Tune in Saturday September 28th to Faction Talk, channel 103, at 4 PM East, 1 PM West.
Phone #: 844-686-5863
Twitter: @lefsetz
If you miss the episode, you can hear it on demand on the SiriusXM app. Search: Lefsetz
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
Listen to the podcast:
-iHeart: https://ihr.fm/2Gi5PFj
-Apple: https://apple.co/2ndmpvp
--
http://www.twitter.com/lefsetz
--
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Friday 27 September 2024
Nick Gravenites
He died.
Actually, a few days back, but I just found out last night.
I was on my final go-round in the "New York Times" app, and I went into the obituaries, and there he was.
They're dropping like flies. Then again, Gravenites was 85, and was living in assisted living, suffering from dementia and diabetes. I mean 85's a pretty good run, fifteen years longer than my dad, if I make it to 85 I'll be lucky, I'll be thrilled, then again if I do I won't be ready to go.
Actually, I was stunned that Nick was still alive. Not that I expected him to be dead, but when you're an icon...where do you go? Sure, some of them have a website, participate on social media, but the rest of them? I don't know.
And doing endless research last night I couldn't really find a full description of where Gravenites has been. Yes, he worked with John Cippolina, but Cippolina died in 1989, thirty five years ago.
Meanwhile, the obit focuses on the Electric Flag. I never bought that album, but it was on Columbia, and the band featured Mike Bloomfield and Elvin Bishop and Buddy Miles and that one song, I know it by heart, "Groovin' Is Easy." And as a matter of fact, Barry Goldberg was in the band too, along with Harvey Brooks, who composed "Harvey's Tune," the final cut on "Super Session," a moody burner that the youngsters are not familiar with, and this had me reflecting on when Al Kooper would pass. He's not in the best of health.
And the Electric Flag never had a hit.
Nor did Gravenites's previous act, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. An iconic group which peaked in the late sixties which made its reputation live and on the records themselves, airplay was minuscule. Butterfield was big before most burgs even had underground FM radio.
But if you were in the know...
This is not the 27 club. Even though Butterfield himself expired at age 44 as a result of a drug overdose. To employ the Joe Walsh aphorism, Butterfield was too old to die young, it made the news, but there was no hoopla.
But Nick Gravenites... How to explain this to a younger generation? That a musician sans hits had respect, was well-known within the community, made a difference, didn't just make music as background, but as life itself.
I was pondering all this and I thought it must be the blues. I've been waiting for a blues revival. That's what Active Rock is missing, the blues underpinning, which was bedrock for all the great English acts of the late sixties and seventies.
But the old blues musicians... Many of them were still around when Gravenites came up. Muddy Waters. Howlin' Wolf. I met Willie Dixon, talked to him for a while at a Bug Music party one Friday afternoon, but I was too young for the others. After going to Sun Studios it made me wish that I was aware of how great Howlin' Wolf was while he was still alive.
And it turns out Nick Gravenites did not write "Groovin' Is Easy," but he did compose the now standard "Born in Chicago," which opened Butterfield's debut. And he wrote for Janis Joplin. And Nick was the producer of Brewer & Shipley's "Tarkio," which contained "One Toke Over the Line," but even better, the closer, the almost seven minute long "Fifty States of Freedom." If you'd asked me earlier yesterday who'd produced "Tarkio" I wouldn't have been able to tell you. Nick Gravenites was just part of the firmament, and now he's gone.
So after reading the obit, I went in search of Nick's last fifty years, and that's when I found notice of a benefit concert last year in Sebastopol. Maria Muldaur was the biggest name, but the whole affair was put together by Barry Melton. From Country Joe & the Fish. You know, the one with the big blond hairdo, all those curls expanding.
I know that Melton ultimately went to law school and became a public defender. But going deeper, I found out he'd been gigging with Banana. BANANA? The Youngbloods have been lost to the sands of time. Robert Plant covered "Darkness, Darkness," and "Get Together" is a staple, but at one time the band was so big they got their own vanity label with Warner Bros, Raccoon. And the funny thing is Banana had a similar hairstyle to Melton, what back then was called a "Jewfro." Where in the hell has Banana been all these years? How has he survived?
That's what I wanted to know, how did Nick Gravenites survive? Were his songwriting royalties enough to carry him through, or had he had a straight job.
And now I'm going deeper into Gravenites's history, man I love going down the internet rabbit hole, and it says it all started at the University of Chicago. NICK GRAVENITES WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO? That's one of the most difficult schools out there.
And it turns out Elvin Bishop went there too. Was a physics major. You know, the guy who looks like Jethro from "The Beverly Hillbillies." Bishop may have grown up in Oklahoma, but he's no backward bumpkin.
And along with appearing on the "The Live Adventures of Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper," which contained a version of "Dear Mr. Fantasy" that got more airplay back then than the Traffic original and hasn't been heard since, Bishop formed his own band, it was his name, but the singer was Mickey Thomas, who ultimately ended up in the Starship.
And Bishop's biggest hit, and I wonder what he's surviving on, was "Fooled Around and Fell In Love." Then again, Bishop wrote that one, a classic, maybe that's enough.
But it turns out Bryan Ferry did a cover of "Fooled Around and Fell in Love" on his "Love Letters" EP back in 2022. I KNOW Bryan Ferry, but I had no idea this EP came out. I immediately clicked to hear it.
And now our heroes of yore have retreated into truly being the bluesmen of today. They record quickly, on small budgets, and almost no one hears their material.
