Hey Everybody, It's that time of the month again. There is a pot of coffee brewing here in Pittsburgh - It is 3:00 AM and Anne and I are leaving first thing in the morning for New England -- I want to get this out before we leave. So, I guess what I am trying to say is my holiday gift for you is a very brief newsletter (well, I'll try, anyway.) None the less, I am looking forward to returning to Massachusetts - my former home. In fact I blame the city that stops her subway before the bars close for many of the idiosyncrasies in my life. I blame the street musicians and jugglers and fire eaters and slack rope walkers of Harvard Square for making me go out and perform on the streets and subways 10 years ago. I blame them for making me hang out till the sun came up on the Cambridge Commons drinking cheap whiskey and trying to learn to walk a slack rope, juggle fire and deciding I had better stick with poetry. I blame the random misfits, castaways, idlers, loafers and other hard working American heroes for the first few quarters (accidentally, I am sure) dropped into my open guitar case when I tried it. I blame The Boston Commons for my first political event, The Naked City Coffee house for my first skit, The Pour House Lounge and the vacant abandoned apartment above it for my first squat, and the Old Vienna for teaching me to sing for my supper. But mostly I blame Boston for making me cling stubbornly to my southern accent.
Let's see - it has been a month... My favorite newspaper quote of the month (which should become a monthly feature) comes from The Pitt News (where we were a part of a peace rally). The paper runs a daily Police Blotter column which reports the incidents on campus that day - the lead story was(and I quote because I kept the article)
"Monday, Nov. 5: Someone in Langley Hall reported to police that a foreign man was asking questions about the location of a building. The man left the area before officers arrived, and they were unable to locate him."
Some of the past month's highlights for us were performing in Niagara Falls at the NARPA convention - which is a group of psychiatric-survivors-turned-activists dedicated to stopping forced drugging and electro-shock therapy. There, we were showered with love tokens including a genuine Prozac ® clip board complete with Prozac fountain pen, (but no samples) and a hypodermic needle shaped pen that reads "no more forced drugging!" The whole group was great fun. I was awed by their ability to maintain such a tremendous sense of humor after listening to the tales of some of these survivors. At one point in a little bar room chit chat someone asked, "What! are you fucking nuts?!" To which the other replied, "Yeah, and I've got the papers to prove it."
Later in the month Anne and I flew down to Georgia for the School of the Americas Watch. Well, wouldn't ya know it - we arrived at the Atlanta Airport at the very same moment a Georgia Bulldogs football fan realized he had left his camera bag on the x ray conveyor belt. Well, understandably not wanting to miss his flight to the Ole Miss game he realized he would have to dart back through the airport - up the down escalator, back to security - who see him out-of-nowhere grab his bag and take off running back in the other direction. This event allowed us to enjoy the scenic vista of the tarmac for over an hour while listening to the Georgia game on the little headphones kindly rented to us for $5 a pop. (Anne didn't really care about the game.) We were then escorted to the panoramic parking lot where we were asked to wrestle with other waylaid passengers for the remains of 1 oz packages of Chex ® mix. Anne, never missing a performance opportunity, thought this would be a good moment to break out into song. Fortunately for both of us she wisely elected not to leap into our rather tried and true repertoire - but instead sing her medley of airplane songs. The crowd was enthused and actually seemed disappointed that they were eventually let back in the airport. (ok I exaggerate a little but it is safe to say her efforts covered the cab fare.) The whole evacuation left me feeling safer - at least from football yahoos who - on a personal level are more threatening than anyone fitting the latest racial profile. Finally, Georgia won the game and we were allowed to get our bags. At which point we journeyed home to Stone Mtn where my mother served us hot cocoa with home made marshmallows. And before Anne could say "Martha Stewart!" my dear sweet mother told us where she had gotten the recipe. (On a related note I noticed this week while standing in line at the grocery store that according to the National Enquirer Martha Stewart has ballooned 180 Lbs. I couldn't help thinking "it's the marshmallows." They were good though.) Thanks, mom. At SOA we knew we were on the right track when after a fabulous concert (put together by David Rovics - former member of Avoiding Godot - remember them?) we were treated to a spectacle that can only be described as, well, spectacular! The Leonid meteor showers bedazzled Anne and me as we camped atop a hill in rural Alabama at 5AM. Thanks, dad.
