touring, blogging, yelling at self.

so i think the reason i have been relatively absent from this blog (and not responding to emails, if any of the offended are reading this) is that we have just been practicing like crazy and then touring (like crazy?). when i start a tour, i tend to remove myself from all communication for about two weeks; this results in not returning phone calls, not returning emails, shirking any band busniess-related responsibilities that may include any form of email or phone usage, etc. i have not quite figured out why i do this, but over the past 5 or 6 tours the pattern has cemented itself. coincidentally, i am usually happy on tour until about two weeks in, when the loneliness/psychological tour rash starts to set in. is there a relationship here? not sure. looking into it.

woke up this morning feeling a little bit like a shit. looking into that. =)

in the meantime, Danielson has released a free mp3 of "Did I Step On Your Trumpet?" on their myspace page (myspace.com/danielson) and it is an AWESOME song; i can't stop listening to it.

Question: what can WE do in Sudan?

I received an email today asking, "What can WE do about the situation in Sudan?"

Great question!

As far as i understand it, it's a tough situation over there, pretty complicated, and the full resolution of the crisis depends on a lot of political moves, decisions, compromises of the various parties involved. But what is definitely lacking, espeically in America, is awareness of the genocide, and resolve to do whatever needs to be done to stop it. What I mean is, most Americans seem to care about who wins American Idol, but don't even know there is a genocide occuring in Africa that is STOPABLE. They care that their gas prices go down, and the economy is good, and their particular political leanings don't go unnoticed by their elected representatives, but a Senator's or Congressperson's action or inaction toward the Darfur situation in no way swings their vote. This needs to change, and our representatives need to know that we will not re-elect them if they are not active in this fight. So, building awareness, and writing letters/sending emails to your local representatives, the White House, etc., as well as getting all of your friends informed and doing the same is a big help right now. It shows that there is a growing group of Americans who care about this issue.

Go to SaveDarfur.org and sign their "Million Voices For Darfur" postcard, and sign up for their email list, which will keep you informed as to the situation in Darfur as it progresses, and what you can currently be doing to stopit.

Secondly, we can donate to organizations who are making a difference. If you don't have any or much money of your own (welcome to my life...), BE CREATIVE! Put on a benefit concert, host a bake sale, lemonade stand anyone? I would also recommend some intentional personal decision-making, like holding off on certain luxuries (starbucks frapuccino's, designer jeans, whatever) for a couple weeks or a month, and putting the money you would have spent in a jar or somewhere, and then at the end, give it as you see fit. This is super rewarding, so easy, and incredibly helpful. Our money goes a long way in Africa. =)

SaveDarfur.org is currently taking contributions to help raise awareness and to take care of the refugees that have been pushed out of Darfur into neighboring communities and countries. There are a number of other organizations to support:

Students Against Genocide is currently selling "Stop Genocide In Sudan" t-shirts out of the Claremont Colleges in Southern California -- I saw a lot of these at the rally in DC, and they actually look really cool =) I want to get one, but you have to buy in bundles, so get some friends together and order a bunch of them. Their proceeds go to various organizations that are helping in Darfur.

The International Rescue Committee delivers lifesaving aid in emergencies, rebuilds shattered communities, cares for war-traumatized children, rehabilitates health care, water and sanitation systems, reunites separated families, restores lost livelihoods, establishes schools, trains teachers, strengthens the capacity of local organizations and supports civil society and good-governance initiatives.

The Genocide Intervention Fund will combine fundraising for the UN-supported African Union Mission in Darfur (AMIS II) with efforts to pressure governments to pursue a comprehensive strategy to end the genocide in Darfur.

Oxfam is helping over 600,000 people in Darfur and Chad, working with communities to fight the spread of disease and save lives. They provide vital clean water, build latrines and washing facilities, and distribute essential items such as buckets and jerry cans for carrying water, soap, sanitary cloths, clean clothes, ground sheets, blankets and plastic sheeting for building shelters.