I'd say what a long strange trip it's been, but I don't want to mix the Dead into this, even though they too were from San Francisco.
These were educated people. Go to the University of Chicago today and you're not going to throw it all away to become a musician, following the dead art of the blues. Then again, you could live on almost nothing back then, unlike today.
It is very different.
I read in today's "Wall Street Journal" "Mansion" section about a $177 million spec house in Bel Air. Who could afford that? Well, if you're a billionaire you've got to park the money somewhere.
But when Nick Gravenites was plying the boards the heroes of the age were musicians. Not Top Forty hitmakers, but those devoted to the craft. Who luxuriated in the sound, who wanted to make a dent in the universe. Hell, even Steve Jobs got his inspiration from music.
It's not the same today. Don't let anybody tell you it is, they're just lying or weren't around.
And I'll posit the young people missed it. The golden era.
And Nick Gravenites was part of it.
I won't think about him every day.
But I'll never forget him.
Not that he'd care. That's not what he was in it for. He wanted to make that sound. And when we heard it, it was all-encompassing, it was all we could think about, it was what we lived for.
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
Listen to the podcast:
-iHeart: https://ihr.fm/2Gi5PFj
-Apple: https://apple.co/2ndmpvp
--
http://www.twitter.com/lefsetz
--
If you would like to subscribe to the LefsetzLetter,
http://www.lefsetz.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1
If you do not want to receive any more LefsetzLetters, http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=unsubscribe&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
To change your email address http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=preferences&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
Actually, a few days back, but I just found out last night.
I was on my final go-round in the "New York Times" app, and I went into the obituaries, and there he was.
They're dropping like flies. Then again, Gravenites was 85, and was living in assisted living, suffering from dementia and diabetes. I mean 85's a pretty good run, fifteen years longer than my dad, if I make it to 85 I'll be lucky, I'll be thrilled, then again if I do I won't be ready to go.
Actually, I was stunned that Nick was still alive. Not that I expected him to be dead, but when you're an icon...where do you go? Sure, some of them have a website, participate on social media, but the rest of them? I don't know.
And doing endless research last night I couldn't really find a full description of where Gravenites has been. Yes, he worked with John Cippolina, but Cippolina died in 1989, thirty five years ago.
Meanwhile, the obit focuses on the Electric Flag. I never bought that album, but it was on Columbia, and the band featured Mike Bloomfield and Elvin Bishop and Buddy Miles and that one song, I know it by heart, "Groovin' Is Easy." And as a matter of fact, Barry Goldberg was in the band too, along with Harvey Brooks, who composed "Harvey's Tune," the final cut on "Super Session," a moody burner that the youngsters are not familiar with, and this had me reflecting on when Al Kooper would pass. He's not in the best of health.
And the Electric Flag never had a hit.
Nor did Gravenites's previous act, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. An iconic group which peaked in the late sixties which made its reputation live and on the records themselves, airplay was minuscule. Butterfield was big before most burgs even had underground FM radio.
But if you were in the know...
This is not the 27 club. Even though Butterfield himself expired at age 44 as a result of a drug overdose. To employ the Joe Walsh aphorism, Butterfield was too old to die young, it made the news, but there was no hoopla.
But Nick Gravenites... How to explain this to a younger generation? That a musician sans hits had respect, was well-known within the community, made a difference, didn't just make music as background, but as life itself.
I was pondering all this and I thought it must be the blues. I've been waiting for a blues revival. That's what Active Rock is missing, the blues underpinning, which was bedrock for all the great English acts of the late sixties and seventies.
But the old blues musicians... Many of them were still around when Gravenites came up. Muddy Waters. Howlin' Wolf. I met Willie Dixon, talked to him for a while at a Bug Music party one Friday afternoon, but I was too young for the others. After going to Sun Studios it made me wish that I was aware of how great Howlin' Wolf was while he was still alive.
And it turns out Nick Gravenites did not write "Groovin' Is Easy," but he did compose the now standard "Born in Chicago," which opened Butterfield's debut. And he wrote for Janis Joplin. And Nick was the producer of Brewer & Shipley's "Tarkio," which contained "One Toke Over the Line," but even better, the closer, the almost seven minute long "Fifty States of Freedom." If you'd asked me earlier yesterday who'd produced "Tarkio" I wouldn't have been able to tell you. Nick Gravenites was just part of the firmament, and now he's gone.
So after reading the obit, I went in search of Nick's last fifty years, and that's when I found notice of a benefit concert last year in Sebastopol. Maria Muldaur was the biggest name, but the whole affair was put together by Barry Melton. From Country Joe & the Fish. You know, the one with the big blond hairdo, all those curls expanding.
I know that Melton ultimately went to law school and became a public defender. But going deeper, I found out he'd been gigging with Banana. BANANA? The Youngbloods have been lost to the sands of time. Robert Plant covered "Darkness, Darkness," and "Get Together" is a staple, but at one time the band was so big they got their own vanity label with Warner Bros, Raccoon. And the funny thing is Banana had a similar hairstyle to Melton, what back then was called a "Jewfro." Where in the hell has Banana been all these years? How has he survived?
That's what I wanted to know, how did Nick Gravenites survive? Were his songwriting royalties enough to carry him through, or had he had a straight job.
And now I'm going deeper into Gravenites's history, man I love going down the internet rabbit hole, and it says it all started at the University of Chicago. NICK GRAVENITES WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO? That's one of the most difficult schools out there.
And it turns out Elvin Bishop went there too. Was a physics major. You know, the guy who looks like Jethro from "The Beverly Hillbillies." Bishop may have grown up in Oklahoma, but he's no backward bumpkin.
