The Machine’s Pump Volume 28 – #1 – January 2025

PROTEST
It’s been an interesting January. A new “king” has taken office and he’s surrounded by gold-diggers of one sort or another. And, it appears, our country and our rights have a price, with our future going to the highest bidder. This is the white-privileged 1950s all over again, except with even fewer scruples. And that means we’ll have to do the enlightened 1960s all over again, which sucks big time, but it’s where we are. I don’t want to live in a country which is run by a bully, determined to be the biggest baddest bully in the world. So I have three choices. I can move. I can do my best to ignore what’s going on and enjoy being clueless. Or I can fight back. Well, moving sounds almost impossible; too overwhelming to imagine. And I’ll damn sure pay attention to the end of democracy, especially when it’s being orchestrated by a grim P.T. Barnum and his clown car dumpster fire. So, that leaves option #3. Fight, baby! In the 1960s the thing which finally allowed progressive change was a change of heart in the collective body of the country. The majority finally saw a need for true equality; for everyone to be treated fairly, rich and poor. You know, sorta what Jesus was all about, for all my Christian friends. Well, as it turned out, pop music had a lot to do with bringing people to their senses. The decade became flooded with powerful protest songs and songs about change and everyone getting along and songs about the evilness of money and lust for control. Before you knew it, abusing power and worshipping money became VERY uncool and every musician and band started to reflect that point-of-view. Peace and love took over. Eyes were opened and musicians learned it was way more profitable to get with the program. Being a part of something like the KKK was the squarest thing a dumbass could do and that whole scene became practically invisible. By the time Woodstock happened, the 1950s and its backward mindset was practically gone; not allowed at the party. Even Christians started to act like more like Christians. Ultimately, “hip” became harder and harder to define, but American values seemed to be somewhat intact. Even well into the new millennium, a universal decency seemed to prevail. Now, it seems, everything is up for grabs and nothing can be certain anymore, because one man’s gigantic ego and his little army of rich kids (which includes that guy running Russia) want the whole banana.

So, where are the protest songs? That’s my question and it precedes my challenge. I now call on all musicians who are worried, dismayed, pissed-off, freaked-out or whatever, about the way things are going, to start writing and/or performing protest music. If you’re a 10-year-old just learning how to record in your bedroom or if you’re the biggest star on the planet, compose, record and release those feelings! And make the lyrics clever and biting and the melody irresistible, with some solid hooks. Focus on this and don’t be shy. And, who knows? You might come up with something good which you’ll continue to perform years after this immediate crisis has passed.

That’s all I have to say this month. Talking about how much fun a gig is going to be seems too, well, a bit out-of-touch. I mean, check our itinerary, for sure, if you’re interested. A lot of new dates will be added soon. But, right now, let’s save democracy by making the alternative unfashionable and undesirable, because it’s so uncool. Become the musical avant-garde! I remember one time, we were checking into a motel after a show somewhere in the Midwest and we were discussing music with the sleepy desk clerk, who was from India, and had a strong accent. And he kept mentioning silly ass music. And we said we played silly ass music. And he said, “No, SERIOUS music!” And we all laughed!