Mood:  a-ok

All I had to do was Google "Kanye West douchebag", and with startling clarity, about 100 links appeared on my screen within seconds. Like screecher Joe Wilson, Kanye has once again made his mark, and it was almost as unpleasant.

West once remarked that if there was a new Christian Bible, he should be in it. I agree. There's plenty of room for new cautionary tales. Wasn't there a story about how it would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of Heaven?

Dad cracked a joke all the kids laugh
But I couldn't hear em all the way in first class
Chased the good life my whole life long
Look back on my life and my life gone
Where did I go wrong?

Kanye is a talented musician. On that, many people can agree. Raised primarily in Chicago's middle class Oak Lawn neighborhood by his mother, a professor and chair of the English department of Chicago State University, Kanye had the resources and opportunities to explore a lot of different writing and musical styles, and to develop his artistry to his heart's content. His father, a former Black Panther, helped him to see injustice from an early age, and young Kanye soon found himself helping other young people do the same.

Without humility, class, and recognition of others' talent and hard work, it doesn't mean as much to be talented. There are a lot of artists -- damn good ones, too -- who work just as hard as he does, and who deserve far more respect because they know how to carry themselves professionally.

My god sister gettin' married by the lake
But I couldn't figure out who I want to take
Bad enough that I showed up late
I had to leave 'fore they even cut the cake
Welcome to Heartbreak 

Kanye West, how do you want to be remembered?

***Lyrics to Welcome to Heartbreak by Kanye West © Kanye West and Roc-A-Fella Records ***

Mood:  cool

As part of my participation on 107.7 The Bone's "Hey Mom" show (mentioned in an earlier post), I won 2 passes to the 3-day music fest known as Outside Lands. 

The last time I attended a music show this large, it was Lollapalooza 1995, and I've got to say that despite the lack of female voices, I still very much enjoyed this experience, which featured Radiohead, Beck, Ben Harper, Regina Spektor, Tom Petty and Wilco. 

I'm not sure why they called it an "arts festival" as the only art I saw was in a small Dell computer-sponsered tent, but hopefully, if this is going to be an annual event from now on, they'll get hip and include a lot more, as the San Francisco Bay Area is full of great artists.

I'd seen Beck before, but had never seen Ben Harper or Tom Petty, though I've listened to their music over the years. Even though I wasn't as familiar with Harper's music, it didn't matter at all, as both his charisma and ability were beautifully played off of the considerable talents of the rest of the band. Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers were also a wonderful surprise, and even though I've loved the music since I was a kid -- and have read countless articles displaying both the talent and the humor of the band -- I never fully understood the appeal until I saw the group live. As well as having tons of talent and experience, Petty himself was red-hot, incredibly sensuous, and clearly dedicated to his art.

Fan photography was both encouraged and discouraged; the website said "personal cameras ok", the front gate declared "no cameras allowed" and a CrowdFire promotion at the festival asked the audience to submit their favorite photos they took while at the event. Having escaped the front gate snoopiness with my camera in-hand, I managed to snap some good shots. I can understand why the fest was sort of picky, as several people wanted to purchase the Tom Petty photos I took (DENIED, as I didn't have the band's permission!) when I showed them off at a local watering hole later in the evening. Anyway, confusion aside, I'm posting the photos here for your enjoyment.

San Francisco Outside Lands 2008

Mood:  bright

Though I've bought and sold many tickets to Pickathon over the years, I've never been able to attend an actual Pickathon event until 2008. Work, the mis-alignment of the stars, and the general employment mayhem experienced after I graduated from college contributed as well. However, after making the decision to start my own businesses and to dedicate real time to my writing career, I stabilized my life and am enabled to do a lot of things a standard 9-5 never could allow.

Back to the event: Pickathon, a 3-day annual campout now in its 10th year, encompasses a variety of related genres, such as rockabilly, bluegrass, folk, swing and country. Offering a unique line-up every year, the mix of talented men and women who are both on-stage and behind the scenes do everything they can to keep the ears of the audience busy, offering four "pro" stages and the opportunity for anyone else with an instrument to jam each evening in camp, something I honestly wished there'd been more of.

Pickathon has a little of something for everyone; while the festival music is more geared towards adult listening, there were lots of events for children, including daily workshops on circus performing, zine making, and creating your own music. As my travel companion put it, "I've never seen more lesbians and children at a festival in my entire life." Perhaps he wasn't paying attention at Burning Man all those years, but the inclusion of as many ways of life as possible can only be a good thing, and I'm proud to say that Pickathon fit the bill as well.

Included as a part of this blog is a 98-photo essay of many of the performances I saw/heard at Pickathon 2008. As well as photos and brief descriptions of the photos, there are also web links to individual performers. Pull up a lawnchair and a fat glass of iced tea, and enjoy the ride!

Pickathon 2008