And along with appearing on the "The Live Adventures of Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper," which contained a version of "Dear Mr. Fantasy" that got more airplay back then than the Traffic original and hasn't been heard since, Bishop formed his own band, it was his name, but the singer was Mickey Thomas, who ultimately ended up in the Starship.
And Bishop's biggest hit, and I wonder what he's surviving on, was "Fooled Around and Fell In Love." Then again, Bishop wrote that one, a classic, maybe that's enough.
But it turns out Bryan Ferry did a cover of "Fooled Around and Fell in Love" on his "Love Letters" EP back in 2022. I KNOW Bryan Ferry, but I had no idea this EP came out. I immediately clicked to hear it.
And now our heroes of yore have retreated into truly being the bluesmen of today. They record quickly, on small budgets, and almost no one hears their material.
I'd say what a long strange trip it's been, but I don't want to mix the Dead into this, even though they too were from San Francisco.
These were educated people. Go to the University of Chicago today and you're not going to throw it all away to become a musician, following the dead art of the blues. Then again, you could live on almost nothing back then, unlike today.
It is very different.
I read in today's "Wall Street Journal" "Mansion" section about a $177 million spec house in Bel Air. Who could afford that? Well, if you're a billionaire you've got to park the money somewhere.
But when Nick Gravenites was plying the boards the heroes of the age were musicians. Not Top Forty hitmakers, but those devoted to the craft. Who luxuriated in the sound, who wanted to make a dent in the universe. Hell, even Steve Jobs got his inspiration from music.
It's not the same today. Don't let anybody tell you it is, they're just lying or weren't around.
And I'll posit the young people missed it. The golden era.
And Nick Gravenites was part of it.
I won't think about him every day.
But I'll never forget him.
Not that he'd care. That's not what he was in it for. He wanted to make that sound. And when we heard it, it was all-encompassing, it was all we could think about, it was what we lived for.
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
Listen to the podcast:
-iHeart: https://ihr.fm/2Gi5PFj
-Apple: https://apple.co/2ndmpvp
--
http://www.twitter.com/lefsetz
--
If you would like to subscribe to the LefsetzLetter,
http://www.lefsetz.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1
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Thursday 26 September 2024
Note
I am not going to write about your book.
Writing is a profession. What makes people who've run out of jobs and self-publish their story believe that people want to read what they have to say?
I don't want to write this. I'm sick and tired of the attitude I'm displaying here. This is what happens when you interact with the public. And it's hard to let it roll off your back all the time. As a matter of fact, Ellen DeGeneres has a new Netflix special all about this. And yes, she's got a chip on her shoulder, yes she doth protest too much, but she's a really good comedian, she's got an identity, a viewpoint, never mind the rote skills of timing and delivery. Everybody thinks they can stand on stage and entertain people, but only a very few are good enough to break through. Ditto with writing. We can all put words into a computer, but do you have the skill to create a riveting story that people want to read?
Forget the details. Everybody's got amazing events in their lives, everybody's got a tale to tell. Just because you met a famous musician that doesn't mean people want to pay to read your story.
But these people are relentless. One guy e-mails me every time I mention a book I read. EVERY TIME! Thinking that this perseverance is going to pay dividends. Like finally I'm going to break down and give him what he wants. NO! I've been ignoring him. God forbid I tell him the truth.
Do you know how long it takes to read a book? Hours and hours. And you want me to dedicate all that time to your primitive effort? For what? So I can not write about it and you'll still be pissed at me?
Of course there are exceptions, like Kathy Valentine's "All I Ever Wanted." And there are some books written by professionals that are worth the time, but most biographies (and even rock autobiographies!) are not worth reading. I mean if you're that dedicated a fan, go for it, but I'm not.
Then there are people who write entire books without a negative thing to say. They're eighty and worried about pissing off...exactly who? That's sad, you're that old and you still can't tell the truth.
And then there are the misspellings. No one ever proofreads these books. In addition to being unable to write exciting material, none of these people can spell. Ever hear of spellcheck? It's built right into your word processor, right there in Word. Can you use it?
And if you mention famous names and misspell them...you look like an idiot, what do you think the reader thinks? I mean how hard is it to spell Jackson "Browne" instead of "Brown?" And then there are the books where there are multiple variations on the spelling of one name. Once again, spellcheck would point this out.
As for being unable to spell... That's what most writers can do, spell. But they can't do your job, hang with business people and negotiate. Why are you so sure you can do their job? I don't think I can make hit records. But I could fire up GarageBand right now and make a track and e-mail you each and every day to listen to it. And believe me, I get those too. The barrier to entry is astoundingly low, as to be almost nonexistent. But what makes you think people want to pay attention, spend the time?
And then there's the production. Ever think of making the type a bit bigger so people can read it? Ever think of choosing a readable font? This is what professionals focus on, amateurs don't even think of this.
And pricing. Do you really think someone wants to pay thirty dollars for this dreck?
And there's one book where the guy who wrote it can't even get his own timeline right. I know more than he does. I mean it's not hard if you're paying attention. These are facts. You can look them up online. When an album came out, when the Vietnam War ended. It's simple.
Yet you keep dunning me to read your book.
I tell people all the time, you can send it but just don't bug me to read it and write about it. But people do anyway. Hey, you wrote about that famous writer's book, why not mine?
And then there are those who write fiction. I can tell you about respected writers that can't get narrative right. I read this Claire Messud book that had great descriptions and analogies but the plot was substandard, and she's one of the most revered writers out there! But you think you can just lay it down and ring the bell? Come on!
