number 5

Tee hee, I just read a plug for this book on the AMS list. Check it out, so for 'maximizing' your blahdee blah as a musician this guy says you need -

1. Personal Manager

2. Attorney

3. Business Manager

4. Agency

5. Groupies

Then he says "With respect to number 5, you're on your own." Wow, how life affirming for me-I'm part of the master plan. More later.

I know nothing about this Bands v Bush, but it can't be bad.


The Bands Against Bush DC chapter
is meeting again!

THURSDAY AUGUST 7

Sparky's Espresso Café

14th St. NW

(between R & S Sts.)
7:30 PM

bring yourself,
and your heart,
and your brain.
also bring two friends
so
they can bring two friends!


WE WILL WIN!


xoBvB DC

please pass this message on to all and sundry

Shake it baby shake it

I thought I was about done talking about Last Train Home on this site, but I got all a-fluttery on Saturday. While the band does it new intensive touring thing, the 'Iota Weekend' was a bit more of a personal thing, looking for little nuanced changes that seemed gossipy and not worth writing about. So how cool is it that Alan Brace stepped up and clinched the night (On Saturday). Now we adore Alan, though I don't know how much I've written about him in the past. He heart wrenching cover of "These Little Things" - the Patsy Cline standard and likewise with Bob Dylan's "Song to Woody". His voice is fantastic and he's got the emotion to really break your heart, but oh mi god, he just opened up on the song in the title here, "A Whole Lota Shakin' goin' on." As you can see a kind of Sun record tribute night brought some new material to the stage which was excellent. (And note to self: Bill Williams did a version of Buddy Hacket doing "Shapoopie" from the Music Man that was a non-sequitur to end all non-sequiturs).

"Walls of Time" is one of my favorite songs ever, (up there with Phil Ochs "The Highwayman" and the posthumously recorded "Remember the Mountain Bed" by Woody Guthrie). I am not a purist, I love LTH's arrangement and I love that I can save my voice now at shows because other people will groupie-scream for it, it's caught on like "It Doesn't Matter". I am getting off on a tangent though. The first time I heard this song was at a show with Lee Wilhoit sitting in for Alan. Lee is a crazy mofo on stage and he runs away with the vocals, forget harmony, he goes for broke and plows over Eric. That's when their version of "Walls" truly rocks, totally transcends. Well after channeling the spirit body of Elvis, Alan through complete happenstance, I think, managed to take "Walls of Time" over Lee style without even realizing it. For what ever reason, finally, finally, finally, Alan Brace while on the second mike took over the vocal, the fact that Alan has the aforementioned heart wrenching je ne sais quoi gives him a bit of an edge on Lee too. For whatever reason is how it should be on this song. Eric's voice just does not carry on "Walls of Time", so much so that on their recent CD, Time and Water the "Walls of Time" track was a let down to me and my compadres. Lee Wilhoit sings on the CD, but the tracking on Lee's voice is not prominent enough, not loud enough, not there enough, of course there are others that look at me cockamamie when I mention this.

God forbid anyone in the band actually reads this, someday please plant a seed for a re-issue of that track with the vocals remastered or retracked with Eric (Um, cough cough-hesitant pause) on backup. (Smile) Just on this one song, I swear.

Oh, one more thing. Kevin Cordt was not there to play trumpet so Chris Watling bought the barri-sax along which went awful well on "Walls of Time" too. And while I'm at it, dude needs a remote mike for his accordion NOW! If he's going to keep bringing it to LTH home shows. Bye.

Hi

After lamenting my not posting and talking about the same stuff too much, I just got back from the benefit at La Casa I menitoned in the previous post. Much was accomplished.

1) I've found out when and where my 'local lo-po' broadcasts from, information I've been wanting to know, but too lazy to try to figure out.

2) While I know my rule is to not to talk about bands that are not from around here, I am breaking it. The second band in the lineup tonite was the Molehill Orkestrah, from Tucson, AZ, billed as "Eastern Klezmer-Core" on the flyer. Oh my, I am still vaklempt, my $5 for the benefit got me 3 bands - one of which was this 8 piece Klezmer, as tight as almost any Klezmer I've ever heard. But wait one second, on reflection, I've never heard a Klezmer band live because they tend to be expensive shows (worth the money though to someone that has it.) Anyway, Molehill should 'fess and say "Southwestern Klezmer Core", for the extra beautiful twist on this band was the subtle Spanish guitar/mandolin head they put on some of the numbers and a break in one song that I swear keep flipping between Klezmer and a Bossa Nova rhythm, pretty wicked. Who knows if they'll be back this way, but well worth taking note. And if you have never heard a klezmer band, even on recording get your heinie out there and find some (Klez qualifies as 'Wall of Sound' bands with which you can't go wrong)

3) The mighty, mighty news. I've a new band to talk about. Shortstack. So Cowlick Lucy played with them once, and I see now that the guy playing upright for them, played banjo in Helen & Pete's.