Though I have to say the notion of 'splainin just what that was that we were doing to an Alabama cop was a bit frightening. "Ya see officer there are these meteors - umm shooting stars and well... . Yes sir I understand I have the right to an attorney." Speaking of frightening - the notion of driving 9 hours to Amherst, MA in just a little while is a bit daunting so let me just say thanks for the comments (negative and positive) for the last newsletter - and most of all Happy Hanukah, Christmas, Kwanza, Solstice, New Years, Ramadan, and Liberace's birthday.
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Hey Everybody,
It's that time of the month once again. Anne and I have been out counting flags along the interstate since last we spoke and as far as I can tell, there are more flags flying than registered voters. One fun game you can play along the interstate is to try and go 15 seconds with out seeing one. Really. I bet you can't do it. We did manage to do it once but it was in the middle of the night, in a tunnel, alone, with the radio off, and our eyes closed (I am just glad we went ahead and had the van realigned.)
Today is Halloween and I was thinking of dressing up as a boy scout and going door to door to hand out citations to all the folks whose flags are flying at night in the rain - or to all the owners of the tiny tattered flags affixed to the antennae of oil guzzling SUVs. Perhaps we could levy fines and fund the anti-war effort.
I hear every Third World sweatshop is running 24-7 to meet our demand for flags - and of course those NYPD and NY Fire Dept hats worn by every elected official and wanna-be celebrity at every major league ball game, weenie roast and Aerosmith concert.
But what is up with this giant flag thing? "My flag's bigger than your flag - My flag's bigger than yours... " Up here in Pennsylvania - they have flags so big they require a special license to be flown. The other day I thought there was a total eclipse or maybe even a super nova - but no, it was just my neighbor fulfilling his civic duty. Which is a competitive sport, ya know. Up here, they've even got flags so big they can't be flown at all - no kidding - they've got one that has to be laid on the ground in a football stadium. Wait a second - isn't that flag desecration? Oh, I don't care - but if I did... there would be hell to pay!
Anne and I have been encouraged by the reception around the rest of the country. Granted, we were pulled over in Cambridge, OH for driving without a flag (and for driving 8 miles over the speed limit... but I digress) Still we are hopeful. For the most part Anne and I have been performing for rank and file union folks and the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. It's nothing like the Gulf war. Sure - there was that Donnybrook that broke out in St Louis - but that was really over whether the house bass player was too drunk to play and not over whether the planes and bombs and land mines were union made. Who says we don't make anything here any more? Movies, handguns and weapons of mass destruction. Oh, and our Kentucky Bourbon is worthy of note. But, if you want a good NYPD hat you're gonna have to go to Bangladesh.
The news is full of demonstrations and counter-demonstrations... but watching TV it's hard to tell the difference between the American Yahoos in body paint shouting "USA! USA!" and the Pakistanis gathering in the streets to protest the bombing of their neighbor. Well, except the Pakistanis have better taste in body paint. How come we get to be the patriots and every one else has to be all the other words Roget's Thesaurus lists as synonyms such as fanatic, extremist, and zealot.
So, it is time to ask what is with the "This is the greatest country in the world" crap. I don't mean to sound unpatriotic, really I don't. It's just... well, what do the other countries think when they hear that? If we claim we are the greatest-- what does that make them? I picture Wolf Blitzer telling the Emir of Qatar, "Kiss my ring - I am an American." But let me tell you this is not the way to get others on your side: "Hey we're the greatest, and you guys - well - you hover somewhere between mediocre and tolerable. It's like we're Farrah Fawcett and you're... Kate Jackson, We're Tom Brokaw and you are... well... the postal workers.
