Musical Youth

Since I've been accused of being unfailingly bleak in my world view, I thought maybe I should attempt a post of whimsy and humor.

....but since I suck at whimsy and humor, I'm outsourcing it to the whackjobs at Improv Everywhere.

The folks who brought the Big Freeze to Grand Central Station....

...  also Rocked the Food Court:

I don't need a napkin, thank you.

Where in the World was Billy Pilgrim?

Not unstuck in time; unfortunately.

It seems my absence irritated 'Dorable Grillfriend more than anything I've ever written.  Good to know.

So, in honor of Mr. Snag and his Interminable Unbearable Trip, here is a list of things I/we've seen over the past few days:

• Harlem
• on the stage of the Apollo
• UN Headquarters
• The Belasco Theater (Passing Strange)
• Virgil's Barbecue
• John's Pizzeria
• The Hilton Theater (Young Frankenstein)
• The Players
• The Palace Theater (Legally Blonde)
• A chili dog made with a Usinger's wurst and vegetarian chili (?)
• A cheese/ chili dog off a street corner near Ground Zero.
• Times Square
• The Lunt/Fontanne Theater  (Little Mermaid)
• Chinatown (a buddhist temple)
• Little Italy
• Central Park
• TADA! Youth theater
• The Dakota
• MoMA
• Empire State Building (86th Floor)
• Apple Store 
• The Rock

ALSO:  Soylent Green M&Ms.

AG may be able to find enough time to post during HER vacations, but we left every day at 8 AM and got back after 11.  And the room wi-fi was 10 bucks a day.  I love all you imaginary digital friends, but we're talking cash here.  If I could bill it to Snag's expense account, maybe.

And yes, one of the youngsters in that photo up there bears my DNA.  Poor kid.

The Great destroyer

Friday FuzzNozzle Blogging:

Lucifer rests before destroying the interloper.

Pride

"First, I do want to thank the Chairman of this Council, John Burke. His business is to make mountain bikes, Trek mountain bikes. (Laughter.) I use Trek mountain bikes. (Laughter.) That's not why he's the Chairman. (Laughter.) But I like to exercise a lot. And I hope my fellow citizens learn to love exercise as well. It's good for your mind, exercise is good for your body, and it's good for your soul. If you ride mountain bikes, make sure you keep your eyes on the road -- (laughter) -- because sometimes you can go over the handlebars -- (laughter) -- which I have done."

If he didn't control so much destructive power and have such an obvious malicious, sadistic streak, the rest of the world would just be laughing at us.

Subdivisions

My professional office is on the southern end of Third Street. Third isn't all that long; it's bounded south by Wisconsin Avenue and kind of blends into another street on the North.

Between, it's history is as a thriving commercial street, often called Milwaukee's other Downtown; at least it was for a fair bit of last century. In fact, I have a personal link; my wife's relatives operated a hardware store somewhere along there in the first part of last century.

It also became the center of social and commercial life for the African-American community. It was called Bronzeville, and thrived until the misguided and savage urban renewal programs of the sixties came along and drove freeway spurs through it, severing the community from other parts of the city and displacing thousands of residents. Since the folks of Bronzeville were politically disenfranchised, it was an.... expedient solution. Not to mention physically reinforcing and crystallizing the existing segregation of the City, resulting in one of the most racially divided cities in the country.

Further exacerbating the problems was the white diaspora, removing millions of dollars of commerce from the community, further impoverishing the area. Money got spent where the white folks were. It became known as 'one of the bad areas' in town, and was written off as Inner City Blight. All of this mere minutes away from the center of commercial activity in the region.

But; regardless of what people think, everything changes; in recent years, the northern portion of 3rd street was renamed Martin Luther King Drive, and economic development has started to resume, spurred in part, at least, by the previous Mayor of the city demonstrating the fallacy of freeway-oriented development and performing the heresy of demolishing a freeway spur that served as physical separation from downtown. And not coincidentally, opening up fourteen acres of real estate to new development. Not the least of which is the relocation of Manpower headquarters to the area.

It's cool. Watching a City heal itself.

In my own small way, I've participated in the process. Through the work I've been doing on moderate income projects financed through tax credits, a creative partnership of local residents, City and State governments, and private developers with proven results. It's especially effective in the last few years, when Republican hegemony has thrown most cities on their own resources, after the respective states and regions have depleted their economic resources. I'm inordinately pleased with the work we've done in these areas; the effect is nearly immediate and perfectly visible; palpable. This is my city too, and I can't find the heartlessness to ignore fellow residents because they live in a different area or have a different skin color. All of Milwaukee thrives or sinks together; what harms one of us harms us all.



Wednesday, I attended the Grand Opening of our most recent project in the area. It was packed with local and state officials, including our Mayor, and local residents. The Mayor showed late, and had the misfortune of being bumped to speak after a resident of one of the units made her remarks.

