I did some of the music on this movie with David Spelman. I hope everyone goes out and sees it!

Tower Records

I was part of a mass facebook message from Richard Flynn who is the president of Tower Records. He was lamenting how music has become something to dismiss. It doesn't matter now - but at one time songwriters ruled the world. Music was prophetic. Sad that no one buys it anymore. Not just because I make no money - but because music has become something that literally has no value. Wallpaper. The Internet Ocean has gobbled up everything and there it sits, invisible, drowned, boutique, worthless. The only ones who make $ off of it are the ISP's and the computer manufacturers who need to give people a reason to buy their shit besides porn. Music was never something you could hold in your hand but the process of buying it and loving it was very human. I know I know the good and bad reasons, blah blah. Old marketing models versus new models blah blah blah. I just like record stores. There you are in public saying that you actually like this music. You walk to the snotty clerk and put your money where your mouth is. There you are when your friends come over and they see what you spent your goddam money on. It was important. Human. There was a deep story when you bought a record and its all gone. This is what Mr. Flynn said:

"For many of you that have worked with me know, my mission revolves around how to make music enjoyable again to a large audience. Thanks to various “improvements” in the industry music, especially with the younger generations, music is now background, white-noise. The majors only get behind the latest fad – content about an artist and the effort they put behind their art is lost."

Yep. That's about it.

Save KUSF

I understand that universities all over the country are selling their college radio stations for extra funding. These frequencies were given to them for free so that they could serve the communities they are in. But now they are a resource and an embarrassment to a country that is falling into fascism. The millionaires that rule us are smart. They kill the open society by de-funding it. Its like being shot from behind. You can't reason with it - you can't fight back. Like George Wills (the conservative spider) said about the re-election of George Bush; "The Age Of Enlightenment Is Over" He said it with glee. Ha fucking ha.

There is one slim chance to save KUSF and that is to write a letter to the FCC. Because SF is influential perhaps winning this will also encourage other universities to keep their college radio stations. I know only a few read this crap pot blog - but what the hey.


Save KUSF

Kath Bloom at The Henry Miller Library Jan 31 2011

I was in Big Sur anyway to celebrate the glass half full as it were and we saw a poster Kath Bloom was playing. Excitement. We booked another night at the hotel and at 7:30 sharp we were at the Henry Miller Library Highway One in the big dark. I love this place and reserved German guy who seems to run it. I loved that I was able to see Kath Bloom play and it was being recorded and I could be there. The opener was young and had a great smile and a great voice. She had songs about trees and dogs. She was so pleased with herself. No. God bless her but...

Kath Bloom floors me as a songwriter. I loved seeing her live. The story's flowed out of her. She is the kind of performer that even though the songs are dark the whole event is joyous. Every song was a fucking hit. Honestly I was a fan before but to see her perform live was great. I didn’t know it but this was a collaboration and a jamboree and soon gentle young people started to play with her. At first it was cool but she performed 5 of her songs and then the gentle young people took over. A shame. I wish I had drunk from the same koolaid as everyone else because this kind of pissed me off. The band was lead by a young man and they were ok - but when he thanked the the crowd - “especially the people who paid” I thought: Fuck you. I didn't pay 15 bucks to endure inoffensive songs about trees and girls. Kath performed with them and smiled and loved it so bless her perhaps these kids give her new life and that is how that works but my patience ran out when they invited the people recording the event to do their own song (in the spirit of sharing and giving). Kath performed two songs at the end - the first about ‘a little flower’ but managed to make that about murder and the crowd brought her back for a shy and unwilling encore. Gosh I hope these sweet gentle cow-like neo-hippy folk kids bring her into some kind of success so she can play a set of her own songs solo without them. Then I will pay again.