Finally can we quit it with the "God Bless America" stuff? Can't we just leave God (and for that matter Lee Greenwood) out of this for once? Didn't we say this is not a religious war. Not a holy war. (holy war - how's that for an oxymoron - up there with Fresh Frozen ®, Military Intelligence and Marijuana Initiative)
Now, despite George's unfortunate use of the word "Crusade" he claims that his is not a war against Islam - in fact the Taliban has some pretty good ideas and he John Ashcroft are looking into some of them - such as public flogging. I think their plan to keep America safe from attack is to turn the country into the kind of police state that fools the terrorists into thinking this is Afghanistan. But ya know, George - if you really want to bomb every one who has ever armed, funded or trained Osama Bin Laden - perhaps you should start with your dad.
Anyway, Anne and I are headed to a few places between now and the end of the year. As always - if you are somewhere where we are going to be and you see a hole in our calendar (which I assure you there are many) and have some thoughts on how to fill it: we will be forever in your debt. You will automatically qualify for the Anne Feeney and Chris Chandler Giant Give Away - the drawing for which will be held at the end of the war. Of course, just what we can afford to give away depends entirely on how many holes in our calendar get filled.
For those of you on the west coast we are planning a trip starting in the Bay area on January 15 and ending in Seattle February 11. If any of you have ideas: get em in early. For those of you in Florida (where I remain a registered voter) We will be down Feb 20 through March 11 and are booking dates NOW!
Til then, thanks as always.
"violence merely increases hate." - Martin Luther King
I am now working as a duo with Anne Feeney! Our New CD Flying Poetry Circus is out and receiving rave revues: ³You have to hear it to believe it! ... After you've heard it do yourself a favor: Catch one of their live performances. Though there are only two on stage, you'll swear there are a whole troupe of actors, dancers, acrobats mimes and musicians!² - People's Weekly World
http://www.primecd.com/chandler.htm
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Hello everybody, Chris Chandler here. This has unquestionably been the most difficult monthly newsletter that I have ever tried to put out. Like many of you, Anne and I are having a great deal of difficulty shaking the shock of last week's horrific tragedy and putting crescent wrench back to pipe fitting, spatula to grill, and pen to paper. Our heart goes out to those who have lost so much, and we are thankful for all of the letters from many of you easing our fears.
My heart is heavy for this country seeing her highest death toll since Appomattox. Stunned, we all try to get back to work - for we can not let this stop us - stop the great things about our way of life. Above all it must not end our freedom - our freedom to speak - our freedom to speak out - our freedom to be critical. To be critical is not unpatriotic - for it is our very ability to be critical in the face of such a horrific act that makes us great. As plumes of smoke still rise from Manhattan covering her with Pompeiian ash. Lives turned to dust - now caught in the breeze.
And now the answer my friend IS blowing in the wind. This volcano has been lying dormant for years - the molten magma of globalization bubbling underneath the foundations of American prosperity has finally erupted - blowing the top off our venerated man-made mountains as the whole mountain came down atop thousands of innocents.
The city does not sleep. She is magnificent. She stays up through the night with bucket brigades. She was asleep when she heard the wake up call - waking us all up to how vulnerable we are. But also (I hope) waking up to so many issues through out the world - leaving us so many questions that all begin with WHY?
Perhaps one question will be why are we so hated through out the world? We are all, above all, human. By ‘all' I mean: ‘all!' As human as you who committed this shameful deed. It is because of that our retaliation will come. and so will yours. and our re-retaliation. and yours. and what was it you wanted to teach us. That we wanted to teach you?
