Archive for September, 2008
Willie Nelson + Jerry Wexler = mutual admiration
Monday, September 29th, 2008A Peaceful Solution, from Germany
Monday, September 29th, 2008[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDB7zpNAbro]
Matthias Lubos from Germany, recorded his beautiful version of ‘A Peaceful Solution,’ and submitted it to the Willie Nelson Peace Research Institute website (www.WillieNelsonPRI.com).  This is the song written by Willie Nelson and daughter Amy Nelson in, and you can read more about the genesis of the song at the site, and also learn how you can submit your own recording, for others to enjoy.
I got to interview Amy and Cathy Guthrie, who together form the group Folk Uke (www.FolkUke.com), and Amy said this about writing the song with her dad:
LL: Amy, I want to ask you about the song, “A Peaceful Solution.â€Â I read that you and Willie wrote that song in the early morning hours on a bus bound for Coachella. How did that song come about?
AN: Well, it was a long time ago, before September 11, and I had this dream. It was that I was sitting out in the audience, and it was all dark, and I could see my dad up on the stage, playing this song and he was singing something about a peaceful resolution. And I thought, this is such a beautiful song, and I was captivated by it. And I woke up and I couldn’t remember anything about it , except those words: a peaceful resolution. And I told Dad about it, but it didn’t mean as much back then. The war hadn’t even started.Â
Then, more recently, I reminded him about that dream, and the song, and that I couldn’t get that song out of my head. Then, all of a sudden he said, “Hey look what I did. I wrote the song!â€Â We were on the bus on the way to the Coachella festival when he did it, and I grabbed my voice recorder, to record it so he wouldn’t forget it. And he sang it on the voice recorder.
And then they posted it on on Willie’s Peace Research Institute Site.[ http://willienelsonpri.com ]  Have you been there?
LL: Yes, I love all of Willie’s versions of the song, and all the other versions people have recorded, and the videos. It’s inspiring.
AN: Yeah! It’s so cool. And now everybody’s doing it.  And it’s turned into so much more than I could have ever dreamed. And dad gave me credit for the song, but I didn’t write a word of it except for that dream, when I dreamed he wrote it.  But now, everyone’s saying, “Oh, you did such a great job on that song,†and I go, “Ah, thanks.â€
And then some people are adding lyrics to the song, and the added lyrics are great, too. I don’t think anybody’s ever done that with a song, taken and given it to everyone to work with.
CG: It’s such a good idea, that peace stuff.
You can read the entire interview at: http://stillisstillmoving.com/?p=1888   It’s fun to read how they met (Connie Nelson introduced them) and the path their lives took before it lead them back to music. Amy is very politically active, and gives her time and energy to many important causes.
This day in Willie Nelson History: Farm Aid XIV (9/29/01)
Monday, September 29th, 2008
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September 29, 2001:Â
Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews host Farm Aid XIV at the Verizon Wireless Music Center at Noblesville, Indiana.Â
When asked about Farm Aid returning to Indiana, John Mellencamp, an Indiana native, said “I’m proud to bring Farm Aid back to Indiana, America’s heartland. The enthusiasm and support for farmers in this part of the country is what inspires us all to keep working to protect rural America and all of the farms, families, and small businesses that make this country thrive.”
Taking place just 18 days after September 11, this was a special Farm Aid concert, renamed “A Concert for America.” Farm Aid 2001 offered Americans a chance to focus on family farmers as one of the true cornerstones of our national strength. Keeping farmers on the land protects a diversified, local system of food production that benefits all Americans, especially in times of adversity. To help those affected by the September 11 tragedy, Farm Aid publicized a special fund to rebuild farmers markets destroyed in the World Trade Center attack.
This concert is available on dvd.
Make a donation to Farm Aid to ensure that there are family farmers growing safe, healthy food for you and your family.
