on by

We were sitting on our favorite bench yesterday. Mid-afternoon. Watching the clouds drift across the sky, watching the waves crashing into the sandy shore. The beach was deserted, except for a few seagulls, flying low, and a few prancing across the sand.

Two fellows came trekking down the path. They stopped at our bench and handed us the No Kings handbill. We all talked about the big event coming this Saturday. Supposedly there will be around 2500 gatherings throughout the USA. 

Think of it as the sprawling “Beloved Community,” coming out to stand against tyranny. Are we a bunch of paid radicals? Nope. Just concerned citizens. The common folk. It seems the Trumpers are a bit worried about this event. They should be. I do think we will show the world, and America, that there are more of us than them.

We will celebrate the Constitution, Freedom, Democracy, the Rule of Law, Immigrants, Workers, Diversity, Inclusiveness. All walks of Life. Humans of all kinds. This is foundational stuff. Important. Find a local Indivisible gathering and stand up to be counted. This is our America. Let’s reclaim the Dream. – Jammer

on by

We took a break from the madness yesterday, and went to a movie in a beautiful thriving, neighborhood in Chicago, anyone telling you that this fine city is a “war-zone,” or a “hell-hole,” is seriously delusional and lying to you. The streets were alive with folks from all walks of life; all sizes, all genders, all colors, everyone lively, communing, and basking in the energy of a surging humanity, and the glorious October sunshine. 

We went to a mid-afternoon showing of “One Battle After Another,” the new film by the master filmmaker PT Anderson.  Is it a fabulous, engaging, intelligent, beautifully filmed, perfectly-pitched entertainment? Yes, indeed. It was playing at the Music Box Theater, a classic movie-palace which, believe it or not, opened in 1929. It’s been updated and refurbished with comfy seats, a great sound system and the capabilty of showing films in 70mm. Astonishing & good.

The film actually is totally of the moment, it is based on a Thomas Pynchon novel, but it is brought forward into the days and vibes of our new Fascist Dystopia in America. It’s a rollicking action-movie with a sense of humor, grace, bold style & intelligence. A rare good thing.

What is the take away? America is bigger than the Fascist/Racist vision being shoved down our throats by the Trump Administration. We have always had to battle for progress & inclusion. It’s just the way America rolls. The good news, we outnumber these Fascist Fuckers, and their agenda is based on lies, hate, racism and stupidity. 

We shall overcome… – Jammer

on by 2 Comments

Relevant Question. Was the Chilean novelist & poet, Roberto Bolano, Antifa?! Anti-fascist? No doubt. We throw our lot in with Roberto. Last night we played as a trio in Kathy’s Living, a wonderful home & music room. Intimate, gorgeous, perfectly-appointed, welcoming, inspiring. A gathering of the beautiful people, you know the “beloved community” of souls.

We were so lucky to share the night with Lisa Zane. She is a powerhouse, a creative dynamo. She commands a room with every breath & move. She was backed by a tremendously gifted, mysteriously-un-named guitar player. A beautiful wide-ranging set. Songs from their gorgeous record “Mysteries of Spain,” new songs recently recorded with her “flamenco-punk band” Flapunco, and a couple of cool covers; Joni Mitchell, and yes, The Beatles.

Then we did a reading from Roberto Bolano’s “Amulet” (1999).

From our introduction: “Roberto Bolano often wrote about human beings living under a heavy boot.  Sort of an echo, a foreshadowing of  our new American Dystopia.  He emerged as a writer at a time when people  no longer believed in utopias, when paradise had become a sort of living hell. People disappeared off the streets, mothers and fathers taken away in the dark of night, children left to fend themselves.  Of course, as an antidote and response to the cruelty and horror of the authoritarians, there are always the artists, the poets, the storytellers, the musicians, all of us seeking love, wild abandon, living life to the fullest.  Truth-seekers. Truth tellers. Always searching, & remembering”

Sort of a code for better living. We refuse to knuckle under the new American Fascism. Finally our trio did a set. I fumbled at first, playing in the dim light, I could barely see the fretboard, but by the 2nd song I adjusted and the set flowed. Thought we played with power & enthusiasm. Seems much of the audience was truly with us. Lots of new folks who never saw or heard us before. Hopefully we made some new fans.

Yes. It was good one. Reminded us of the importance of community, love, intelligence, spirit. It was all alive in the room with us. Over-powering. The antidote to stupid shit flowing from this new ugly dystopia in Washington D.C. – Jammer

on by

We lean to the Light & to Beauty. Even if there is ugliness in the air. It is essential to keep our heads together. We are lucky. We know so many beautiful, soulful, creative folks. We can easily lose ourselves in the good work of our creative journey & to fill our days with poetry, beauty, joy & fun. It is truly the best of us. We are the antidote and solution to the Fascist Dystopia flowing out of D.C. We think they are weak, ugly corrupt, immoral, whiny, stupid, people. It is a pleasure to turn away from them. They must be defeated. – Jammer

on by 1 Comment

We sat on our favorite bench and watched the waves yesterday, late afternoon. One of our favorite activities, or is it a glorious in-activity? Another perfect Autumn day, blue skies, summer-like temps, a golden fading of the light. Folks were out, swimming, sailing, walking, biking. A little scene of perfection.

