The Machine’s Pump Volume 20 – #8 – August 2017

I had several topics ready to go for this month’s newsletter. I was going to share some cool videos of other artists covering Brave Combo songs and tell you about some influential people who have aided Brave Combo’s career. I planned to go on and on about how busy we will be the next couple of months, listing some not-to-be-missed gigs. I was probably going to rant about something stupid I saw, or heard someone say or do, recently. And I’m sure I would brag about how brilliant and exciting our amazing music is. But there is only one real story right now. It’s not the ridiculous antics of the fake prez. It’s not the removal of poorly made racist statues. It’s not the blinded-by-hate neo-Nazis leading the blinded-by-hate neo-Nazi wannabes. It’s not the irritating North Korean gnat. It’s not Isis, the Taliban, a fucking dumb-ass with a car or terrorists of any sort. It is the destruction and flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey. There is nothing else going on, especially in Texas. It feels like life has stopped. We are all in shock, even those of us in the totally-spared Dallas/Fort Worth area, who have actually been enjoying some of the nicest weather we’ve had all year, while Houston, Rockport, Victoria, Beaumont, Port Arthur and everywhere near these towns and cities have been experiencing unimaginable horror, which hasn’t even fully revealed itself yet. The scale of this tragedy is impossible to wrap one’s head around. I’m sure everyone in the country is watching in the same jaw-dropping disbelief. At times I’m just numb, as one desperate situation after another rolls across the TV or the computer screen. Yep, this definitely clears the slate, for now. If anything positive can come from such an event, perhaps it will help us all see each other as human beings first, political creatures, second. Sadly, though, history shows our memories of uncontrolled compassion to be short-lived. So, it’s important to act now, right now, to help the people (and animals) along the Texas/Louisiana Gulf Coast, who are, at this moment, suffering through an ongoing nightmare. There are lots of ways to make a difference, but the best thing you can do, unless you have a flat-bottom boat, is to give money to the Red Cross or Salvation Army or ASPCA or any number of easy-to-find, legitimate, organizations and charities, who are fully engaged already and in need of extraordinary financial support. So do it! Give some money. At least the guilt from that “there, but by the grace of God, go I” quote should get you motivated. Feeling guilty sucks.

I anticipate many, many bands playing many, many benefits in the coming months, perhaps years. We’ll keep you posted.

If you are interested, and I hope you are, in hearing and seeing Brave Combo do its unique thing, please check our itinerary. Allow us to wear you out. Tension and release are our specialties! There are some super cool things coming up, I just don’t feel much like tootin’ our horns and stuff, as I sit here tonight. Empathy and Sympathy rule!