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COMFEST!! Sunday @ 4:20!
News
Sorry this is so late, but health issues have slowed me down. Our Comfest show on the Goodale Street Stage at 4:20 Sunday afternoon won’t be slowed down. It’s your first opportunity to hear our new pieces. They’ll make you laugh. They’ll make you cry. They might make you roar. Roger Hines, Brett Burleson, The...
A Fight Fascism Flick: Moral Decay
Music, News, Performances, Poetry
Fight Fascism Flicks is the new MJNW! imprint. Here's our first flick: Moral Decay. People complain about today's young people (of course they always have), but what chance do they have with role models like Donald Trump and murderous police ? It all started with Nixon's pardon and the idea that he could get away...
Hot Times 2023!
News, Performances
Look! We’re back at Hot Times!! This coming Sunday, September 10, @ 12:30 pm. Yes, we’re back playing early Sunday afternoon!! Don’t miss Make Jazz Not War in our only scheduled performance this fall! If you haven’t heard us since we were The JazzPoetry Ensemble, you haven’t heard us. As Make Jazz Not War!, Roger...
F.O.P. lo-fi
News
This is the last of our lo-fi recordings from a recent rehearsal. It’s about policing in America. I’m pro-labor. I grew up singing union songs with my family. I have been a member of unions. The problem with police “unions” is they are entrenched in the past. In fact, “past practice” is their mantra of reactionaryism. In this piece, we musically quote Salt Peanuts with the words “past practice”. Dizzy said “salt peanuts” was just nonsense words that worked. ‘Nuff said. F O P Fucked up Our Police! Say What? F O P Fucked up Our Police! Say What? F......
Moral Decay: I learned everything I know from Tricky Dick “I am not a crook” Nixon
Music, News, Performances, Poetry
I have often said that when Ford pardoned Nixon, he set the stage for the corruption, criminality, and seditious behavior of the Republican Party AND the resurgence of fascism in America. He’d probably be sad. Betty’d probably say, “I told you so.” This piece is our take on Republican privilege and impunity. The lack of accountability emboldens them. They’ve been plotting their coup for 50 years. I worry about our future enough already. If Trump faces no consequences, I think democracy is doomed. Of course, the Republican Ohio Legislature is trying to do that anyway. This is another of our......
I Am Not Your Ally
Music, News, Performances, Poetry
Without our comrade, Greg Ward, it’s been hard to get our new music out. This is from a recent rehearsal. Our take on intersectionality. It will open our Comfest show at 4:15 pm, Sunday, June 25. I Am Not Your Ally I am the one whose back matches yours, swords in hand, my rear view blindness trusting your eyes and hands at my back. I am not your ally. I am the one whose arms link with your arms and the arms of others. I am not your ally. I am not a person of color I am not a......
COMFEST 2023!!!
News, Performances
We’ll rock Comfest on Sunday, June 25, at 4:15 pm. Goodale Street Stage. Slather on the sunscreen, put on your dancing shoes, and party with a purpose with us. Brett Burleson, Roger Hines, The Governor, Michael Vander Does. 40 minutes of pure energy. Don’t be late!!
Name change CLEARANCE SALE!!
News
With our name change, some of our merchandise is obsolete. So we’re having a sale. Sizes and quantities are limited. If we sell enough, we’ll do new merch. Don’t forget to tip the band. Get ‘em before they’re gone!! Make Jazz Not War T-shirts: Were $15/$20 Now ONLY $9.99/$12.99!! Make Jazz Not War Ballcaps: Were...
A Nazi hit me in the head Saturday
News
A Nazi hit me in the head Saturday. Another shoulder-slammed me....
The Counter-Revolution WILL Be Televised
News
It’s been a while since you could hear our new stuff if you didn’t make it to a rare concert. Hopefully the concerts will pick up soon. This is the first of three lo-fi recordings we made last weekend. It’s our newest variation on Gil Scott-Heron’s seminal tune. We’ll be doing it live Sunday afternoon at The Vanderelli Room. Roger Hines, bass; Brett Burleson, guitar; The Governor, drums; Michael Vander Does, vocal & trombone.Here’s the text: The Counter-Revolution Will Be Televised Racists will speak openly of “Replacement Theory” While they gang-rape critical race theory Or any race theory except the......