American Jewish World Service is a non-sectarian group whose funds are helping to rehabilitate water sources, construct sanitation facilities, and provide basic health care and other essential humanitarian services, including a service program for children orphaned by the crisis.

I hope this provides some direction. =) It is a tough battle, but the battle brings peace.

Ecstatic that people actually care,
Dan

More Important Than Music blog is up!

Awhile back on tour, I was talking and riding with The Fold one night, and we began talking about what we could do as independent, touring musicians to really make a difference in the world. We came up with one good idea, and this was it: start a web community where people in bands can post things that are important to them, and the fans of those bands can be encouraged to think about those things as well. The product of that conversation is More Important Than Music, a blog that does just that.

Here it is!

It is still in the baby stages, very few posts (just me and Dan from This Providence so far), but it is a start. And I hope it can turn into something that really makes a difference.

If you share my heart for this stuff and want to support the project, you can throw a banner on your Myspace page, blog, or website.

Click here for More Important Than Music banners!

This is not about me, not about Sherwood, not about any of the bands. This is about raising awareness for important issues in a scene that seems to my eyes to be pretty self-focused and naive. Maybe that is what rock and roll should be, but if it is, then I don't want to be rock and roll. I want to make a difference, and I CAN make a difference, and SO CAN YOU.

Some things really are more important than music. =)

With a fire in my belly,
Dan

i seriously can't believe this...

what is the state of urban music these days? i am in no way racist, and it's weird that I feel like if I criticize urban music I'm being racist. there are plenty of caucasians in urban music, and anyway plenty of great african-american rock'n'rollers, past and present (sam cooke, aretha franklin, bloc party singer guy), not to mention some great urban artists (jay-z, the roots, destiny's child -- not joking, don't poke fun). but SERIOUSLY! I was watching music videos today--really, it just makes me bitter and I should probably stop--and a little gem by NE-YO came on, "When You're Mad". I was laughing audibly for all to hear throughout the house. Here is just one verse and the chorus:


Could it be the little wrinkle over your nose
When you make your angry face
That makes me wanna just take off all your clothes
And sex you all over the place?
Could it be the lil' way you storm around
That makes me wanna tear you down
Baby, I'm not sure, but one thing that I do know is

[Chorus]
Every time you scream at me
I wanna kiss you
When you put your hands on me
I wanna touch you
When we get to arguing
Just gotta kiss you
Baby, I don't know why it's like that
But you're just so damn sexy
When you're mad


"SEX YOU ALL OVER THE PLACE"! This is CLASSIC. I couldn't have made this shit up. I am actually laughing as i type about it. One more time, those first few lines...


Could it be the little wrinkle over your nose
When you make your angry face
That makes me wanna just take off all your clothes
And sex you all over the place?


Wow. Moving on... There is a group currently getting quite a bit of attention, especially on MySpace, called....wait for it... DA MUSICIANZ.

"What should we call our group?" I imagine one member asking another.
"Well, what are we?"
"Musicians!"

And the rest is history. Add a couple clever misspellings, and there you have it. Beethoven is leanin' and rockin' wit it in his grave...

Bitter but getting better,
Danimal

Good News in Sudan! =)

So, apparently there were over 50,000 people at that rally! Pretty awesome... Just got this email a few days ago from the Save Darfur Coalition people; and it's exciting, so I thought I would share it. (If you haven't visited SaveDarfur.org and signed the "Million Voices" Postcard, please go now -- it takes maybe 45 seconds total, but it let's the President know you care about stopping genocide).


"I have some good news to report! Earlier today, the Sudanese government and two of the main Darfur rebel factions signed a peace agreement to end three years of fighting that has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions from their homes.

This is only the first step toward ending the violence in Darfur and putting a stop to the tragic genocide.

You and others have sent over 800,000 Million Voices postcards to President Bush. And just a day after over 50,000 rallied on the National Mall in Washington, and thousands joined rallies in cities across the country, President Bush dispatched Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick to the peace talks.

