Wednesday, December 7, 2016

And clenching your fist for the ones like us who are oppressed by the figures of beauty. You fixed yourself, you said, “Well never mind, We are ugly, but we have the music.”

Pickles.
Another post reflecting on the loss of life.
Last weekend a fire broke out at an Oakland art collective called Ghost Ship. Over 30 people lost their lives and the building was completely destroyed.
It is a horrible tragedy that has taken me a few days to get my head around.
There has been much chatter on the interwebs about the building not being safe, the manager being a slime, and the number of illegal occupants.
First, can the family and friends of the people lost grieve?
With the immediacy and availability of media it seems like though news travels fast (and fake news even faster) that there is little to no pause in any information. I did not know any of the people personally who lost their lives, but I know and have known plenty of people who have and had occupied spaces like Ghost Ship. I mean, I was in SF in the 1990s.

I heard a conversation on BART between two people that truly had no idea what they were talking about in regards to the tragic fire.
One quipped that art space collective occupants should pay an extra fee (like a HOA), so that they can ensure that all codes are up to snuff. What?!? This guy had obviously never bought groceries from Safeway using only nickels. The other person wondered why anyone would want to live in such a big building with so many people. "The noise alone!"  (Erica plants her palm to forehead)
Had they been even slightly LESS clueless, I might have interjected, but I saved my energy for another time.

Once people have had a chance to grieve what kind of "solutions" will be proposed?
I am already reading about businesses close to spaces like Ghost Ship complaining and making the claim they are not safe- a popular term I have seen a couple of times is "crackdown."  Great. I am pretty confident that the artists will not benefit.
There is an alleged art grant specifically for Oakland artists that is supposed to help in securing spaces and keeping the creative scene vibrant. We will see. The press conference was canceled that was going address the grant. So stay tuned.

Art is the what makes life interesting.

And in the current climate of the world we need art more than ever.

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Don't you know me Kansas City?

It has only been two weeks since the election? Holy tomatoes! I thought it was like a month ago.
I have read crap on social media, traditional news outlets, blogs, had many conversations in person and online, and watched political satire television on the subject. My head hurts.
Am I surprised? Not at all.
Did I think that the next president was going to be a woman?
I wanted the next president to be a woman.

Speaking to a colleague about the election, I wanted her perspective on the whole thing.
She is African-American and part of the LGBTIQA community and I super respect her opinion on just about everything, so I felt comfortable asking her thoughts on the election.
This is the brief summary of the conversation.
Wear a safety pin, a Black Lives Matter teeshirt, donate to the ACLU, protest, create a support group or whatever. Just stand by what you are doing/wearing.
Be okay with yourself.
 Racism (and all the rest of it) didn't magically reappear after an 8 year absence. Yes, it is horrifying to read the news, but it has been here all along. Hateful people are lashing out at those they think oppress them. And because Trump was elected they think that shit will be okay.

It is not okay. That is why I can't subscribe to the "let's see how this all plays out," attitude.


 Here is a website that a friend has put together-
https://www.beforeitgetsworse.com/

There are some really helpful resources and great links to all kinds of ways one can take action.

There are many ways to protest. As a responsible parent I have to protest, but as a responsible parent I am not going to follow protesters onto the freeway.

I want to support my community and if you do to, I am sure there are organizations in your own backyard that could use some help.
Can't donate much time?
Money is always good.
If you are not sure how the money is spent. Call the organization.
Want to check on the politicians who represent your district, city, state, and the like? Call them. Email them.
I called Barbara Lee, my representative for my district and left a message with her office. I got an email back that she was part of a coalition of representatives who were putting pressure on pres-elect to not have Bannon as his strategist.
I called some publishers who have titles that focus on bullying and asked them to send free copies to Oakland Unified School District.
I am putting together a list of local resources for the students I serve, who are afraid for their safety.
After this post I will probably donate some money to Planned Parenthood.

Being heard is important. Nothing is going to happen overnight, and I cannot sit by waiting for someone else to make noise.



Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Memphis Skyline

Pretty much all of my 2016 posts have been about death and  loss and I will be starting this one with the same subject.

A friend of mine was killed in a hit and run a month ago. Helping her spouse was my main concern and I honestly can say that I did not really cry about the loss of my friend for about a week or so after it happened.
In the age of texting, I have grown accustomed to sending a quick message to a friend about something random and it seems that I have wanted to do that about 20 times since she died.
I have been writing them down in my journal. I guess it is part of my healing process.
This terrible tragedy has banded the tribe together. I check in with them a lot more than I did 4 weeks ago. I don't think there would be a dispute that I am the planner of the group, but even with that unofficial title I have got caught up in my own stuff and not been as active of a participant in my friendships.
Not to sound cheesy, but life is too short.