Willie Nelson and Nation Beat, Farm Aid 2008
Monday, September 29th, 2008
Quotes from Farm Aid 2008: Steve Earle
Monday, September 29th, 2008
Steve Earle: “I’ve been to almost every Farm Aid since 1985, except when I was in jail.”
Kucinich Opposes Bailout: “Is this the US Congress or the Board of Directors of Goldman Sachs?”
Monday, September 29th, 2008by Dennis Kucinich
www.opednews.com
WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 28, 2008) — Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today made the following speech on the floor of the House of Representatives regarding the proposed Wall Street bailout:
“The $700 billion bailout for Wall Street, is driven by fear not fact. This is too much money in too a short a time going to too few people while too many questions remain unanswered.
Why aren’t we having hearings on the plan we have just received? Why aren’t we questioning the underlying premise of the need for a bailout with taxpayers’ money? Why have we not considered any alternatives other than to give $700 billion to Wall Street? Why aren’t we asking Wall Street to clean up its own mess? Why aren’t we passing new laws to stop the speculation, which triggered this? Why aren’t we putting up new regulatory structures to protect investors? How do we even value the $700 billion in toxic assets?
“Why aren’t we helping homeowners directly with their debt burden? Why aren’t we helping American families faced with bankruptcy. Why aren’t we reducing debt for Main Street instead of Wall Street? Isn’t it time for fundamental change in our debt based monetary system, so we can free ourselves from the manipulation of the Federal Reserve and the banks? Is this the United States Congress or the board of directors of Goldman Sachs? Wall Street is a place of bears and bulls. It is not smart to force taxpayers to dance with bears or to follow closely behind the bulls.
Bootlegs
Sunday, September 28th, 2008
Willie Nelson on Tour
Sunday, September 28th, 2008
| September 30, 2008 |
Clay Center for Arts |
Charleston, WV |
| October 2, 2008 |
Spartanburg Mem. Aud. |
Spartanburg, SC |
| October 3, 2008 |
Hard Rock Cafe & Casino |
Biloxi, MS |
| October 4, 2008 |
Julia Spears Hep C Foundation |
Leiper’s Fork, TN |
| October 5, 2008 |
Tyson Date |
Springdale, AR |
| Oct. 16,17, 2008 |
Horseshoe Casino Riverdome |
Bossier City, LA |
| October 18, 2008 |
Bluesville Showroom |
Robinsville, MS |
| October 22, 2008 |
Floore’s Country Store |
Helotes, TX |
| October 24, 2008 |
Livestrong Challenge |
Austin, TX |
| October 25, 2008 |
Billy Bob’s Texas |
Fort Worth, TX |
| October 26, 2008 |
The Back Yard |
Austin, TX |
| October 30, 2008 |
American Bank Center |
Corpus Christi, TX |
| October 31, 2008 |
House of Blues |
Houston, TX |
| November 1, 2008 |
House of Blues |
Houston, TX |
| November 2, 2008 |
South Padre Intl. Music Festival |
South Padre Island., TX |
| February 9, 2009 |
Lincoln Center, with Wynton Marsalis |
NYC, NY |
Kenny Chesney Fans, at Farm Aid 2008
Sunday, September 28th, 2008Â 
Kenny Chesney’s set was enjoyable at Farm Aid, especially when Willie joined him on stage for “Last Thing I Needed,” and “Ten With a Two.” But what really impressed me was his fans! Those kids love him. I read once about how much he had done for country music, and I didn’t get it, but when I saw how many fans he had there and how crazy they were for him, I kind of got it.
For Kenny Chesney, it was a natural answer of “yes” when his good friend, Willie Nelson, approached him about participating in the annual Farm Aid Event.  ”I think that anything that we can do to help our own country and the people that help make our country what it is, is a good thing. The great thing about doin’ this particular show is that it’s kind of genre-less. It’s people that love music. It’s where everything is universal. There’s no genre that day — it’s just all singer-songwriters and people that are there because they really want to be and really want to help the American farmer. And it’s a good thing to do.”
