action for today

deep and crisp and even

On my recent travels I was in Kings Lynn on the northern coast of Norfolk. It is a picturesque town with a long history as a port. The town center is typical of most town centers and so I could have been any where in the UK. The weather was bitterly cold and I was chilly even though well clothed and well fed. To be out in the open was challenging. In a side street a young man was shivering in the cold and mumbling to him self. He was a little younger than my own son Luke. he had a card board sign that stated he was homeless and sleeping rough. I gave him some money and he blessed me. I felt impotent. I was reminded of all the good things in my life and how any of us might lose it all due to the twists and turns and the vagaries of our lives.
A little further along the same street an old man was dancing and playing a truly battered acoustic guitar that had no strings. He strummed and swayed like a man lost in his own strange muse. He was filthy and his clothes were ragged. His eyes were dim and he seemed so isolated from the people who passed him by only feet away from where he stood. I have not seen a more desperate pair of men for a very long time.


peace

The Busker Man

See the busker man

ragged like a fading 

shooting star

As dirty as the chimney sweep's

little boy

climbing through the dark

Dancing like St Vitus

he strums imaginary strings

on his guitar

So many reasons to walk on by

turn away - avert your eyes

See the younger man

trembling like a leaf

upon a storm

He said I'm freezing

in the sunshine

and I'm driven to the wall

She's reaching for some money

he looks at her

with eyes gone some where warm

So many reasons to walk on by

turn away - avert your eyes

copyright edgar broughton - one songs

It strikes me that we frequently make judgements about people begging which divide them into “the deserving” or “undeserving” poor.  I pondered on the criteria I sometimes use, consciously or not, prior to putting my hands in my pocket.  Is it about the possibility that they will spend my hard earned money on booze or drugs?  Could they be conning me and they have a large house in an upmarket area of town, receive a fortune in benefits, using begging as a sideline?  Will they spend the donation I give in a way that I might not approve?

Due to the extreme temperatures we have recently had I have been more aware of the people I see in the town where I live.  There are some that are regularly seen in the same place. 2 days ago I went into town and stood beside a man who I have occasionally spoken to before and have given money to.  After 5 minutes I really felt the need to move on as, despite being well dressed for the freezing temperature, it was almost unbearable to stay. If he, and others in his situation, were trying to take my money they were paying a massive price.  He said he was staying there until he could go to the night shelter at 8pm.  It was then 11am.

The local churches have set up a winter scheme where they open at night from 8pm to 8am and homeless people can go there for a hot meal, shower and change of clothes.  When they asked for volunteers to run this scheme on local radio they had more than double the numbers they needed.  I applaud this and wish them well with their endeavour. 
Act now - give what you can.

MWS 

the new revolution

Gene Sharp the man now credited with the strategy behind

the toppling of the Egyptian government

There is no doubting mans potential for betrayal and his capacity for turning on his fellows. I was shocked when I first read the evidence that showed the white men who bought the slaves for transport to the colonies and to the UK met the slavers on the shores of West Africa at the waters edge. They were black like their captives. They were Arab and African and they sold their neighbours. They brought them to the beaches where the white men transported them in small rowing boats to the nearby, large sailed ocean going ships. The white men had no need to enter into the hostile interior of Africa searching for slaves.
Examples of such atrocities have resounded down the years and we have seen the tragedy of neighbour against neighbour in all the wars and conflicts. It is a human trait and capacity that seems to be present in a percentage of people of all races and is never more prevalent than in times of civil war.
So after the fall of the Gaddafi, revelations of systematic subjugation and the use of terror by Gaddafi’s soldiers against their own people were not so surprising. Nor is it surprising that many of the people remaining after the over throw of Gaddafi had become inured to violence and traumatised by it. They might struggle to throw down their weapons and discard the martial way of life. There will be concerns over the way they will dispense justice as in the case of Saif Gaddafi and co. Democracy isn’t just a process it has to be part of culture. This will take time even if it is the route chosen by the majority.

In Egypt The Muslim Brotherhood may yet be a wolf in sheep’s clothing after protestations that they want a civil society with no religious discrimination. There seems to be a growing tendency that favours Sharia Law and all that goes with it. Still the people have the right to choose their way and that is what freedom means. I don’t suppose there will be massive liberalisation in any of the Arab Spring countries, any time soon, but at least the over throw of a tyrant affords the opportunity to begin anew with better values and rights for all. To be free is to be able to get it wrong and it will take a long time before we can properly evaluate the outcome of the sacrifices made by so many.

