A New Punk-Grunge Legacy

View at 2:07 Lighton Beezer of The Thrown-Ups schools us on Punk and Grunge (by the way Hype! is a wonderful documentary on Seattle History).

It is often stated the Modernest movement died when Pollack died in 1956 in an alcoholic induced car collision with a white picket fence.  I remember thinking punk died in 1994 when Green Day performed at the resurrection of Woodstock. Eddie Vedder announced the death of Grunge in 2000 after seeing 70's pop teen idol Leif Garrett perform with Kurt Cobain's favorite band the Melvins a cover of Smells Like Teen Spirit.


We all have seen the pop culture establishment be taken and then mutate cultist purities as they assimilate them into capitalist conglomerate establishments for the broader market consumption.  In this case it rendered punk rock without its anti-establishment powers and grunge (a product of punk and metal) was left without its "whatever" ironic apathy.  So we are left with albums, bootlegs, t-shirts, you tube, reunion tours and memories.  We all walked away with this mind set that the scene is dead, the industry has taken and spit, polished and packaged our identity, that new "punk" band is a carbon copy at best and doesn't get it at worst. 


Perhaps though, there is a lasting imprint on the musical landscape that has lead to a current feel in the new underground scene.  Something just as edgy, with just as much dignity.  Something that is current and undefinable, but unmistakeably takes a quality from these memories.



Josh Homme and his many projects clearly have maintained the vibe, with a clear influence from the landscape of his western desert roots.



Another California ensemble, Hella, has taken the ball and blown it apart while swinging for the fences.



Tobacco is just one example of a marriage made in controlled chaos when you place punk and grunge aesthetics in a electronica groove.





Baroness birthed out of the humidity and seduction in Savannah, plays to the metal origins and the sympathetic line that Homme took post Grunge.


Some of this lasting landscape change may also be maintained by aesthetically like minded jazz influences initiated during the Post Modernist inception John Cage, and influenced by Mikes Davis, and maintained by John Zorn and friends currently.


The current state of the Rock Underground: While Indy rock has experienced a Phoenix effect highlighted by Pixies reunion tour.  Ska survived a scare in the 90's, but it is still no shame to be a Fishbone soldier.  Like Ska and Indy, despite Korn and Limp Biskit with FNM's reunion tour that undefinable Hip/Hop.Metal/Funk/Clown thing is still going strong.  Mod seems to be best at passing the mic with Morissy and the Cure acting like the Stones and bands like Interpol improving on their predecessors.  Hardcore will always be, as long as Rollins, Biafra, Exain and Buzz Osborn are walking. But Punk has been to embedded in the mainstream.  And sorry Vedder and Cornell, I would take a Cobain resurrection to recuperate Grunge.


Nevertheless, you can find a reverberant throughout the musical landscape...once you put your head to the ground.

You want to live in 1950's Iconic America...you need to tax the rich at 91%

When gold was discovered at Sutter Creek in 1849 an emerging trend in immigration to the US and western migration spurred by the success of this relatively new democracy had a significant uptick. This trend initially peaked in 1890 only dipping slightly during the Civil War.  However, unprecedented immigration was invigorated in at the dawn of the 20th Century.  The freedom of African-American's, the emergence of immigrant ingenuity, western expansion and the stability of our Democracy, paved a way over revolutionary sacrifice, the genius of our founding fathers, the blood, sweet and tears of slaves, immigrants, natives and citizens, through an aptly named American Century.

In 1917 in the middle of WWI the Top Marginal Tax Rate skyrocketed from 15% for people making $2 Million to 67%.  Through 1921, after the war, the rates fluctuated between that and 77%  and $1 Million to $2 Million.  During this period the stock market remained relatively steady as did the average income after a modest gain.  Housing costs continued a decade long sharp decline.

Between 1922 and 24 the Top Marginal Tax Rate dipped a bit to around 50%, and more significantly the rates effect increased among more people, because the rate effected people making above between $200,000 and $500,000.  A steady uptick in the Dow occurred during this time, and average income remained steady as home value increased.

The roaring 20's were synonymous with a rising Dow, Prohibition encouraged speakeasies, bank robbing folk heroes, relaxed economic regulations, and between 1925 and 1931 the Top Marginal Tax Rate plummeted to around 25% for people making $100,000 (a bigger piece of the population pie).  As we all know it literally all came crashing down in 1929, resulting in a significant dip in average income, an unprecedented increase in unemployment, a steady decline in home value and our nations first (and hopefully only) Depression.

Migration virtually stopped, between 1932-1935, as the Top Marginal Tax Rate shot back up to 63%.  While the number it effected plummeted, because it only effected people making over $1 Million again.  In '36-'41, as Hitler and Japan plotted and then executed war plans, it bumped up to around 80%, but only for people making above $5 Million.  During this time the Dow went up and then down modestly.  Average income had a virtually steady increase, as did the housing values.  With the promise of social security and the New Deal a plan was in place to improve the quality of the American life.

In 1942-1947 WWII and the aftermath demanded more sacrifice from a people who had helped engineer a steady modest recovery.  The Top Marginal Tax Rate increased to 88%, but more significantly, it applied to people making $200,000 or more.  The national debt increases by 70% of GDP. A Military Industrial Complex was born and our nations place in the world skyrocketed because of it.  The rest of the world was decimated, and we stepped into a vacuum.  The Dow had a steady sustainable climb.  A modest decrease in average income was experienced and unemployment skyrocketed, because employees were fighting a war, but people rallied making unprecedented sacrifice and unity.  Home values skyrocketed and immigration was again on the rise.

Between 1948 and 1963 a picture of an idealistic environment for middle class white Christian American's emerged.  Despite the Cold War, the Korean War, the CIA laying down ground work that would lead to inspiring terrorists in the middle east, and McCarthyism inspired oppressions of freedoms of thought and expression granted by the constitution, the iconic picture of America emerged.  The Kennedy dynasty has its pinnacle and transitional moment. In part due to newly found American ingenuity, the GI Bill and stabilizing forces of Union Membership.  In contemporary political terms it reflects the impression we have of what the Right envisions as the America they want to live in.  During this time The National Debt declines by 70% paid by the Top Marginal Tax Rate remained between 82% and 92%, with it maintaining at 91% for more then a decade.  This also effected people making just $400,000 and above.  Modest fluctuation in housing values occurred, while the Dow continued its steady trend up along with the income of average American's.  Unemployment did fluctuate between 2% and 7% while immigration continued a modest trend upwards.