And now it is not another terrorist attack that I fear. It is of the angry back lash. I hear, not just the AM Radio talk show host and the FM Commercial shock DJ say, "Bomb them back to the stone age." I hear our elected officials say it - unashamedly. I hear our president try to sounding like stuttering Wyatt Earp in a Ronald Reagan western. "Bring ‘im back dead or alive. Come on boys, let's make Afghanistan look like. like. like. southern Manhattan? or Baghdad? or Oklahoma City or Dresden?"
I too have long wanted to see the world trade center go down. but not with a fireball made of innocent human life - but taken out with wit that could convince the CEOs to quit their day jobs. If only the terrorists could have developed a scheme that would put the pentagon and world trade center out of business - not kill them - just make them quit their jobs... perhaps take needle point classes in the empty office spaces.
I was afraid before. and now I fear for anyone with tan skin and a turban, a fez or hell for that matter anyone in a "funny hat." Should we count the two that have already been gunned down on the streets of America - by Americans - in the death toll of this disastrous episode? I have seen the good ol boys in action and they will not stop until there is a Tupperware party in Mecca.
We are a large and glorious people. A small and cantankerous people. Plagued with the same questions that tear apart all people. Immeasurable class divisions, racial, social, political divides, we are a family reunion of the worst kind. Tupperware and all. complete with fat obnoxious uncles chattering on and on airing the basest opinions ever formed over AM Radio talk shows. We are magnificent. But are we magnificent enough to ask ourselves "is further bombing the answer?"
Can bombing smother a volcano?
It is only love and compassion and yes... forgiveness and understanding that can defeat such an evil. You can not stop the rising tide by pouring water in the ocean. Nor can you stop the thunder with a bolt of lightning. Revenge begat vengeance. Vengeance begat revenge. and the two went forth and were indeed fruitful and they did indeed multiply...
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Hey everybody,
It's that time of the month again. Here in Pittsburgh with Anne Feeney - still licking the asphalt off from last month and now in one month span I will manage to find myself in NYC, SF, Seattle, and Ft Lauderdale FL - playing every coffee house that has a tip jar along the way. This past month has been filled with all kinds of exciting adventures - The great Labor Arts Exchange in DC is a tremendous annual event that teaches folks how to use their artistic talents to make Rallies, Picket lines, Protests and general strikes more fun. And hey, "If I can't dance than it's not my revolution." Well, the truth of the matter is that I can't dance - not just because of the music at your average demonstration. (though if I could dance - their music would not help.
Anne and I are doing well as a duo. Though, she is hard to "cover ground" with because every small town we pass - she says something like - "Oh, here is where they are having that Widget assembly line shut down - lets get in touch with the shop steward and sing for the workers. "Yes, comrade Feeney." Is my typical reply.
Well, I am sure you will be relieved to know that I must keep this brief because it is 11:00 and in a couple of hours Anne and I have to drive to DC, then Fly to SF and Drive to (near) Lake Tahoe. Zoom.
As always thank you all for your support - I could never pass a tip jar without you.
Everything, chandler
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Hello everyone,
First - a message from our sponsor - US. Anne and I have just finished our first CD together - Flying Poetry Circus. It is back from the manufactures and is getting rave revues from all who have heard it! Any day now it will be available on line at Anne's web site: www.annefeeney.com. It features many of the last works that Phil Rockstroh and I have worked on together. He has a lavish imagination and his contributions will be missed. I wish him the very best.
Now that the commercial message is over...
A quick note from the road here. Oklahoma City. I don't know exactly how fate manages to put me us in such odd places - yes Anne and I played OKC on the day Mc Veigh was executed. We were playing in a Food and Commercial Workers' Union Hall for the OK AFL-CIO. There was a syrupy pall over the city. The word Mc Veigh was never spoken. It was like there was a tremendous elephant in the room and no one could bring themselves to mention it. But clearly it was on everyone's mind. You would be hard pressed to find anyone in OKC who was not somehow directly affected by the tragedy. We were there for a rally against a "Right to Work" measure coming up in a special election. It is obviously an important issue but the circumstances made it hard to focus as we performed amidst grilled hotdogs and red white and blue bunting. We even had an Elvis impersonator open for us. That was a first for me - although Anne says I can look forward to more Elvis openers as we play the union hall circuit.
