Old Music, New Year, Fresh Start

“Power, time, gravity, love. The forces that really kick ass are all invisible” (David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas). My cousin, Maria, would like to add music and memory to Mitchell’s list of ass-kicking forces. Let’s bid 2020 farewell by doing Maria’s bidding.

Brian with my mother June, December 2009

Here’s my December 4 interview on WTJU with host and longtime friend Brian Keena. The music and memories shared in this two-hour show extend a hand for holding tight until the vaccine liberates us all. The songs come from a windowsill radio beloved by Maria and me—my mother June’s tunes the kickiest kitchen spice in my childhood home celebrated in Leaving 1203. Let’s heed writer Maria’s words and listen to the show (available only until December 18 due to music copyright law). Feeling the interview through her eyes and heart made it brand new for me:

“I think ‘building resilience through the power of music and memory’ is what you accomplished there, honey. Music seems like such a luxury these days. A vacation for the brain and soul during the pandemic. And to remember that, collectively, we’ve been here before. Our parents and grandparents and others all went through hard times, undoubtedly harder than what most of us (the comfortably well off) are “enduring” now. Reminding your fans and listeners that they are not exceptional but part of the human family of joy as well as suffering—a welcome message. I hope lots of people fill their homes with music to create a “place for us” to all be together while we ride out/dance out the pandemic and other paradigm-shifting realities. By introducing music and memory into the discussion of how to get through a pandemic, you’ve done some major jiujitsu. Yay.

Gratefully, and good work, Missy,

Muff.”

A couple of years ago, Maria (aka Muff) and I watched the inimitable Mavis Staples work her magic. We yield to Mavis now, a visible force sweeping us backward for perspective and forward with renewed zest. Now, as in 1854, “we all sup sorrow with the poor” and must work with all our might so that “Hard Times (Come Again No More).” And look, look, look! Mavis struts and beckons one and all—she invites us to the premier destination place. “Ain’t nobody cryin’ (I’ll take you there”) / Ain’t nobody worried.”

I’m with Mavis and Maria.

And Brian who hosted the show.

And Janice and Johno who hiked to the lake. And took us there.

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