At the onset of The Arab Spring the people who simplistically asserted that, violence is bad and therefore, the freedom movement was doomed to fail dismayed me. Few want to fight and I will always admire those who will not. The rest of us would probably fight if our lives and liberty came under serious threat.
Despots and their cronies have no problem with putting our lives under serious threat and their delusion and sense of entitlement knows no bounds where torture and fear are their instruments of rule.
The extra ordinary book From Dictatorship to Democracy by Gene Sharpe has become the bible of many of the protesters who make up the Arab Spring and clearly advocates and demonstrates the power of peaceful protest. How ever while it is being widely reported that Assad’s death squads are targeting children it is clear that peaceful protest is still being met with massive force. Where the basic rules of law and justice are absent the freedom movement will feel forced to defend it self.
Assad and his like will only take comfort as the bodies of martyrs pile up in the Syrian morgues. He will not be repelled by his own actions and he has to be stopped. We cannot be far away from a UN resolution that requires this. Meanwhile the seeds of The European Spring are germinating across the great divides.



My favourite quote of the week :

“If Dave truly believed in 'moral capitalism', Fred Goodwin would be in jail sewing mailbags” - Daily mail.
The new boss of Royal Bank of Scotland has probably done a reasonable job for his new employer – us. He gets a million a year for it so does he need a bonus?


By Myself is currently sold out but we are still taking back orders at http://www.edgarbroughton.com/shop.html
Back orders will be dispatched as soon as we get new stock.
You can also down load the album at I-Tunes, Amazon etc.

Most subscribers to the monthly EB News Letter will have received the first edition by now. Please let me have your feed back and any writings you would like to submit for inclusion in the subsequent editions.

Don’t forget I am looking to hear from folk putting benefit gigs together in 2012 with a view to offering my services. Keep me posted.

Finally. If you want a Fair Days Pay Gig For A Fair Days Work gig, during the summer months book now while dates are available.
http://edgarbroughton.com/special%20offer.html




peace

hope

I

                                          

2012

is

good

 for

 YOU

falling apart! like melting ice

unshaped! like an uncarved block of wood

open! like an empty cave

confused! like murky water

who can let murkiness, through quieting,

gradually come to clarity?

who can let stillness, through stirring,

gradually come to life?

when you let go of what you are

you become what you might be

if you realize that all things change

there is nothing you will try to hold on to

keeping to this path

you guard against being overfull

truly not full of yourself

you can lose yourself

and be newly made

if you are not afraid of dying,

there is nothing you cannot achieve

Lao Tse (570 - 490BC) 

peace



retrospective

As 2011 draws to a close I look back over the year with some satisfaction. I have had a fantastic time playing the fair days pay for a fair days work gigs and I have met some amazing people. I have enjoyed the public gigs too. I thought it might be a bit of an ask to expect that people would give me their time and lend their ears to yours truly in solo mode, especially after the epic EBB gigs we put on at the end, but that seems a long time ago. I have been very kindly received and made welcome every where I have been. I've done more or less every thing I set out to do including the release of the live solo album By Myself which I believe is a real and honest representation of my year in concert.

The Mickey Jones Memorial double DVD is available now. It is a labour of love and a valuable document of it's time, the music and people who care. It is a testament to what can be done with skill and dedication and few resources. My visit to Wales to play with George and Bob from MAN  was such a buzz and it was an honour to be asked to sing one of Mickeys songs. George's choice, the song Shit on the world, seemed entirely appropriate. Lovely people - lovely country.

It was great to meet up with First Supperists on some of the demos of the past year and to find common ground. Right now, in these times of apathy and confusion it would be very easy to dismiss our little band of brothers and sisters but we will grow in number over the next year or so and we will be heard. Arm chair critics rise up and join us or at least be heard on 38 Degrees etc. We won't hold your past reluctance to participate against you.

One of the last gigs of the year was my Beefheartian contribution to Jerry Dammers Spatial AKA Orchestra show at the Barbican. I felt right at home there. Could have lived there or at least have been a well behaved house guest for a while. This was a high light in a year full of them. The lows and glitches of 2011 were tiny and few. The highs were massive and frequent. I loved playing a few gigs with Luke at the start of it all. It just always feels right. I expect there will be more of them next year.