Anne and I went down to the Murrah building and I must say the memorial is moving. On opposite ends of a green field is the shell that once was the federal building. Bronze buttresses have been erected on the East and West ends with a giant engravings on each. Ones says 9:01. Three hundred yards on the other end it reads 9:03. The space between is a reflecting pool - filling the void - the minute that should never have happened. Adjacent to the field are 168 empty chairs - 19 of them are very small.
After exiting the plaza we walked down a hill along the street. There is a chain link fence upon which mourners have placed mementos for the victims of this tragedy. As we walked down the hill the fence starts of knee high. It is slathered with teddy bears and wreaths, cutesy keepsakes that appealed to the taste of the victims. At first I was out off by how tacky the mementos were. Teddy bears, pom poms, balloons. But as we continued down the hill, the fence got taller - over our heads - much like the Vietnam Memorial. Soon it was a wall of pedestrian bric-a-brac towering over our heads. 6 years have passed and still people come here to pay their respects on a massive scale. The sum total was truly overwhelming... .
... Kerrville has come and gone. Happy New Year to all. For those of you playing along at home I was allowed on stage with Tom Prasada-Rao. and I was given a "Veteran Volunteer Badge." Funny how circumstances could build to a point where something like that could feel like a medal of honor. Anne and I got to close out the Staff concert to an overwhelming Standing O. Wow - good to be home! Peter Paul and Mary performed Anne's song "Have You Been to Jail for Justice?" for the home crowd. Although they play it regularly it was great to see the first 20 rows stand up and point over to Anne. She was led to the front to take a bow. Wow - how often does the songwriter get a standing O after a performance?
Well, Let me stop here - I have to get this out - we are in Play/drive/play/drive mode. I have had NO time to respond to your notes - so please don't feel put off if I have been negligent. You can see by the holes in the July Calendar that we have been busy. If you are on the west coast and can help out with July please let me know.
till then, everything, chandler
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hey all - this will be the briefest monthly newsletter in it's tenure and that is not because there is nothing going on - it is just so topsey turvey right now that I can only type with one hand -- other wise I would let go of the carpet and fall right into the chandelier. I got back to Pittsburgh from New York about a week ago. I would say I am living here - in that home IS where the toothbrush is - only my toothbrush will be leaving Pittsburgh in less than 12 hours and headed for Kerrville. So that is the reason I am being brief.
I am having a blast working with Anne. She and I have just finished a self released 7 song demo called Flying Poetry Circus and in theory copies should arrive at Kerrville. I am behind in packing, so that is my excuse for the tour dates being a little shoddy in terms of details. I am also behind in car maintenance, laundry, paying bills and green vegetables - not to mention booking. and since we are in transition we could really use some help with our scheduel from all of you folk angels out there.
Well, it is midnight - so I'll fill in the dates and bid you good night - please drop me a line and I'll be a bit more verbose in my replies -- sorry for the short up date.
everything, chandler
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Hey all,
Shouldn't there something criminal about being asked to set your clocks ahead on April Fool's Day? I heard that and was thinkin' I ain't falling for that.
Do you think when scientists who are figuring how old the universe is take into account all the times we change our mind about what time it is?
Speaking of outer space. What a month this has been... What about that American billionaire who gave the Russians 20 million dollars to take a joy ride up to the international space station. Now the Americans won't let him go. Hell, the money was poorly spent - he should have given it to the Republican Party, They would have seen to it that he had a wet bar and a Jacuzzi when he got up there.
And then... The Russian Space Station MIR fell to earth... It missed the Taco Bell Target. I was thinking it would be ironic if it hit an American submarine as it was surfacing.
