Bob Dylan
The White Stripes
Wilco
ARCADE 'FREAKIN' FIRE!!!  <--- I got to see them at ACL two years ago, in 104 degree heat, it was quasi religious....
My Morning Jacket
Bloc Party
Arctic Monkeys
Joss Stone
Damien Rice
Robert Earl Keen
Lucinda Williams
Indigo Girls
The Decemberists (Their record last year was one of my favorites....)
Crowded House
LCD Soundsystem
Amos Lee
Ben Kweller
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Reverend Horton Heat
Pete Yorn
Yo La Tengo
Midlake

And those are only the bands I KNOW I want to see...I haven't even begun my pre-ACL "find some cool new bands that are playing" musical scavenger hunt yet! If you've never been, this would be a great year to start.  I'll be there, and you should be too!  It's amazing fun times of joy and greatness.

For the full lineup:
Austin City Limits - Lineup.

The Prodigal Band Returns

Sorry for the long break. I think we've all been pretty busy, but I'm back.

I'm sitting on my couch right now, watching Peral Jam on VH1 Storytellers. If you aren't familiar with it, Storytellers is a show where bands have a chance to talk about their songs and play them. I've never been a fan of the "less talk, more rock" school of thought, so this show is one of my favorites. I love to hear what bands have to say about the songs they wrote, it's an an interesting insight into the creative process.

I've particularly enjoyed hearing Eddie Vedder talk about Pearl Jam songs that I've loved for years. He's always
had a reputation of being overly serious, and sort of aloof, but this show has smashed that image. He's articulate, passionate, political, and funny as hell. Pearl Jam sort of lost me after Vitology (even though Kurt think this is heresey), but with their avocado-laden new record, they are back with the great punk with melody combination that made me fall in love with their music 12 years ago. I'm not sure if I would recommend the album to you "shut up and sing" types out there, although I'm sure you are all familiar with Vedder's avowed liberalism and you've gone out, pouted, and smashed up all of your old Pearl Jam CD's in a gloriously display of the power of the marketplace.

Here's a snippet from the show where Eddie Vedder answers a question about Pearl Jam's policial expression....

Q: How do you feel about having a contengincy of fans having a different ideology than you?

A: I think that we're aware. As someone who's in a band, who, you know, we're sharing music ultimately, I think you have to be very comited to your ideals, because you are risking taking some people out of your equation and turning some people off. We have felt that what's been happening in US History in the last decade is so important, and we should all be part trying to adjust the direction of history, and it's such an important time, that we had to do it, at all costs.

I respect everyone's opinion, actually, if you are way different than us, I respect that. We can only implore that they do their own research and don't live life with blinders on. And if anything else, if they don't agree, maybe we've taken part in creating some kind of discussion.

It's Remarkable....

...that I'm actually NOT in DC, but I'm compelled to listen to tunes about the damn city.

The District Sleeps Alone Tonight

Smeared black ink.
Your palms are sweaty,
and I'm barely listening
to last demands.
I'm staring at the asphalt wondering
"What's buried underneath where I am?"
(Where I am)

I'll wear my badge:
a vinyl sticker with big block letters
adhered to my chest.
It tells your new friends
"I am a visitor here... I am not permanent."
And the only thing keeping me dry is...

You seem so out of context,
in this gaudy apartment complex.
A stranger with your door key,
explaining that I'm just visiting.
And I am finally seeing
why I was the one worth leaving.
(I was the one worth leaving)

D.C. sleeps alone tonight.

(Where I am)
You seem so out of context
in this gaudy apartment complex.
(Where I am)
A stranger with your door key
explaining that I'm just visiting.
(Where I am)
And I am finally seeing
why I was the one worth leaving.
(I was the one worth leaving)

(Where I am)
The District sleeps alone tonight
after the bars turn out their lights.
(Where I am)
And send the autos swerving
into the loneliest evening.
(Where I am)
And I am finally seeing
why I was the one worth leaving.
why I was the one worth leaving.
why I was the one worth leaving.
why I was the one worth leaving.

