Look for the DVD coming of the WOW Hall performance of Guantanamo with the New Riders of The Purple Sage joining in. Here's what Buddy Cage, pedal steel guitar player of NRPS has to say:

Babbs cooked up a whole Pranksters' skit ("Gitmo info - give it back...etc."), libretto, the whole enchillada. What a howl, we all backed him-George on his famous kazoo-like, tomahawk thing-y, nrps, Mountain Girl. a sax player (I knew the bari to be an Eb instrument, so went right to that key to join him), everybody else was vacillating around 3 separate keys (Emaj. and a couple other nebulous forgettables), the singers (a-hem!) went wherever the predominant key wound up. I kept displaying 3 fingers, pointing down and some got it.

Big band, jazz players used to indicate the key (sharing with each other, behind the bandleader's back) by using fingers pointing up for how many sharps were in the key signature, pointing down for how many flats, and so on)

The Pranksters were simply wonderful!! Most of my awake-days have been made fuller by knowing the Merry Pranksters and brain-feeding off their courage.
-- Buddy

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2007

CHAPBOOK SIGNING PARTY
A ROUSING SUCCESS

chapbook party review

Ol Ruckus Man
feathers flyin
clown nose and trombone
deadly serious as always
at the Theatre of Self Empowerment
A Two Act Guerilla Monologue
Solemn craftwork & vintage
fruit of the ideological Upwing
an Oregon spirit thing
like ol Lalooskas upward sparks
releasing magic through the roof
whether anyone knew it or not
A feather falls
glows on the steps
rolls away with applause

good show,

David

Tsunami Bookstore was full up to the gunn'ls with good folk enjoying the snacks and wine and settling in for the reading which roamed the skyways and waterways of the Mekong Delta in South Vietnam in 1962 as rhapsodized by a former Marine Corps helicopter pilot.

Following the chapbook reading, there was a much needed break for the bathroom and more chips and dips and wine and a change of costume for the performer and then it was into the grand interactive performance of the musical sketch, Guantanamo, replete with David Rhodes powerpacking on baritone sax.

KapnKen muted on trombone and Pete Hoffmeister inspirational on violin. Not pictured are Phil Dietz and Andy Vertal maintaining the beat on congas and jambay drum.

What do we do about Guantanamo? This is a blight on our nation. We consult Oblata for the answer. Descending into the body of the Kapn, Oblata speaks through his mouth: Free Guantanamo. Return Guantanamo to Cuba. The audience joins in the chant: Guantanamo a libre. Freedom all across the land, arriba. Return Guantanamo to Cuba.

Guantanamo A Libre
Guantanamo A Libre

Freedom Freedom
All across the land

Everything is beautiful and constant
Everything is music and reason
Todo es hermoso y constante
Todo is musica y razon
Everything the diamond
Everything the coal
Todo el diamante
Todo el carbon.

A white rose I grow for
the sincere friend
who offers me his hand.

RETURN GUANTANAMO TO CUBA

RETURN TO MAIN PAGE

ALL HAIL AND HEARTY TURNOUT
FOR COTTAGE GROVE AX AND FIDDLE GITMO

Last night, at the Ax and Fiddle Bar and Griddle, the townsfolk gathered to hear Ken Babbs read from his chapbook, Lost A Bird Gained A Bird, followed by a rousing rendition of the musical number, Guantanamo, with Ken Babbs, M.G. and John Babbs on vocals, Phil Dietz on Jambay drum, Eric Richardson on bass and a surprise appearance by Walker T. Ryan on guitar. The Ax and Fiddle Brazilian Conga and Cuban Bongo Drum Corps joined in and brought the house to their standing stomping dancing feet, all joining in the final chorus: FREE GUANTANAMO . . . RETURN GUANTANAMO TO CUBA.




FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2007