The Machine’s Pump Volume 27 – #7 – July 2024

THE BLUR
It’s a crazy world, huh? So crazy, in fact, we’re actually getting used to crazy as a normal thing. Jeez, climate change is even making the weather crazy! So much is topsy-turvy. We’re all trapped in a bizarre cartoon, with goofy dragons and walking ketchup bottles! Just a few weeks ago, Biden cratered at a debate with Trump, then Trump got shot at a rally, then Biden dropped out of the race for the Presidency, then Kamala Harris immediately became a huge rock star and suddenly Trump and his grievances sounded weaker and weaker and he became the one who was too old. Totally bonkers, but I didn’t have to recount anything for you. You know all this already. Your head is already spinning. All I can say is think for yourself and don’t be stupid! Some folks have selfish desires to fulfill, which depend on the ignorance of others. Maybe the new civil war everyone is jazzed about won’t be right versus left, but, rather, poor versus rich, with Jesus returning as a sorta Robin Hood superhero guy. And, with that in mind, if you accumulate a lot of wealth and only live to make as much money as possible, you can’t be a real Christian unless you give most of it away, right? You know, the camel/needle thing. Or can that inconvenient Bible verse just be tossed out because getting rich and enjoying the finer things is too damn much fun? Well, if that’s the case, just enjoy the ride and don’t claim to have a cosmic connection to some Heavenly Father and his Heavenly Son. Whatever, this is 2024 and a lot of reality is out of our control. Days come and go and we float along the best we can. Two things. #1. The universe is enormous. It’s insanely enormous. Earth is smaller than tiny and people are even smaller. There is a lot going on which is not on our planet or even in our solar system or even in our sweet little Milky Way galaxy. #2. Don’t be scared. We’re already in Hell and the point of being here is to get out. But the timeline is all up to us, individually. So, chill out and have a good time.

Surely some punk band is calling itself Project 2025 by now.

Speaking of punk, I think I’m gonna start playing guitar more. My friend, Mike Dillon, is a true punk, as a musician and a life traveler. He goes and goes and probably doesn’t think about the horrors of the road much. That’s great. I don’t know how he does it, but rock on! Brave Combo hit it hard from 1979 to 2019. That’s 40 years! Then the pandemic arrived and over the next couple of years we just decided that being in a vehicle for long hours generally sucks. Plus, I always have too much to do at home, anyway, especially now that I’m trying to tend to so many animals. We love climbing on the stage and playing music and making noise and seeing all our friends and fans. We just no longer love all the hassles involved in getting to wherever. Just going from Denton to Austin can be a pretty grueling experience. Thirty years ago it was a ton of fun and we didn’t even have cell phones. Imagine that, although I’m sure you can’t. So, plan your next vacation around a Brave Combo gig. It will enhance your life!

Brave Combo has been on a bit of a vacation, only playing a handful of gigs this summer. Several factors went into that decision, but one concern of mine was being away from home and something happening to our 18-year-old dog, Foxey. Jane would be alone with her if she had a stroke or something and Foxey was not a small dog. Well, indeed, about a week ago, Foxey had a stroke and we had to put her to sleep. She was a tank until the very end, eating and drinking and rarely having an accident in the house. We rescued her whole family in 2006. Her mother, Mama Dog, (MD) died in 2017 and her twin brother, Bobby, died in 2021. Our vet was amazed at how well Foxey was doing for such a big, old dog but also said she was on borrowed time, meaning anything could happen in an instant. And it did. Her ashes are back with us now and I’m not looking for her every five minutes, so I guess that’s an improvement and I finally cried out. Losing a pet is damn hard, even if she makes it to 18!

Speaking of death, life goes on and there’s a lot going on in Brave Combo Land. The first phase of my three-song Tiny Tim project is finished and we’re about to release something beautifully crazy or crazily beautiful. Or just take the crazy out of it. In my opinion, it’s just plain beautiful and a bit ambitious and difficult to explain or describe. You’ll just have to hear it. Working in the studio is almost always cool and groovy. You can quote me on that. Also, new Brave Combo music is about to be released in some form. Maybe as a tub of musical margarine. Spread it on toast and hear a little song. Then go about your day, wondering how the hell we did that and worried about the song stuck in your head, or, rather, throat.

Speaking of beautiful, we will be returning to the very beautiful Bartlett Arboretum, in Belle Plaine, Kansas, on Sunday, August 11, to play music and spread optimism. When September and October roll around we get busy again, playing many live shows conveniently located to us. Please check our itinerary often. We do expect to add a few more dates as polka season gets closer. However, as you know, we play much more than polka music and not every upcoming event is a polka festival. On that note, I’ll say adios and wish you speedy solutions to all your daily problems. Now here’s a little rough song idea to lull you to sleep.