It is strange to me that a death has given me a new lease on life. Though I don't think of myself as a person who is uneasy trying new things, or a "uhhh, I can't do this."
This does not mean that I am going to jump out of an airplane or get a some kind of botox done, it means that I am going to seek out opportunity and not fall into the daily ruts.

I love my friends, I am going to make plans to see them more often.
Don't think that I can submit an article for possible publication, because I don't have time, or it won't get published anyway. Bollocks. I can put something together.
I want my daughter to try roller skating. BAM! She has an interest in something. As long as it is not totally unfeasible, I say let's give it a go.

I had a conversation with someone awhile ago that said to me that keeping up friendships was too much work. She was too old to bother with all the egos, opinions, and personalities. Thinking back on this conversation I have to chuckle a bit. Isn't that what it is all about? I love that some of my friends are needy, picky, flaky, and really I could go on and on and on and on, because that is what makes them who they are...
Can it be annoying? Absolutely. But who cares?!? As I said before, life is too short and as long as they want to hang out with me then it is all good.
I guess what I am trying to say is that I love my friends and I am really going to miss my friend who died.

Thursday, June 16, 2016

No clever title for this blog post

It has taken me a couple of days to really get my head around what happened at the Orlando nightclub last weekend. I have made a conscious decision to not watch any talking heads report it, instead choosing NPR and some hand picked news agencies via the interwebs.

 I thought about the community that was struck by this horrific tragedy. For some, this space could have been the only place they felt free to be themselves. Someone mentioned to me that Orlando is urban, but the surrounding areas are not and there could have been people coming there who traveled quite a  distance because it was the only place around where they felt safe. I couldn't bare to listen to what the politicians had to say, because they don't understand. The last time I checked there were no LGBT people of color running for president or sitting in wait, Takano. I will check out if he has said anything. Anyway the MO of many elected officials  is of making sure all Americans are safe, yeah, well why don't we work on making it less terrifying for trans people to leave their house. Just saying.

I have been remembering all the times I had been at the Lexington or the Cafe, Ginger's, Wild West, the Stud, or El Rio  with my friends and friends of friends who welcomed me to share their space with them. How I walked side by side with my friends at Dyke March year after year, and always trying to convince one of my lady friends with a bike to let me ride on the back during the parade. 
I thought about how I brought my young daughter to PRIDE parades. 
Yes, I donated money to Equality Florida and I am gathering monies to donate to the Orlando Center directly. 
The same friend I was talking to said that it is important to support those in our own backyard too. 
I agree. This was a hate crime and giving support (volunteering, donating, whatever) to make safe spaces. 
If we have to call it something bland like public safety, then be it. I am all for public safety. 
I typically don't like air my politics in information superhighway and my next post will probably be music related.

In my house we don't use the word hate. Hate is a bad word.  If we don't like something, we say "I don't care for it." If she says she doesn't like someone I ask why (lucky for me it usually because they didn't share and it only lasts for a few minutes), because I don't want things to go unchecked. She understands to be gracious and that everyone is deserving. Even if they sometimes cut in line. To me, I would rather my daughter say the word fuck than hate. 

Thursday, April 28, 2016

The Beautiful Ones

I was talking with one of my student workers about grieving on the internet via social media type platforms and we both agree that it is totally fine to do...
So here goes.
I was not always the biggest fan of Prince's music, but I appreciated him as an artist and person.
He seemed to have a healthy relationship with his persona and was not afraid to make fun of himself.
My relationship with Prince and his music was over the Purple Rain period.  I loved the soundtrack, but did not see the movie until cable. And boy oh boy- was that movie on A LOT.
My cousin and I could recite the dialogue to each other. There was a boy I liked that hung out with a girl who liked him too and so the song "the Beautiful Ones," was a page out of my diary and I listened to it over and over and over and over and over again.
I have been reading a lot of Prince music commentary and there has been mention of many of the cuts from the Purple Rain soundtrack, but I have only one article which singles out the song and you can find it here.
http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/beautiful-ones-the-moment-prince-became-a-movie-star-20160422
It is mostly about his performance of the song in the movie (which is still one of my favorite moments in a movie), but the song stands on its own. Though it is hard to push out the imagery if you have seen Purple Rain.
The song begins with Prince singing in a kind of falsetto voice and keyboard accompaniment. It gradually builds to full band participation and some talk lyrics about getting married. He quips that "the beautiful ones always smash the picture, always every time." To me, this indicates that besides going out on a romantic limb, the writer of the song also knows that she is probably not the best choice even if the love interest in question decides to choose  him.
After many questions to the love interest, Prince in  Prince-screaming fashion sings the  lyrics " I want you!," and "Baaaby, baby, baaaby!" And trust me, I am not doing the song justice. It is powerful.
The song is an inner dialogue of deciding you want to be with someone and there being obstacles for which you have little control.
At one point, he sings "u make me so confused, the beautiful ones, u always seem to lose," this to me is not commentary, but emotionally charged ego romance stuff. Other tunes of this era were coming from a more sexually charged part of his psyche- "Take Me with U," and "I Would Die 4 U," are more of the love song-y kind of thing.
I have always wondered why it wasn't released as a single. Half the record was released as singles and charted in the top 25.
I mean, hello!

