A blog post about a blog post about a blog post

A Montpelierite named Morgan W. Brown read last night's post about the Farmer's Night concert, and he linked this blog and my post. So I'm linking him right back. Here is the Montpelier Matters website, an everything-you-want-to-know-about-Montpelier blog. And click here to read what he has to say about the post directly below this one.

Alexander Rocks the House

Literally.

I'm here in Montpelier on another Vermont junket. I arrived a night early to avoid driving in an ice storm, and my last-minute change in itinerary led me to a different hotel - Betsy's Bed and Breakfast. While lacking in some of the privacy afforded by the Capitol Plaza, not to mention proximity to the office, the B&B experience offers a charm of its own. For example, all of the rooms are unique and warm, in contrast to the cookie-cutter rooms of the Capitol Plaza and the chain hotels. And of course there is the hearty breakfast, which this morning featured orange pancakes and a side of bacon, along with assorted muffins and fresh-squeezed orange juice. Breakfast also featured conversation with other guests, most of whom were partaking in a writing residency at Vermont College, just up the hill.

Today also brought an opportunity that is almost certainly "Uniquely Vermont" - a rock concert in the House Chambers of the State Capital building. The event was Farmer's Night, and on hand was Alexander's Goodtime Band. The band is fronted by guitarist Peter Alexander (no, not that Pete Alexander) and the rythyms are laid down by bassist Ben Butterworth, but the star attraction is former Phish drummer Jon Fishman. Liberal politics brought Alexander and Fishman together, as both were involved in directing the New England Coalition, a safe energy (aka anti-nuke) group based in Brattleboro, VT.

And it was the setting of (mostly) liberal politics that housed the event, with the ornate ceiling overhead, oversized chandelier hanging down and aging desks that the House members use to keep their notes straight. The scene was the somewhat surreal mixture of humanity that simply defines everyday life in Montpelier - elderly legislators in their business attire seated next to aging hippies seated next to Generation Y Phish-heads, and everybody with a smile on his or her face. The lighting was inappropriate, but the acoustics were surprisingly sound. Alas, there was no hint of the herb that is often associated with Phish, though I am certain that marijuana has found its way into the Vermont Statehouse on more than one occasion in the past.

Living up to the band's name, Alexander and crew played good time music, a toe-tapping blues/folk/pop combo that got many audience members into their dancing shoes. The trio played mostly originals that varied from the political ("There's a thin line between right and wrong/ Especially when one side is very strong"), to the romantic (an ode to the coast of Maine), to various songs exploring love, love lost, and sex. The handful of covers were well chosen, ranging from "Man of Constant Sorrow" (from O Brother, Where Art Thou), to a rocking blues version of Leadbelly's "Where Did You Sleep Last Night", to a stirring version of Hendrix's "Little Wing".

Alexander's Goodtime Band filled the room with music in true power-trio form. Alexander is an accomplished 12-string player, if falling a bit short of "virtuoso" status, and passionate vocalist in the style of Jimmy Buffet or Willie Nelson, Butterworth kept the groove on both four string and eight-string (if I saw this correctly) basses, and Fishman is a drummer of some renown. Alexander kept the mood loose with his between-song banter and salutations to the many people in the room who he has met through his political dealings. The highlight, and perfect summation of the mood, was when Fishman's daughter (who is maybe four years old) yelled "daddy!" and ran up to the drum set to "touch fingers" with her father while Alexander was telling a story between songs. Daughter later returned to stand in front of the drum kit and point at daddy during a solo. Priceless.

Farmer's Night is a regular gig at the state house in Montpelier, and it's free to the public. According to sources, "Every Winter, the Vermont Legislature hosts the Vermont Farmers Night Series in the House Chamber of the Vermont State House. Before the Interstate was constructed, many Legislators lived in Montpelier when the Legislature was in session. They organized Farmers Night to entertain themselves. The Series is free and features a variety of music, poetry, lectures, historic displays and even wildlife!" Most of the music appears to be of the jazz or brass band variety, rather than rock and roll, but it's an interesting part of Montpelier culture that I look forward to exploring again in the future.

Happy New Year

The Holidays are now behind us, and I look forward to regaining some blogger momentum in 2006 (the last two months have been very slow). (Un)fortunately, there is a lot of material out there.

I think this country is a mess right now. The current regime is heading deeper down the road to fascism and has become an international embarrasment. But for all of the guns and money controlled by the US, some other nation would surely take it upon themselves to enforce the "rule of law" upon us, as we've proven so quick to do to others.

As embarrassing as the administration is, it's only abetted by the media. Media Matters is a leading watchdog, and David Brock's 2005 recap illustrates the steady stream of misinformation being spread to the American public.

There is room for optimism, however, as we enter 2006. For one thing, it's an election year, and American citizens have the opportunity to send a message to the Republican party that it can no longer attack the poor of this country, inpinge upon our civil rights, and desecrate the environment, all the while turning more money and power over to the rich. We can overthrow the Republican majorities in Congress and re-establish proper checks and balances in Washington.

More and more people are questioning the Bush Administration, and waking up to the abuses enacted upon the citizens of the US and the rest of the world. Let's continue to spread the message and do the right thing in 2006. There will continue to be attacks by the right-wing blowhards, and without question we'll have an orange alert or three as election day nears, but let's not fall prey to these tactics, and start ourselves on the path to recovery and civility this year.