"Shortstack, Haunted Hill Rockabilly" per the flyer and this time the description is right on. Four pieces in this band, very spare and very moody. The upright, guitar, lap steel and a tiny drum kit (bass, snare, cymbal, highhat and a wok(?)) I spent way to long mezmerized with this tiny, tiny kit. As I know none of the players names I'm at a small disadvantage to speak of them individually, but what was most striking is that the entire impression is that everyone plays to the song, not to themselves, there are no solos or major flourishes. Now that I think about it, it's what makes them Dischord-esque. Apparently they will be on a fundraising comp that is getting help from Dischord. The Shortstack material is truly rockabilly/lo-country/almost Appalacian sounding-if I exagerate a little. I know I am gone on a band when sight unseen I leave a first show with a lyric stuck in my head. Such is the case with "Troubled Mind". Musically it was reminiscent of "Wanted Man", but lyrically not like it at all. I will have to hear this song again. Soon hopefully.

Reflecting on July and why my postings were so horrid, I found some peekaboo silver lining. I did see the WP's Weekend section Roots/Americana show at Carter Barron and I saw the Seldom Scene on the Library of Congress stairs. I would have liked to have said something about seeing the 'new' Scene, but about 30 minutes after that show my back went out and it became priority #1.

In the here and now, this has just come across my email account. It's not in the side calendar, so lets' see if you are paying attention. There is something afoot at La Casa - 3166 Mt Pleasant St NW - this Saturday that is $5, goes from 8-11 pm, is going to be rootsy, tho interestingly enough, I got the "fo" from Planaria. A band called Short Stack is playing that was recommended to me by two people, Vivian & Cret-aquaintances from very different times in my life, yet the same recommendation. The other two bands sound interesting too, I just can't remember the names at the moment.

Sigh, look how long it's been since I posted! Sorry. And I have not named any stand outs for July, I am slipping again. I am tired of singing this tune, I am broke! Money for music is harder and harder to come by, you know I am fully in support of paying for talent, but I am getting to the point that I can't. I am thanking my lucky stars for Summer and free outdoor concerts, like The Grandsons at the National Zoo on Thursday, but when winter comes I am going to be screwed. If you do not see me out and about, at least "remember me well" or "remember me when".

I was traveling for five days and when I got back I had emails from new musicians I have not met (ie. heard) yet. Great! I will be trying to check ya'll out. I think it is so cool that it's musicians that gravitate to groupiegirl. When I first started the blog I was not sure it would be that way, but in my unscientific estimation that's the way it's turning out. Doing the blog is like a big thank you card to you musically inclined artists that really put on a show.

Now do any of you musicians want to buy some art? Paintings, sculptures, photos, a robot?

OK, THIS was a total biatch to find. It's The Hosiery mailing list, which also keeps track of The Warehouse Nextdoor shows. Apparently Measles, Mumps, Rubella is playing at "TWN" tomorrow-per a TPC crony I ran into at Lungfish on Saturday. I hope the mailing list link continues to work, it seems like the planaria identity is in flux.

So, I had pipe dreams that on Saturday I could see Spottiswoode open for Cravin Dogs at Iota, pop across the street to Galaxy Hut to see the Bomb Pops, then over to the Black Cat for Lungfish. As it turned out I was feelin' poorly in my person that day, so it took all my power just to drag myself to the B-Cat, let alone 2 other shows.

I made it to Lungfish. Honestly, I've only seen Lungfish once before, though I am in the age group that could have seen them umpteen million times when they were rippin' up the town back in the day. On a whim about a year ago, (OK, maybe almost 2) after surfing Dischords website I picked up The Pupils CD, a touchy- feely, stripped down version of Lungfish - Daniel's lyrics accompanied by 2 guitars, played by him and Asa. I listen to this CD a lot-and it made me see why I've heard Daniel referred to as 'the Spirit-Head of Dischord'. His verse is magnetic-there are no metaphorical petty ironies standing in for bigger issues here. If Armageddon comes it will be our own fault, because Daniel's seen it and tried to warn us about it. Sigh.