And you helped make the issue of genocide in Darfur a top priority for the Bush Administration.

The momentum is building and we can make a difference!

Click the link below to tell your friends and family about our campaign. And thank President Bush for his leadership so far - but let him know there is more work still to be done.
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/darfur/thankYou.jsp?campaign_KEY=2082

The peace agreement has been signed, but we must make sure that both sides live up to the terms. The millions of men, women, and children who have been displaced or have had their lives rocked by violence will not know peace until the government and the rebels live up to theses agreed terms.

The Bush Administration must continue to play a leading role.

On a more personal note, I am incredibly grateful to the Save Darfur Coalition staff, our volunteers, member organizations and all of you for your incredible efforts over the past weeks and months. Each of you helped us reach this historic point - but it is only the first step.

As we continue the fight, there will be many more opportunities for you take action and help make a difference.

Best regards,

David Rubenstein
Save Darfur Coalition"

Save Darfur Rally

So... I found myself in Washington DC just one day before the Save Darfur rally this last week -- thousands of people gathered on the Mall, in between the Washington Monument and the Capitol, all together for the purpose of stopping the genocide that is taking place in the Darfur region of Sudan, a country in Africa. (To learn about this crisis, read this short article)

So, I thought I would attend. And I did. And I am very glad that I went.

It started well -- believe it or not, I actually was recognized by three very nice girls as I was walking off the subway. "It sure is A NICE DAY, isn't it?" one of them asked me, quoting "The Town That You Live In". I didn't get it at first, as I was on the phone trying to locate a friend who was there, but after my call they explained. This was a nice ego boost, and something that rarely happens, especially outside of California.

After eating some low-fat Ritz crackers with an overpriced bottle of water, I found a place to the right of the stage in some very nice shade. Almost everyone around me was there with one of many Jewish organizations. This was perplexing to me at first, considering the US population is not nearly as Jewish as this group was, but then I realized the reason that the Jewish community may be so attune to genocide is their own history with it as a people (i.e. The Holocaust). Still thought, I was really bummed to not see more Christian groups there. Where were the Christians, I thought?

I heard two people speak that day who were from groups considering themselves "Evangelicals". The first of the two only said a prayer, which started something like this...

"Dear Heavenly Father, Spirit and Jesus Christ, Your only Son..." At which point a number of the Jews near me laughed and or scoffed and looked at each other. Later, another Evangelical would speak, somewhat making up for the first guy, but I noticed a lot of the Jews were not paying attention to him, significantly less than any other speaker. It makes sense to me, though, that it might NOT be a good idea to start off a prayer with JESUS in a group of poeple who are predominantly JEWISH. Seems a little insensitive to come to a rally that is DESIGNED to bring people of divergent faiths and philosophies together on something they all agree upon and to start off with the MAIN THING that separated your group from the predeominate group present. I don't know what I mean to say with all this, only that I was disappointed, and maybe we can learn a lesson. Or maybe I will convert to Catholicism. =)




Anyway, the rally was very emotionally stirring. It was pretty amazing to be with so many people united for a good cause all in one place, and such an important place at that. I felt like I got to experience a little of what I missed not having grown up in the 60s -- something for which I routinely experience intense longing. The only drawback really was that the rally wasn't very IMFORMATIVE. It was a lot of sloganeering, chanting, emotional sitrring-up. Which is all GOOD, definitely, but I could have used more practical tools with which to work. This may be simply because it is hard to know what exactly to DO about the conflict, in terms at least of what the average citizen can do. There is a lot of really complicated politics, but the more people become concerned and show their concern, the more that would-be elected officials will work on this issue, to ensure that they in fact are elected.

So, be informed, stay informed. There is a weekly newsletter you can subscribe to at SaveDarfur.Org, and I would very much recommend that. I, for one, have slacked on my reading of those newsletters, and only HAPPENED to be D.C. during the rally, but now I am glad I was there, and it is encouraging me to keep up on this conflict more than I have been recently.

Feeling lucky and blessed,
Dan