Between 1964 and 1981 the  Top Marginal Tax Rate dipped a bit to around 70%, but for a wider range of people at the $200,000 and above level.  This period marked a painful cultural change that obliterated our picturesque post WWII reality.  So called Dixiecrat transitioned over to the Republican party, spurned by a truly grassroots civil rights movement, as well as, socialized medicine for elderly and the poor.  Nostalgic for war and with growing mistrust for Communism in the wake of the Cuban Missal Crisis and the emergence of a "Red"China we entered unwisely into the Vietnam Conflict.  Resulting in a lost generation of youth, but a new peace and youth movement that redefined the left in America.  The recovery from the Vietnam and the same of the Nixon era gave birth to a new radical extreme in the punk rock movement and black power on the left and a more fearful extreme sentiment in the "silent majority"of Christian Middle Class Whites.  During this period the Gross Domestic Product went from $500 Billion to over $2 Trillion while the Dow seemed to plateau. Average incomes moved up and down, while Paradoxically going no ware.  Housing stagnated, but remained affordable.  In fact this period would mark the last time average families could pay there bills and save for their future without significant home, health care, credit card of educational debt.  Despite a higher fluctuating unemployment rate, immigration continued to rise.  Carter as President warned of our excesses of consumption, moral and ethical erosion, all values that helped us achieve glory during WWII and were crucial in our three decades of economic success and stability.  But for these 15 years, we seemed to not realize we had it so good.

The result; Regan, the ending Cold War, but also decline of an affordable sustainable living in America.  '82-'86 the Top Marginal Tax Rate dipped to 50% for the first time effecting people making $85,000 (although most of the time it was around $160,000).  GDP reached 4.7 Trillion, the Dow past 1000, while Average incomes dipped and then went back up to the previous level, housing value had the inverse pattern.  Unemployment was above 10% during this period, but then had a steady decline, which coincided with an unprecedented decline in Union jobs.  Immigration spiked, almost reaching that centuries first decade.  Regan was a skilled communicator that was able to make you feel proud of a progress that other then Nuclear disarmament, was simply a illusion.  The Plutonamy was afoot, and the same people that pined for the America they remembered, "the silent majority, were voting and protesting against policy that would insure their own interests and vision of America.

'87-'92  Regan exited and Bush I enters.  Like the Kennedy's the Bush's have been part of the elite in controlling our nation for over 100 years.  So in order to improve the bank accounts of his friends and family the Top Marginal Tax Rate dips to 28% for the first time since events like this lead to a great depression.  To maintain revenue, that is of course ends up paying for the first gulf war, the people that pay this this tax rate is lowered to unprecedented levels of $30,000 dollars or above.  All the suddenly middle America is paying the  Top Marginal Tax Rate for the first time.  A steady decline in average income continues as unemployment spikes again.  But no bother, GDP is at 6 Trillion.

So then Bubba brought us "it's the economy stupid." And Moderate/Liberal Democrats shed their label and played the role of economic conservative.  The Top Marginal Rate bumped modestly up to almost 40% in 1993 and in 1994 the people who paid this jumped up to $250,000 or above.  By the end of his term it steadily grew to just below people who $300,000 or above.  The national debt decreased over 10% of GDP, which rose to 9 million.  Unemployment dropped below 4% for the first time since 1970. The Dow also reached 10,000 during this period and average personal income reached record levels.  Immigrants and their descendants since 1970 now equaled the population of people born in the US and their descendants since 1970. Home value did drop and then stabilized, but despite the value of an average paycheck could not get you even close to basic necessities when compared with the 50's-70's. 

As scandal broke out in the Clinton White House, people in the white house, who are key players in the Plutonamy relaxed regularity reform, creating an environment that created credit derivatives ect..., setting up the possibility for the economic rescission, orchestrated during the Bush II years, after an untransportable, and possibly unconstitutional election, that was decided by the supreme court, despite a clear majority of American's having voted for the other candidate.  From 2000 to 2008 the downward debt trend left Bush II with an inherited federal budgetary surplus.  Yes the tec bubble crashed and 9/11 occurred, but an opportunity for unity was squandered in favor of the Plutonamy.  The Top Marginal Rate dropped to 35%, and the income level continued its steady upward trend above $300,000.  While a 25% rate remained for $85,000 and a 33% for $200,000.  In part because of a convincing argument to fight a war in Afghanistan, and even more so because of a misleading argument to fight a war in Iraq the national debt grew by 20% of GDP which grew to over 14 Trillion.  The Iraq war cost us 3 Trillion dollars so far. After the tec bubble crashed the Dow made steady gains spurred by mortgage back securities and credit default swaps that where the product of a housing bubble.  This occurred because of continual efforts after the Clinton by Bush II to continue loosening regulation.  In 2008 it all came to a head (as we all know) with both an end to the unprecedented home values, crashing and Wall Street collapsing worse then in the 80's and almost as bad as 1929.  Bush II began taking unprecedented actions that were contrary to his political beliefs and the beliefs of his appointees in charge of over seeing our economy in the government, all members of the Plutonamy elite.  He had already created an unprecedented big government through his military policy and government debt, but now he was taking unprecedented bailouts and government take overs of banking and wall street.  Unemployment began to rise as average incomes fell. The Dow drops from 13,000 to 7,000.

In steps Obama.  He takes the Bush II solution mid stream and continues the policy, while making it more efficient, but not pushing it as far, or executing it as effectively as some thought necessary.  Unemployment, a lagging indicator, rises above 10%, it now is at 9.7% (and most economist see it staying here for a while, although there has been a resent trend of job growth).  As I write this the national debt is 12.7 Trillion  When Bush II entered office the national debt was in decline at $5,727,776,738,304.64.  When he left office it was $10,626,877,048,913.08. The Obama/Bush II bailout has increased the debt rate Bush II had already made increased the Bush rate by 2 and a half times.  The effort to stabilize the economy cost 2.8 Trillion dollars. The housing market has stopped plummeting.  The Dow is above 11,000 now.  GDP has begun growing again.  Obama and Bush's efforts have done what it set out to do.  Stabilizes the economy.  Newsweek just wrote an article on how America's Back (now they did also have a cover claiming Victory at last in Iraq...and we are still there), but this is a queasy proclamation.  My skepticism remains because the same people that created this environment during the Clinton years and the ones that failed to recognize the problem during the Bush II years are with two exceptions the ones advising the President on economic policy.  Fredrik Zakaria wrote a few years ago about America's ability to rise to the occasion in a crisis, but that we lack the will to plan well for the future, even if it is known.  This is one of those moments.  We are making it through our unique set of skills as a country, leading the way for the world.  But it is not perfect and we may miss on opportunities to fix things now, that would benefit our stability in the future.  A future that will include a dwarfing immigration effect, that requires a path to citizenship, so we can collect their taxes.  I wanted to like Ron Paul's view of no IRS...but I just can't find secondary evidence of the IRS's unconstitutionality, and I don't see it as something that has harmed the average American, accept when some rich Plutonamy member gets in power and bails out his buddies.