So, I didn't melt That Woodrow Wilson Plaza place is tre's Euro once you walk the 300 yards off Pennsylvania Avenue. There's tables and chairs with umbrellas, a little grove of trees, some totally stupid sculpture. Like I said, very Euro. Whomever is putting this shindig on has a nice setup though: a raised stage, a giant PA, passing out revival meeting fans with music schedules on them. The Grandsons seem to real dig outdoor shows, which is cool - or in this case, hot. For an inside show, definitely head out to the Duckpin lanes to the The bop-n-bowl, there may only be 3 or 4 more of these shows, if the developers get their zoning approved for condos in the next few months. Looks like Tom & Debra & their swing dancin' posse will be there. So, if you feel like gettin' really special put on your ultra-retro duds and check it out.

Hello Music People

I'm getting ready to hop off to the "International Trade Center" (ie. The Ronald Reagan Building). I brought my sunnyblock lotion with me to work, so I won't fry, but I may melt.

Pick up the city paper and look at CHEAP SEATS section because it seems the CP has finally dropped science on what is going on with the Falls Church "Duckpin" Bowling Center. Oh well-it looks like it will hang in for the rest of the summer before being raised to make way for luxury townhomes and retail.

You know it's funny, I go in to a grocery or a pharmacy and there are almost never more than 3 or 4 cashiers working, doesn't matter the day of time or that there are 7-8 cash registers. Do we really need MORE stores or just better management and attention to the stores there are? Seems companies treat their buildings and employees like disposable silverware-the appreciate it when they first get it, hold onto and may even reuse it, but the minute the going gets a little rough the place a little dirty, they dump it. Seems like a bad practice.

On the other hand a lot of the clubs I frequent, often have shows that sell out. Even on a weekday in a small place like the Velvet Lounge I may have to wait in a 3-deep line with 2 bartenders working to get a drink. Also I can't go hear live music indoors anywhere in my neighborhood (Mt. Pleasant). It's a drag, this is the area where I am being underserved, I have absolutely no need for another poopy CVS, Giant grocery store or a $900 to $1200 efficiency apartment which though supposedly 'luxurious' is roughly 75% more than I can pay for rent (I already pay about 33% more than I can afford and that's paid to friends.

So are you a hipster that works a square job in downtown DC? Check out this copy - "to entertain office workers and visitors alike" it's Live!On Woodrow Wilson Plaza -now if someone would just realize how many of us are "just visiting as office workers" then things could get interesting. But really, rock on. This is a very ambitious program, live performance almost everyday. I hope to hit Frederic Yonnet and the PoEmcees, both come highly recommended yet I have missed seeing them live repeatedly in the past year. And just two short days from now, weather permitting, I will be able to punctuate my workday with some Grandsons fun!

(By the way Woodrow Wilson Plaza is apparently the Courtyard of the freakin' Ronald Reagan Building, where 13th Street, NW dead ends into Pennsylvania Ave.)

Wow is there a lot of competition for outside music this weekend. Check this out, what the heck is Fete de la Musique? Music outside in DC, some of it just spontaneously happening in front of a grocery store near you. For instance, check it out, Jon Kaplan at the Shops in Georgetown. bit-chin. I hope I get a chance to ask some of these players what the experience is like being a street musician for a day. When I saw the "call for musicians" forwarded to the Arlington Music Scene listserve, I thought it was a flame. As it turns out, according to the press release, the DCCAH did not come up with this idea itself, but stole it from France, (which explains the ala musi-Q name-does anyone else find this funny?)

Anyway, do not be alarmed by the musicians on the street, they are just like you and I, just a little bit crazier. Here's the Fete de la Musique Schedule for this weekend so you can get to know everyone by name, like a proper groupie.

You should go to this on Sunday if the weather is nice. It's one of like 4 plus outdoors shows happening in the next few days, especially for The Grandsons.

At the risk of gettin' suburban on yass, this thing on Sunday is a no miss. Rockabilly, Tony Hawk, 'grandfather' of extreme skateboarding, and the new AFI Silver Theaters totally hip program. (someone posted the Summer film schedule at Iota-teehee). Really though the AFI can finally do it's job, showin good films at a good price. A standard $8.50 usually, and you can purchase online! Can I get an Amen. And really, if does not rain, bring your sunscreen and git out dang it.