I had this friend Johanan Vigoda. A legendary lawyer, he represented Stevie Wonder, even though he looked like a homeless person.
We were at lunch one time, and I was trolling... I hate to admit it, but I was. I didn't come right out and say it, but if he would only do this for me, a minor effort, a connection.
And what Vigoda said to me, and I knew him, he was a friend, was...
"I AM NOT A TRAIN! I do not pick up people in one place and drop them off in another."
And then there was Ken Kragen, who used to teach a class about management at UCLA Extension. He said it was all about connections. To make them. BUT HE WAS NOT THEIR CONNECTION!
I didn't take that class, but a friend did and he told me this. And how did I meet that friend? At UCLA EXTENSION! We were both at the advent of our careers. What makes you think you're immediately entitled to get in at the top?
So I love to read. And I'm sitting there with a stack of self-published books, the biographies of some executive, or someone who was involved in a scene, and I can spend five or six hours reading their tome... Or I can pick up the new Rachel Kushner book. What do you think I'm going to do?
Want to get ahead in this world? Do something great.
Even Malcolm Gladwell has come out and said 10,000 hours of practice doesn't mean you'll be world class. The science says 10,000 hours of HARD PRACTICE!
Hell, you might write a good book if you've been writing since you've been a teen. Have seven unpublished novels in your drawer.
But no, you've come to a career standstill, don't know what to do with yourself, have run out of options and say, I know what I'll do, WRITE A BOOK!
Don't even bother. Unless it's your number one passion. Do something else with the limited time you have left on this planet.
Do I read the books of people I do podcasts with?
Yes.
But the odds of me doing a podcast based on a self-published book... That hasn't happened yet. And I'm inundated with major publisher books that I don't have time to read, and some I do and still don't write about them.
But you're entitled.
I get it, you were a radio promotion guy. You bugged radio stations over and over, until they delivered what you wanted.
But that was traditional business. An exchange of favors.
I DON'T PLAY THAT GAME! Even though people still think I do.
I've got no stock in Spotify, nor Live Nation. I've never taken a penny to write about a record or a book or a company. NEVER!
But I should do it for you.
Furthermore, what have you done for me?
I've built this platform. Do you know what I had to do to do it?
Oh, you don't really care.
But I guarantee you I've lived on a level you can't even comprehend. Writing a bad check for the rent with less than twenty dollars to my name, with no idea where the next check was coming from.
I survived. But if I want to tell you the truth, I just about fell off the edge. It was nearly terminal.
But now that I've built whatever I have, whoever I am, I'm beholden to you.
And then there are the people who keep criticizing what I write and how I write. They're not paying a penny and they can unsubscribe instantly, it's a link on the bottom of every missive.
But they're entitled.
I do my best to avoid their input. It goes with the territory.
But I don't like the person I become when I'm reacting to all this b.s. that my readers aren't even aware of.
Now I'm making you aware of it.
All you newbie ex-exec writers out there...
Do me a favor. Ask the friend of a friend to read your book. Someone you don't know at all, who's got no investment in your work, and have them respond. I bet you most people won't even finish your book. And when questioned by their mutual friend they'll say negative stuff.
But you're delusional.
That's not one of the tools in the rock star playbook. Sure, self-belief, but not delusion. Some people just don't have it. And chances are they're you. Bob Dylan sings "Each of us has his own special gift." You do. Find out what it is. I doubt it's writing.
And bugging people ad infinitum for attention is not a gift, even a baby can do that.
So if you're thinking of sending me a book... I might say yes, but the odds of me reading it are almost nil. I may check it out.
But if you're a major publisher it's different. But they're smart enough to know that if you send someone a book that doesn't mean they'll read it or write about it. Imagine calling everybody on the record company mailing list of yore, every week, to ask whether they've listened to your record and whether they're going to take action, play it or write about it. These lists had thousands of people on them, how many people took action? They say one percent is a good return.
The problem here is I'm going to scare off the reasonable people, the talented ones.
And while I'm at it, for the umpteenth time... You're reading me, you know what I'm into, can you think about that and recommend what might interest me? I just wrote about three fiction books, but you're telling me I must read a rock autobiography, or a business book? Sure, there's a small possibility I'll like that, but very small. You'll have to make a very strong case. And you send me records outside my area of interest that I'm never ever going to like, even though others will. Good for them, but not me.
This is how it works today. Everybody can play, but not everybody can win.
Let me push the button. Most of the people complaining loudly about Spotify and Live Nation payments don't make music that anybody other than their family wants to hear, if them. But somehow they're entitled to a living making music?
You took the time to write a book, good for you.
But don't expect me to read it.
I've got better things to do.
I only have one life.
And so do you.
I'm choosing all the time. There's more I want to consume than I can. But I should spend hours on your crappy book instead?
FUHGEDDABOUDIT!
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
Listen to the podcast:
-iHeart: https://ihr.fm/2Gi5PFj
-Apple: https://apple.co/2ndmpvp
--
http://www.twitter.com/lefsetz
--
If you would like to subscribe to the LefsetzLetter,
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To change your email address http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=preferences&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
Writing is a profession. What makes people who've run out of jobs and self-publish their story believe that people want to read what they have to say?