Ms. S- was not used to speaking publicly, and had most of her remarks written down. But rather than speaking about her work, as most of the speakers were, she was talking about her life, and the emotion in her voice was plain. She spoke of how living within the new buildings had changed her life, and her family's; even as a single mom she could afford a new, well appointed and safe living unit with good neighbors, in a neighborhood that was rapidly becoming a desirable address. She spoke of her new neighborhood, and how her kids could go outside without fear, and how she now had a home. She spoke of Martin Luther King Junior. She thanked us all for the efforts that aided in her journey of self-reliance. She spoke of unity.  Of Hope.  The applause for her brief speech was sustained and enthusiastic.

The Mayor didn't stand a chance.

I was reminded once again of why I do this, and put up with the hell I receive from clients, contractors, and inspectors.

Thank You, Ms. S-. This Friday Random is all for you.

1. Puked to High Heaven from the album "The Secondman's Middle Stand" by Mike Watt this is what I do when I see the damage done by our American addiction to the Holy Auto.
2. The Musical Box (Closing Section) from the album "Seconds Out" by Genesis..... got nothing.
3. Race With The Devil from the album "Runaway Boys: A Retrospective '81-'92" by Stray Cats
4. Same Old Story from the album "SKA The Third Wave-Volume 2" by Downbeat Rulers. White folks playing ploitics with the lives of the poor and minorities.
5. Kind & Generous from the album "Ophelia" by Natalie Merchant Which is how the black community has responded to their own.
6. Pebbles & Weeds from the album "Whatever´s Cool With Me" by Dinosaur Jr What had been left, and are now being plowed under for new houses and businesses.
7. It's All Been Done from the album "Stunt" by Barenaked Ladies
8. raquel from the album "Something's wrong" by Violent Femmes
9. House Of Cards from the album "In Rainbows" by Radiohead The built environment in America is predicated on an unsupportable system; cheap fuel and limitless environment to absorb the detritus.
10. Let Down from the album "OK Computer" by Radiohead Itunes does this sometimes, in a huge pool of songs, puts two together by the same artist. It is sometimes a little creepy, but I enjoy it.

Bonus five for the lovely Ms. S:

11. Angles Don't Cry from the album "Midnight To Midnight" by The Psychedelic Furs
12. House Of Fun from the album "The Business (Disc 2)" by Madness
13. Doe from the album "Pod" by The Breeders
14. Even With My Eyes Closed from the album "Love Among The Ruins" by 10,000 Maniacs
15. I Can't Own Her (Home Demo) from the album "Homespun" by XTC


It may only be Friday morning, but what say we start the weekend a bit early? First round's on me.

Communication Breakdown

Zepelin Rox dood!!!11!!1!

plus, Iron Man.

Reason To Believe

A few months ago, we went to a little hole in the wall bar to see the This Is American Music Tour featuring the Drams and three other midwestern cowpunk bands.  Even though the soundtech was a hack and the PA was shit and the sound was too loud for the little space, we had many beers and the bands got extremely drunk and the evening culminated in a bar-time challenging set of cover encores that featured all the members of all four bands, or at least as many as could fit on the stage, blasting their way through a few well worn songs.

One of the songs they thrashed their way through was 'Born To Run'.  I was 14 when it came out; the age Young Pilgrim is now.  I bought the album in high school, and I believe the vinyl is still in the cases somewhere, in very nearly pristine condition.  You see, I was all about the Metal, and before too long Punk Broke over my sorry head, and well, Bruce Springsteen just seemed to mainstream and too old, you know?

But I'm old now, too; the song, as performed by these drunken bar-band nobodies (at least when compared to The Boss) was oddly and amazingly moving.  The song describes trial and hope and weariness and joy, all together in a story of redemption and hope. Maybe it's getting older, maybe things come around again, maybe the music has always had power and relevance, but I found myself turning to the reissue of Born To Run with a new, more appreciative eye; or ear; whatever.

Supporting a new album with the old E Street band, Springsteen is touring and when a Milwaukee date was announced, I told people that I had bought tickets, to much astonishment.  Maybe astonishment is the wrong word; bemusement?  Confusion?  Out of character, I'd guess.  I told most that it was a show that I thought I should rack up, he had a legendary status as a live act.

But the reality is that I've been finding more and more relevance, solace, and comfort, in his songs, especially his recent stuff like Ghost of Tom Joad and Devils and Dust.  So we went.

It's odd that even without being a compulsive fan, as the band threw themselves into the songs, I could still name most of the members:  Little Stevie, of course; Max Weinberg, Roy Bittan, Nils Lofgren, Clarence Clemons.... all legendary in their own right. As they launched into "No Surrender", the strength, the joyful power of the band and the music overwhelmed me.  Redemption.

During the show, one of the slower periods, he brought out a guest musician:  Richard Davis, a bass player from Madison who played on the original BTR album, to play Meeting Across The River.  Springsteen said he hadn't seen Davis in 30 years, but they played like they had been practicing for months, and when the song ended, embraced with real affection.... and real respect for each other as musicians who shared the commonality of that work they did together, but even more - the commonality of music. One a smart-aleck New Jersey kid who became a rock legend, and the other a black jazz artist who became an academic in the midwest.

