My Sisters & Brothers...

I wanna say to my sisters and my brothers - keep the faith
When the storm flies and the wind blows, go on at a steady pace
When the battle is fought, and the victory's won
We can all shout together, we have overcome
We'll talk to the Father and the Son
When we make it to the promised land

CH:
If we walk together, little children we don't ever have to worry
Through this world of trouble we gotta love one another
Let us take our fellow man by the hand try to help him to understand
We can all be together, forever and ever when we make it to the promised land

Our Bible reads ‘thou shall not be afraid’
Of the terror by night or the arrow that flies by day
Nor for the pestilence that waiteth in the dark
Nor for the destruction that waiteth in the noon day hour …CH.

This world is not our home. We’re only passing through
Our trail is all made up way beyond the blue
Let us do the very best that we can while we're travelin' through this land
We can all be together, shakin' a hand when we make it to the promised land….CH.

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John 13:34  I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

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This song his one that has become a regular classic in our repertoire at church. I first heard it years and years ago on a Thursday night at Brownies when Splintered Sunlight (shout out, Mikey B!) played there weekly. I loved the singalong vibe of the song. It was one of my first “non CCM” offerings to our playlist. Yes, it is a strait up gospel song so, yea I guess it’s not “secular spiritual” but I choose it anyway for this week. Because I need it. Sue me.

I wanna say to my Sisters and my Brothers…keep the faith

While….”the greatest of these is Love” …. we are in a moment where, arguably, Hope is a close, if not equally urgent, second.

At his tour kick off in Europe this past week, Bruce Springsteen offered a spirited perspective on the current state of things in America… He sighted the kidnapping of immigrants & brown people w/out due process, impending oligarchy and the rising (I recently heard it called) “Taliban of America” aka Christian Nationalists…

Ooff…It was heavy. It confronts things I want to ignore so I can stay in what seems to be a blessed existence in a comfortable life…. “seems to be”…as long as I don’t break a wrist or need a new roof anytime soon… or wake up black or brown…
Yeah I mean, otherwise thank you Jesus for America. Thank you for choosing us to be your special kids who deserve it all better than everyone else!!
Okay… sorry. I got snarky there. I get snarky around this stuff… It’s a trigger. I can’t shake it even though I know I need to. My anger at Christians…
A culture, a community who raised me to help the poor, give away my possessions and put the WWJD in front of every decision…arresting & exiling people who fled oppression, danger and poverty in search of salvation… just like my great great grandmother, Mary Cassidy, who journeyed like cargo in boat basement over the Atlantic at age 11. Towards salvation from poverty, famine and starvation…
Into the open arms of my great country…
Now we’re othering everyone that’s not falling in line with one dudes/administrations preferential demands… That’s not my great country. That is not “love for one another.”

The Boss closed with a quote from James Baldwin: “In this world there isn’t as much humanity as one would like, but there’s enough.’ Let’s pray.”

When the storm flies and the wind blows….Go on at a steady pace…

A steady pace…

There is nothing better than playing with a good drummer. Except maybe playing with a good bass player too. A solid rhythm section and you’ve got the keys to the kingdom. Start’er up and you are glo-ree bound! Just stay outta the way. Get in the carpool lane and close your eyes. Ok, corny time-and-space-symbolism aside. I’m pretty lucky. I get to play a lot of music. With great players. A lot of them I consider my best friends. And I’ll be a shameless, humble bragging name dropper til I have no breath as my heart over flows with pride and love for this monstrously talented and humble crew I call my community. In the words of the Great, John Prine “how lucky can one man get”.

A good drummer and bass player can make 9p-1a feel like 40 minutes. Sprinkle in a world class chicken picker, pedal steal and harmony angel… and, friend, you are sitting about as high as a giraffe on Denali. You see, a good drummer marks time with fluidity & consistency in such a way that you can forget time. He/she’s remembering for you. All you have to do is breath and let your body take over. Outta your head. Into the river. Takes you where it goes… if you let it. Enjoy the ride. Ronnie & I have a saying when we ride bikes: “if you’re not smiling you’re doing it wrong!” A good drummer. A steady beat. Makes it pretty damn easy to smile.

This world is not our home. We’re only passing through…

Life on tour… Last night Philly Nelson played the Brickette Lounge (you know - that place with the really good brisket and the neon cowboy hat sign… no - I’m not talking about Heaven. it’s in the sticks of West Chester, PA). The great Josh Kanusky who toured the world with David Bromberg for the last decade plus was on ‘the tubz’. He’s a rock. In a weary land. Phil D’Agostino was on bass. He needs no explaining. Just ask any musician in the greater tristate area. Two masters at the wheel. I don’t remember a lick of it (I’ve been sober since November, btw). I just feel amazing. Sore as hell. But… amazing. Fulfilled. Like I just finished building a new house or completed a strong man marathon… The “ick-less” feeling of wellness permeating muscles and bones… ntm, a Benji each, free beers & brisket! If you’re into that…Not a bad gig… Unless there’s a shitty drummer. Ooff. Then you’re in hell.

I’m the singing, guitar strumming “front guy” for Philly Nelson. It’s my band. That just means it’s my concept. I book us. I call the plays, etc. But, that’s just the means to the goal, the mission; to court great players into playing gigs with me so I can bask in their brilliance for an evening. Maybe soak a little into my tank. A foot wash from the master(s).
But today I have a gig with Frog Holler. My brothers, my band of 23 years. Half my life I’ve been Frog Hollers drummer. We’re a song band. ‘Song is King’… that’s the moto. Serve the song. Support your Brothers (& Sisters) playing the song. That’s the job. Thanks to my Sisters & Brothers, I think I just might know how…

My turn to go wash some feat.
See ya from the throne.

1,2… 1,2,3,4!
d

PS - Thanks Mike B & the Dittilo’s (St. Matt’s Praise Parade!) for being in my video :)\

Gigs:
- Sunday’s 9:30am : St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church / Chester Springs, PA
- 5/18 Frog Holler / West Reading, PA
- 5/22 Manatawny Creek Ramblers / Barley Mów / W. Reading, PA / 6-9p
- 5/23 DSB2 / Other Farm Brewing Co. / Boyertown, PA
- 5/24 Manatawny Creek Ramblers / Sly Fox / Pottstown, PA
- 5/31 Neo Trio / Bob Kesslers 40th / Evergreen Club / Fleetwood, PA
- 6/1 Frog Holler / Toledo, OH
- 6/8 Frog Holler / Union Jacks / Boyertown, PA
- Sunday’s 9:30am : St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church / Chester Springs, PA