I don't want to write this. I'm sick and tired of the attitude I'm displaying here. This is what happens when you interact with the public. And it's hard to let it roll off your back all the time. As a matter of fact, Ellen DeGeneres has a new Netflix special all about this. And yes, she's got a chip on her shoulder, yes she doth protest too much, but she's a really good comedian, she's got an identity, a viewpoint, never mind the rote skills of timing and delivery. Everybody thinks they can stand on stage and entertain people, but only a very few are good enough to break through. Ditto with writing. We can all put words into a computer, but do you have the skill to create a riveting story that people want to read?
Forget the details. Everybody's got amazing events in their lives, everybody's got a tale to tell. Just because you met a famous musician that doesn't mean people want to pay to read your story.
But these people are relentless. One guy e-mails me every time I mention a book I read. EVERY TIME! Thinking that this perseverance is going to pay dividends. Like finally I'm going to break down and give him what he wants. NO! I've been ignoring him. God forbid I tell him the truth.
Do you know how long it takes to read a book? Hours and hours. And you want me to dedicate all that time to your primitive effort? For what? So I can not write about it and you'll still be pissed at me?
Of course there are exceptions, like Kathy Valentine's "All I Ever Wanted." And there are some books written by professionals that are worth the time, but most biographies (and even rock autobiographies!) are not worth reading. I mean if you're that dedicated a fan, go for it, but I'm not.
Then there are people who write entire books without a negative thing to say. They're eighty and worried about pissing off...exactly who? That's sad, you're that old and you still can't tell the truth.
And then there are the misspellings. No one ever proofreads these books. In addition to being unable to write exciting material, none of these people can spell. Ever hear of spellcheck? It's built right into your word processor, right there in Word. Can you use it?
And if you mention famous names and misspell them...you look like an idiot, what do you think the reader thinks? I mean how hard is it to spell Jackson "Browne" instead of "Brown?" And then there are the books where there are multiple variations on the spelling of one name. Once again, spellcheck would point this out.
As for being unable to spell... That's what most writers can do, spell. But they can't do your job, hang with business people and negotiate. Why are you so sure you can do their job? I don't think I can make hit records. But I could fire up GarageBand right now and make a track and e-mail you each and every day to listen to it. And believe me, I get those too. The barrier to entry is astoundingly low, as to be almost nonexistent. But what makes you think people want to pay attention, spend the time?
And then there's the production. Ever think of making the type a bit bigger so people can read it? Ever think of choosing a readable font? This is what professionals focus on, amateurs don't even think of this.
And pricing. Do you really think someone wants to pay thirty dollars for this dreck?
And there's one book where the guy who wrote it can't even get his own timeline right. I know more than he does. I mean it's not hard if you're paying attention. These are facts. You can look them up online. When an album came out, when the Vietnam War ended. It's simple.
Yet you keep dunning me to read your book.
I tell people all the time, you can send it but just don't bug me to read it and write about it. But people do anyway. Hey, you wrote about that famous writer's book, why not mine?
And then there are those who write fiction. I can tell you about respected writers that can't get narrative right. I read this Claire Messud book that had great descriptions and analogies but the plot was substandard, and she's one of the most revered writers out there! But you think you can just lay it down and ring the bell? Come on!
I had this friend Johanan Vigoda. A legendary lawyer, he represented Stevie Wonder, even though he looked like a homeless person.
We were at lunch one time, and I was trolling... I hate to admit it, but I was. I didn't come right out and say it, but if he would only do this for me, a minor effort, a connection.
And what Vigoda said to me, and I knew him, he was a friend, was...
"I AM NOT A TRAIN! I do not pick up people in one place and drop them off in another."
And then there was Ken Kragen, who used to teach a class about management at UCLA Extension. He said it was all about connections. To make them. BUT HE WAS NOT THEIR CONNECTION!
I didn't take that class, but a friend did and he told me this. And how did I meet that friend? At UCLA EXTENSION! We were both at the advent of our careers. What makes you think you're immediately entitled to get in at the top?
So I love to read. And I'm sitting there with a stack of self-published books, the biographies of some executive, or someone who was involved in a scene, and I can spend five or six hours reading their tome... Or I can pick up the new Rachel Kushner book. What do you think I'm going to do?
Want to get ahead in this world? Do something great.
Even Malcolm Gladwell has come out and said 10,000 hours of practice doesn't mean you'll be world class. The science says 10,000 hours of HARD PRACTICE!
Hell, you might write a good book if you've been writing since you've been a teen. Have seven unpublished novels in your drawer.
But no, you've come to a career standstill, don't know what to do with yourself, have run out of options and say, I know what I'll do, WRITE A BOOK!
Don't even bother. Unless it's your number one passion. Do something else with the limited time you have left on this planet.
Do I read the books of people I do podcasts with?
Yes.
But the odds of me doing a podcast based on a self-published book... That hasn't happened yet. And I'm inundated with major publisher books that I don't have time to read, and some I do and still don't write about them.
But you're entitled.
I get it, you were a radio promotion guy. You bugged radio stations over and over, until they delivered what you wanted.
But that was traditional business. An exchange of favors.
I DON'T PLAY THAT GAME! Even though people still think I do.
I've got no stock in Spotify, nor Live Nation. I've never taken a penny to write about a record or a book or a company. NEVER!
But I should do it for you.
Furthermore, what have you done for me?
I've built this platform. Do you know what I had to do to do it?
Oh, you don't really care.
But I guarantee you I've lived on a level you can't even comprehend. Writing a bad check for the rent with less than twenty dollars to my name, with no idea where the next check was coming from.
I survived. But if I want to tell you the truth, I just about fell off the edge. It was nearly terminal.
But now that I've built whatever I have, whoever I am, I'm beholden to you.