Obama insists he plans on moving toward a sustainable budget (I would push for a balanced budget...a pay-go) and reducing the deficit (a must).  I would suggest politically Obama must make concrete steps to reducing the budget and the deficit by the summer of 2011.  I would end the policy of keeping the military budget off the table.  With what we budget for the military every year, we could feed every child in the world for 5 years.  That alone could be our defense.  But I still think a smaller, smarter military is needed.  One that improves the quality of our intelligence and cyber security, but decreases our role in manipulating foreign governments.  One that changes the good offense is a good defense to a good defense is a good defense, with smart intelligence and diplomacy, as well as, reduces our budget.  We are projected to spend $100 billion on education this year (the key to equality in opportunity, freedom in a democracy, American ingenuity, social, cultural, values, health, ethical and moral efforts and our economic future), $500 Billion on the treasury (including interest on our debt), over $700 billion on our military, and almost $800 billion on Health and Human Services (which is why we implemented a new health care policy that will reduce the deficit, increase efficiency...but the law does not address changes in provider compensation, it does not cover everyone, it does not provide a strong alternative insurance while it creates a health care insurance mandate and it does not adequately address social security, medicaid and medicare budgetary issues...despite all that it is better and less expensive then before, in part because it is a Republican plan...even though they don't remember that).  If these issues are not addressed then eliminating all ear marks, and cutting all other government budgets in half will only add up to $400 billion in savings.  But taking action before the summer of 2011 could jeopardize new found economic stability.

What can and should be extracted here, is the 1950's America that the Republican's, Christian Conservatives and Fiscal Conservatives want (all on the Right), requires a substantial sacrifice in Taxes from people making over $400,000.  A tax rate of 91% will do it.  I am in full agreement that large businesses should have a lower rate then this, but it should be conditional on keeping American jobs and utilizing American small businesses, which are the backbone of our nation.  Businesses should not maintain monopolies and banks should not be to big to fail. Banks must raise thetr capital %.  Wall Street, Banking, The Treasury, the Fed and Real-estate need independent regulatory commissions that cannot share personnel with these industries and provide competitive wadges with these industries.  There should be clear transparent reforms in place, and the reforms that existed pre 1997 should be reinstated.  The first area that Republicans should work on reducing budgetary is our military.

The Democrats, Liberals, progressives should consed that a balanced budget (pay go) is necessary and they should work to accomplish this by reducing health and human resources experiences.  I think they basically agree with this.  I would suggest keeping housing and energy stipends and food stamps.  Raising taxes to meet social security benefits.  Continuing reform on heal care as I suggested above.  But eliminating completely unemployment pay.  If we improve the efficiency, quality and access of medical care along with education we will be able to address all the basic needs and reduce the budget.  Most of all they need to stop playing the Republicans slim-ball games, but take from the Republican's what they do best, grow a pare and get 'er done.  Who cares if you get reelected, as long as you did the job while you were there.

You may take issues with my version of history (and yes some of this has been inflammatory...I am still mad as a Tea Party'er), but trust me, there are some good ideas here. I think there are people in all camps who see these as reasonable options...or at least good hard choices.  But if you aren't looking at the big picture, you are not going to get things done.  We have bigger issues to deal with, like global warming, our energy policy ect...but these too play a role in all of this.  There should be a comprehensive approach.  One that is politically viable, but if Democrats can't be strong and ethical and Republican's cannot get over themselves and be honest brokers of good ideas...well we will remain remarkably successful in maintaining a level of fear that clouds our progress in all areas, but the ones that will save values, ethics, morals and the planet.

Post Script:  I was listening to two stories today, one from a source I find reliable...NPR and one I don't Howie Car.  On both I was introduced to Tea Party activist: One who has lost his contracting business and been severely effected by the housing bubble crash...I totally get this...it almost killed my mom's architecture business.  The second is a former representative of NH, who set term limits on himself.  I totally get where these two men are coming from.  I am just as angry, at just about the same things.  I think the media across the political spectrum has failed.  The fact that there is a political spectrum is a failure.  One characterizes Tea Parties as the extremely crazy right.  The other takes credit for inspiring...it is just as bad as Washington's take on them.  Republican's thinking they created this movement, Democrats seeing them as the Republican base on steroids.  It doesn't help having Sarah Pailin at your rally, but if you are to trust the polls (I don't)...Tea Partiers think she is unfit to run for office.  But these two men believe as I do, that the system is broken.  And I for one support an effort to improve the tax code, we should reduce entitlements, we need to have a pay-go system, we need to end the new bubble before it pops (our national debt), and most importantly we NEED term limits.  The difference between me and the first guy is he was not paying attention till it effected him.  And the difference between me and the second guy is I don't blame Obama...he is trying to make a smarter, smaller government...but he has sucky tools and people to work with.  I don't see the health care bill as the problem (despite that I am sure both these men see it as the icon of the issue).  Again my problem with it is that Washington failed to fully inform itself and remove special interests.  Republican's failed to be honest partners in the process and we ended up with a surprisingly good bill, that leaves everyone feeling pissed off, but not at the right things, like the fact that the bill doesn't fix all the problem more correctly...their just mad at the process and the price tag...despite is reducing our debt.  But if we want a better future, we need to decide to both reduce spending and raise taxes for those who can afford it.  Otherwise we are doomed to fail, despite our American resilience.

Project Runway Looses its Way

Not since Jason Jones (now of the Daily show, husband of fellow corespondent the brilliantly ballsy Samantha Bee) and Craft Corner Death Match has there been a better opportunity on television to witness the artistic process, then on Bravo and now Lifetimes Project Runway(perhaps its tied with So You Think You Can Dance?).  I use to defend this "reality" TV valiantly.  No more, I say, no more.  It will switch over to that category and growing group of shows I watch out of idiotic tradition and mindless meditation (along with Survivor, Big Brother, The Real World, RW/RR Challenge, American Idol ect...).  I watch these in guilt and/or protest.

There have always been times where I have disagreed with the panel of judges.  I have often looked at the work being made and wondered, why is that person still around, or why isn't this person still here.  But there is almost always one or two contestants and at least one judge (the Simon) who I have faith in making sense.  Then the show moved to LA (I thought it would be refreshing) and the most talented designer won (but I hated her attitude).  Two of the regular judges were not regular do to scheduling (which I guess was the over all issue) and suddenly I found myself feeling like I did about the last season of So You Think You Can Dance? (which now hangs on as the only show worth watching for artistic process...but it to is frustratingly falling apart).

So the show regrouped and returned to NYC.  All the principle players were back and the schedule was working...but somehow the show had become a hot mess and even Tim Gunn (you have seen him in Marvel Comics Milly the Model) could not "Make it Work" (I use this phrasing with my students...it works).

In fact the show became offensive to artist/art teachers and to women, their principle audience out side of some gay circles (I would say they were sportive of our offense).

