Robbie Robertson Rest in Peace

Robbie Robertson was a good Man.

Robbie was a guitar giant

Robbie was a leader

Robbie was a showman

Robbie was a writer

Robbie was a scholar

Robbie was a style icon

Robbie was a legend

Robbie Robertson died today, he was 80 years old. I didn’t think he was that old, and I was under the impression that he was healthy and vibrant (judging by late nite TV and the Socials)…

For several decades now, during visits to drinking establishments the world over – if there was a jukebox in these joints, I would commandeer it. And when I did, I would always play a healthy dose of The Band. Always.

Why? Because Robbie and the boys were for black and white, for the north and the south, for the US and Canada. They were for all. And Robbie was their leader. He was a uniter.

Just a few days ago, I was speaking to a close friend of mine – someone whose musical taste I regard highly – during our discussion, he told me that The Band was overrated. I imagine that he was looking to get a rise out of me – and damn he did.

Overrated? The Band?

NO.

As I write this, I am sitting in a honky-tonk bar somewhere in honky-tonk New York (the state, not the city). This bar has a jukebox – and I have commandeered it with a $10 deposit which gave me much more than I expected. And as is my wont, I’m playing The Band – back to back to back to back, etc…. nothing but The Band.

The denizens of this half filled bar don’t seem to know what they’re hearing, or why they may be hearing it, but the music is seeping into their souls – penetrating their bones. It is becoming part of them.

Robbie and The Band were at the center of it all – the genius, the personalities, the music that has left a mark that won’t ever be erased.

Robbie Robertson drove the story of what is perhaps the greatest band of all-time – The Band.

Rest In Peace Robbie.

-Blotto West, somewhere in the great state of NY, August 9th, 2023

Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio ?

Joe DiMaggio played 13 major league seasons when baseball was not just the national passtime in the USA, but a veritable religion.

Joe D was an all-star during each of those 13 seasons, an MVP thrice, and a legendary woman’s man. He was famously married to Marilyn Monroe at her absolute peak, and was also reported to be well endowed (some guys have EVERYTHING).

Did I mention he also won 9 World Series championships during his tenure ?

In February of 1943, at the age of 28, in his absolute prime, Joe D enlisted in the US army – and tho he never deployed, spent 3 years of his life in service of his country.

Our military industrial complex has evolved over the years – it has eaten everything in its path – and we will never turn back. It is now primarily a high tech venture, and a ruthlessly savage and brutal one to be sure.

And when we think about the commitment that Joe D made back in 1943 and juxtapose that with our indolent and obese society today, one has to laugh, or cry. We’ve come so far, but have slid back to a degree that it’s unlikely we’ll rise back to again.

As a nation we’ve sold out. We’re hanging on. We’ve created vile echo chambers that misinform us and then broadcast that misinformation on “the socials”. We are dumb and getting dumber – with elite artists being ignored unless they’re pushed by the moneyed class. The days of the intellectual as an aspirational protagonist are dead, or dying their last breath.

Know anyone that reads books ? Someone that can sit thru a social encounter or a meal without picking up their phone ? Someone with the restraint to not post their daily rot on those socials ?

Man is weak, and has never been weaker.

Time to pledge strength. Strength in thought and strength in action. It’s within us all – now the journey commences.

– Blotto West, the Bronx, NYC – February 2023

Who Dat ?

Years back, the New Orleans faithful adopted a chant of “Who Dat” to support their beloved Saints football team.

The derivation of that mantra is a source of debate, but it took hold, and soon the entire nation was shouting “Who Dat.”

30 years in they’re still shouting it, albeit with less ferocity, and the perspective of life lived – replete with the regrets of most – and the romance of days past.

We don’t know much over here, but we know that our experiences make us. Make us good and bad. Loud and soft. Here and there.

We hope you are well and thriving – and following your muse. We are here for the journey with you.