And then there are the people who keep criticizing what I write and how I write. They're not paying a penny and they can unsubscribe instantly, it's a link on the bottom of every missive.
But they're entitled.
I do my best to avoid their input. It goes with the territory.
But I don't like the person I become when I'm reacting to all this b.s. that my readers aren't even aware of.
Now I'm making you aware of it.
All you newbie ex-exec writers out there...
Do me a favor. Ask the friend of a friend to read your book. Someone you don't know at all, who's got no investment in your work, and have them respond. I bet you most people won't even finish your book. And when questioned by their mutual friend they'll say negative stuff.
But you're delusional.
That's not one of the tools in the rock star playbook. Sure, self-belief, but not delusion. Some people just don't have it. And chances are they're you. Bob Dylan sings "Each of us has his own special gift." You do. Find out what it is. I doubt it's writing.
And bugging people ad infinitum for attention is not a gift, even a baby can do that.
So if you're thinking of sending me a book... I might say yes, but the odds of me reading it are almost nil. I may check it out.
But if you're a major publisher it's different. But they're smart enough to know that if you send someone a book that doesn't mean they'll read it or write about it. Imagine calling everybody on the record company mailing list of yore, every week, to ask whether they've listened to your record and whether they're going to take action, play it or write about it. These lists had thousands of people on them, how many people took action? They say one percent is a good return.
The problem here is I'm going to scare off the reasonable people, the talented ones.
And while I'm at it, for the umpteenth time... You're reading me, you know what I'm into, can you think about that and recommend what might interest me? I just wrote about three fiction books, but you're telling me I must read a rock autobiography, or a business book? Sure, there's a small possibility I'll like that, but very small. You'll have to make a very strong case. And you send me records outside my area of interest that I'm never ever going to like, even though others will. Good for them, but not me.
This is how it works today. Everybody can play, but not everybody can win.
Let me push the button. Most of the people complaining loudly about Spotify and Live Nation payments don't make music that anybody other than their family wants to hear, if them. But somehow they're entitled to a living making music?
You took the time to write a book, good for you.
But don't expect me to read it.
I've got better things to do.
I only have one life.
And so do you.
I'm choosing all the time. There's more I want to consume than I can. But I should spend hours on your crappy book instead?
FUHGEDDABOUDIT!
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Book Reviews
These should really be three separate posts, but since many people don't want to read about books at all, I'm consolidating them, to avoid cluttering people's inboxes. But having said that, as a result I know I won't do any of them justice, but at least you'll hear about them.
THE MOST
By Jessica Anthony
https://t.ly/0utyz
If this book were five dollars, or maybe $7.50, I'd tell you to buy it immediately. But since even the Kindle version is $14.99, I'd tell you to get it from Libby, the library app.
If you're caught up in dead tree world, you might not be aware that the Kindle is burgeoning, as a result of BookTok. Customizing your e-reader is even a thing. But if you do have a Kindle, you can use Libby, and it's an amazing service. Sure, you might not get the books you want immediately, you might even have to wait months for the books you want, then again I just got the new Rachel Kushner, and that's hot and barely out.
"The Most" came out on July 30th, but I got it a few weeks back, and I just read it last night. I was not ready to tackle the Kushner, whose previous book was great, despite its predecessor being as about as readable as "Ulysses," so I looked at what I hadn't read and found "The Most" and saw it would take just over two hours to read it and I dug in.
It was my kind of book from sentence one. Very readable, very direct, not overladen with description. And I started and finished it last night. And it has stuck with me. But, once again, I can't advise you spend retail for it unless money doesn't mean that much to you.
"The Most" is set on November 3, 1957, the day Sputnik 2 was launched, and everybody is talking about it, the way we were infatuated with the Space Race back then.
And at first you think it's "Revolutionary Road," but it's not quite that heavy.
Kathleen was a tennis player... Was she good enough for the majors? Unclear, but back then there was little infrastructure and setting was not the anathema it is today and she gets married to Virgil.
Who is too good-looking for his own good.
They graduate from college and move to Pawtucket and...
Do you ever forget the first one? Does your present love not deliver what your memory of the past focuses on?
What you've got here is two people living separate lives together.
And they wrestle with their choices and don't ultimately come to the conclusions you think they will.
This is your life. This is everybody's life. We're making decisions all the time, are they the right ones?
And while I've got you, I want to quote a couple of sentences.
"Virgil knew his youngest son would likely suffer until he left school altogether."
School is a game where those who conform win. But once you graduate it's the opposite, it's those who don't obey boundaries, who color outside the lines, who break tradition, who succeed.
"...and because Colson Beckett was the sort of man who believed his opinion was so good it was always worth repeating..."
We all know people like this.
SAME AS IT EVER WAS
Claire Lombardo
https://t.ly/ZlDmj
I was wary of this book, because the best reviews came from "People" and "Parade," and often what is recommended by these mainstream publications is lowbrow which I find unfulfilling and...the book is 496 pages long.
But I realized I'd read Lombardo's previous book, "The Most Fun We Ever Had," and had enjoyed it, so I dug in.
I am not recommending "Same As It Ever Was" to the casual reader. I won't say it's a slog, but it's not a page-turner, it's not laden with explosions.
What we've got here is a wife who doesn't believe she fits in and the choices she makes, which are not always good ones.
And there are certain plot points that take the entire book to play out, to be revealed, and that is ultimately satisfying, but according to my Kindle it took twelve hours and change to read this book, and that may just be too much for many people.