Let's Hear it for the Dixie Chicks

So it was really only a matter of time before I drudge up this topic (and funny how Drudge was the trigger for this posting).  The Telegraph (big country fans don't you know?) had an article about the Dixie Chicks that I thought brought up a couple of interesting points.

Firstly, the Telegraph writes, "within days, their music vanished from the charts and the airwaves, apoplectic rednecks crushed piles of their CDs with tractors, and the FBI was feverishly monitoring death threats against the trio," of the fans who felt betrayed by their beloved Dixie Chicks.  Leave it to the Telegraph to assume that all Dixie Chick fans are rednecks.  That point aside, the Telegraph writer here obviously views anyone willing to step up and show their disagreement with the political opinions of a this country music act as uneducated, backwoods hicks.  I can't stand when Euro Pseudo-Intellectuals assume that their enlightened opinions give them just cause for pejoratively criticizing those with whom they disagree.  I can't really blame the Dixie Chicks for that kind of thought, so I will keep moving...

More telling was this quote from the Chicks (Natalie Maines of course), "The entire country may disagree with me, but I don't understand the necessity for patriotism. Why do you have to be a patriot? About what? This land is our land? Why? You can like where you live and like your life, but as for loving the whole country… I don't see why people care about patriotism."  I don't know how I feel about this viewpoint.  I certainly support ones' ability to speak freely, and speak his/her mind, but I guess I question why anyone who feels this way would want to remain an American?  There are plenty of countries who would be glad to welcome the Chicks in with arms wide open (and gladly tax their earnings at a much higher rate than found in the US).  Instead the Chicks appear to be content to stay in this land about which they don't feel patriotic (assuming the other Chicks feel the same as Maines).  Did they feel patriotic when they sang the National Anthem at Super Bowl XXXVII, or any of the probable dozens of other times?  Do they feel patriotic when America wins Olympic medals?  Did they feel patriotic when they learned in history class about American involvement in WWII?  I mean, if you really can't ever feel any patriotism for your country, why are you there?  Just to take money from the citizens who will pay for your music?

I think this pretty well sums it up, "A lot of artists cashed in on being against what we said or what we stood for because that was promoting their career, which was a horrible thing to do.  A lot of pandering started going on, and you'd see soldiers and the American flag in every video. It became a sickening display of ultra-patriotism."  What the Chicks just don't understand is that some Americans are passionate about their country, its soldiers and the cause.  They just don't understand how anyone could have this viewpoint, whether it is a citizen, a fan, or a fellow country music artist.  Just because the Red, White and Blue are flying, doesn't mean there is a sinister, greedy reason behind it. 

The Chicks are out of touch with their fan base and many of their peers.  And more interviews like this just continue to emphasize that point.  This is why they are taking their "Not Ready to Make Nice" tour North to our Maple Leaf neighbors. 

For the Day of Pentecost

That's How Things Get Done

by Howe Gelb from 'Sno Angel.

For Ascension Thursday

Nail in the Sky

by Howe Gelb from 'Sno Angel.

playing around with pandora and another russian call...

so i finally got my ass over to pandora to see what that's like.  unfortunately i doubt you guys will be much interested in it... but i'm digging back into the few things "gothy" type that people had suggested to me.

and again, we're doing a desperate call for russia trip people.  i just tried to coerce bill to come along by waving phd programs in front of his face.  so any of you others know anyone who is peacecfully minded or interested in talking about violence, terrorism, and the response of church and state with other young adults from the russian orthodox church, then send them to the peacemaking website for info.  our final FINAL deadline is may 30th, tuesday.

For Easter Sunday

Love Knows No Borders

by Howe Gelb from 'Sno Angel.

For Holy Saturday

Hey Man

by Howe Gelb from 'Sno Angel.