The most mind blowing example of stupidity on the shows part was airing a guest judge in critiquing an Designer from Oakland say, "I don't think orange and blue are very complimentary colors.  Do you?"  The other judges (all regulars) respond, "No," in unison.  Was this a case of east coast or cultural bias.? Well, NO.  This is a case of a judge of art and design not understanding color theory and the color wheel...something we learn in grad school, middle school, high school and college.  This is a basic lesson that illustrates how dumb these people are.  BLUE and ORANGE by definition ARE COMPLIMENTARY.  On top of it this palette and design which landed the designer in the bottom two was a very contemporary, palatable in almost all areas of the design world...apparently outside of fashion.

However intellectually offensive that was, it was nothing compared to the three-time champion (in other word at least in three different episodes this propaganda was spewed), the anti-big butt argument.  It culminated in last episode, with principle offender Micheal Corse (who I normally really admire) saying, "No women on the planet would want their butt to look bigger."  On a previous episode a designer actually went home for this offense specifically.  I am here to testify, Sir Mix A Lot is not the only one who likes big butts.  But more objectively Corse's statement is factually wrong.  Many women and many cultures value the naturally attractive female forms that are pear and hourglass (30% of women have these shapes).  Ironically, They are wonderfully support of the busty forms on the show; perhaps they learned to appreciate the female form "the Marvel Way."  This aesthetic perception is not only isolated and inaccurate, it comes with an air of elitism.  That the aesthetic cultivated in a small circle of aristocracy is projected, propagandized and marketed in order to keep women (the serfs) trapped in a cycle of dieting and self criticism.  It also encourages their partners and suitors to suppress their feelings of natural attraction and go underground in pursuit of their instinctual attractions...the results are health and psychological risks for both males and females in our society.  It really illustrates who bizarrely isolated these people are and how bigoted their aesthetics are.

Parenthood a Berkeley perspective?

In Parenthood we are presented with a transformed Berkeley, CA, in which due to trade mark law I guess, Pete's coffee becomes Berkeley Coffee and Berkeley High becomes Roosevelt.  My wife and I began watching it last night, seeing the 2nd and 3rd episodes.

From the age of almost 2 to the age of 12 I was a resident of Berkeley, CA.  Every summer of my childhood there after, having left my hart there, I would work there.  I still have an aunt who lives there, one of a myriad of excuses I have to go back and visit.  So I consider myself a reasonable judge (if not up to date and fully informed) of a show about raising kids in Berkeley.  First cautionary disclaimer would be, Berkeley is possibly the most diverse place on the planet...so no one story or one opinion will fill you in.  Still I find Parenthood to be an odd duck, even for Berkeley.

There have been hundreds of stories presented on San Francisco, you know, that city across the bay.  However, Berkeley seems to be lacking in the story department.  It is in this way, unfairly, unlike an equally unique place I have lived in and love, Savannah, GA.  Savannah has often now been the subject of plots in film and comics.  It is a dynamic character and has its share of storyteller.  Especially now with a school that houses some of the brightest new stars in comics and film.  Berkeley has its share of storytellers, Al Young, Robert Hass, Ayelet Weldman and her husband Micheal Chabon are all well respected local writers.  Two of America's greatest cartoonist, Dan Clowes and Adrian Tomine have spent a sizable portion of their carrier in Berkeley.  Sure I can flip through pages of Eightball or Optic Nerve and find moments where I feel homesick.  But I don't have the sense that Berkeley is explicitly a character.  It was more so, in my comic Ordinary Betty and Ted the Milkman (although I am no Clowes or Tomine).  Berkeley has been portrayed in a number of fine documentaries,  for the epicenter it was in American culture.   Iconic apearences for the city have come in the form of; driftwood art in Harold and Maude, a college scene in the Graduate, Multicultural family dynamics in Made in America, the ghetto in Spirit Link, the title and more in Berkeley (which I only heard of when researching this post), through the lives of students in Boys and Girls and a pool scene at the Claremont in Mrs. Doubtfire.

Parenthood is the first time I am aware of that a TV series (still the most accessible of mediums) specifically states it is taking place in Berkeley and attempts to present Berkeley through the eyes of a fictional family. I was surprised to find out it IS filmed in Berkeley...and Mill Valley (where I grew up after moving), and Oakland (right next door to Berkeley) and a Universal Studio lot.  So far I have not had that moment of..."oh, I know that place," but I do confess architecturally it obviously is constant.

The casting is really the most interesting part of the production to me, but the characters are perhaps the reason I am not ecstatic about it. "Six Feet Under's" Peter Krause gives the cast credibility. While Dax Shepard (from Punk'd) would seem to be the warning flag going in.  The dropping in of an ex-lover and Shepard's bi-racial 5 year old son is actually interesting and fun, although predictable.  Apparently they did not partake in the well publicized School Nurse condom campaign at Berkeley HS (We at Tam had one that made the news too...but because we had to fight for it).  In reality I find Shepard's performance and character far more palatable and believable, so far he may be the reason I am watching still.  Monica Potter from Boston Legal so far is constantly just as annoying as Krause, in their dealing with having potentially a child with Autism.  From the perspective of a teacher and a psychologists son, I just want to reach into the screen and shake some sense of reality into them and shake their self obsession out (which is the point of the character...but it falls short of me caring about them). I usually feel Erica Christensen's performances are competent, and unlike her broth and sister in law, I am pissed at what she is pissed at.  Perhaps, because I have this insane busy American life, and feel that is a reality for most competent parents.  We struggle to find time with our kids.  Her TV husband Sam Jeager on the other hand plays the nice home husband...but the character is far to naive and again I find myself reaching for the screen when he is on camera...I really do not want to see another infidelity story.  The main issue facing Jeager and Christensen is Erin Hayes's Buddhist, wealthy, white mother with Asian or half-Asian kid, super flirty, super obnoxious....just pile on the stereotypes of progressive women who annoy the crap out of you...I know this character is more accurate a stereotype then some...I also understand its association with Berkeley...but man, do I hate being hit over the head with it.  If she brakes up their marriage, I will be annoyed by the transparency. I have some close friends that fit the good part this couple dynamic, and I just don't think they would act with quite the same stupidity. Bonnie Bedelia so far plays a bland "progressive" mom.  Which is disappointing, because most mom's I know of in Berkeley are very dynamic figures.  Ironically she was in the film Berkeley. On a great note, Craig T. Nelson continues the role he played in The Family Stone (a film I love and identify as a very Berkeley type family story)...but he is not as pure of hart in Parenthood...which is a good thing.  Gone are the days of Coach.  Lauren Graham from the Gilmore Girls, seems to be predictable and is another character I could do without.  Which is shame, because she is the reason we are watching their lives at this point, she has just moved back into her parents with her two kids.  Believable is that she is a bar tender from Fresno (a lot of bars there in comparison to grocery stores).  Her daughter is struck with dilemma of being held back a year after transferring to "Roosevelt" (which is much whiter then Berkeley High)...(my sister would be the authority here having lived in Berkeley too and teaches in Fresno now)...but my sense of this student struggling at a Berkeley HS not being a stretch. Graham's job interview scene made me super frustrated with my own interview process...if I could act that lame and be as close to getting the position as her...well it just was not realistic in this market.  Her struggles with her car are authentically Berkeley (lot of old clunkers there).  But you would eventually just give up and take the abundance of public transports (buses, bikes, BART)....it is so easy to get around cheaply in Berkeley and with her family dynamics...she would be aware of this solution right off.  The plot use of a twin bed seemed really lame.  I actually looked at the screen as she and her daughter struggle over room on the mattress...I said, "get another mattress...there is space right there." These basic solutions that down on you constantly, make it hard to believe these people.  The kids seem OK, so far and I would prefer to give them time to get into the characters.  But who has time for the kids when you are so annoyed by their parents.