Anywho... My tour with Anne Feeney was an overwhelming success. So much so that #1 in my big news is that on Monday I will be gathering a few Tupperware containers full of my possessions and moving to Pittsburgh where we will begin recording a demo of new material. (Perhaps titled Premature Reincarnation.) Then we will embark on a few tours together. I can't wait. If you have not yet checked out Anne's site I highly recommend checking out www.annefeeney.com.
Also in the immediate future I will be spending some time in NYC working on a Documentary Film called "Praise HA!" It has been being shot by my friend Wendy Corn and documents the healing power of laughter. She has interviews with folks ranging from Patch Adams to Wavy Gravy. For some incomprehensible reason she wants me to be the storyteller that ties all these pieces of funny footage together. Praise HA!
Yes, the tour with Anne was a blast: Victoria (a former home town of mine back in the Stark Raving Chandler days - remember that?) to San Francisco with a few towns that I have never played before. In Bellingham, WA I ran into a former Atlanta Legend Phreddy Vomit. He, like Robert Hoyt and myself, are from the same neighborhood and we have all spent 10 - 15 years wandering around the country wrapping mile markers and state lines around our universal joints and writing about what we see. Is it something in the water here?
Speaking of here, after the tour I wound up here in Atlanta - Stone Mountain, actually - my hometown.- visiting my folks. I am nearly finished painting my mother's house. It is the first time I have ever tried to paint the outside of a house and I have discovered the hard way why house painter is the number one occupation leading to alcoholism. Not that I really mind painting the house - I think every one should try it once. It is honestly more rewarding than all those demonstrations, picket lines Anne and I have been performing at lately. Though next time I will pay some one to do it by going out and getting a job as uh... I dunno... a bartender - probably serving drinks to housepainters.
Speaking of deeds with value - giving credit where credit is due should be high on everyone's list. I feel that at times I have been remiss in giving Phil Rockstroh enough credit for his hard work with this act. For years Phil and I have collaborated on poetry. In fact, he first taught me to write. He is truly remarkable on his own - in fact the text in many of the pieces I perform come almost entirely from the lavish vision of Phil. So I raise my glass to him. He is starting to perform as a solo and I wish him the absolute best.
Other big News: FINALLY. The live record is FINALLY finished. Over the Counter Culture (featuring Magda Hiller), "Posthumously Live." It is at the manufacturer as we speak and I expect to get it back any day now - so for those of you who have been patiently waiting - you can soon start checking the mail box. It has pieces recorded at Strings in Berkley, CA, (Magda and my first gig) Tropical Heatwave Festival in Tampa, FL, The Cat Hair House Concert Series in Seattle, WA and at the Hollywood Theatre (our last gig). I will tell you some of the titles though sometimes it is hard to tell what I'm talking about with the titles - people are always saying things like, "will you do the one where the aliens arrive at the place where you are tending bar and they convince you to paint your mother's house." Anyway, the record has: "Evil (is boring,)" "Top Banana/People Get Ready," "Crackerjack/ Cure," "The 20th Century," "Things Have Never Been the Same/Black Betty" and many others.
If you would like to get a copy it will be available in my suitcase or by sending me a $15 check to the address in the signature. I will send it, I promise. I am only pressing about 100 so it will be a very limited release with most of them already accounted for so you'll have to act fast.
So, as I mentioned earlier, Anne and I are going to be embarking on a tour down to Kerrville and back. This tour is not at all put together so if you look at the dates and can think of someway to give us a hand I promise I won't paint your house.
Love, Chandler.
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Hello again I know it seems like only yesterday you were deleting my newsletter - but it really has been a month. So if you are feeling like you just can't take it any more let me know and I will remove you from this list.
