I’d like to say it was on purpose, like I felt like there was some more important stuff happening last Tuesday, but the reality is, I simply forgot. I have a civic mind and I was really focused on the election and just wasn’t thinking of things that I wanted to do. Thankfully it’s looking like sanity barely beat fear, so maybe we’ll get a better world. It’d be nice if the 70 million people who thought he was still a better idea would come live in reality where the facts reside and see him for the turdbag conman bigot that he is, but it’s hard to deprogram people from cults. Lost a few friends on Facebook because of an incendiary post, basically saying that they should feel shame about it and supporting him was a “stain on their soul”. Hey, I’m dramatic sometimes. I really didn’t mean it to hurt people’s feelings, though. I just honestly think that you should feel deep shame about a vote for that person, because it shows one of three big flaws about you: 1. You don’t do your due diligence. 2. You are hateful/bigoted or dogmatic in some way. 3. You care more about your party than your country so you only believe what your preferred ideologues say instead of dispassionately accepting the facts. Just my position. Doesn’t detract from my love for anyone who has those flaws, except for the hateful/bigoted part – they can fuck right off forever, as far as I’m concerned – this world doesn’t need them anymore unless they change their hearts.

But enough political garbage. Let’s talk music.

Like how 2020 is shaping up to being worse than 2016 in terms of losing iconic musicians. It already took three of my all-time favorite “beacons of musical light” in Neil Peart, Adam Schlesinger, and Edward Van Halen. And another personal favorite Emitt Rhodes. But adding to the list some truly great artists: Little Richard, Kenny Rogers, Charlie Daniels, Jerry Jeff Walker, Justin Townes Earle, Joe Diffie, Helen Reddy, Mac Davis, Bill Withers, Toots Hibbert, Ronald Bell (Kool & The Gang), Spencer Davis, Tony Lewis (The Outfield), influential guitarist Peter Green, bassist Pete Way, drummers Frankie Banali and Lee Kerslake, and so many more. And producers, too – Keith Olsen, Rupert Hine, Martin Birch…I mean, on top of all this loss, it was a BRUTAL year for music in general. Releases pushed back, tours cancelled, production companies and crew all losing their entire livelihoods. It’s been financially terrible, even for me, and I’m one of the lucky ones who doesn’t subsist on it.

We’ve all found our own ways to scratch the creative itches this year, and I find it kind of sad that my band has only managed one release, though I’m still proud of it. Check it out if you haven’t. I’ve only managed to write one song, which is an improvement over past years, but it only exists because I lost someone important to me. And it’s only okay, to me. Better than nothing.

I think I’ve talked before about how much fun I’ve been having just jamming out on guitar and bass, trying to noodle on old stuff and keep up my chops while we’re not playing. But I’ve even kind of grown tired of that. I meant to do that tonight and instead I spent a few hours playing old recordings of my previous bands and looking at old pictures with my daughter. Which was lovely, but not really productive. AND…

Tonight has been a total abandonment of my commitment to being a little more respectful of my body. I mean, I’d set a bedtime for myself of no later than 10pm, and it’s now 12:53am as I type this. Big fail. But I’m not going to beat myself up or anything. I’m just going to do better tomorrow.

I hope we all have a lovely week, and I hope everyone stays healthy and safe. Coronavirus is NOT done with us, and we need to be more vigilant again. Cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are all on the rise, and our current leadership is doing NOTHING to help us. They’re too busy lying to the American people about the results of an election they lost, and stoking their scared, real-information-starved followers’ fear, which could lead to actual violence and discord. All because they can’t be statesmen and don’t honestly care about people at all. They just need them as tools for their political success. But we’re not going down that road. This isn’t the place or the time.

Take care, wear your mask, wash your hands, be good to people, show love even to the angry 70 million people who voted for the orange conman, and do your best to acknowledge your privilege, whatever it may be. Black lives matter.

Peace be the journey!

TMS