Country Music Fan

I just wanted to respond to Fish Griwkowsky’s review of the newly released CD Written in Chalk by Buddy and Julie Miller [Listen, March 12, SEE #789].

The CD is hokey and credible. To lump these two in with most of the pap that is “contemporary country music” is unfair, as is implying that what they do is formulaic. It’s really not. It comes from the heart and from a love of traditional country and folk music. These people are just big old countrified geeks who love making music. This kind of music is never going to be “cool” or “edgy,” but if you’re okay with that, it will quietly kick your ass with strong writing, skilful musicianship, and great production.

There’s a whole circle of people out of Austin and Nashville mostly (a few of them appearing on this album) who are producing some really decent music. They include people like Patty Griffin and Alison Krauss. By all accounts, Robert Plant has enjoyed keeping company with these folks, which isn’t a huge shocker, really. The great thing about hanging with the geek crowd is that you can just relax and be yourself. It’s not surprising that some genuine and great music has come out of that atmosphere. 

It is a sad day in Edmonton’s musical, theatre, and comedy communities, and a sad day for Orion’s Belt and the Busker’s Ball. Joe Bird (José Oiseau) died today [Thu., April 2]. Ironically, he was most noted for bringing a smile to Edmontonian’s faces, either as a member of Hookahman, 3 Dead Trolls in a Baggie, as that wacky busker in a dress in front of the Elephant & Castle on Whyte or cracking wise as host and sound tech at O’Byrne’s open stage.

Though I never really knew him as a close friend, he never failed to bring a smile to my face when we worked together or bumped into each other on the street going our own ways. I will raise a beer and salute your free-spirited ways and hopefully I will be able to smile remembering.

Judy Rebick says: “Only the people who have the most radical views would say elections don’t matter; we don’t need political parties. What I’m saying is that we have to transform power. We can’t get rid of power. To me representation should mean RE-presentation. It should mean for me as a leader, my goal is to RE-present what people are saying to me.” [Politics Without The Capital ‘P,’” April 2, SEE #801]

Rebick is right that legitimate political power flows from the bottom to the top. But the “leader” inevitably makes a choice as to whose voice is “RE-presented.” The truth is that there is a cacophony of voices.

The Reform Party used to make this same claim — that they’d listen to their constituents. But once in power, they listened to George Bush instead.

“Jeffryh” on April 6 at 1:56 p.m

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