Gary Kanter   Songwriter, Humorist, Irritant!

The title quote was penned by humorist Will Rogers during the FDR Administration.  This brilliant satirist, with his Oklahoma drawl and lariat twirling, has lost some of his fame through the years…but not his bite.

Many of my friends chide me for actively supporting Democratic candidates whom, they say, are in bed with the same parasites as their Republican soul mates.  The unfortunate thing is that they are largely right.  The system has become so corrupt hat corporate largesse seems to be the easiest path to election and re-election.  All it takes is blind obedience to the needs of human constituents.  OK…I concede that the court has conferred a form of personhood on corporations…but not humanity…so I prefer the latter term.

Call them what you will…Blue Dogs…DINO (Dems In Name Only)…or our very own legislature’s self-style Road Kill Caucus…they are not my Democratic Party.  Gov. Howard Dean summed it up when he described himself as representing the “Democratic wing of the Democratic Party.  That is my piece.

Like it or not, we are a two-party political system, much to the chagrin of the founders who decried factions and parties alike.  I believe it was John Adams who said it would lead to being governed by “men of party rather than men of state.”  Prescient, to say the least.

Third parties have come and gone…”The Know-Nothings”…”Greenbacks”…”Liberty”…”Bull Moose” (Teddy Roosevelt received more votes than the Republican incumbent President Wm. Howard Taft).  In 1980 Republican-turned-Independent, John Anderson was credited with helping undo Jimmy Carter.  Ross Perot helped elect Bill Clinton in 1992.  Ralph Nader sucked enough votes from Al Gore in some states to enable the five stooges of the Supreme Court to anoint George W. Bush.

OK…so third…and fourth parties have proven to be spoilers…but they have come and gone.  The two major parties have swapped key pieces of their identities since the days of Lincoln…though the D’s still are considered the people’s party and the R’s the party of big business.  The D’s became the de facto party of civil rights; the R’s of religious idiocy.

The D’s became the party that passed child labor law, union rights laws, work relief, Glass-Steagall, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, WAC, OSHA, civil rights, voting rights… etc.  The R’s fought it all tooth and nail.  Now they are working nonstop to roll it all away.

Yes, there are corporate whores at every level of the Democratic Party.  But there are also a plethora of decent, caring, and effective people in and out of elective office.  Especially at the precinct and legislative district levels.  These are the people who advocate not only for candidates but for causes…like the ones listed above.

I know, because my wife is one of them.  She is a serial Precinct Committee Officer PCO) in our legislative district.  She attends meetings.  She organizes and participates events and has worn out leather endlessly door belling during campaign season.  And, we live in a reliably red legislative district, so the outcomes have not always been as we have wished…although we have seen successes in the statewide and national elections as well as in ballot issues.

So, I’m a Democrat.  Do I like where my party is on the state and national levels?…no.  I’m an American.  Do I like what my country has become?  …no.  So I remain…and like my wife, I soldier on!

I learned about the suicide of Arwen Morgan, daughter of Seattle Music icon Teresa Morgan, while preparing for the second Wisconsin benefit.  I had only met Arwen once, at a Victory Music’s open mic at the QCafe, where she was promoting her one-woman show.  She performed an original song.  She was good. She was very good.  Young, poised, lovely, and talented.

I had met Teresa a handful of times, also at the Q, where she was an infrequent performer.  She was always interesting and professional…and entertaining, whether playing the harmonium, guitar, or a combination of instruments, singing, chanting…

I think I confounded her by inquiring as to the plural of harmonium (harmonia?)…

Many of the Q/Victory Music regulars were familiar with the family band, the Cutters, mainstays at Folklife, Tumbleweed, and other festivals, venues, and events.  I wasn’t.

So when I got the email that Arwen had taken her life, it seemed appropriate to suggest some form of memorial during the Wisconsin performance.  The result was a touching chantey by family friends Dan Roberts and Tom Rawson…along with a moment of silence we shared with our in-house audience and those watching online, especially in Wisconsin.

A couple of months ago, I was again contacted by friends of the family.  Teresa had been hospitalized for mental issues resulting from the death of her daughter.  She was debilitated.  Her marriage and home were gone.  She was broke and the music community was banding together to help.  A monthly series of concerts were being organized to raise money.  It was a remarkable outpouring of love and support.  Though I didn’t know her well, Teresa was a sister in our music family.  More important, we shared another bond, a more personal bond.  I had a daughter the same age as Arwen.