One very genuine and accurate feature was Krause's battle with a possum.  They are common pests or neighbors (depending on your politics) in Berkeley.  That brought back "real" childhood memories for me.

Savannah & Ben at 5 Minute Marvel

Savannah and her Aba's Birdbrains, Dave from DP7 and Kitty Pryde at 5MM...plus Ross Campbell draws with Tim, Grace and Kim.

Savannah & Ben at 5 Minute Marvel

Savannah (our 2 year old) and I are now posting Comic sketchbook style classic superhero's and characters at 5 Minute Marvel's.  The site is dedicated to inspiring parents to draw and spend time with their kids.  The focus is on comics of course and there is a 5 minute rule.  Check out all the cool drawings the kids are doing...the parent/artists too.

Our first post can be found here...Savannah and Ben's 5 Minute Marvel Bat-Man

SHAME Strip No. 16

Up Rise Against the Plutonamy NOT Your Neighbor

I have in the resent past spoken of the merits of living in a moderate culture, a consumerist culture, and a Pop Culture. How this as helped maintain stability; a stability that I see as making us the greatest nation in our world’s history. I characterize us this way, as someone who has at times, in particular situations, looked upon, Canada, Japan and the EU with envy; as someone who is well aware of our comparisons to the Roman Empire. Still I see no rival at the end of the day, a sobering reality. I wrote this as my own revolutionary urges increased. Today, it seems we are more likely to embrace Muse’s anthem “Uprising,” then even a year ago. We are a legitimately angered people, with nostalgia for the revolution that gave our “democracy” birth. So much is on our plate, personally, nationally and politically. With the level and rate of exchanged information now accessible to us, we are incited to revolt. New Media has brought us a heightened experience of urgency, diminishing our perspective. We have been here before, on a brink. At the birth of our great nation, during civil war, during the Great Depression, after Pearl Harbor, under McCarthyism, Viet Nam, and 911; this is not a new fear. However, we live in very uncertain times, which rival all of these tests of our unperfected union. Our moderate foundation is fractured and threatens to give hold. I urge us all to take a deep breath and find a way to move forward together.

As an artist and art teacher well versed in media arts, I am well aware of the deficiency in Arts education. I clearly understand that we are deficient as a people in an understanding of our visual lexicon. I see how this has contributed directly to the ease in which we are manipulated as members of a democracy, and consumers in an economy by visual communication. I would suggest that the state of our reading comprehension and auditory education is in a similar state. We are as a people easily manipulated by those who have the resources to communicate to us through New Media, Newspapers and Television.

Those who are communalists are easily swayed by messages that speak to the world view presented in their childhood. Individualists are swayed by the messages of conspiracy (clearly in this text, you will see which side I error on). We receive these tall tails from the controlling factions in our Plutonamy. A small number of people who control our economy, news and government; a wild conspiracy I hear you communalists exclaim.

These people are no different from us, with egos and ethics that fluctuate under duress and opportunity. These people are no smarter then you or I, they just have access; to information (sometimes a manipulation from within their own ranks), to money, to power. It is easy for us to put up our hands and say…they are idiots. Sometimes they are our idiots…and sometimes they are their idiots…but they are still idiots. But they are always idiots who can get elected. They are idiots who go from high society and/or big business into “noble” politics and then back. Benefiting when they are out and manipulating “for the good of the people” when they are in; always being manipulated themselves by their own self interest and the self interest of the Plutonamy they are invested in.

We are often told that we are a center-right nation. I disagree, we have simply through our history have moved the line in a progressive way, which has helped keep us the greatest nation in the history of Earth. However, it has also changed the definition of Conservative and Liberal. Just look at the actions the “liberal” democrats have taken under Clinton and Obama. Most of the policies they have implemented are originated as conservative ideas; Clinton’s policies on budget deficit reduction, welfare, gays in the military and economic regulatory reform; Obama’s policies on health care (I hear you now…trust me this is a conservative law…it is Romney’s bill), war and again regulatory reform. Under Bush you need only look at his liberalism through his budgetary expenses and position on immigration. These positions switch not on ideology let alone practical solutions, rarely on personal knowledge or passion (although this is what they tell them selves so they can sleep at night); they switch in order to keep us pitted against each other in order to keep them in power, keep us at war and keep them rich. Damn the people, damn the planet, damn ethics, damn morals, damn the peace and prosperity, damn freedom, damn their rights, damn the truth, damn honor and justice, damn your quality of life and pursuit of happiness, damn the people; “they” say behind closed doors, amongst themselves, those Plutonamians. There is a revolving door between the IVE League, Wall Street, K Street, Congress, The White House, Newsmedia, the Free Massons, The Fed and the Banks. These are the electable officials and these are our Plutonamy leaders.

So sometimes we want to “throw the bums out,” or even revolt like our founding fathers (their, the Plutonamians founding fathers). But what choices do we have? The bum I want thrown out more, is the one you want to save. And the replacements are not any better. And yes there are rare acceptations…and we often don’t find out that till they have died, if we find out at all. I still think that Obama one of these positive few,…being advised by and compromising with…idiots in power.

So what happens? These idiots use the media as a vehicle to manipulate us and pit us against each other; calling it democracy. While calling what the other side is say unpatriotic. On top of that, they present false information as fact; in part because they themselves have grown up with the same lies.

The Plutonamy is threatened by only one thing, a united educated people; a people who can disagree, without fear and hate; a people who base these disagreements of philosophy and problem solving on facts, not propagandized fictions. However, we are not enabled and we have not empowered ourselves to be these people, unless we take a deep breath and look with clear eyes at our own egos and ethics. Trusting each other and not the bull we are being fed.

Healthcare: Half-Empty, Half-Full

Tonight will be one of those nights where you peak in on your emotional investment only to wish you had buried it in the sand for another long while.  And if, and when it matures you now know you will soon be either satisfied or unsatisfied, but not based on the results, but based on your glass half full, glass half empty persona.

