Dancing in the Bookmans, part 2

Sometimes the best part of a performance is the goof you almost made but didn't.

While playing our cover of "Miss You" by the Rolling Stones, I flashed back to a video I saw a day or two ago: Mick Jagger and David Bowie's "Dancing in the Streets" with the music removed.

It's hard to sing when you're trying not to laugh.

Here. You have GOT to watch this.

Live from FireFest

The awesome Frank Ramos likes to go to music events around Tucson and videorecord the performers. Here are a couple of songs he captured from last night's gig.

"The Line." You may appreciate this if you've ever spent a lot of time in the company of an addict, particularly one whose fortunes are tied to yours.

Our ME/CFS advocacy song. Frank was only able to get the last few words of my introductory spiel, so here's a caption:

I wrote this song about somebody living with myalgic encephalomyelitis, a disease that causes chronic pain, crushing exhaustion, and in many cases, early death. If you're wondering why you've never heard of myalgic encephalomyelitis, that's probably because it's more commonly known as "chronic fatigue syndrome," which is a stupid name for a serious disease. The song is called "Everybody Knows About Me."

Thanks, Frank!

Why holiday music doesn't have to suck, but usually will anyway

OK. I wouldn't mind if they played this holiday song in supermarkets and shopping malls.

Too bad they never will.

Not so much because it's a Hanukkah song and not a Christmas song. I think the world is ready for a tiny bit of religious diversity. No, the main thing it has going against it is that it's new. Says Jerry McWreath, who works for the consulting company that first talked radio stations into changing to all-Christmas formats over the holidays:

"We have found that listeners tend to prefer a core of classics titles, such as 'Winter Wonderland,' 'Silver Bells' and 'Let It Snow,' performed by various artists, as opposed to going deeper with more titles. These songs take listeners back to their childhood and their own positive memories. (The chosen song titles) are based on the research that we see nationwide conducted among radio listeners."

(Full article at Observer-Reporter.com.)

So unless Matisyahu, the Hasidic reggae musician who wrote "Miracle," can go back and time and get airplay for the song around 1950, he's out of luck.

The Bee Gees and Pink Floyd: Together at last

Oh. My. God. You have to drop everything you're doing and watch this right now.

You wouldn't think that a mashup of "Stayin' Alive" and "Another Brick in the Wall Part 2" was possible, would you. Sick and twisted and brilliant.

I wonder if Wax Audio obtained permission from the artists to do this thing. If not, I really hope lawyers don't intervene. I don't want to live in a world where this doesn't count as fair use.

Hat tip: @Larry Denneau.

Another musician raises awareness for ME/CFS

A British rock musician by the name of Mark Emmins is recording a song and making a video for ME/CFS awareness. He's asking sufferers who are "wiling to let the world see them bedridden and ill" to send pictures of themselves to use in the video.

More info at Dancing with the Sandman. If you have ME/CFS and would like to participate, send your photos to markemmins@aol.com. Deadline is May 5. He wants to have a finished product to show the world by May 12, ME/CFS Awareness Day.

It's interesting synchronicity. His call for photos comes right on the heels of the Phoenix Rising video release. As far as I can tell, he wasn't aware that the first video existed.

I'm especially curious to hear the song, "Misunderstood." As an ME/CFS advocate, I think we need as many artists on the case as possible. As an artist on the case, I look forward to finding out how a fellow songwriter approached the same topic.

ME/CFS video

There's a new ME/CFS video up on YouTube. Members of the Phoenix Rising forum have been contributing pictures and ideas over the last several months to make this happen.

The video features "Everybody Knows About Me," Cinder Bridge's song about living with the disease. I am beyond flattered that they used it.

Single Payer Now Band Jam video

Sound & Fury put together a little video of last week's Single Payer Band Jam. About five and a half minutes long, it starts off with some nice footage of the Earthlingz, followed by interviews with some of the organizers.

The video is available here.

If you're interested in what intelligent, articulate proponents of a single-payer system have to say, watch the whole thing. If you want to catch the Earthlingz rocking out, watch the first minute and a half. If you're desperate for scraps of anything involving Cinder Bridge (i.e., you are my mother), here's a breakdown:

1:43 - Cinder Bridge plays "Goodbye to You" (heard in the background during interview of Rick Graap, MD, of Single Payer Now)

2:31 - Cinder Bridge babbles to the audience (heard in the background during interview of Lee Stanfield of Single Payer Now)

3:50 - Cinder Bridge thanks the MC offstage (seen in the background while Dr. James Dumbauld speaks; I think this is when I apologized for making the poor guy try to pronounce "myalgic encephalomyelitis")

4:12 - Cinder Bridge introduces "Everything Changes," then plays a bit of it (heard in the background during Lee Stanfield interview)

4:47 - Cinder Bridge plays "Saturday Morning" (heard in the background during Rick Graap interview)

5:10 - Cinder Bridge's "Everything Changes" is played over the closing written statement -- yay!

So, you can hear us, and you can see us. Just not at the same time.