READY, SET, EVOLVE!



If I had my life to live over again, I would have made a rule to read some poetry and listen to some music at least once a week.


- Charles Darwin



Got it covered. In fact I must be mega-evolved!, once a week-pffft.

OK, sorry to be so pokey, hopefully I can get this extensive June calendar up soon. Looking at my posts, sorry to bore you, but I went to another Spottiswoode show...well it was an S & M show, by which I mean a John & Riley show. Clear as mud now, right?

Anyway thanks to these lovely people for having S&M play. I heard these two play a few songs at Visions when they screened "The Gentleman" a lovely film co-written and directed by Spottiswoode, but that was at least two years ago, maybe close to three. Honestly that Visions show did not hold a candle to last weekends performance.

While I am not a musician I am going to be bold and suggest that if you are in a band of more than two and have been considering playing out with a smaller combo, do it.

a) I was quite interested in technically how much better John's guitar playing has gotten b) In this case I also got to see a whole different musical side to Riley. In S&HE he is normally engaged in impressive finger gymnastics with guitars and other string things, in the duo it's about the timing and the rhythm using bells, toys, & frying pans c) Perhaps if you are a songwriting performer it gives you a whole different venue for different songs. If you've got freaks like me who have been listening to your material on & off for a decade, presenting them with new material is a good thing.

(you know I go off about wanting change, but often, often, often at Spottiswoode shows I am amazed at the cigarette torch mentality that can pervade-it can't escape notice that people still want to hear those Zimmerman songs, great songs, but get real, the world has moved on-and of all the people that should it not be Zimmermans fans that 'understood' "That's how the civilized will be punished? Oi vay.

Why the hell was this not the feature in the newspapers ENTERTAINMENT section this Sunday-screw that, why not all last week!!!" I'm really mad. There's really just too much out there to keep up with, but that's not an excuse. Join me in geting up on FCC issue's at FUTURE OF MUSIC COALITION

THEN POUND AND FLAME THE FCC WITH COMMENTS!!!!!!!

COMMENT TO THE FCC NOW! You know, while you are at it, pound the POST too, I am sick of the Entertainment/Style headings used in the print and online sections of this newspaper. Where's the section where you would learn that your country is trying to violate your free speech by ensuring that your poverty will keep you from ever figuring out what is going on?



From the Post: Letters to the Editor




Q: How do I submit a letter to the editor?


A: We offer two methods of sending a letter to the editor of The Washington Post: 1) You can e-mail your Letters to the Editor to Letters@washpost.com.


2) If you prefer, you can send your letter by surface mail to:


Letters to the Editor

The Washington Post
1150 15th Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20071

Guidelines on sending Letters to the Editor can be found at:


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13301-2000Mar5.html

So there's a run of Last Train Home shows coming up at Iota in a few weeks. The right thing for me to do would be to point you towards Sunday the 8th as it is then you will most likely get to hear the Kevin Cordt "tet" as we've taken to calling them (really known as the Kevin Cordt Trio). I really wanted to write about the Sunday show at the end of April where at one point there were 7 players on stage with Kevin's Trio. It looks like what ever bug that Last Train Home's got that makes people jump on stage and get called out of the audience is catching. It's a lovely thing to watch if just for the reason that this group of fellas plays around each other in a number of different kinds/types of bands-(country, rock, straight up roots, art rock) and it is really fun to hear them wrap it around the jazz idiom now too. There's a lot of personality and music edjoocayshion on the bandstand, I lobbied for a rendition of Nature Boy in April, after hearing that Dave VanAllen had it transcribed for the Steel. Now that steel and Kevin singing it would be sweet. New life to an under used song.

Speaking of LTH and devotion, I just have to make a short note about Mike Aldridge and Jimmy Gaudreau and how either freaked out or amused, (I could not tell which) they were at the woohoo's and cat calls they got at Iota playing as the Skylighters with three Last Train Homers. Jimmy kept hootin' back-atchaudience. I like that Jimmy bunches. I know that being ONLY 30 or so, I am an exception when it somes to my knowledge of the Seldom Scene and the heyday of DC bluegrass. There were some regulars from the specifically Iota LTH crowd that did come out to the Thursday show and it was interesting to see the audience/band dynamic. Even the most rabid LTH/Eric Brace fan has got to hear in Mike and Jimmy the foundations of LTH. Will these 25-35 year olds stick it out long enough to figure out who the Seldom Scene was and is?