A friend of mine did a record club and we would bring our vinyl and listen to cuts and explain why we chose the record and the song.
I don't remember exactly what I said as to why I chose it, but I know it was my thirteen year old self who was behind it.

The beautiful ones
Always smash the picture
Always...every time...





Thursday, February 4, 2016

Up there --- there is a sea

I just finished Patti Smith's latest literary work "M Train." I really enjoyed it. It is a quiet book that reflects on life, love, and writing about nothing.
I admit, sometimes Patti Smith's references go over my head and on more than one occasion I had to look up an author, poet, or novel to help me attempt to understand what she was talking about or how it related  to her prose.
"M Train," is still written in the good ol' Patti Smith style and there was one chapter, or vignette that struck a chord in me. She writes about how Fred (her late husband) liked to live as if the clock has no hands. For me, I live this way. Not in a sense that I am late for appointments or think deadlines are arbitrary, but that time ages you and feeds the monster of procrastination. Yes, I am older and I do not devote as much time to my artistic endeavors, but I am always looking for avenues to express myself (This is a blog post, right?) And the drive I have to create is still in me and I don't think it will ever go away. My interests have changed and my desire for a large audience has diminished, but I still like makin' stuff.  This theme was carried throughout the book along with how she spends her days.
Patti is really into solitude. I find that as I get older I do not want to spend my time alone so much. I mean yes, I want "me" time and blah, blah, blah. But I like interacting with people I care about.
Being a parent has also encouraged me to introduce adventures to my daughter. I want to travel with her and watch her reaction to experiences. Not all experiences have to epic; a sunset, jokes (usually at Papa's expense) at the grocery store, or drawing silly pictures all work for me. Yes, I want to take my kid to see the Eiffel Tower or the Trevi Fountain, but  she rode her bike for the first time at the cemetery by our house and she had a blast. To me they are the same(ish).
I got into a game on my smart phone a few months ago. It was one of those Candy Crush kind of games. I played it for over a month and I realized that I was spending a lot of my free time playing it. I got irritated with myself and deleted it. I have no idea what it was called and I don't miss it. I don't want to spend that much time looking at my phone. Not sure what my point was...Oh yeah! Even though most of my work day is spent talking to people, I don't crave solitude. Experiences with others is my game.
My grandmother taught me that life happens in cycles and is fluid. Consequences of a circumstance can alter how one's current cycle is proceeding and many people do not like the changing of cycles and have a hard time with the transition.
I don't want to use the blanket statement that I am enjoying the simple things in life, because yes, I am, but no, it is more complicated than that.
So Patti I agree with you, it is hard to write about nothing.
Thanks for the read.

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Under the moonlight, this serious moonlight...

David Bowie, I love your latest recording. I have not been able to listen to it since I heard you died, because I am afraid I will cry.
All week I have  read famous and non-famous people's reactions to your passing. I wanted to write something, but I couldn't start it until today.
I am so happy I had the opportunity to see you perform three times. Each time was amazing and I  think that the Glass Spider tour was my favorite. Though Serious Moonlight was my first big concert and Sound and Vision was my favorite set list (and Adrian Belew), the Glass Spider tour had all the theatrics. And Peter Frampton! 

Your music has been woven so deep in my sonic fabric that I am afraid that my entire soundtrack blanket will be unraveled, with all that is left in a heap on the floor. 
A friend of mine was super into Bowie in 8th grade. She bought a book that had about 350 pictures of him and we spent an entire night, cutting up the book and putting the photos on her walls. She also introduced me to the deeper cuts and not-so-commercial albums. She had an import of "Pin Ups," which is an album of all covers. She also had like 6 different versions of "V-2 Schneider."
I think that whole summer was David Bowie.

When I decided to move to San Francisco, I remember listening to the German version of "Heroes," 
I think that "Heroes," is probably my favorite of his...mmm, well I really like "Absolute Beginners" too.