I feel a lot healthier than when the year began and mostly stress free. I am in control and it works for me.  
I've written a lot of songs and they keep on coming. The solo shows have taught me a lot and I intend to carry on playing them as well as FDPFAFDW shows. Book me now!
I think I might be knocking at the door of a new era for me personally. I haven't felt like this about performing, or life in general, for some time. I intend to put a new show together in the new year that really will rock you. It is time to up the stakes and pump up the volume. Time to jam with angels and reprobates to find the new core of a new project that is powerful, positive and NOW! Listen to me eh? The thing is I have written half of the show in my head and I have the scent of the first gig. Wanna COME to the FIRST SUPPER?

I don't know what 2012 will bring but I am completely unafraid and looking forward to it all. I wish you all well. I hope your dreams for yourself and your people all come true but - always be careful what you wish for and don't give up what is real for what is illusory.

Finally my thanks to all who helped and supported me through 2011. Special thanks to John and Val Bradshaw, Shirlok, Ramblin' Mad Dave Randell, and all the hosts of the FDPFAFDW gigs.



Peace

by myself competition

15/12/11

The WINNING CAPTIONS are

(1) “No its not a talking spotlight its a camera and its taking pictures of this song I am writing, even through this special hat”.

(2) "And I thought you put the guitars in the car".

Email your postal address to ebbman@btinternet.com to receive your prize.

father and son glastonbury 2011

It is competition time. We haven't had one for a while so here we go. As you will know by now, the BY MYSELF album is completed and on sale. It is a collection of songs performed through out 2011 and includes songs from Fair Days Pay For A Fair Days Work gigs as well as some performances from public gigs.

It was my intention to capture the atmosphere of the shows as simply as possible and so the audio was all recorded on a small stereo digital recorder and is virtually unprocessed in it's final form. It is as real as it gets.

The above photo was taken by Dave Randell at Glastonbury 2011.

All you have to do is leave an alternative caption for the photo as a comment on here to enter the competition for a signed copy of the album. The usual rules apply so you can make as many entries as you like under different names.

The winning caption will be chosen on Thursday the 15th December.

There will be two albums on offer so the best two captions will get a prize.

If the winners will send mail address details to ebbman@btinternet.com , when the winning entries are announced on here, the albums will be posted to them.

click on photos to enlarge

BY MYSELF available at http://edgarbroughton.com/shop.html where you can hear My Salvation a track from the album recorded live at The Priory in The Wirral.

BY MYSELF is now available with PAY PAL in THE SHOP. http://edgarbroughton.com/shop.html 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

LATEST - 

FDPFAFDW hosts who collected cash for charity from their guests have raised £1600 and counting for charities of their choice including NSPCC, the bereaved families of the recent Welsh mining disaster, various hospices and Cancer Research. Fantastic!

Book a FDPFAFDW gig for 2012 now at http://edgarbroughton.com/special%20offer.html

peace

spatial

some of our friends are silent

A little time ago I got an email from Mr Jerry Dammers of The Specials and now the Spatial AKA Orchestra. He said he had an idea and eventually it turned out to be yours truly singing Frown land, the Beefheart song, at his next gig. I went along to a rhythm section rehearsal where we tried out the idea with bass, drums, two guitars and Jerry on keyboards. I was warmly welcomed and the whole thing was very relaxed for me. I had listened to the song Frownland until my head hurt and I was prepared. The guys soon produced this slippery and slick groove that knocked along like a well oiled machine in no time at all.
I watched them playing some nice dubby ska for the Johnny Clarke songs after my bit. It was clear to see these guys are very good. Johnny had come over from Jamaica for the show and was getting settled in town. We all agreed the Beefheart song would work and I turned up for the full rehearsal the day before the show on Friday. As I walked into the room I was a bit surprised by the sight of the full orchestra and even more blown away when the brass and every one else kicked in to the riff. The hairs on the back of my neck were standing on end.
We ran through the song three times and that was it. I even got a warm round of applause from the whole orchestra. That was a first. Having the chance to stay around and see how this all worked was fascinating. These folk were all very committed to the project and the atmosphere was special and totally harmonious. I wanted to live there.

