The Machine’s Pump Volume 22 – #5 – May 2019

TOP STORY. Okay, this will be a little difficult to explain, but I have been immortalized in the form of a Dungeons and Dragons playing piece. I am # 4 in a series of well-known Denton characters and myths. To say the least, I am knocked out. The piece recognizes me as a musician and as an animal rescuer, which I appear to be, despite my better judgment at times. My good friend, Ed Steele, spear-headed this honor and I honestly don’t know what to say.
Anyway, if you are interested, you can pick me up at The Bearded Monk in Denton or order me from this link. I’m only about 1 ½ inches tall, so I won’t take up much room on your collectibles shelf.

Yep, it’s getting hot again. Before long, it will be cold again. Years feel like months, months like weeks, weeks like days. We play several annual festivals and events and each time one of these rolls around it’s like it just happened. At least there’s a chance I don’t appear too much older to those fans who see us every year. I know they all look about the same, to me, as they did a year earlier. Anyway, back to the heat and weather concerns, it does seem, as science has predicted, that storms and atmospheric conditions are becoming more extreme. Since I wrote about a tornado touching down near my home, in last month’s MACHINE’S PUMP, there have been a lot more in the North Texas area. Just a few days ago there were eight tornadoes in or near DFW in about a five-hour period, including one which was less than five miles from my house. I know tornadoes are fun and all, but this is a little much, even for those of us who are sorta used to them. But who should be surprised? Almost all of the great meteorological minds in the world have been sounding the climate change-alarm for a while and, indeed, their dire expectations are coming to pass. How comforting it is to know that Commander-in-Chief, Mr. Stable Genius, has vowed to protect us and put our needs above his own selfish desires. One big hunk of our country, which includes parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri (Midland/Odessa to St. Louis) experienced historic tornadic activity for two solid weeks. This is ridiculous, and not in a good way. It’s interesting how unstable everything is; not just the weather, and I believe everyone feels it, to some degree. Are humans going through one of those game-changing evolutionary periods? Maybe we are simply the guinea pigs of the new order and something in our collective soul is trying to make a big ol’ group-enlightenment leap, but elements of our darker tendencies are afraid to move forward, and, indeed, using fear to suppress progress. The unknown is supposed to be scary, right? So, I guess making America great again means being frightened of everything, pissing off everybody and making sensitive situations more volatile. Well, at least the farmers appear to be doing okay.

FUNNY JOKE:
Farmer A: What are you growing this year?
Farmer B: More worried!

FUNNY RIDDLE:
Question: How many Evangelicals can be duped by a con man who is actually dumber than they are?
Answer: All of them!

BREAKING NEWS: Some people will not appreciate the previous joke or riddle. So, I would like to apologize to anyone who was offended. I also would like to apologize to that guy in Wisconsin who used to write us threatening emails, warning us we better not set foot in his state again. And I would like to apologize to those people who didn’t like our music in the early days and would throw stuff at us. And I would like to apologize to that white-power, giant-pick-up-truck-driving redneck for not thinking he’s cool when he blows intentional black smoke out of his exhaust (are you aware of this new trend?). I am so sorry.

Here’s a thought. As you may have heard, the powers-that-be have declared UFOs are real and have been flying willy-nilly, almost running into our planes and jets recently, doing all kinds of fancy maneuvers, zooming around really fast, making impossibly precise turns. It would be pretty funny if Jesus was flying the lead saucer and this is how he’s returning to Earth. If that’s the case, someone better do something about those kids in cages at the border pretty damn quick. He probably won’t be too keen on that. Popeye wouldn’t dig that either. He might be flying shotgun with Jesus.

The new album (11 tracks) is finished! It is an oddball bunch of songs, I must say. And I have started shooting an oddball bunch of videos to go with them. Everything is sacred and nothing is sacred. That’s where I am trying to be. That’s what Brave Combo is all about. The above-mentioned unknown is NOT always a scary place, you know. It’s often exciting, actually. Abandon your damn comfort zone on occasion. Imagine something you dare not. Whatever, we may or may not make tangible objects from the new tracks or we may make CDs, cassettes and vinyl out of the little buggers. More on this soon!

NOT TO BE MISSED
On Thursday, June 6th, Brave Combo will be opening the Summer in the Park Concert Series, in beautiful San Marcos, Texas. Joining us on stage will be Tim Walsh, our original woodwind player, who will also be performing a laser show during some of our songs. Since this is so hard to wrap your head around, just come to the concert check it out first-hand. The night can be revealed to us all at once. I have no idea how this is going to go or exactly what’s going to happen, but I guarantee it won’t be normal. “Polkas and lasers, polkas and lasers, go together like something and razors.”

ALSO NOT TO BE MISSED
On the next night, Friday, June 7th, Brave Combo will be appearing at Andy’s, on the downtown square in Denton. The show will be videotaped and some of the footage will be part of a BC documentary and some of it may make it into one of our new music videos. We will be playing music AND telling pertinent stories about traveling, finding and writing songs and living an unpredictable lifestyle. So, put on something flashy or sexy or even tastefully understated and make the scene with us.

Okay, that is more than enough. Smile at a stranger, even if you know them. And if you need a friend, go to your local animal shelter. The best buddy you will ever have is there right now, waiting for you. And get ready for a groovy summer!