Today, Barack Obama made a speech on race; a speech that was the most frank, straightforward public remarks on race I've ever heard.  Hell, as the Rude Pundit said, "...the straightest talk...from a presidential candidate... in (my) lifetime."  The speech was direct without being accusatory or defensive, and yes, ultimately hopeful.  Maybe, even, redemptive.  But more, even more, it provided a foundation, a common platform for decent people of good intentions to begin a long overdue discussion on race relations and how to... heal. 

But watching Bruce Springsteen with his band, with Clarence Clemons and Davis, I remembered many years ago when we'd spend Sunday nights in a predominantly black jazz club watching jam session night, and there were nothing but musicians on stage....  the common ground of music has always been there.  Divides between white and black music, punk, rock, rap have always been the province of record company weasels; musicians don't see those pigeonholes.   Aerosmith played with Run-DMC; Elvis Costello recorded with Allen Toussaint.  Obama's speech was timely, necessary even; but for people who've been able to find common ground, the sentiment may be largely "why did it take everyone else so long?"

Springsteen's music is wrapped up in common ground.  A couple of times during the show, he talked about the nightmare of the last eight years.  But as they ended with an amazing, rousing and jig-inflected "American Land",  only the most wingnutty of wingnuts would have dared to accuse him of hating America, even as he expressed and demonstrated the sentiments and ideals of the Dirty Fucking Hippies.  It's a trick that Obama has apparently learned.

Springsteen and his band ended with a six song encore built around the seminal Born To Run.  The song was brilliant, joyous... redemptive.  The sound of the nine member band roared through the biggest barn in the region, and even though playing the song for the umpty-thousandth time, Bruce (can I call him Bruce now?) still showed the joy of playing as if he was singing the song about himself; after two hours, it could still inspire him to wring every last ounce of energy from his aging body and the band followed him fearlessly.  Redemption.

But you know?  I think maybe those drunken bar-band musicians on that tiny stage in that dive bar in Bayview captured the reality of the song more than possible for Springsteen anymore; playing as if hell was outside the door and their guitars were the only things they owned.  Characters in a thirty year old song were one thing; this was their life.  Redemption indeed; every night, and get back in the van.

Scarred But Smarter

Zelmo and I went drinking last night. Many beers of high potency were had, and the problems of the world solved. Pity we can't remember any of the solutions today, but that's how it goes.

of course, we talked politics.  Of course!  And we discussed our Democratic primary, and who we voted for.  I expressed my support for both candidates in the early days; but like Keith Olbermann, I've been more than disappointed with the Clinton campaign's inability in recent weeks to keep their fuckin eyes on the real opponents.

And as usual, Driftglass puts it all down so much more clearly and succinctly and powerfully than I can.  Zelmo, go read this and pretend this was what I said last night.

Like David Byrne, I'm quite willing to steal from work I like.

Words From Heaven

1 Oh hai. In teh beginnin Ceiling Cat maded teh skiez An da Urfs, but he did not eated dem.
2 Da Urfs no had shapez An haded dark face, An Ceiling Cat rode invisible bike over teh waterz.
3 At start, no has lyte. An Ceiling Cat sayz, i can haz lite? An lite wuz. 4 An Ceiling Cat sawed teh lite, to seez stuffs, An splitted teh lite from dark but taht wuz ok cuz kittehs can see in teh dark An not tripz over nethin.5 An Ceiling Cat sayed light Day An dark no Day. It were FURST!!!1

LOLBible.  The word made furry.

Those Anarcho Punks Are Mysterious...

Round some parts of the Internets, many like to refer you to a fine writer with a heartfelt "What Digby Said"....

round some parts.  But not here.

I love Digby; but round this little cesspit, we roll a little differently:

Driftglass.

The birds in the trees came down and landed in her hair...

There's a Ringing in My Ears That's Heaven Sent....

Noisy.

A thought struck me last night:  There are probably few jobs that are more thankless than being Bob Mould's keyboard player.

Clean Steve

After all that crap on the previous post, you, like me, may need to do a little clean up on your computer.

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

Stumpfucking nimrod Democrats.

If there was a real opposition party, I would SO be an ex-Democrat.

And I mean that in the kindest possible way to our Phone Cop Overlords.

EDIT:  In this Glorious Twenty First Century, George Bush expects you to say "Thank You" after a violent assfucking.

The Missing Link

Driftglass treats the lies of the Bush administration as the children's fairytale they are.

except his makes sense.

Go read. 

We're Number One!!11!!

...in incarcerations.

a full ONE PERCENT  of Americans in lockup.

Stalin never jailed so many.

ONE IN NINE  black males.

Largely due to the 'three strikes' rules that are statutory, giving judges no flexibility.  Not to mention the insane and largely 'quaint' drug laws that punish non-violent, non-felonious offenders with draconian sentences.

My country makes me so proud sometimes.