I dragged my friend to go see the movie "Absolute Beginners." Yes, it is not a great movie, I remember looking over at my friend about half way through the movie and she was squeezing and poking at her hand.  The soundtrack is really good though and David Bowie is one of the best parts of the movie. I mean the lyrics are so good in the title song----


I've nothing much to offer
There's nothing much to take
I'm an absolute beginner
But I'm absolutely sane
As long as we're together
The rest can go to hell
I absolutely love you
But we're absolute beginners
With eyes completely open
But nervous all the same

Then there is "Panic in Detroit," "Ricochet," "Fame," "Rock and Roll Suicide," "Starman," "Aladin Sane----OHHH Aladin Sane! That whole record is rad! 
What about the band Tin Machine? They rocked!

Thinking about the song "Starman," it starts on IV and the chorus is the only part that begins on the tonic. There is reverb on the vocals and open position chords to create the "in space," feeling. The instrumentation is reminiscent of "Space Oddity," but still its own thing. 
Speaking of "Space Oddity," David Bowie used a Stylophone. I mean c'mon! There are 15 (I think) different chords used and in 5 minutes there is an intro, two verses, two bridges, two- four bar acoustic guitar breaks and the "lift off," portion, which sounds kind of like the crazy crescendo  part in the Beatles' "Day in the Life." And the song still is able to have a sense of quiet and repose.
Can't forget songs from his later albums "Afraid," from the album "Heathen," is amazing and he does a really good Pixies cover of "Cactus."
Really, I could go on and on about all the amazing music he wrote, how he was a decent actor, and seemed like a decent person, but I won't.

David Bowie was so much to so many people that I will just say this...
Let's dance!
Put on your red shoes and dance the blues.


Monday, January 4, 2016

The Unheard Music -- A letter to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on why the band X deserves to be nominated.

To Whom It May Concern,

I would like to formally request to nominate the band X to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. To make sure that the band is eligible, the criteria will be checked and noted.
First recording must have been released at least 25 years ago.  X released a single on Dangerhouse records in 1978 and their full length Los Angeles in 1980. Check.
The potential nominee must have demonstrated “unquestionable musical excellence.” Whew-E! Is that vague and colloquial or what? I mean, hello, music is subjective and let’s face it, tastes differ. Who are these 600 voters? Do they like punk rock? Female vocals? Ray Manzarek production values? I have so many questions, which I will never find the answers. So, I will do my best to state my case.
For your consideration-
X has had minor success on the music charts, but the Velvet Underground were inducted and they did not have much commercial success when they were a band.  X is considered by many music critixs and musicians as the “seminal LA punk band.”  To me their music is a snapshot into a moment that can be different things to different people. The first time I heard them I was 13 years old and just discovering punk rock on my local college radio station. Though I favored hardcore, X provided me with a more colorful soundtrack to my teenage angst. X emerged out of the Los Angeles punk rock scene in the late 1970s. The band’s two songwriters John Doe and Exene Cervanka are poets first and their lyrics painted expressionist scenes of California water colors. Billy Zoom’s rockabilly twang guitar with tape echo effect added to the beauty of poison and DJ Bonebrake is still one of the best drummers to hear and see live. His hard hitting is done with finesse and precision and the guy is like sixty years old.  “Johnny Hit and Run Pauline,” is a rocking tune with anti-rape lyrics, “Los Angeles” is a punk classic according to many lists on most alterna-mags and of course, the internet.  “See How We Are,” explores “progress,” and those who are left behind. With a hue of ennui, the music is acoustic (for the most part) and the message is presented with a quiet frustration.  “Burning House of Love,” is about Exene and John Doe’s divorce, bittersweet with super guitar hooks. The entire record, “More Fun in the New World,” is a love letter to the United States in the early 1980s. There are anecdotal songs, “I See Red,” which seems to be about the ills of touring. “The New World,” is a call to point out the confusion of the politics of the day, though done in a way where it could be relevant for the last few presidents.
The last time I saw X, which was just two weeks ago, they played “I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts.” My roommates in the 1990s can testify that is one of my favorite songs. The music is not hard hitting punk tune, but a meandering adult lullaby about the anxiety of living in a world of extreme poverty, social unrest, and violence. Using band names from the scene from which they emerged, they quip that popular music is a new British Invasion and that one cannot hear their own comrades on the local radio stations. Perhaps the band is eluding that the problems at home are clouded by distraction of the other.
Of course I recommend that you listen to the songs mentioned in my letter as well as, “Hungry Wolf,” We’re Desperate,” “Black and White Ghost,” “Fourth of July,” “Love Shack,” “Blue Spark,” “ The Have Nots,” and “Riding with Mary.” Unquestionable musical excellence? Check.
My favorite musicologist, Eddie Vedder is a big fan of X and the band opened for Pearl Jam on their 2012 European and South American tour dates. Ray Manzarek loved the band and produced their first four records. The song “Los Angeles,” is part of a curated piece in your museum, “500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.” Is Cheap Trick on that list?

Thank you for your time,

Erica Watson





https://rockhall.com/inductees/induction-process/