This health care “reform” process has taken liberty with our abilities to proceed on principle.  Everyone involved has sacrificed their moral stance and the results will reflect this.  This battle was honestly waged by some for the greater good.  Nevertheless, with it they have used what ethical fundamentals were left as collateral.  This is not a new feeling.  A crucible of short-term and long-term necessities where used to sacrifice other long-term and short-term necessities.  Just look at our averted total fiscal collapse and how we feel now about it.  It still stinks.  I believe in the buck stopping at the president’s desk.  However, it is hard to blame him for the economic and cultural mess we are in.  No mater which direction he turns he will be blamed.  Therefore, he has done what we do as a nation, thrown it right down the middle and gambled that more people will see the world as half full in the aftermath.

This is a decent bet.  As I have written before we are stable, because of our natural affinity to being middle class in the middle type people.  This cultural and economic reality have played the most significant role in our stability and longevity.  Nevertheless, it has also made us complicit in the manipulations we are subject to and the resulting controlled chaos we are amerced in today.  As “Muse’s” song Uprising has captured our attitude our actions remain far removed from those that birthed this great nation.  In the end, this may prove to be a good thing.  As Joe Scarborough inferred the other day, most of us will wake up when this healthcare bill is passed and still be alive.  However, this attitude may also prove to be our world’s demise, keeping us moderately tuned to our commitments to resolving our issues. 

In the history of the world, we have not been faced with a more dire forecast of our environments future.  The truth is as individuals we can do things to change the environment, but we are either conditioned or in reality we cannot do enough to hold back the tide.  We know that it would require governments big business, and religious leaders to work coordinately with sincerity to accomplish saving us from global warming.  As a consumer and voting mass, we maintain some power in effecting that change.  But the truth is it has been these large entities that have been orchestrating our manipulations.  Apparently for so long that they are unaware of this fact, it has become an instinctual action in the institutions to manipulate our communities away from coordinated efforts to solve world problems in order to further institutional growth.  Communitarians and Individualism will for foreseeable future be at odds, maintaining a moderate existence serving the manipulating unconscious efforts of our institutions hubris, until we adapt or it is to late.  A dire proclamation, considering I am glass half full type.

In Michael Lewis’s “The Big Short” we find high drama in individual stories, but the biggest revelation to me was the reality that the institutions were unaware they were orchestrating their own downfall.  In addition, well all know the government stepped in deeming them to big to fail.  Perhaps saving us, but in such a way that corrupted our ethics and ignited our rhetoric.  A rhetoric that has been easily carried over to healthcare, an issue that if done correctly in the most significant way contribute to lessoning the negative impact of the economic collapse.

Since we are all winning and loosing in this healthcare bill on a most basic level what are the gains and sacrifices?  I am not sure all is know yet.  Much of this is a gamble. 

I would be remiss in stating first that the vast majority of this bill’s ideas on policies original sources are Republican.  Yes over time, Democrats have found it politically exspediant to adopt these ideas as much as Republicans have found it politically beneficial to stonewall policies they came up with.  The process on both sides of the isle have been so toxic, that we may find that subsequent congresses continue to manipulate their rules and the constitution in order to “win.”  Democrats who have been weak and naive in enacting meaningful policy change, have taken this time to adapt ethical standards that mirror their advisories.  The crumbling highroad has been demolished.  This was a congress that set out to bring ethically reform to the institution, but the extreme circumstances, and their own human ethical fallacy proved to strong. Republican’s like the wolf they are found opportunity in obstruction and false characterizations that serve to undermine their own agenda while obstructing “actual” will of the people.  If this year has not been an argument for term limits and actual transparency, what has?  Democrats now get to sate they are as strong (corrupt) as Republicans (at least in carrying our Republican agendas) and Republicans can say they believe in doing nothing.  Not exactly, the deficit reducing small government we all wish was a reality these days.

More people will have healthcare, so at least that goal will be met.  Most of the discriminating polices that contribute to cost cutting or higher profits for Insurance companies, but ultimately contributed to the higher overall healthcare budget.  This increase of coverage will result in less emergency visits for PCP care and increase preventative and conservative treatment of our populace which should result in lowering cost while increasing quality of care.

There is an exchange and some price regulation by the government, so that may prove to provide competition that results in some cost cutting.  Insurance companies gained a lot with the Mandate, but I wonder if they will be forced to lower cost also by the lower of the penalty for not having insurance.

The CBO has projected a substantial deduction of our national debt while only increasing taxes for the wealthy.  Something that is morally appropriate, but still an issue of conflict based on some very principled arguments.  If we can enact a budget that is deficit neutral and a pay-go plan then we may be able to retain sustainability.  One step I would take would be to end our wars and reduce military spending while marinating a strong deterrent and improving our intelligence efficacy in the guidelines set out by the freedoms garneted by the constitution.  This militarily isolationist approach (another truly conservative approach…not a perversion that we see in the Republicans now) could prove to be more effective on the war on terrorism then current policy.  Don’t get me started on the urgency of this threat. I digress.

Medicaid expansion and Medicare fixes are important, but not even close to as effective as had been suggested through the process.  It is watered-down.  Seniors and the needy will see modest but important improvements.

Small and Moderate business employers will see modest improvements, but nothing as good as originally advertised.  It may fall short of improving their ability to survive the current economic conditions.  If the exchanges are effective, it may save the small business however.

The issue of Abortion, I feel as someone who is pro-choice, but concerned about the number of abortions and a practical person, I am concerned about the debate of abortion in this legislation.  What is most alarming is the diverse interpretations of the language and hope this is not representative of the opacity of the overall language in the bill.

Most of what is in the bill will not take effect for 4 years, well after political shift occur.  So who knows what will occur.  This is a purely political reality.  The good news is the discrimination against kids will be immediate.

This patchwork, that the political climate has barely been able to withstand, particularly with the self serving pool of elected officials we have, and the lack of honorable, intelligent and valiant leaders, may still prove to be just enough to accomplish most of what it set out to do in helping reduce cost, and expand coverage and fix ethical issues in our medical system.  However, three huge issues were not addressed.  We did not make coverage universal in quality (perhaps not even in affordability or coverage).  We did not reduce the deficit all the way.  Moreover, the one that drives me crazy the most, because it was hardly addressed and could be the most significant elephant in the room.  We did nothing to change the way in which doctors are paid.  The reason the quality is good in some places and horrid in others.  The reason we have a shortage of medical providers in some fields.  The reason costs are so bloated.  The reason this entire thing is a mess, is because we pay doctors to do procedures, not so solve efficiently and effectively patient problems, while considering the realities of chronic illness and the need for focus on quality of life and patient productivity in these cases.  Until we deal with that, we are just putting a band-aid on it.