Ah February. I am still in Hollywood Florida, wearing shorts. watching Rambo 2 and XFL Football with my neighbors (really - no hyperbole TV, back yard Miller Highlife® Triscetts ® with spreadable potted meat by-product who could ask for more.) Now my entire kingdom is inside 7 large Tupperware ® containers. As soon as I finish this letter I will put them in the back of my red pickup truck and head north (as if one could go any where else from the tip end of Florida. Well I guess I could go to the keys - but after that the truck would not be a very practical mode of transportation. - I digress)
I just had my last breakfast at my favorite diner - the rainbow café - where the service is atrocious, the food mediocre and the prices are reasonable. In other words - it's perfect. I will miss my neighborhood diner. I feel if more people had a love affair with a neighborhood diner than the world would be a better place. Now I am across the street at warehouse 57 - my favorite little cyber coffee shop having "one more cup of coffee for the road." It too is a good place - live music on the week ends - Nice big library - to give you plenty of reading material while you suck down a liquid nap.
As soon as I finish this letter Florida will be in my rearview. I will miss her. She gave me Elian and then that election and coming soon a California style energy crisis. South Florida with out air conditioning. Speaking of such this has to be the coldest place I have EVER been. I am looking forward to Vancouver - at least there they have the good since not to run air conditioners 24/7. Jesus - don't even think of going to a movie with out a parka. I read in the paper that due to global warming penguins are migrating north. I think it is because soon the only place cold on earth will be a Florida movie theatre.
Many of you have been asking about the Magda, Chandler record. It will be a combination of Live shows that many of you odd balls that show up and gigs and record some of you have sent me some samples and they sound great! I am waiting on one from Tampa and one from Berkley and one from The Last Performance at the South Florida Folk Fest. I have everything else and it seems like it will be a cool recording - it's JUST NOT FINISHED.
My mail is now being forwarded to the address in my signature and my phone will remain the same for a while.
So... where to from here?
First stop will be Atlanta - to put my 7 Tupperware® containers in my mother's attic. Then off to Seattle. for the tour I have been talking about. 25 some odd dates with my friend Anne Feeney. Then - well, I REALLY DO NOT KNOW. If any of you have some suggestions I am all ears. I am of coarse looking for a more permanent musical partner and would be most likely willing to relocate to where ever that person is.
so... Chris, where all will you be going on this tour?
Well, I am glad you asked - here is the info you have been looking for. Please feel free to respond to this note - it is just me - it's not like I have a manger filtering out all the death threats.
For those of you in the North West - I hope to see you out there. Let's explore neighborhood breakfast places at 4:00 AM together.
love, chandler
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Hello again I know it seems like only yesterday you were deleting my newsletter - but it really has been a month. So if you are feeling like you just can't take it any more let me know and I will remove you from this list.
Ah February. I am still in Hollywood Florida, wearing shorts. watching Rambo 2 and XFL Football with my neighbors (really - no hyperbole TV, back yard Miller Highlife® Triscetts ® with spreadable potted meat by-product who could ask for more.) Now my entire kingdom is inside 7 large Tupperware ® containers. As soon as I finish this letter I will put them in the back of my red pickup truck and head north (as if one could go any where else from the tip end of Florida. Well I guess I could go to the keys - but after that the truck would not be a very practical mode of transportation. - I digress)
I just had my last breakfast at my favorite diner - the rainbow café - where the service is atrocious, the food mediocre and the prices are reasonable. In other words - it's perfect. I will miss my neighborhood diner. I feel if more people had a love affair with a neighborhood diner than the world would be a better place. Now I am across the street at warehouse 57 - my favorite little cyber coffee shop having "one more cup of coffee for the road." It too is a good place - live music on the week ends - Nice big library - to give you plenty of reading material while you suck down a liquid nap.
As soon as I finish this letter Florida will be in my rearview. I will miss her. She gave me Elian and then that election and coming soon a California style energy crisis. South Florida with out air conditioning. Speaking of such this has to be the coldest place I have EVER been. I am looking forward to Vancouver - at least there they have the good since not to run air conditioners 24/7. Jesus - don't even think of going to a movie with out a parka. I read in the paper that due to global warming penguins are migrating north. I think it is because soon the only place cold on earth will be a Florida movie theatre.
