The Machine’s Pump Volume 23 – #5 – May 2020
Well, we’ve been in quarantine mode for about three months. I don’t think I’m too psychologically damaged yet, but the new reality is really starting to set in. And you feel it, too, I’m sure. There is no back to normal for a while, right? So, each of us should probably be making customized personal plans about how to live, as we try to transition out of isolation into question mark. There is no well-organized, empathetic national leadership to provide guidance and hope. We’re pretty much on our own. And now massive protests and riots are erupting all over the country, sparked by the recent murder of George Floyd, in Minneapolis, and the general frustration over escalating police violence and brutality everywhere. Hmmm. Things aren’t looking so good, I guess. But on the positive side, parts of our house are cleaner than they’ve been in a very long time. Yep! I’ve done some scrubbing and some caulking and some hammering and some crude building and, apparently, will do more. The Brave Combo office needs attention, too. It’s currently a mess, I’m sorry to say. I would love to turn the front of our space into a Brave Combo museum, of sorts and transform the back area into a small theater/video performance studio. I’ve ditched the Ferris Wheel idea. Way too ambitious. But we are rich in BC memorabilia, so why not dream. Plus, every musician/artist must be thinking about how to make video performances interesting and special. It’s sad to say, but even before the virus moved to town live music was in big trouble. Today’s entertainment-geared audience is not the same creature it was in the glory days. Musicians are no longer automatically the centers of attention, they are but one center of attention, in a dense forest of attention-grabbing critters. It’s time to reinvent certain aspects of what stage dwellers do for a living. I’m pretty excited about the challenges and have jumped into the fray, video-wise, and am now trying to figure out how to, indeed, make something interesting and special.
Speaking of that, I’ve been promising new releases for well over a year and (drum roll, cymbal crash) here they come! Every song from the new collection will be accompanied by a video and the first one of the bunch is now available for your enjoyment. So, enjoy! It’s our modern arrangement of “The Clarinet Polka” and it features the phenomenal Robert Hokamp on guitar, playing the melody usually occupied by, obviously, a clarinet. As most of you know, Robert joined Brave Combo after Jeffrey Barnes left the band about five years ago. He played with us for a few years and then traded Denton for Los Angeles. Anyway, enough about Los Angeles. Just before Robert moved, we recorded some groovy stuff and the long road to music videos began. I will say this gives me a lot to think about other than cats, dogs, pandemics, cities on fire, and the unraveling of society. Hey, speaking of society unraveling, I was just wondering if we’d made America great again, yet? Are there any signs of that happening?
On June 5, live in Denton, I will be introducing a drive-in showing of the movie TRUE STORIES at Rubber Gloves (parking lot?) and will probably be playing a few songs, as well. The show is being produced by our local super-hip terrestrial downtown radio station, KUZU-FM. The audio for the movie will be broadcast on KUZU-AM.
Concert in June. Brave Combo is pleased to be part of a virtual concert series, presented by the great city of San Marcos. Specific details will follow (watch our itinerary) but mark Thursday, June 25 on your calendar as musical fun day!
Speaking of concerts, who knows what the future holds, especially the immediate future. Regular ol’ rowdy shows are hard for anyone to imagine, even those determined to display their love of freedom, no matter the consequences. All I know is that I have to go find some sticks to be arms and legs of a Styrofoam torso, which will soon be dancing in one of our new videos. Hey, scientists are reporting that the recent lack of human activity has actually caused a noticeable positive step in the right direction where climate change is concerned. Too bad we can’t figure out a way to continue that trend. Also, Denton has a lot of loud motorcycles and pickup trucks. Don’t forget, music might help!