So, I was the first performer of the first concert, joined by my friend and kindred spirit, Steve Beck, for the second half of my set.  I was informed that I was a good choice because I had the ability to “frame” moments. Steve and I were followed by the wonderful female indie trio, “The Gloria Darlings” and guitar maven and Bruce Cockburn cultist, Rob Kneisler.  We raised over $2000 that night…Teresa was unable to attend but her daughter, Lara, mother of three small children, conveyed the flow of events to her.

I was invited to emcee the second show, a month later.  A few days earlier I had one of two cataract surgeries, so driving to downtown Seattle, in the rain, during rush hour, with different vision emanating from either eye was…an adventure.  Even in the best of times Seattle can be an unforgiving maze of wrong turns and one way traps.  I made it and had the pleasure of sharing the emcee chores with my young friend Pandi, co-founder of the Gloria Darlings and multi-talented songwriter/singer.  Ironically,  our original friendship was originally founded upon our mutual adoration for Phil Ochs, who’s life ended exactly as had Arwen’s.

The talent that night was impeccable.  One of my songwriter favorites, Bill Davie led off, followed by the Pete Seegerish Tom Rawson, and the outrageously talented Whateverly Brothers.  During one of the breaks, I asked Lara to come on stage and give us an update on her mother.  We learned that Teresa was still fragile and progress was going to be slow.

The following Tues., I was just returning from my second cataract surgery, when I received a call from Dan Roberts.  He was crying.  Teresa Morgan had jumped to her death from the Magnolia Bridge.

 

Tuesday night I had the honor of meeting Bill Adler at King’s Book Store in Tacoma. Bill, his wife, Robin, and son, Zeke, were in the area as part of his national book tour. The event was sponsored by the local IWW, yes, the wobblies…they still exist…and are still organizing!

I hadn’t intended to be in Tacoma that night but a couple of friends were making their debut as hosts of a nearby open mic, which meant I had a free ride.  Add a dinner invitation from the remarkable singer-songwriter couple and Tacoma residents, Steve and Kristi (not Kirsty)  Nebel, my evening was set.    Local activists, Steve and Kristi were right at home at King’s Books among the wobs.

Bill had originally contacted me about singing some of Hill’s songs at his presentation at the Seattle Labor Temple, two days later.  When I emailed him my availability for Tues his reply was immediate and enthusiastic.  I immediately liked him

We met face-to-face a few minutes prior to the start of the program and quickly charted the evening’s fare.  I would open  with “I Dreamed I Saw Joe Hill Last Night” after which he would begin the presentation by reading an excerpt from the book.  At various time in the narrative, I would sing the appropriate Joe Hill song (“Preacher and the Slave” and “Rebel Girl”).  At the conclusion, I sang “Joe Hill’s Last Will” with the music I had put to Joe’s words.  The audience demonstrated approval and Bill beamed in agreement.  Some of the audience asked us how long we had been touring together as we seemed to have played off each other so well.

Two nights later, Bill, Robin, and Zeke, along with their friends, Randy and Karen Nelson, joined my wife, Mary, and I for Chinese dinner at Tai Tung, arguably the oldest restaurant in Seattle.  Randy, of Swedish descent, was Bill’s guide and research partner in Sweden during the investigation of Hill’s early years and family life.

Enroute to the Seattle Labor Temple for the presentation, Bill asked me to perform my satirical “Tea Chantey” at the conclusion of the evening.  I had gifted the family with my “Good-bye, Dr. Laura” cd…and they had actually listened to it.  I really liked him now.

The Seattle Labor Temple is a City of Seattle historical landmark in Seattle’s thoroughly gentrified Belltown neighborhood.  Imagine the late Peter Falk, in full-press Columbo mode, adorning the cover of Cosmopolitan Magazine.  That is how the Labor Temple fits into its community.

It is a series of halls, lobbies, staircases, and meeting rooms.  It smells like one of the New York City public schools I attended in the 1950’s.  So quickly did that olfactory memory overtake me that I inadvertently reached for my hall pass.