Quotes from Farm Aid 2008: Crissie Hynde
Sunday, September 28th, 2008
PETA supporter and lead guitarist for the Pretenders Chrissie Hynde, proudly wearing her TAX MEAT shirt: “I hope all the slaughterhouses and McDonalds will be burned to the ground some day.”
Here, she demonstrates against treatment of chickens raised for KFC consumption, including when live chickens get dumped into tanks of scalding-hot water, for feather removal.
For more info www.PETA.org
I’m a vegetarian, too, and Farm Aid has room for us and the folks who raise beef. We can all come together to support the family farmer. Visit www.farmaid.org to find out all the ways to help.
Willie Nelson, Farm Aid 2008
Sunday, September 28th, 2008
I am still looking at all pics I took at Farm Aid; so far, this is my favorite. Blurry, but I still like it. Â
Willie Nelson, Vanity Fair (May 2003)
Sunday, September 28th, 2008
What is your idea of perfect happiness?  How I feel right now.
What is your greatest fear? Fear
Which historical figure do you most identity with? Billy the Kid.
Which living person do you most admire? Ray Charles.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Stupidity
What is the trait you most deplore in others? Stupidity
What is your favorite journey? On the road, touring
What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Humility
On what occasion do you lie? I never lie!
When and were were you happiest? On stage
If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be? That they’d still be here.
What do you consider your greatest achievement? My music
If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be? A snake
What is your most treasured possession? My guitar, Trigger
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Self-pity
Where would you like to live? On my bus
What is your most marked characteristic? Stubbornness
What is the quality you most like in a man? Stubbornness
What do you most value in your friends? Honesty
Who are your favorite writers? Kris Kristofferson, Hank Williams
Who is your favorite hero of fiction? Superman
Who are your heroes in real life? Ray Charles, Merle Haggard, kris Kristofferson, Hank Williams and Ray Price, to name a few.
What are your favorite names? Gene and Roy
What is it that you most dislike? Dishonesty
What is your motto? “Fortunately, we are not in control.”
Willie Nelson at Wemberly, London, England (1/26/06)
Sunday, September 28th, 2008
photo by Pat Gremlin
Farm Aid Family Disaster Fund
Sunday, September 28th, 2008
This article appeared in the NYTimes. This from: www.farmaid.org:
At Farm Aid, we try and bring attention to these issues and help farmers in the areas through our Family Farm Disaster Fund. Last week, we gave $30,000.00 in initial grants to four groups working to help farm and ranch groups in the region. Please donate today to allow us continue to respond to this and other disasters in a timely manner.
LA BELLE, Tex.” Two weeks after Hurricane Ike blew through Southeast Texas, cowboys on horseback and in helicopters are still trying to round up thousands of head of displaced cattle.
The storm’s surge carried cows up to 20 miles from their pastures in coastal Jefferson and Chambers Counties. Dead cows can be seen rotting in the forks of trees, and lone calves wander looking for their mothers amid overturned tractors and grain silos crushed like tin cans.
We are still hearing about Katrina victims, but no one seems to know about this,” said Mike Latta, a rancher and rice farmer in this agricultural community about 10 miles from the Gulf Coast’s total devastation.
Mr. Latta said he had so far recovered only 15 cows from his herd of 400 and holds out little hope of finding the rest, even as rescue efforts continue. Thus far, about 10,000 of the estimated 25,000 missing cows in the region have been found alive.
Explaining how any survived the powerful surge with waves reported over 15 feet, Hollis Gilfillian, a rancher in nearby Winnie, Tex., said that cows are surprisingly buoyant. thanks to their four air-filled stomachs. Mr. Gilfillian said he was able to recover half of his 350 head because they sort of floated like boats.
Displaced and severely dehydrated cows roaming the debris- and seaweed-strewn landscape have been herded into fenced pastures north of where the storm surge ended. They are marked with brands from the scores of ranches in the area and need to be sorted so they can be returned to their owners. (more…)