Many of you have been asking about the Magda, Chandler record. It will be a combination of Live shows that many of you odd balls that show up and gigs and record some of you have sent me some samples and they sound great! I am waiting on one from Tampa and one from Berkley and one from The Last Performance at the South Florida Folk Fest. I have everything else and it seems like it will be a cool recording - it's JUST NOT FINISHED.
My mail is now being forwarded to the address in my signature and my phone will remain the same for a while.
So... where to from here?
First stop will be Atlanta - to put my 7 Tupperware ® containers in my mother's attic. Then off to Seattle. for the tour I have been talking about. 25 some odd dates with my friend Anne Feeney. Then - well, I REALLY DO NOT KNOW. If any of you have some suggestions I am all ears. I am of coarse looking for a more permanent musical partner and would be most likely willing to relocate to where ever that person is.
so... Chris, where all will you be going on this tour?
Well, I am glad you asked - here is the info you have been looking for. Please feel free to respond to this note - it is just me - it's not like I have a manger filtering out all the death threats.
For those of you in the North West - I hope to see you out there. Let's explore neighborhood breakfast places at 4:00 AM together. love, chandler
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Sometimes I think life's dress rehearsal must have gone very well.
Hey everyone, Chandler (that bald guy) here again. Well, a full year has passed since I first came to South Florida and first worked with Magda Hiller at the South Florida Folk Festival. Last year was our first public appearance. This year was our last. We were reviewed quite well in Today's Sun Sentinel. In addition to performing with Magda I also got to partake in a bit of improve with my friend Billy Jonas, and finally got a chance to read poetry with the Joel Rapheal Band. That was particularly flattering because the bed he left for poetry was originally filled by the great John Trudell. The next night - I both got the opportunity to introduce the festival headliner: Melanie. (for those of you playing along at home - I was introduced as MC by Rod Kennedy) Later in the set I read an excerpt from G Choard over "Candle in the Rain."
The show was recorded along with our official "farewell show" and several other performances from around the country. I am busy compiling those tapes into a limited release CD. I know several of you have already purchased copies of this. I just want you to know it is coming. I plan to print only a few of these so if you would like a copy let me know. I hope to have them in hand by the Folk Alliance (Feb 15). This is not going to be going to stores or radio and will only be available by e mailing me or at shows.
Any day now south Florida will be in my rearview. As the days grow longer they also grow shorter. I plan to depart from here by February first. I will miss her and all of the wonderful people down here that have made my year so special. In particular the Broward County Folk Club and all of the good people with the South Florida Folk Fest and WLRN. Of coarse my neighbors have been perfect. All the folks at "The Shoal" (short for shit hole). Artists, sculptors, musicians, rappers, beer drinkers all. There is nothing greater in life than to have a great since of community. Knowing at any moment a good neighbor may drop by for a drink, a chat or to play you his latest song is perhaps life's greatest luxury. I will truly miss that. I love you Shoal.
So, where am I headed. Well, after this next tour the short answer is I don't know. I am looking for a new musical partner. I am willing to relocate to where ver this mysterious person is. What am I looking for? First: Someone who gets the act. (As G Junior would say: DUH) I am looking for a female Singing guitar or Piano player willing to commit to a wildly creative act. A Vast repertoire of folk music, pop classics from many eras , and show tunes would be an influential plus. So if any of you out there either fit that bill or know someone who does - please let me know.
So for the big news: This tour of the North West will be with Anne Feeney. She flew down from Pittsburgh last month and did a weeks worth of rehearsals. I will hook up with her in Seattle on Feb 9th where we will begin a month long extravaganza from Vancouver to San Francisco. Those of you in that part of the NW don't miss these show!
till then - drop me a line and let me know what's up.
Love, the bald guy
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