Volume 11 – #9 – September 2008

First of all, cheer up!  Now, on with the newsletter.

I should probably comment on our collapsing economy.  Accumulating wealth is the most important thing in the USA, right?  Uh-oh!

Speaking of the scary unknown, we’ve been working in a haunted studio.  So haunted, in fact, that the owner contacted the television show, PARANORMAL STATE (A&E), to have the place investigated.  And the best part is, I heard something myself (as did three other people present) which could not be explained.  But it really happened.  A low voice mumbled something unintelligible for about a second or two from an open doorway between the control room and the front office, yet no one was there.  We all heard it and reacted.  There is no explanation.

Continuing in the same vein, I have to give the Republicans credit.  They have a knack for pulling scary people out of nowhere.  Really sarcastic, arrogant, “Snidely Whiplash” people.  And there are so many of them.  Believe it or not, my early years were dominated by the First Baptist Church of Texarkana, Texas.  Baptists are Christians, which means that they follow the philosophies and teachings of Jesus Christ.  If you pay attention to what the Bible documents Jesus as doing or saying, it seems that loving your neighbor, even if that person is different from you, and being compassionate are at the tippy top of his words of wisdom.  Worldly achievement isn’t as important as what you are inside.  All the movies I’ve ever seen about Jesus, even the low-budget ones I’ve glimpsed zooming by the Christian TV channels, portray him as the pinnacle of love and understanding, even caring for his enemies.  And, I know specifically what Baptists are taught, which is what I learned and what I saw when I was young.  Most of the people that attended my church appeared to be nice, fair-minded people.  I don’t remember any events where those outside the church were ridiculed or criticized or made fun of as part of the First Baptist teaching philosophy.  It’s just hard to see Jesus as a ranting, judgmental, beefed-up bully.  I don’t know.  Maybe I’ve got it all wrong.  But, I don’t think so.  It’s interesting that, based on what I remember of Jesus’ most famous parables, he seemed liked a raging liberal.  You know, teaching stuff like taking care of the weak, being slow to act, turning the other cheek, not being pious (very, very important to Jesus, it appears) and giving to Caesar what is Caesar’s, as in paying taxes.  Hmmm.  I feel a revolution coming on.  What if making money becomes so impossible, because there is none to be made or becomes so futile because money itself has become worthless?  I wonder if we could find another reason to be alive and even fill our days with meaningful endeavors?  Maybe we will all have the opportunity to find out what Mother Theresa’s life was like.

That leads, logically, into this.  Register to vote, even if you think there’s no hope for your particular cause.  Things really can be different this time around.  Perhaps more minorities will realize their potential power and cast a ballot.  It’s very possible.  And maybe, just maybe, enough intelligent young people will actually understand how important their immediate action is to their own future.  That said, I believe, probably to no one’s surprise, it is time for a change from the party of Bush, even if John McCain has some admirable qualities, failure and devastation are written all over the White House right now and, if my memory serves me well, the country has been dominated by Republicans for eight years.  I choose to put two and two together and think for myself.  And I want a big change in our reputation around the world.  I want a big change in our foreign policies.  I want a big change in how we’re taking care of everyday people in our own country.  I want a really big change in the attitude of our government, which should at least be there to protect us (even Libertarians believe that).  We are feeling somewhat humiliated right now as a nation and our government should be embarrassed and apologetic for myriad reasons.  But, you know what?  I also believe that many things can be fixed faster than we can imagine.  If we can unify all the voices of dissension and focus on the big picture, anything is possible.  If nothing else, I truly feel that if Obama wins, stocks will soar through the roof.  The tide can turn, especially if those groups that have been hijacked by the Conservative Republicans wake up and follow their heart.  No matter what, I’m an Earthling and some day we may be attacked by warriors from outer space and then none of this will matter.  We could all come together behind one goal and finally accept our interdependence, just like in the movies.  That would be the good life.  And, in my version of the movie, the world would adopt the polka as the dance of unity and we would become the official musicians to the world king, who would have to have been hastily appointed.  We could be like live Muzak, controlling the leader’s mood and motivation with our hypnotic sounds.  This would make Brave Combo a way bigger deal than it is now, but we’ll try to remember where we came from.  Where is my damn Hummer Limo Jet full of ice cream bon bons and krugerands?

BIG NEWS.  We, Brave Combo, have finished our new album (almost).  It’s called, THE EXOTIC ROCKING LIFE and contains ten songs you can’t live without, including “Cowering Mess,” “Mission Impossible,” “Honga,” “Louie, Louie (Cha Cha),” “Patricia (Twist),” and the “Peter Gunn Medley.”  We’ll be selling it for a while, only at shows, in a limited-pressing, pre-production, rough-mix form, as a special souvenir, while we finish making the final tweaks.  We plan to have the much-slicker, mass-produced version available by HALLOWEEN, just in time to kick off the holiday season.  Of course, you’ll want both versions, since we’ll make you offers you can’t refuse.  And don’t forget to ask about our magic elixir that settles the heebie-jeebies and the multi-colored strobe candles.  We’re just like the entertainment that accompanied the old traveling medicine shows, promising good health and a calm spirit to those who purchase our unique products.

And, as we wrap up this project, we jump right back into the much-anticipated Brave Combo symphonic polka album, which we recorded at a performance with the Mesquite Symphony Orchestra earlier this year and hope to have it ready to spin on the heels of THE EXOTIC ROCKING LIFE.  Pretty exciting, huh?  Updates as they occur.

We are currently in the throes of Oktoberfest hither and yon, which translates into forgetting troubles and having fun.  Polka can be your release.  It has more power than you think.  Give it a shot, with or without having a shot.  It might make you think about something not depressing, such as polka music.  All roads lead back to the same place in the world of Brave Combo.  Dance down our road when you get a chance.  We’ll be there, playing our guts out, even if you’re the only one there.  Then we’ll take a break and have cookies.  Sweet dreams to every person on the planet.  I mean it.