The Machine’s Pump Volume 28 – #8 – August 2025

Can you feel it? The hemorrhaging of hope from our collective body? Cause it’s happening. There’s a cynicism and distrust growing in this country, which is frighteningly easy to understand. Despite efforts to pretend all is okay and normal, everyone knows things are way off base. The United States government now openly encourages, rewards, and seems to enjoy inflicting cruelty. Some folks in our highest places may be addicted to the thrill of it. Somehow, the USA now stands for whatever a guy like Putin stands for. In fact, everyone is finally afraid to openly criticize or speak ill of our dear leader and his Christian Taliban Zombies. You know, the dreaded CTZ? We’re more like Russia or North Korea every day, with a bully, backed by smaller bullies, forcing his will on every aspect of our lives. I need to start working on “The Dark Ages Polka.” The lyrics could go something like this.

Welcome to yesterday
When everyone was stupid.
When no one knew about science
So everyone was stupid.”

Let’s go back to simpler times
And not live for very long.
Before all the stuff we thought
Was right, was proven wrong.
(chorus)
Dark Ages! Dark Ages!
That’s alright with me
Who needs to know stuff anyway
And there’s nothing here to see.

You know, I would love to talk about music and art or cool, weird revelations. Or yellow jackets. But, no! Truly, so much is at stake, whatever music or art we create must reflect the seriousness of this moment. As I’ve been saying, it still needs a hook and a catchy chorus, if you’re creating a song, but the power of music and art can’t be underestimated. We’ll see what happens, won’t we?

FUNNY JOKE
And along the same lines, here’s a joke I wrote recently.
John: Hey Joe, did you hear about Bob?
Joe: No, what happened?
John: He was leading a safari in Africa and was killed by a water buffalo, he was trying to kill.
Joe: No way! Seriously? That’s hilarious. I wonder if they mounted his head on a piece of wood and hung it in their buffalo bungalow.
John: Ha, ha, ha! I never liked Bob, to be honest.
Joe: Hell, no. He was a jerk.

Hey, Guess what? Like it or not, ready or not, happy about it, or not, polka season is almost upon us again. Make it work for you, my dear, because it works!

RIP Flaco Jimenez. By this point, anyone who cares, knows that Tex-Mex accordion legend, Flaco Jimenez, died recently. He played a three-row button accordion and his style was straight-up Conjunto. He performed with myriad musicians and groups outside his genre, though, and introduced a new audience to the cool sound of the accordion and, of course, achieved pop/rock fame as a member of The Texas Tornadoes. Flaco was one of the first Tex-Mex accordionists to catch my ear and not let go, almost 50 years ago. Brave Combo played on the same bill with him many times, including a concert in London, one in Rotterdam and even at a wedding reception. Flaco broke through the wall. I hope he had a good time.

Okay, I am exhausted and falling asleep. Gotta stop. Please check our itinerary and come out, if you wanna hear us and see us. And protest.