Post by Alyssa! on Sept 29, 2012 3:43:04 GMT -5
Points well taken, particularly about the culture war. Greg's been talking a fair bit about this, interspersing with his increasingly effective and complicated ideas about community organizing and band work. He started Speaker for the Dead in response to personal frustrations and music-community issues, and over time has developed this loose network of 50 or so US musicians that are part of the band, usually playing in iterations of 15-18 people, playing folk punk for as many people as will listen (5 to 50 to 200), touring on occasion, constantly adding members and playing strange shows for the hell / good purpose of it. I've gotten used to his and his network of punk friends' approach to politics and community values, not without problems, but often able to wizen and realign itself pretty effectively when faced with clear conflict. He also happens to be an effective manager and a talented songwriter, which creates all kinds of positive feedback loops and stuff like this happens. No matter what goes on in the national scene, I'm glad there are pockets of this stuff, I hope to stay within them.
for a moment, apologies. One of these days! Wa, wa.)