Soft (R)Evolution and Sound

As you know, I don't want to fit in.

And I don't want you to, either.

You are what you are. Straight,

gay, bisexual, bicurious, trans.

We need everyone. But mostly

we need LOVE. If you love, you are not a pushover, a wimp, an apologist. I was raised with the song "Free to Be, You and Me."

Any doctrine that takes away your rights because you don't conform to the stereotypical idea of what a relationship is, is not truthful.

Love doesn't judge. This doesn't mean that love can't rage! I think if we witness bullying, mockery, abuse, we need to get angry. We need to say "This is unacceptable." We need to do something about it. We need to take care of each other. Sometimes we do need to get damn mad. If I read about wildlife being hunted on public grounds, and killed for no reason other than the sport of it, I am absolutely enraged. Love means say something, do something.

When I hear about hospitals bombed and children mutilated, I am enraged. Whether it is the Ukraine, Syria, Gaza, Yemen.

Of course, it gets complicated and messy, and before long we are on to all kinds of discussions.

What is violence? When is violence necessary? Our lives are more and more complicated. We are more and more cagey about talking about any large matters. Some people even make an arrangement: No politics. No religion. Just to be "loving." This means that love itself is fine, as long as we don't get too deep into anything. Once we fall out, we may renounce the idea of ever loving that person again. "What was I thinking? "

I am playing with Fernando Perdomo and Chris Price and Mathias Kunzli on Saturday at Hotel Cafe. And I'm hoping the space just feels good, easy, relaxed, beautiful. When I go out to hear live music, I imagine myself sitting in a circle of light. I can feel the rays moving around the room. I can feel the energy of sound entering into our bodies and passing from one to the other, until everyone is vibrating with melody and rhythm and in sync in some way beyond my control.

It takes a lot to create such a space. A sound engineer who cares. A venue that cares and provides chairs and tables and space. Band mates who listen to each other and respond. The artist is just part of the entire sphere of love that happens. The listeners are the most important part.

When you come to a concert, a show, you can be you, as you are. The music is there to love you up, make you feel good, relaxed, happy, connected.

It's daunting to love, to venture out. In the body, it is the softest revolution, that sustaining heartbeat, that allows for breath and then for sound to be born, and heard.

I hope soon to see and be with you in the real... that's where we can feel together and hopeful.