Chad Taylor Blog Post (3/17/12) Options

[World Dreamer]

03/17/2012 by TheChadTaylor

Fellow Freaks,

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the response we've been receiving since Monday's VIP dress rehearsal. It is infinitely rewarding to again be able to perform these songs with the passion we all know they deserve. I'd love to write more, but we're in Austin, TX for SXSW. We'll speak soon...

CT

Good stuff from CT. Look forward to hearing more thoughts from him.

[OutToDry]

Prelude to TGF?, prelude to the split....or simply off the cuff!!

June 6, 2004: Chula Vista, CA - Coors Amphitheatre
I've been slow with the diary entries over last few shows, in part because I didn't feel there was anything worth writing about. The York show was strange at best, I guess Shit Towne will always be somewhere left of center. I was extremely happy to have both Don Carn and Mac White join us on-stage. We handed out roses to each of our mothers and enjoyed ourselves and York but the crowd was just not into the show. Why, I have no idea. One of life's hard lessons is that no matter your discipline or dedication or talent you cannot move those who choose not to be moved. Stuck. Solid rather than liquid, stiff and non-flexible; close-minded or just brain/body-dead. Read the daily paper or listen to a news report. 'We' are fast becoming a reflection of this. I find it incredibly hard to fly in the face of this sadness; to play music who's sole purpose is to join and celebrate when our world is in a constant state of division. Our generation has lost it. We had in our hands the most wonderful means of gathering and communicating and we flushed it down the toilet by embracing soulless corporate music and culture. Compare for yourself the top ten list of today, where are the Simon and Garfunkels, Beatles, Doors, Dylan's and Hendrix's our generation? Where are the civil leaders who will challenge government to drop its quest for division and place its interest in developing a nurturing world where true equality can flourish? Its not that there aren't good musicians, artists, and civil leaders but somehow we have allowed the mass marketing corporate world to make us lazy and placid. We only buy or believe what's given or easy and rarely take the off-beaten path toward earnest active thought. This trend is happening at all levels, not just limited to music or politics. It's why we are getting fast food fat and fed nonfactual news twenty-four seven. We are just too fucking lazy to do anything beyond easy. What I am trying to say is that everything has its time and place. Right now we need to push hard for world order, and pop culture is not helping to develop or elevate our spirits as 'we' dictate what is current and relevant.
The tragic reality is that most of the surviving bands of early rock n' roll lend no source of leadership or guidance. Let's see the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney or Page and Plant put on a concert for world unity and healing. I would love them to take just a little of their energy and put it to positive use. There are some artists that are fighting a good fight; U2, Neil Young, Willie Nelson, The Beastie Boys, and Pearl Jam to name a few. These artist could care less about the bottom line and keep the spirit of music alive by constantly pushing for positive social and spiritual change. Yes, at some level music should be about sex, drugs, and rock n' roll, but ignoring the overwhelming trend toward brutal disregard of life is a huge mistake. JayZ, P-Diddy, Snoop Dog, Usher and Dre - Where are the hip-hop artists who are willing to stand up for love? How many rides can you pimp before it gets old? I find it strange that the inner cities of America are in total decay but the heroes of hip-hop put all of their time and energy into clothing lines and dub's but give very little back in terms of real passionate love. Why? Fuck, I know this talk gets old too but watching my fellow man destroy himself is motivation to never tire of wanting more peace, more love, and more compassion. Drop your weight, your bags of conditioning, your history of self.
“Did you give it up? Did you let it go? Let's get it back, let's get it back together.” - Ed K. 1990
It seems little has changed in our twenty years.
CT

This post has been edited by OutToDry: Mar 28 2012, 9:12 pm