Just like with "His Three Daughters," unless you've been in the situation, you may not be able to fully relate. But what we've got here is a husband and his friends who come from well-adjusted families, whereas Julia was raised by a single parent who seemed resentful of her existence.
How does someone cope with Julia, and how does Julia cope herself?
This is a good book. But not the best book. If you're a dedicated reader of family/relationship fiction, who loves to be engrossed in a long story, you will like "Same As It Ever Was." Family life plays out in unpredictable ways. There are victories and losses. How do you cope with the choices your children make, how do you keep a relationship together?
Ultimately I liked "Same At It Ever Was," more than liked it. But when I thought it was predictable a quarter of the way through, I winced and almost gave up, but ultimately it's not predictable.
"Same At It Ever Was" is not lowbrow. It's just not the kind of literary fiction the big kahunas trumpet. It is rewarding. You know if this is your kind of book.
BANAL NIGHTMARE
Halle Butler
https://t.ly/2re0a
Ultimately I was riveted by this book, it has stuck with me for weeks. I read it on a long plane ride and didn't have time to write about it and all the online scuttlebutt said it was all about the previous book, "The New Me," supposedly the definitive millennial statement, so I figured I'd write about "Banal Nightmare" when I finished "The New Me." But I may never finish "The New Me," it is similar in style to "Banal Nightmare," but nowhere near as good, so I'm writing about "Banal Nightmare" now.
The style will trip you up. The perspective, the speaker can change in the middle of a chapter. You're reading one paragraph and then in the next paragraph you have no idea what is going on, and you don't understand until a few paragraphs later. This is off-putting, I almost gave up, I'm glad I didn't.
What we've got here is a woman who breaks up with her boyfriend, realizes it's not for the long haul, and moves back to her college town, where her friends still live.
There are cliques. She doesn't adjust her personality and doesn't fit in.
And the people in the cliques... Some are in good marriages, some are in bad. Some people are oblivious and some people have a good grip on their situation. Do you take dramatic steps and change your life or ride with what you've got, afraid of risk?
But the main reason I'm recommending this book is because I have never, NEVER seen such an accurate description of relationships in the late twenty-early thirtysomething time frame.
Sure, there are a lot of people writing about this, but they usually get it wrong.
Sure, the perspective is that of millennials, but I could completely relate, and was glad I was no longer in that situation.
Not only are you navigating friend groups, not only are you pondering your "career," you're looking for the one, are you ever going to find the one?
Do you click or not? Everything in life is about clicking, and it's something you feel, not something you can plot out on paper.
Some might find "Banal Nightmare" frustrating. They don't like life to be messy. They like to make a choice and move on, forgetting about the past, assuming anybody can really do that.
You're so lost at that age.
Oh, you can buy the b.s., the same one sold by the system I was referencing above, in "The Most," you can color inside the lines, as a boomer become a doctor or lawyer, as a millennial become a financier or a programmer, but are you going to wake up one day and be dissatisfied?
And then there are those who are forging their own path, it's so murky.
"Banal Nightmare" has stuck with me. But I think two-thirds of the people will reject it on style alone. And then there are those who hate whining.
But in "The Most" Kathleen was involved with an intellectual, forget what he looked like, she was stimulated by him. Was he the right one?
And Virgil can screw any woman he wants, he's that good-looking, and he does. But does that fulfill him?
We're all asking ourselves these questions, or variations on them, our entire lives. And we don't want to miss it, we don't want to wake up and find our complacency has limited our outcomes.
This is why we read, this is why fiction is so great, you're confronted with life and your own choices, you are forced to think. And in truth, we're all thinking all the time.
I'd recommend "The Most" to all, not that I think everybody will get through it.
If you remember being tortured by life, relationships and career choices in your twenties or thirties, or are still that age, I'd recommend "Banal Nightmare," but still, because of the style, it's not for everyone.
If you're the kind of person who always has a book on the nightstand, who reads every evening, enjoys a long family saga, I recommend "Same At It Ever Was."
If you're someone who only reads one or two books a year, don't bother with any of these, I've got better recommendations.
But if you're a regular reader and looking for what's next, check them out.
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
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Listen to the podcast:
-iHeart: https://ihr.fm/2Gi5PFj
-Apple: https://apple.co/2ndmpvp
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THE MOST
By Jessica Anthony
https://t.ly/0utyz
If this book were five dollars, or maybe $7.50, I'd tell you to buy it immediately. But since even the Kindle version is $14.99, I'd tell you to get it from Libby, the library app.
If you're caught up in dead tree world, you might not be aware that the Kindle is burgeoning, as a result of BookTok. Customizing your e-reader is even a thing. But if you do have a Kindle, you can use Libby, and it's an amazing service. Sure, you might not get the books you want immediately, you might even have to wait months for the books you want, then again I just got the new Rachel Kushner, and that's hot and barely out.
"The Most" came out on July 30th, but I got it a few weeks back, and I just read it last night. I was not ready to tackle the Kushner, whose previous book was great, despite its predecessor being as about as readable as "Ulysses," so I looked at what I hadn't read and found "The Most" and saw it would take just over two hours to read it and I dug in.
It was my kind of book from sentence one. Very readable, very direct, not overladen with description. And I started and finished it last night. And it has stuck with me. But, once again, I can't advise you spend retail for it unless money doesn't mean that much to you.
"The Most" is set on November 3, 1957, the day Sputnik 2 was launched, and everybody is talking about it, the way we were infatuated with the Space Race back then.
And at first you think it's "Revolutionary Road," but it's not quite that heavy.