sound check

Friday came with a little nervousness. I rose as late as I could but got to the Barbican by 3pm. It is an amazing venue and public space. I had not been previously so it was quite a treat. Most of the orchestra were assembled and Ollie Bayley, electric bass, was directing operations and getting some music going while Jerry was still putting the dots together for new scores for all. Rather him than me. That is plain heroism to me but essential for this band. I sat in the front row drinking it in. Time passed and after my sound check the band continued to work. These guys refine their bits and pieces until it’s always better. Every thing in the set list was rehearsed at the sound check.

johnny clarke and anthony joseph still sound checking

As I got to know people I relaxed and the evening wore on. The doors opened and the show began. I was on fairly quickly after some tunes from the orchestra and the recitation of the words to Frown land by the resident poet Anthony Joseph. I marched out into the lights wearing Jerry’s sartorial idea of The Captain. This consisted of a dark suit with the arms to the elbow, a white dress shirt, a stove pipe hat, black leather shoes and some red beads which were a last minute addition from the very nice man who was in charge of wardrobe. I wore a black mask to hide my true identity ha ha! Every one in the band wore a costume and mask or shades.

We rocked through the song in what seemed like a flash and I walked off to the sound of applause. It was a sold out show and they were very receptive. I headed for my dressing room grabbed some goodies and headed for the roof via a lift. What I didn’t know was that Jerry was calling me back for a curtain call. Oh well! I would get my chance to unmask during the finale so it could still all turn out ok.

still sound checking

I wandered to the top of the balcony, still in my Beefheart clothes to check the band. It sounded fine and the mix was perfect. I got back to watch the rest of the set on a monitor back stage and made sure I was ready for the finale and my unmasking. It really was fun.

There were so many high lights for me, especially seeing my old mate Rick Rogers and his friend who re-counted tales of booking the EBB for Belfast Uni, at the height of “The troubles” when almost no other band would venture there. Great days!

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with these folk. See this band if you can. It’s a vibrant collective with a sound ethos and is a rare and fine thing. I felt proud to have been part of it.

Thanks for asking Jerry. Any time!

Next stop a little village called Russells Water, near Henley on Thames. Where I was to play for Lea at his 53 rd birthday bash. After a brief sojourn at the very smart Red Lion Hotel it was time to taxi out to the gig. Eventually I found the venue and was pleasantly surprised by the neat and well kept village hall with a professional acoustic treatment in what to me seemed the middle of no where. It is a good example of how Lottery funding can be of major benefit when used properly in a community.

Folk were in the middle of setting up a pa system and sound checking. A table was laden with all the good things to eat at a party and there was tea. Magic!

My host, Lea Andrews was in a band some years previously and they were going to play a few numbers with drum parts off a lap top. Their guitarist had a few feedback problems which persisted what ever he did, poor man. Eventually it was sorted and Lea and his daughter Alex (13) kicked of the evening with a couple of songs. It was sweet to hear her clear pure tones against the voice of her dad and it worked nicely. Then Lea’s band played a couple of songs and things were warming up.

It was in many ways a typical FDPFAFDW audience made up of old friends and the family of the host including Lea’s 92 year old dad. I had a long talk with him after the gig. We might have stayed chatting for ages but I think it was time for him to be in his bed.

I began my set with This England which is quickly becoming one of my current favourites. I had to have a polite word with folk and explained I couldn’t really concentrate on what I was doing if people were going talk loudly and soon things settled down. That is the only time this has happened on these gigs and I am surprised it didn’t happen more often. What I do is strong but it does require folks attention. Of course it is not every one’s cup of tea and a party is a party. I never was a party person but at the same time, I would never want to dictate to folk except when  - it is about me (lol) which isn’t very often.

Any way, although the audience thinned out a little after my little chat those that remained were very attentive and warm. I ran through my songs and began to really enjoy myself. There were a few oohs! and ahs! at points in the songs where I have become used to hearing and better – feeling them, which makes it for me. I had some nice feedback from people later and got the chance to meet people face to face. The diversity was again typical of these gigs and as the time wore on it began to dawn on me that this was my last gig of the year. I shall enjoy the break. I will re-charge, write my next show for 2012 and get on with the job of making my new and some old songs and new ideas, part of a full blown electric manifesto.

Mean while my night in Russells Water was a reminder that a minstrel’s life is a good one if you are fortunate to have the kind and supportive patronage that I have received this year. Thanks Lea and all who made it work. It is a great privilege to be invited into folks lives and to be part their history.

peace