SHAME strip No. 15

Covered Submission Rejection

Original by John Byrne for Marvel Comics

My Rejected Submission to 
(...don't hold against 'em, I pushed it with the Disney angel...
to see more awesome covers visit...) 
Covered

Round Twelve

SHAME strip No. 13 and 14

Best Picture 10

Extra! Extra! Oscar has done something RIGHT.  Now I would switch out Star Trek for District 9 (Hay! I can hear you booing!).  However, that is not the point.  For the first time ever a list of nominees actually represents the breadth of film in America.  Quality is no longer held hostage to standards based on the latest trend of assessment.  Which in the past decade has equated to quality=melancholy ending, or melancholy ending after a string of bodies. 

You want a populist, box office smash, or technical evolution nominee? Look no further then Avatar. How about a populist feel good? Then there is Blind Side.  Have we ever had not one, but two (three if you count Up) Sci-Fi films?  Well with District 9 you get that and controversial social commentary on a low budget.  So your old fashioned and you need something with a little bit more edge, and more reality.  Well how about An Education.  That's fine but where is the brake out performances that everyone is talking about.  What about Precious? Check. But we are a country at War and we really aren't happy about it...Hurt Locker, check.  Hay where is the Coen brothers?...oh wait, A Serious Man IS there.  That's fine, but what we really need a film that is topical, a good character study, with brilliant quirky performances and great indy dialogue.  You got it, Up In the Air.  Fine, but years ago film evolved into an all of the above to incorporate a a wide gamut of emotions and takes us to familure territory, but in a totally new way...reinventing story, history, our emotions.  Thus Inglourious Basterds, must be on the list.  There all the bases are covered, Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi, Box Office, Populist, Light, Heavy, Indy, Strait, Quirky, Smart, Great Acting, Great Dialogue...wait a second.  What about Animated and perfect storytelling (Avatar does not count)?...hay there is one more...my pick (Up in the Air a close second...name similarities aside)...UP!

How refreshing.

Annanah Kidwell

To be continued...

SHAME: Annanah Kidwell, Mama Mayor and The Pineapple debut

Moon

The first time I saw Sam Rockwell, I fell in love.  And it is not just that he is fellow product of the Bay Area acting scene, just a kid from Daily City.  It was like seeing Harrison Ford as Han Solo or Indiana Jones for the first time.  In Box of Moonlight as The Kid you saw all the quirky charms Rockwell brings.  With John Turturro's complimentary character and the surprising circular tale it is still one of my favorite films.  That very same night I saw Glory Daze not a great movie, but one that is nostalgic for people with a connection to Santa Cruz.  Illustrating his ability to transform I didn't even realize Rockwell was also Rob in that movie until weeks latter.

Since that night I have seen him live up to my admiration, only limited by opportunity and the quality of the film he is in. It is hard to beat his performance in The Green Mile...its hard to be anyone's performance in that film.  In Confessions of a Dangerous Mind he plays one of America's most interesting persona, Chuck Barris and saves the film for me.  He makes Matchstick Men and The Hitchhikes Guide to The Galaxy for me.  He is a welcome ensemble piece in Frost/Nixon.


In Moon what you get is a lot of Sam Rockwell.  This film has four things things going for it, Rockwell, its take on our energy future, its hart and its pithy length (1hr 37min).  In fact without this it would be just another 2001: A Space Odyssey, long, depressing and seen before.

On a Personal Note: Up In The Air

This may be the strangest review you read this year. I just got back from seeing Jason Reitman’s Up In The Air staring George Clooney as Ryan Bingham. A man who is hired to fire people and who has constructed a lifestyle and philosophy that is based in the seamless existence one can live when free of stuff and people. Sometimes a piece of art hits the right tanner and fits into the rhythm of that moment in your life. This film has already been doing that for weeks as it is focused on job loss, and we are emerging from one of the worst economic down terns in our nations history, and job loss as a lagging indicator still sharply focuses how far we have to go, and how this environment has effected us daily in very personal ways. That broader note that this film strikes while still relevant to mine (anyone looking for an Art Teacher) is not precisely the same note that hit me at this time and place.

Last week I had facial bone surgery as part of a permanent solution for my TMJ issues. Pre-Op, I had made a mix for me during the week, for my daughter perhaps when she sleeps and for my future students to help them work efficiently; it is called the Pacify Lullaby. I had also seen this surgery as part of a recent upswing in being a better person, husband and father (there is always room for improvement). The surgery was conducted by friends and went just about perfect, the night over in the hospital was not even close to as bad as the ones my wife had when our daughter was born, so it was beyond expectations. Post-Op I have spent this time coming down from steroids and dilaudid, watching my faces inflammation change into something not quite what it was before. I have not been able to smile, and talking has been intolerable for much of this time, I am on a liquid diet which makes it difficult to stomach the nutrition you need to keep yourself healing well. The toll this has taken on me, my wife and our daughter has taken us a bit by surprise, despite us working in this field. To top it all off they both have both had a severe illnesses this week. Despite them being home more then we had thought, I have felt very isolated during my transformation. As have they. Things have been so bad that I have not drawn a single panel of the pages upon pages of comics I had planed on cranking out pre-op. Yesterday was for some odd reason the worst of it (my pain is non existent and my inflammation is nearly gone). However, the highlight of my day, and really the highlight of all of my days, was being with my exhausted wife and our daughter who has uncanny abilities to bounce back with optimism. I lay there nearly dead with depression unable to control the muscles to even fake a smile and I was enjoying it as much as one could. It was certainly a welcomed change to my day alone.

Seeing Up In The Air helped me process this sense that I have had, and have from time to time; what it would be like without my wife and daughter. This week plus has sharpened the sense of how lonely that would be. In Reitman’s Juno my wife and I identified with

Juno MacGuff and Paulie Bleeker’s characters. Particularly when we think of ourselves in high school and/or our friends in high school. We are not high school sweet harts, so in a way Juno was a glimpse into what might have been. In Bingham I see another, “what if?” There are aspects of my life that are seamless, or designed to be so. I have always been enamored with Japanese culture and idealized it with this seamless design aesthetic. A purity of purpose and the world to go with it. Many of the comics I love depict sad cases, which I secretly admire for their rituals. When I worked in the coffee industry, I was Bingham (or perhaps his apprentice…my pal Donald totally fit this bill). The way in which Bingham approaches security in an airport is precisely how I aspire to approach it…this IS more difficult with a 2 year old. If my wife and I are not lucky enough to be struck dead at the same time and I am the one who caries on (lucky for me the statistics are not in favor of that) I am almost sure I will live the retired cartoonist/art teacher version of a man living out of a carryon and enjoying the burden less illusion.

