No more good news, People!
It really feels that way. I guess I’ve said it before. I just seems like there’s not going to be any good news about anything ever again. Now we have to grade the news on a curve. Last week, Northeast floods, deaths, Texas effectively bans abortion and health care is compromised for millions of women, fires. Arguably, if we are grading on a curve, the best news last week was probably Joe Rogan getting Covid. That’s not a judgment or an opinion. It’s science.
The news is mostly updates of the waves of plague, the wave of fascism and fires and floods.
Texas has become a bonafide dark fascist playground. Anyone can carry a gun in public now whether or not they know how to use it. Woman almost never get an abortion there. Covid is rampant and the governor is the opposite of a strong man. He’s a small man pretending. Texas is the home and headquarters of the tribalized, anti-progressive comedy movement that seeks to dismantle actual truth telling and humane humor, to displace it and become the dominant paradigm. It is a front operation for right wing propaganda whether they know it or not. Get out of Texas. Dangerous times and also a harbinger of things to come, everywhere.
To quote my producer, Brendan: "Texas is like Florida only without the lefty Jews to balance it out."
Fuck Florida, too.
I did have an amazing event happen in my life last week. While I was playing at Largo, the stage tech, Barry Skills, told me that Patti Smith was playing in Joshua Tree at Pappy and Harriet’s on Tuesday. I asked him if I could get in. He said he would check. I said I could text Patti. He said go for it. I don’t usually do that but I really wanted to see her because she’s amazing. I texted. She said I could come. Then she texted that Barry told her I played guitar and she asked if I wanted to play acoustic on the finale, ‘The People Have the Power.’ I freaked out for a few but said yes.
In the past, knowing I was going to play would’ve ruined all the time leading up to it and maybe even during it. This time, I just calmly took the time to learn the song and was ready. When she called me up to the stage it was actually fun and an honor. I think I did pretty good. It’s a small outfit. Just her, her son and a bass player. No place to hide. I Stonesed it up a bit. Felt good.
Today I talk to Shasheer Zamata about getting SNL, leaving SNL and where her life went after that. On Thursday I talk to Steve Buscemi about 9/11, NYC, acting, firefighters and theatre. Great talks!
Enjoy!
Boomer, Monkey and LaFonda live!
Love,
Maron