Participated in a benefit concert (“Revenge of the Book Eaters”) last Wednesday for the “826” young writers mentoring projects that the McSweeney’s gang have established in a number of cites. Volunteers help kids with their writing on a one-on-one basis and publish collections of the results now and then.
The concert was larger than the 826 benefit I did two years ago in Brooklyn — this recent one sold out the Beacon. Well, this one featured Jon Stewart, Sufjan Stevens, Sarah Vowell, Dave Eggers, John Hodgeman and myself, so it promised an entertaining evening — the typical eclectic McSweeney’s event, but with more well-known names.
Benefits are funny things. Often the public pays exaggerated ticket price to see “watered down” versions of the musical acts — most times I myself play a few songs on acoustic guitar, as do many of the others. Now, watered down it maybe be, but sometimes the “unplugged” version is more moving and emotionally involving that the more fully arranged version — well, sometimes. When that happens it’s not a bait and switch deal.
For this show I decided that since Sarah Vowell liked my version of Webb Pierce’s “There Stands The Glass” that I did in Brooklyn I would take that as a hint and do an all country set. My rhythm section consisted of Mauro, Paul and Graham augmented by Jon G. on pedal steel, fresh off a recording session with Ryan Adams.
I asked Sufjan via e-mail if he wanted to do “Saginaw Michigan”, the song made famous by Lefty Frizzell, with me. (I thought many would think he wrote it for his Michigan-themed CD. I wonder if anyone fell for it?) He agreed and I sent him an MP3, chords and lyrics. My bunch also did the country-ish tune that I sang on Mauro’s upcoming Forro in the Dark CD. So, a lot of new stuff.
Anyway, the evening went well — it was scary doing so many new (to me) tunes, but I think it came off O.K. Jon Stewart did an American History skit with his producer as foil, and Eggers explained the 826 project and showed slides of the wonderful work of a young writer-collagist. Sufjan softly sang some of his catchiest tunes, and won over the crowd, many of whom may not have been familiar with him.
826NYC is also home to the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company — a sort of art installation/store.
Upcoming 826 benefits will be in LA, San Francisco, Seattle, Ann Arbor and Chicago. There will be different lineups for each show. (Tonight is LA.)
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Language and ideology
The torturer aims to dehumanize his victim, and becomes dehumanized in the process.
Recent doublespeak:
War in Iraq used to refer to the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
Unlawful combatants — a meaningless phrase intended to allow trial without due process, which turns back the legal clock in a developed country by at least 100 years.
Rendition has been substituted for kidnapping.
Freedom has been substituted for economic exploitation and corruption.
Globalization has been substituted for corporate rule.