– Blotto West, somewhere in the wilds of New Amsterdam – Feb ‘23

What do you say Sidney Bechet

You can say a lot about the Brown Brothers, but you must say that they record some truly exquisite music. Case in point, this never before released outtake from the infamous Gold Sounds sessions (2005).

This is James Carter on Soprano Sax, Cyrus Chestnut on Piano, Ali Jackson on Drums, and Reginald “Swingdoom” Veal on upright bass.

This bit of magic from the Men of Gold is an impromptu riff that beckons the beauty of Mr. Sidney Bechet.

We hope you enjoy this interlude – check back here often for new content – the staff is feeling ornery these days…

Love,

The Brothers Brown

Now What ?

Some may call it a creative slump, others a crisis of inaction – either way, we’re here to tell you that they’re BOTH right.

Brown Bros. Inc. is in a rut my friends – trying to survive in the big city. Trying to feed a whole lot of mouths. Trying to do something, anything of value.

Seasons change, things change – and we intend to resurface at some point in the future with news – what type of news, that’s hard to say – but in the meantime – we ask your patience and good wishes, and we’ll see you on the other side.

Blotto West – Somewhere in the hills of New York, October ’22

Marshall Allen is 98.

Marshall Allen turned 98 years old this month people. 98 years old. I watched him perform yesterday – on a hot and dry summer day – a real mountain classic of a day – sun and sun – and very few clouds. He led the Sun Ra Arkestra – a band 13 strong – horns everywhere, percussion, guitars and such – and a lovely singer.

This band moved. They moved and they grooved. The maestro – Marshall Allen. The man is 98 – and creating. Ah yes, creating. Why are we all not creating more. Less hate, more love, more creating – we’d kill all wars fast.

Years back, I had this idea that if people across the world were listing to more Joni Mitchell, songs like “Song for Sharon” for example, – there would be less wars, less fighting, less petty bullshit. Just play that song – then play it 100 more times – what does it mean ? and Joni just going – going and going with no pause.

The maestro- doing his thing.

Where is this essay going ? Feel like it’s going nowhere – so let’s pause. Until the next time – love and kisses to you.

-Blotto West, Later May, 2022 – somewhere in the wilds of the mountains…

Marshall Allen is 98, and he’s somewhere on that stage.

We went to a festival; and creativity.

The Brown Brothers brass sprung open the checkbook to send this intrepid reporter on a road trip into the mountains of northwest Massachusetts, to see a music and arts festival, and to scour the landscape for local foodstuffs.

2 days in, and I can gladly report that the experience has been a fantastic one. The fresh air has been invigorating – the people convivial, and the sights and sounds sensational.

I find that when we leave our comforts and routine that we find inspiration.

Wilco, the Jeff Tweedy led outfit from Chicago, IL is the force behind the Solid Sound Festival, 3 days of music and art spread across the majestic glory of one of our great cultural institutions – MASS MoCA.

The band curates the festival with love and intelligence – a few highlights for me: The Mike Watt Trio – I caught the last 20 or so minutes of their set – joined by Wilco’s powerhouse guitarist Nels Cline – hypnotic, powerful and groovy. This is Southern California goodness at its goodest.

And the Prince, Bonnie Prince Billy – playing a lovely set – a sextet dripping in gentleness – part acoustic, part plugged-in, all beauty. The BPB team handed out lyric sheets for their set – and encouraged the crowd to singalong with them – a plea to celebrate the togetherness of the moment.

But creativity – my takeaway from this event was creativity – the ability to let your mind go and to follow your muse, heck to find your muse. To move out of our workaday existences and to stretch ourselves. Why? because that feels good – and it grows us – in more ways than we can imagine.

I hope that this essay has inspired ya – or at the least didn’t sicken y’all. I will be back in the saddle today for the last day of the festival, and look forward to reporting back here soon.

Keep those cards and letters coming people – your words mean everything to me.

– Blotto West, somewhere in the mountains, late May 2022

Watt Trio + Nels
The Prince of Thieves
Wilco. Wilco.