Which brings me to my executive decision to put up for you readers of groupiegirl, what do we call those individuals that pack those Last Train Home shows? Now granted I am often one of them, but I hope that I am recognized as an all around music scenester. These are the people you pretty much never see anywhere else but Iota. So are they already called something-the specific LTH groupies? I've heard mention of TRAINEES, what about HOMERS? VOTE, dammit, what do you call them?

Hello music fans. Did you think I fell off the flat-plane of earth c. 1492? Well, no I am still here, I've written two posts and lost them to the ether as I attempt to balance my 9-5 $ job with a 'career' as a visual artist and a full time 'hobby' of music/niteclub denizen. I'd think I was insane, except I know that I really get unhappy if I am not in the "studioaudience". Oh well, enough dunderblogging, let's get on with the show.

So, things that have passed my eyes and ears on my 'hiatus' - for one Cowlick Lucy has announced a website!! Go girls-and Dan. Let me at those MP3s, especially "Hide Away", that song by J. Spott. Of all the bands I know that sing this song, (J. Spott himself and The Grandsons), mmmm, Vivian's voice and CLL's version, yum. (In fact, not that they are hurting for material, but I'd like to see one of the Brace brothers wrap their voice around this song as well)

Speaking of J.Spott, I made it to that Spottiswoode/Grandsons Jammin Java Show. The sound there is amazing-go for that. It's a little 8 inch tall stage too that you can get right close to if you are into that type of thing and there are lots of places to sit. The place was quite filled up at one point. It's being in a strip mall made me realize what a city slicker I have become though-I'll spare you how freakedout I was hanging out in a parking lot after the show. There were retail store type alcoves that made me feel like I was in a shoe store the whole time, but I just remember-the JJ space was formerly a Christian book store. Wish I had realized that while I was there.

If you checked out what S&HE was doing in Vienna, they did an almost all acoustic show. I was impressed in spite of myself. There has been so much talk of the big production 'gospelesque' show with lights and backup singers, etc. - which is the show they are taking to Lille, France, I think-that i was not prepared for this very down to earth thing. At least a year ago, I was at S&HE show at Iota with someone who knew Jonathan fairly well back in his college days. During that show she said to me "Oh mi god, you actually think he's a rockstar?" Well, I do. Knowing a bit about his films and other art ventures I expect to see him keyed up and glam. This performance was, I don't know, a treat? A dose of realism in an often abstract - conceptual cirque d'avant garde.

There's a lot of shows coming up on June, mostly the same players. I'm beginning to see that to keep up writing about these bands, I am going to have to start being more proactive-maybe starting interviews and questioning them about real fan stuff if I'm going to keep writing about the same 7 or so bands.

I'll tell you, I have been eavesdropping on a yahoo group called Arlington Music Scene that has really made me start to see that there are probably close to at least 500 bands in the extended DC area getting stage/studio time. Lord knows I suk at math, but it seems that there are NOT enough places in "the city" zoned to deal with with it and it makes me mad. There are bands/people I've seen a handful of times that I would love to plug, Bicycle Thieves, John Athyde (Rotoscope) in this VA crowd, Measles Mumps Rubella in DC, especially, Dark Water Transit and The Pupils-more Baltimore bands. After Metro Cafe closed these bands these are the kind of bands that got kind of shut out. They are not big enough to headline the Black Cat or get in opening ticket at the 930. For reasons that shall remain unspoken are too big and been around the block enough to not be playing Velvet Lounge on any kind of 'regular' basis, if at all. Staccato can't take this loud indy pop besides ITS SMALL. And do the 'roots rock/country scene' bands play DC anywhere in this year-NO, not really.

