That's Politics

This election cycle seems louder than before.

Small highway, crossing the Idaho/Washington border. Kent Irwin, Mark Nesbitt and myself are on tour with our band, People with Bodies, and we're packed into my pick up truck.

Joe Exotic - 2016 Candidate for President of the United States of America.

Joe Exotic - 2016 Candidate for President of the United States of America.

Protecting Nevada’s Children is the group that made these commercials -

Hey, that's politics.

On the way home, after touring in my pickup truck for probably way too long, the band bought a tour van. A 1986 Toyota named VAN.

On the way home, after touring in my pickup truck for probably way too long, the band bought a tour van. A 1986 Toyota named VAN.

before now

On this episode, looking back. 

Tijuana, Mexico

Tijuana, Mexico

Japanese artist Yoko Honda creates imaginary versions of California's past. More cool work at @yokopium on Instagram

Japanese artist Yoko Honda creates imaginary versions of California's past. More cool work at @yokopium on Instagram

Music:

Snake Way - Maitro

An unnamed track by me (Not online, I'll email it to you if you want it)

Vampire - Dani Shivers

17 - Kent Irwin (Not online, comment and I'll email it to you)

Summer Night - Esprit

Brazil on Fire

São Paulo is a bed of coals right now for Experimental music, and has spawned a new genre called Samba Sujo or “Dirty Samba” - which is a mix experimental rock, punk and avant-garde, informed by one of Brazil’s national styles, Samba.

Elza Soares

"The Woman at the End of the World"

Elza Soares is an iconic singer - like, a household name - and on this new record (A Mulher do Fim do Mundo) she is matched up with a band of young, experimental, cutting edge brazilian musicians.

On our first night in the city, Kent and I got locked in a graveyard.
We had walked in after dark, and when we came back the gate was closed, and the whole place was surrounded by an 8 foot wall covered in razor wire.
As we looked for a hole in the wire, I started thinking about impermanence. People had lived out entire lives here before I even knew it existed. And what was left, was the whole thing. The city, the food, the music. All of it.
In the movie Enter the Dragon, Bruce Lee has a brief scene where he is training with a student and at the end of the lesson he points to the sky.
“It is like a finger pointing away to the moon.” he says “Don’t concentrate on the finger, or you will miss all of the heavenly glory.”
Sitting in the woods, looking into the fire, you notice the same thing. If you focus on every piece of wood, you miss the heat. But if you focus on the heat, you realize the wood is just there to sustain it. And it will inevitably crumble into self, and you’ll simply add more wood.
We found a hole in the wire and climbed out of the graveyard.

 

Pinheiros translates to Pine Trees. Before it was a neighborhood, it was a pine forest.

Winter solstice in São Paulo

Winter solstice in São Paulo

Music:

The Bell Always Toll for Them ** - Dpsmkr

Firmeza, Luz Vermelha and Maria da Vila Matilde - Elza Soares

Not from Concentrate - Yclept insan

No Fim - Guilherme Kastrup

 

** Episode correction: I credited the Dpsmkr song "The Bell Always Toll for them" as "For whom the bell tolls". Sorry to Jonas of Dpsmkr -- It is linked above!

Going For It

This week I’ve got big news.
I left my day job to focus on Van Sounds full time.
I started the show 3 years ago, and have decided that this is what I want to do, so I’m gonna do it.

On this episode I chat with some other musicians who also took the leap and went for it - including Joe Lally (Fugazi), Luciano Valério (Desmonta Records + MNTH), and Saundra Coutinho (Mercenarias + Smack).

Joe Lally (press photo)

Joe Lally (press photo)

Luciano Valério in São Paulo

Luciano Valério in São Paulo

Coffee on the veranda (São Paulo) -- L-R Marcelo Florentino, Saundra Coutinho, Luiza Demoro

Coffee on the veranda (São Paulo) -- L-R Marcelo Florentino, Saundra Coutinho, Luiza Demoro

There, There // Hear, Hear

National Rock is a huge genre in Argentina. And to be honest, when hearing about it for the first time I was expecting British or American Style stadium rock sung in Spanish. But each person I talked to seemed prepared for that assumption. They’d immediately claim - It’s unlike rock from anywhere else.
And sure enough, i think it is.

"NO SE BANCA MAS "

On my last day in the city, I went the military dictatorship museum with a handful of strangers. It was dedicated to the thousands of people, mostly artists, activists and writers, that simply disappeared during the night.

Outside of the museum, I talked to an old woman.
"To really get national rock, she said, you had to experience it, . I’m glad you didn’t, but if you did…" She trailed off.
"It’s like…Standing outside of a concert hall, at 3am, Sweaty, lyrics in your head. they are singing about a world without fear. A place without violence and murder and repression."

It seemed like a far off world, somewhere over there. Somewhere else. Not here.

http://amzn.com/9508770074

http://amzn.com/9508770074

The Loneliest Rap in America

Van Sounds contributor Kent Irwin (howlsroad.com) and I drive to Ely Nevada to interview 2 rappers, and get the feel of the hip hop scene in the middle of nowhere.

Downtown Ely, NV

Downtown Ely, NV

I Interviewed former Sheriff Romero while he played a slot machine in the Hotel Nevada.

I Interviewed former Sheriff Romero while he played a slot machine in the Hotel Nevada.

Asocka, Tupac and Bone in McGill, NV.

Asocka, Tupac and Bone in McGill, NV.