We should have been chill and full of peace, love & understanding, but, of course, all is not well in paradise. My partner & I were swirling down a dark tunnel in our minds. Our conversation was all about the raid & brutal assault on the residents in an apartment building on Chicago’s South Shore. The current very corrupt, unwell, President is at war with Blue State America,  with the Big Cities, & with Immigrants. Agents zip-tied little children, moms, dads in a disgusting & immoral raid. We are the kind of people, who believe an assault, an attack on “those people,” is an attack on us too. You know, solidarity with humanity.

Hard to believe this adminstration has decided to make America a fascist, rat-fucking Dystopia. Yes. A dark fascist turn, no doubt. We have lived through bad Presidencies before, especially: Nixon, Reagan, Bush II, but this has gone so bad, so quickly, it is hard to believe, but it is  undoubtably true, this is the New Ugly America, and we are under the thumb of the worst of us. We have a hostile President & Adminstration that is at War with Americans.

We struggled through a conversation. How to keep our heads above water? How to keep calm & carry on when atrocities against our fellow human beings are being carried out by our Government just south of our beautiful vista?

A fellow traveller came riding by on his bike, he stopped at our bench. We exchanged “Hello’s,” and then he talked about the horror that was on his mind too. Funny. It’s was an oddly-uplifting conversation. It was strangely gratifying to know that someone else was also consumed with thoughts & feelings of disgust, dismay, & Helplessness. At least we knew that someone else was Awake too.

Our friend is a father of three children. “What do I tell my kids? I can’t tell them they are fucked, I have to be positive for them.”

Then we reviewed the reality of our collective situation. What to do? March. Protest. Write. Speak up. Alive. Aware. Awake. Be a Witness to the atrocities. And denounce them. And, of course, Vote when & if we can. We all still want to live in the country we grew up in, even if it seems to be vanishing right before our eyes & ears.

Our fellow traveller wished us well, and then he went on his way. We got up from the bench, & walked down the path, wondering to ourselves, what fresh fuckery will be next? And how the hell do we live with it? – Jammer

on by

We were rehearsing yesterday for this upcoming House Concert. Just the three of us (Carla, Michael & I). It’s a quite different thing without the full band backing us. In this combo, the songs are a bit elemental, revealed, stark, the bones & structure of the songs emerge, with just a double-bass, an acoustic guitar, percussion and two voices. But it seems the songs really do stand up on their own.

We started the session reading from Roberto Bolano’s “Amulet.” (1999). A stunning, hallucinatory, gorgeous, touching, inspiring book about “the Mother of All Mexican Poets.” We are thinking of a reading from the text will be a fabulous way to open our set. This will be a very unique concert. Our good friend, Lisa Zane an incredibly talented artist, singer, song-writer will open the evening with a her own unique set. So honored to share the night with her. Hope you can join us. Please RSVP to kathyslivingroom@gmail.com for all the details. – Jammer

on by 1 Comment

“It was a crazy, bad week, in a string of crazy bad weeks. 

First, the righ-wing purveyor of hate speech, Charlie Kirk, was murdered. His killer, Tyler Robinson wrote to his lover: “Some hate can’t be negotiated out.” 

Why did Tyler murder Kirk? ‘One person familiar with the federal investigation said that “thus far, there is no evidence connecting the suspect with any left-wing groups.’‘Every indication so far is that this was one guy who did one really bad thing because he found Kirk’s ideology personally offensive,” this person continued.’

Of course, as a ‘What’s So Funny About Peace, Love & Understanding’ Guy, I abhor the use of violence. I am anti-gun, anti-violence, anti-death penalty. But Kirk was no saint.  He spent most his time attacking Americans that he didn’t like with bad-faith, straw man arguments. He stirred up the hate. But even hate speech is protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution. Still, it is not so surprising that it was hate that struck him down. Chalk his death up to another casualty of hate & the culture of guns.

Then the Trump Government put the squeeze on Disney to silence the talk-show host & comedian Jimmy Kimmel. Clear violation of Free Speech. 

Seems the Kimmel story has swamped the Kirk story. Why? We are so numb to murder. It happens every day in America. But not so numb to taking  our right of Free Speech away. It is foundational to our country. It is an attack on each and every one of us.

The mask has fallen away, the Trump Government has revealed itself in all it’s Fascist, Anti-American glory. The Trump Government has declared war on it’s own citzenry. Democracy is under assault. The rule law is  under assault. Free Speech is under assault.

We have entered a very tricky, dangerous time. One can only hope that cooler heads will prevail. Seems we are at a precipice. The Trump Government is clearly out to fan the flames, to go after anyone who speaks up in oppostition. We must all speak up in opposition. We do outnumber them. And we have a long history here in America of freedom from tyranny. 

I am firmly in the camp of “Anti-facism.” You know, it’s an idea, not an organization. 

Yes. I have my Antifa decoder ring, my Antifa morning cereal, my Antifa rose-colored glasses. Listening to my Antifa soundtrack: Massive Attack, Invaders of the Heart, Tracy Chapman. Where and when is the next Antifa potluck, picnic & confab?! In my Dreams Brothers & Sisters!” – Jammer

on by
Photo by Karen Singer

Yes. whitewolfsonicprincess played a set at Jarvis Square Pottery on Saturday night. It was a maginificent experience in a gorgeous music room. Paul Bick has created, and cultivated, a beautiful, soulful, scene that always inspires. The Lovely Carla Hayden told me the best question of the night was: “Are you guys really Pagans?!” Can’t speak for the rest the band, but as for Carla I, the answer is “Yep.” We lean to the light, worship Nature, swim in the “interconnectedness of all things.” We are determined to sacrifice nothing, except bad vibes. – Jammer