It's a real bugger. I've got no problem with the way the major clubs are booking, I just think there's more of a market for more types of establishments, more types of music and at different times. The city makes it too hard to host live entertainment, nothing against a good DJ, but this city does not need any more 'DJ lounges'. Also, music from 5-8 pm is a completely under-marketed thing in the city. 30-50 yr old suburbanites go to happy hours, you get the benefit of traffic having subsided afterwards. Hanging out in the city for 3 hours or more until a show starts at 9 or 10 pm is something most will not do. And as we know, once home, very few leave the comforts of their nest to venture back out into the unknown. You would think this would make it easier on clubs in dealing with 'neighbors' if live entertainment ended at 8 or 9 pm. Vision's Live Music Happy Hour used to follow this format on Friday's and I am in major, major withdrawal because they have not started it up this year. I know there were some conflicts with neighbors over a movie theater having live music. Visions has also sited as it as not being enough of a money draw for them, once they pay the bands. Their lounge space is small, so this is not a surprise. I watch the issue and I stress anyone that hits groupiegirl and lives right in DC, think about what good would come out of lobbying for live entertainment. Business owners need to be protected from neighbors and having their licenses revoked if they are making good faith efforts and helping building another small business community of professional musicians. Come on would a music from 5-9 pm at small bar or restaurant that holds under 75 people really be an intractable nuisance to a neighbor?

I'm glad to say that my first trip to Jammin Java will be to see The Grandsons and Spottiswoode and his Enemies. An average person on first glance of these two bands would be confused about the two bands playing back to back. To this I say don't be average. I went to some of the shows I picked in April, but really did not have the energy to think about them for you. How lame an I?

This just in, voila Karl Straub Music Website from the master himself. Very, very nice. This Sunday benefit show at IOTA should be very, very nice as well.



SUN APRIL 6

IOTA 2-5 PM

MEMORIAL SHOW FOR SAM JOHNSON

Last Train Home, Karl Straub Combo, Grandsons, Rhodes Tavern Troubadours and Scott McKnight's Naughty Pine


the ruff sched

2pm - 2:30 - Naughty Pine

2:35 - 3:05 - Karl Straub Combo

3:10 - 3:40 - Grandsons

3:45 - 4:15 - Last Train Home

4:20 - 4:50 Rhodes Tavern Troubadours

Tonite, Grandson's show just added at The State. Get out and enjoy the new beautiful Spring evenings!


On another note, in chatting with another 'regular' at the Straub Combo's show at Iota on Friday I was fed this little tidbit. Mongrel Music is the booking agent for Last Train Home, Alejandro Escovedo, and Saffire-Uppity Woman Blues, groups that I know are locals off the top of my head. You see thay also 'carry' others you may know, like The Iguanas, Tarbox Ramblers, Dave Alvin and Los Straightjackets. Mongrel is nice enough to list all these bands advance tour dates for us audience groupies. Other booking agents tend to be more helpful to the clubs, organizers and promoters by having sites like this one, Samhill Bands page on The Grandsons in this case a great resource if you go to the songlist page where you can see the crazy amount of fantastic roadhouse covers that the G-sons have made their own, something they don't flaunt it on their own website.

Anyway, enjoy the resource and when you request Buddy Knox "Party Doll" or show up for a LTH show on June 13th at the Bubba Mac Shack in Somers Point, New Jersey tell 'em groupiegirl sent you.

On another note, by seeing where your faves are being booked, you may be able to start auditioning new places to live, ones that are less conspicous than WDC area with as good a music scene, good luck. If you're tuning in from out of town, ya know in DC we all come to work and take the metro and do are part to not be scared by 'terrorists', well that's bull shit. I love my city but it sucks, I trust MY government at large about as far as I could throw it, DC or Federal. Luckily if you haven't figured me out already, I do have faith in 'individuals, like The Arlington Music Scene list serve. It provides this gem from the NY times about a Dixie Chicks bashing event in Louisiana. Excerpt from Paul Krugman: "a crowd gathered in Louisiana to watch a 33,000-pound tractor smash a collection of Dixie Chicks CD's, tapes and other paraphernalia. To those familiar with 20th-century European history it seemed eerily reminiscent of. . . . But as Sinclair Lewis said, it can't happen here." So the dot dot dot thing is kinda weak-dude it's op-ed - say it Fascist Nazis!!!!! But wait a second, whomever owns the Times probably has some kind of gag on language that means the journalist can't put "Fascist Nazi" in print and that's the point of this op-ed. Media companies engaging in rally's, why? I tell you something, the next few years should be interesting if majority of the population of the US ever wakes up to the fact that we live in a corporate oligarchy, sigh.

Sorry, these are stronger opinions than even I thought I had, I did not expect to write a screed, but again more to the point, thank you some person in Arlington that hooked me up to this opinion column, booking agents and record contracts aside we all need to be looking out for more than just suspicious people and packages.