The audience this evening was more mainstream, with representatives from various trades and craft unions.  My wife, a longtime AFSCME  member, was right at home.

The show went pretty much along the same rails as the Tuesday one.  Somehow, we managed to skip “Rebel Girl.”   The audience contained various labor historian types   which doubled or tripled the number of post-narrative questions.  Bill fielded each gracefully and confidently, in the spirit of the expert comfortable in his topic.

I finished the evening  with “Tea Chantey” and debuted  my new ass-kicking, rabble-rousing new song, “Solidarity Now.”  Mary later informed me that I banged the guitar part so loud, my ass-kicking, rabble-rousing lyrics were barely audible. (“You did say you wanted me to be honest….”)

So, what did I learn?  I learned that Joe Hill understood the power of music and humor in  a movement.     It was a lesson I had learned from my musical godfather, Phil Ochs, and his predecessor, Woody Guthrie.  Joe was the archetype.  He differed only in the fact that he was not a musical performer, he was an itinerant worker.  His songs were written to be passed on…and on…and on….they were accessible to all, in their lyrics as well as in the hymns and  popular tunes of the day he set them to.

I learned that Bill Adler is one helluva journalist, writer, and storyteller as well as a great judge of cd’s.

http://themanwhoneverdied.com

I spent Labor Day in Burlington, WA.  Mark Lowry, president of the Northwest Central Labor Council (Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan Counties) had invited me to put together a show for the group’s Labor Day Picnic.

The group included my buddies from the great north:  JW McClure (Stanwood), Greg Deer (Lake Stevens), and the legendary  Mike Dumovich (Arlington).  While we had all played at events together…we had never played together.  I sent some song lyrics and YouTube links on the traditional labor songs and Greg learned the bass parts of my songs from my CD.

Whatever we did, the audience was so enthusiastic and appreciative, it must have worked.  perhaps it was our guests my favorite singing state Rep. Luis Moscoso…or accordianist-vocalist, Doris Brevoort.  Doris, by the way, is running for city council in the neighboring municipality of Mt. Vernon…hometown of Glenn Beck.  Go, Doris!

Upshot:  No better way to spend Labor Day than with a group of people such as the ones who turned out for the picnic…the ones who work and produce…and make things….and run things…and keep things running.  My union wife (AFSCME) and daughter, who is planning a career as a labor lawyer were on hand to participate.

It was a perfect day in the Northwestern corner of the country.  Sunshine…warm temperatures (80?)…with the occasional freight train rolling by to add flavor.

“Exhausted, but very pleased. The labor council’s labor day picnic was a success. Between 120 and 150 people came and enjoyed spending time with each other.                            Special thanks to Dale Thompson for awesome bbq, and to Gary Kanter and his musical friends for the perfect blend of labor and folk music. I could not be more pleased.”   Mark Lowry

     Solidarity!

       Gary

It was time to put up or shut up!

I filled out the forms,wrote a check for dues, and am proud to be a neophyte member of the Musicians Association of Seattle, Local 76-493, American Federation of Musicians.

Solidarity Forever!
http://www.local76-493.org/index.htm

 

It has been a big year!

I reconnected with my Phil Ochs, my songwriting inspiration, through the release of “There But For Fortune,” the gut-wrenching documentary about his life and death. I got to perform a pair of his songs the first night the film was shown at the NW Film Forum.  Other performers included Eric Apoe, Tommy Dean and The Gloria Darlings v.20 pandi and Kim Lowings).  I wrote a two-part article for Victory Review (www.victorymusic.org) on Phil, which included a phone interview with his sister, Sonny, a remarkable woman and keeper of the flame.

I learned the highs and lows of becoming an impresario, producing “Phil Ochs: A Celebration of Life” on the anniversary of his death, April 9.  Proceeds went to disaster relief for the people of Japan and New Zealand.  Artists included Eric, Tommy, The Gloria Darlings v.3.0 (Pandi and Rebecca Cohen), Robin Holcomb, Jennifer Spector, Reggie Garrett, and my Switched After Birth compadres, Steve Beck and Steff Kayser.

The show taught me two lessons:  The first was just how much the audience loved and missed Phil.  The second, was the recollection that Phil had been my inspiration and role model for a reason…he used his music to promote change; to illuminate hypocrisy and evil; to make things better for people.  I had forgotten that about my own music, my own voice.  So, I committed to emulating Phil and using my  music and commentary as a personal brand of social activism.

