The Machine’s Pump Volume 21 – #6 – June 2018

Escapism, Escapist! In the midst of your diligence, you should also find ways to disappear. I know we’re all stuck on this roller coaster with no assurance that things will end well and we’re tired of the disorienting nightmare from which we can’t awaken. But life didn’t come with a guarantee of anything. Granted, no one could have predicted the totally upside-down position we currently find ourselves in, but we also didn’t know, just a few short years ago, what an uncontrollable controlling monster social media would become. Things are definitely in a weird-ass mess right now. Stress levels are super high. That’s why you gotta find ways to turn off; to disconnect and remove yourself from reality. Turn on, tune in and drop out, Baby! Dig? Are you feeling my vibrations?

There’s one thing I’ve been wondering recently. Why do we so love to hate? What has been revealed, as our civilization willingly jumps into the avalanche tumbling into the ocean of fire, is that we just love to hate. Our lives suck and it’s gotta be someone else’s fault. It makes us feel better to bitch, moan and blame; to look for a target and find it! And I guess a side-effect is that this mindset gives us a temporary sense of superiority. And, sadly, that must be comforting.

Speaking of escaping, when I was a kid I loved science fiction and horror movies a lot. Seriously. Probably more than you did. I cut out every monster movie ad in the TEXARKANA GAZETTE and bought every issue of the fanzines, FAMOUS MONSTER OF FILMLAND, MONSTER WORLD, HORROR MONSTERS, CASTLE OF FRANKENSTEIN, SPACEMAN and more. Every Saturday night, for years, on Channel 12, out of Shreveport, they showed a double-feature of thrillers. Always black and white, of course. The host was named Evilyn or Evilin. You know, Evelyn, but starting with “Evil.” Well, it just didn’t get better than that. Two movies. Funny, but stupid, skits with fog and spider webs, during the commercial breaks. Snacks. Staying up late. Yay!! One of the standout movies from this experience was THE MANSTER. Although it’s not well-known, there is a famous scene where the star of the movie notices an eyeball growing out of his shoulder, which becomes a second head and then, eventually, an entire other being. Ever see NIGHT OF THE BLOOD BEAST? I liked going to the theater, as well, to see movies like GORGO, THE ANGRY RED PLANET and THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS. You know, the classics. I was pretty obsessed. I knew all about the mainstream stars, like Dracula, The Wolfman, Frankenstein, The Mummy and The Creature From The Black Lagoon, but those guys were just scratching the surface. Get down, Man! Do it all the way or not at all, right?

If you will be in or near New York City, Lancaster (PA), Pittsburgh or St. Louis in the middle of July, pay heed. Check our itinerary right now. Did I mention that BC alums, Bubba Hernandez and Jeffrey Barnes will be doing this group of dates with us? Let’s stumble down memory lane a while.

Our show in New York City (Wednesday, July 18 at 5:30 pm) is being produced by Carnegie Hall. It’s in Bryant Park and promises to be a groovy event. The Carnegie Foundation is presenting five “City-Wide Park Concerts” this summer and had the good wisdom to invite us to headline one. I like smart people who think like we do.

Relevant Joke
Man 1: We played a gig the other night at Slimey Pete’s and the manager said it was the biggest crowd they ever had and all the people who came out said we were also the best band that ever played there. People were freaking out about how great our version of “Smoke On The Water” was. I was particularly fantastic. Some people are saying I was better than Mozart and Prince, combined. And I only play with the best musicians, of course.
Man 2: Wow, really? That’s great.
Man 1: Nah. All lies. But it’s no big deal. I have billions of dollars, anyway. I am pretty damn cool, huh?
Man 2: Yeah, whatever. Can you run me up to Walmart?

Similar Joke
Man 1: I just drove straight home, all the way from Seattle to Denton in just 24 hours. People were cheering me on, all along the way. Cops escorted me hundreds of miles, giving me thumbs-up. Some people were saying I was doing the best job of driving ever and driving the best car ever made. It was solid gold, you know?
Man 2: Damn, really?
Man 1: Nope.

Okay, let’s say adios again and wish each other the best and concentrate on the things we enjoy before we get back into the fray. But you do have to, eventually, get back into the fray. You know that, right? Each of us has to do more than we think we should. You know what I mean. So, relax and then “Hop To It!”