Up In The Air in quality falls close to Juno (just not as lovable), but it falls close Reitman's Thank You For Smoking in feel. That said it really is its own animal. The opening sequences is pitch perfect (amazing how comics iconic gutters help sell a story about America). The palette visually fist the tone of the film. There is a nice pace to the film that is not jarring, a challenge considering the introduction of documentary style medium shots of people reacting to being fired. Clooney’s performance as it has said plays on all his strengths. And yes the character grows, but not outside reason. Vera Farmiga does compliment Clooney as, much as Anna Kendrick makes his character have to really grow to appreciate her. His hometown pulls on a thin strand with surprising results only catalyst by the relationships he has maintained under business duress and while up in the air.  The pieces all fit. The tapestry of story for fills the tapestry of visuals that make up the film and America’s amazing landscape when viewed from the air.

Now I feel a fog has lifted and am motivated to make comics tomorrow, the snow on the ground helps too.

Why I can't say I don't like Country Music!

My introduction to Country came through the two most unlikely vessels, my Jewish Rock ‘n Roll and Motown loving father and my love for comics.  Without the blues and country (folk, bluegrass) we would not have Rock ‘n Roll.  Now Chicago is a home for the blues (and my dad is from there).  Comics also have maintained a close connection with the blues (for common artistic historical paths in American culture) through the testament of Robert Cumb, Terry Zwigoff and Daniel Clowes.  I certainly could have circled back through my introduction to noise in Post Modernist Art History class (via John Cage), or through John Zorn via Mike Patton (my biggest musical history vestal).  The obvious introduction would have been seeing who influenced Buddy Holly, one of my first musical memories, let alone the Beatles.  Skipped over was the most likely, my family history in Okalahoma, Texas and Georgia.  There was no mention of country music in these family dynamics, despite being one generation from growing up in Normand.  I would even say that my seven years living in Savannah, did little to inform me, it was a year or so earlier watching Crumb the documentary that opened me up to the Blues and then Country…well sort of.  My dad had exposed me to Johnny Winter (covering Bob Dylan) and Michelle Shocked (one of the over played tapes in commutes across the Bay).  I recognized Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash and Hank Williams I as part of the background sound at my Oklahoman grandparents house.

But the big influences that have created my country and blues aesthetics, my foundation is currently in the music of Robert Johnson (my dad tried on this one), Skip James (Dan Clowes’s Ghost World) and Memphis Minnie (some light digging), Johnny Cash (despite their issues with comics creators), Johnny Cash (Walk the Line helped), Hank Williams (Hank III and the Melvin’s lead me here) and Patsy Cline (Natural Born Killers), Billy Holliday (she has been a staple for a long time) and yes Buddy Holly (who has always been there for me).

So why do I still struggle with defending country and blues, with the foundation finally being solid.  Well have you listened to what passes for country these days…what has made Country “popular.”  Rock has its own problems, but Country has it even worse.  Although, my daughter Savannah, loves it…but she is 2, she loves to dance, its accessible, its fun and she is so cute it melts my stone cold hart when we go to the Texas Road House.

So whatever happened to country music “I could love,” is that dream dead.  Heck no.  As with all good underground, fringe, quality music…it aren’t happening in the corporate tower.  There is a quite revolution.  So after Buddy Holly, did anything new come around worth listening to from those earlier influences of blues and country.  Has there been evolution or has it all been poor carbon copies and over produced hacks.

 
Here are seven to consider:

 Tom Waits is not Country music, but despite a heavy influence in urban and alternative culture, it is the Blues.  Now there are many more that can speak to the man and the music, so I will be brief.  Simply no one quite performs like he does and none of his cotemporaries embodies the Blues more so.  For those two reasons and his broad influence in my lifetime I would be remise in not mentioning him as a highlight and perhaps the most recognizable on this list.  







Michelle Shocked as previously mentioned was one that was on my fathers radar.  I can’t even begin to explain why.  My dad was the authority on cool music growing up until he went through a strange faze.  A combination of tapes became regular circulation in the commute from my Mom’s house to his across the Bay Area.  None were disastrous on their own.  But the combination made you wonder what had happened to the man who preached the Beatles, Neil Young, The Zombies and Motown. We had The Fine Young Cannibals, ZZ Top, Robert Cray and Michelle Shocked.  It was just odd.  Her strait forward Texas country music was balanced by an alternative leaning progressive activism, that worked for these Berkeley ears.  There was a naivety on my part to perceived a paradox, that as I age seems less real.  Her work  
still stands up as accessible, not over produced and honest country music.


House of Freaks are not really a country band, but they are folks music with a strong 80’s alternative foundation with stories that seem strait out of To Kill a Mocking Bird.  Knowing people from Richmond now I can see how this coalesced.  But when I was giving this demo tape along with a demo of Black Sabbaths Eternal Idol and demo by a band called The Name (not the European one…and if anyone knows how to get this let me know) by my step uncle (who I am still pulling for as he faces some tragic health issues this year), it was ironically the closest to my tastes at the time (see 80’s alternative).  When I play this album it brings worlds colliding for me, but it is really just a solid American music album with a great story in each song.

 Dieslhed is the easiest for me to explain.  I am from northern California, they are from Northern California (Eureka, along with Mr. Bungle).  The drummer is from my favorite band (Mr. Bungle…which features my only true obsession…Mike Patton).  So just like John Zorn it was inevitable that I come across it, and make the effort to try it.  The thing is though, partly because I have connections to mountain towns in California, VT and Colorado and partly because of my strong foundation in Blues and Country, this is the perfect country music to me.  The brilliant song writing, the strait forward content, the ironic fun stories (very Northern Californian), the strong percussion, the bare it all guitar and that perfect voice…well I just love it more then any other on this list.

Like Dieslhed, Mike Patton is to blame for Hank III (although if I had been paying closer attention in Savannah I would have made the connection…plus there is the Melvin’s, Helmet ect…)  Basically Hank Williams III is a good as his Dad is bad for country…and his dad knows it.  He channels his grandfather for the first half of his set and then channels Slayer for the second.  There is not much more authentically metal or country out there in the south.

Lucky Stars is purely a Mike Patton find (they were on his label and I saw them open up for Kid 606 and Melvins Fantomas Big Band).  You should have seen how these Southern California’s turned the harts and minds of these San Francisco Hardcore, Metal, Punk, Electronics, Experimental, Noise, Grunge fans…they soothed us into submission with their southern California charm.  No other band out there sounds more Tennessee produced then these LA kids.  You could see them on tour with Hank, Johnny and Patsy, but then the lyrics type their hand.

 Anyone knowledgeable about the history of Punk Rock and hardcore in the 1970’s and 80’s is aware of the strange influence Buddy Holly and Rock ‘a Billy had on it, via John Doe and the band X.  Now you can go back and find songs written and performed by John and Exaine that fit precisely this country model.  But just recently John Doe came out of the shadows accompanied by the Canadian band the Sadies (who come with their own strong Canadian country music roots) and they have produced a polished country music that I can actually tolerate.  In fact, I like it.  I would say the punk rock and the rock ‘a billy street cred gives them the pass, but it maybe my ageing mind that has helped me enjoy them.  I am here merely to mention, this may be another evolutionary step in the right direction.