This manifested itself in the two benefit concerts I produced on behalf of the Wisconsin recall elections.  “Washington for Wisconsin!’ (1 & 2), collectively raised over $2,000 which went to three non-profits in the Badger State, actively involved in the recalls.

The concerts were streamed live and we had an audience in Wisconsin and other parts of the free world.  The performers were amazing:  Steve Beck, Karin Blaine,

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Kat Eggleston, Reggie Garrett, Steff Kayser, JW McClure, Mike Pryor, Tom Rawson, Dan Roberts, and Ted Stickney.  Ted, of course also tripled as the sound man and, along with his incredible wife, Suzanne Weghorst, out hosts at Egan’s Ballard Jam House.  legendary Seattle trio, Uncle Bonsai, graciously performed at the second show.

In addition to music, we heard from members of our state legislature,Sen. Maralyn Chase and Rep. Luis Saul Moscoso.  Organized labor was represented by Lynne Dodson and Kathy Cummings of the Washington State labor Council and Kevin Cummings of IAM.

We were also treated to a brief address by Rep. Jay Inslee, hopefully, our next governor, who juggled his calendar to be there.

Among the many thank-you’s we got from our Wisconsin friends, was one from state Sen. Dave Hansen, one of the fab 14 who went to Illinois to resist Gov. Walker’s initial foray into union busting.  For his efforts, he was targeted by the Rethuglicans for recall and crushed his GOP opponent by better than a 2-1 margin.  Way to go, Sen. Hansen!

Putting together these events gave me valuable education in the lonely life of the impresario.  For someone as disorganized as I, the details were torturous.  The people were incredible…starting with Ted and Suzanne who opened Egan’s on a Sunday for our second show…normally the first day of their weekend.  The performers who all stepped up and literally, parked their egos at the door.  Also, those who I did not invite, for the most part, understood the rationale for those who were selected in terms of message and star power.

So what’s next?

I want to work with progressive and union groups to get the message out.  It’s going to take a lot of lung power…there’s a lot of noise out there!

It is heartening to have the world…or a small piece of it, anyway…affirm your values.

Phil Ochs was the archetype of what I aspire to be.  His wit, irony, wordplay, empathy, and passion combined to make him the perfect journalist-editorialist of his time…of any time, really.

Now, with the film “There But for Fortune,” Phil’s contributions and place in history will be documented and presented to a whole new generation who look back at the 60’s and see Dylan, the Beatles, the Stones….

Perhaps if Phil’s mental distress had not short-circuited his creativity and prematurely ended his life, Phil would today have the cultural status of the others.  We’ll never know.  What we do know, is that he was a brilliant poet and composer.  His lyrics and music always fit together to create a whole much greater than the sum of its parts.

This week I tried to remember the earliest Phil songs I had learned…and the order in which I learned them.  Then I tried to play them…with mixed success.

This is what I came up with:

“The Ballad of Medgar Evers”

“Power & Glory”

“I’m Gonna Say it Now”

“I Ain’t Marchin’ Anymore”

“Is There Anybody Here?”

“There But for Fortune”

“Small Circle of Friends”

“The Party”

“What Are You Fighting For?

“Remember Me”

The list is incomplete…as I was writing it…pieces of lyrics…patches of melody…passed through my brain.  But I will go with these for now.

How about you?  Which were the earliest Phil Ochs songs you learned?

Inquiring minds want to know!

My recent CD, “Goodbye, Dr. Laura” is now available at cdbaby.com and reverbnation.com.   Just visit the websites and type in my name.  A digital version is also available for downloads as well as individual songs.

“Goodbye, Dr.Laura”…”I’m Gonna Marry G.E.”…”Tea Chantey”…”Drill, Baby, Drill!”…”When You Go To Arizona”…”Farewell Troubadour (Phil Ochs)”…”Your Own Brand of Blues (Fly Away Home)…”Jesus Wasn’t Home That Night”…”All Depots Are the Same”…”The Hobo Who Taught Me To Ride a Freight Train”…”Talkin’ Pay It Forward Busker Blues”…”When You Cross the Border”