Okee dokee folks … I wrote the previous issue’s column before the United States had its recent IQ test. Well, we failed. The dumbing down of America is complete. Ignorant, racist, bigoted, misogynistic, homophobic, xenophobic, and gullible people have once again hired the most unqualified, vile, criminal, racist, sexually predatory, narcissistic, sociopathic, traitorous “person” to ever be put in charge of this country and who will quickly become the laughing stock of the world. Already the joke in other countries is ”What borders on stupidity? Canada and Mexico.” For you religious folks that see the mango moron as Jesus, you do know that he encompasses all of the seven deadly sins, right? What will be installed to power in January will be the dictionary definition of a kakistocracy; look it up. In all honesty, with the parade of unfit individuals that are being selected for the cabinet we really are going to be experiencing Idiocracy; look it up. They may have won but we all lost. One of the best and most brilliant writers in modern times, Isaac Asimov, is quoted as saying, “When stupidity is considered patriotism it is not safe to be intelligent.” If you don’t read Heather Cox Richardson already, you should, it will be one of the only sources of sanity in days to come. She included this in one of her recent essays, “Education is fundamental to democracy because only educated people can accurately evaluate the governmental policies that will truly benefit them.” Musicians and artists tend to be some of the more highly educated and aware people around. Unfortunately they are the ones who will probably suffer the most under this regime. Many artists are low-income, deal with mental health issues (creative minds), are members of LGBTQ community, but are generally the most open and accepting people you will meet. I am honestly disgusted with the Americans who elected this disaster. The ONLY saving grace is that New England is blue. Maybe Canada will annex us? I will wrap this portion of my column with lyrics from “Ship Of Fools” by World Party. “Drawn by the promise of the joker and the fool, by the light of the crosses that burned, you will pay tomorrow. Save me, save me from tomorrow – no, I don’t want to sail with this ship of fools. I want to run and hide.” Read on…
Please support artists and musicians in any way that you can – but financially is the best way. Purchase their work, support the shows, buy their merch, and tip them! Here are a few shows where you can start doing some of these things. Blackstone River Theatre (BRT) in Cumberland is surely one of the best run venues in the state. Russell Gusetti and his staff work very hard to bring you first-rate shows and workshops with the best experiences possible. On Saturday, Dec 7, stop by BRT for the Holiday Craft Fair. They will have 24 craft vendors and live music all day! On Sunday, Dec 8, at 3pm, it’s Seamus Egan’s Good Winter: A Celtic Christmas with Moira Smiley and Yann Falquet. Two shows fill Saturday, Dec14, at 3 and 7pm with Lúnasa – Irish Winter Solstice Celebration with Dave Curley. BRT always presents great shows rooted in the musical heritage of the Blackstone River Valley, as well as world, roots music, traditional/folk, and other styles. Best to get on their mailing list as many of their shows have been selling out! For more, it’s all nearby at brtri.org.
Just in time for the season, the Park Theatre in Cranston is bringing in José “Feliz Navidad” Feliciano for a concert on Friday, Dec 20. Feliciano is recognized as the first Latin artist to effectively cross over into the English music market. He’s garnered over forty-five Gold and Platinum records and has won nine GRAMMY Awards, including the LARAS Award for Lifetime Achievement. José is best known for his covers of songs such as “California Dreaming,” “Light My Fire,” his own “Feliz Navidad,” and ‘Chico and the Man.” For more about this show, “get-tar” over to theparkri.com. Newport Live and Greenvale Vineyards present Nefesh Mountain for a special holiday show on Friday, Dec 13 at 7pm at Greenvale Vineyards in Portsmouth. From their bio, “The New York-based progressive Americana group Nefesh Mountain Band has been hailed as one of the formative boundary-pushing ensembles in roots music. ” Best bet is to just give them a listen for yourself at nefeshmountain.com. They will be bringing along a collective of violinists, mandolinists, pianists, bassists, drummers, and multi-instrumentalists to this show. For more, “a-quid-neck” over to: newportlive.org
Think about this, “A splinter can make a giant miserable.” Stick together and resist, the smallest actions can have an impact. •
That’s it for now. Listen to my podcasts at motifri.com/rootsreportpodcast and find my concert photographs at motifri. com/fuzeksfotos. Thanks for reading and listening. johnfuzek.com