Kathleen was a tennis player... Was she good enough for the majors? Unclear, but back then there was little infrastructure and setting was not the anathema it is today and she gets married to Virgil.
Who is too good-looking for his own good.
They graduate from college and move to Pawtucket and...
Do you ever forget the first one? Does your present love not deliver what your memory of the past focuses on?
What you've got here is two people living separate lives together.
And they wrestle with their choices and don't ultimately come to the conclusions you think they will.
This is your life. This is everybody's life. We're making decisions all the time, are they the right ones?
And while I've got you, I want to quote a couple of sentences.
"Virgil knew his youngest son would likely suffer until he left school altogether."
School is a game where those who conform win. But once you graduate it's the opposite, it's those who don't obey boundaries, who color outside the lines, who break tradition, who succeed.
"...and because Colson Beckett was the sort of man who believed his opinion was so good it was always worth repeating..."
We all know people like this.
SAME AS IT EVER WAS
Claire Lombardo
https://t.ly/ZlDmj
I was wary of this book, because the best reviews came from "People" and "Parade," and often what is recommended by these mainstream publications is lowbrow which I find unfulfilling and...the book is 496 pages long.
But I realized I'd read Lombardo's previous book, "The Most Fun We Ever Had," and had enjoyed it, so I dug in.
I am not recommending "Same As It Ever Was" to the casual reader. I won't say it's a slog, but it's not a page-turner, it's not laden with explosions.
What we've got here is a wife who doesn't believe she fits in and the choices she makes, which are not always good ones.
And there are certain plot points that take the entire book to play out, to be revealed, and that is ultimately satisfying, but according to my Kindle it took twelve hours and change to read this book, and that may just be too much for many people.
Just like with "His Three Daughters," unless you've been in the situation, you may not be able to fully relate. But what we've got here is a husband and his friends who come from well-adjusted families, whereas Julia was raised by a single parent who seemed resentful of her existence.
How does someone cope with Julia, and how does Julia cope herself?
This is a good book. But not the best book. If you're a dedicated reader of family/relationship fiction, who loves to be engrossed in a long story, you will like "Same As It Ever Was." Family life plays out in unpredictable ways. There are victories and losses. How do you cope with the choices your children make, how do you keep a relationship together?
Ultimately I liked "Same At It Ever Was," more than liked it. But when I thought it was predictable a quarter of the way through, I winced and almost gave up, but ultimately it's not predictable.
"Same At It Ever Was" is not lowbrow. It's just not the kind of literary fiction the big kahunas trumpet. It is rewarding. You know if this is your kind of book.
BANAL NIGHTMARE
Halle Butler
https://t.ly/2re0a
Ultimately I was riveted by this book, it has stuck with me for weeks. I read it on a long plane ride and didn't have time to write about it and all the online scuttlebutt said it was all about the previous book, "The New Me," supposedly the definitive millennial statement, so I figured I'd write about "Banal Nightmare" when I finished "The New Me." But I may never finish "The New Me," it is similar in style to "Banal Nightmare," but nowhere near as good, so I'm writing about "Banal Nightmare" now.
The style will trip you up. The perspective, the speaker can change in the middle of a chapter. You're reading one paragraph and then in the next paragraph you have no idea what is going on, and you don't understand until a few paragraphs later. This is off-putting, I almost gave up, I'm glad I didn't.
What we've got here is a woman who breaks up with her boyfriend, realizes it's not for the long haul, and moves back to her college town, where her friends still live.
There are cliques. She doesn't adjust her personality and doesn't fit in.
And the people in the cliques... Some are in good marriages, some are in bad. Some people are oblivious and some people have a good grip on their situation. Do you take dramatic steps and change your life or ride with what you've got, afraid of risk?
But the main reason I'm recommending this book is because I have never, NEVER seen such an accurate description of relationships in the late twenty-early thirtysomething time frame.
Sure, there are a lot of people writing about this, but they usually get it wrong.
Sure, the perspective is that of millennials, but I could completely relate, and was glad I was no longer in that situation.
Not only are you navigating friend groups, not only are you pondering your "career," you're looking for the one, are you ever going to find the one?
Do you click or not? Everything in life is about clicking, and it's something you feel, not something you can plot out on paper.
Some might find "Banal Nightmare" frustrating. They don't like life to be messy. They like to make a choice and move on, forgetting about the past, assuming anybody can really do that.
You're so lost at that age.
Oh, you can buy the b.s., the same one sold by the system I was referencing above, in "The Most," you can color inside the lines, as a boomer become a doctor or lawyer, as a millennial become a financier or a programmer, but are you going to wake up one day and be dissatisfied?
And then there are those who are forging their own path, it's so murky.
"Banal Nightmare" has stuck with me. But I think two-thirds of the people will reject it on style alone. And then there are those who hate whining.
But in "The Most" Kathleen was involved with an intellectual, forget what he looked like, she was stimulated by him. Was he the right one?
And Virgil can screw any woman he wants, he's that good-looking, and he does. But does that fulfill him?
We're all asking ourselves these questions, or variations on them, our entire lives. And we don't want to miss it, we don't want to wake up and find our complacency has limited our outcomes.
This is why we read, this is why fiction is so great, you're confronted with life and your own choices, you are forced to think. And in truth, we're all thinking all the time.
I'd recommend "The Most" to all, not that I think everybody will get through it.
If you remember being tortured by life, relationships and career choices in your twenties or thirties, or are still that age, I'd recommend "Banal Nightmare," but still, because of the style, it's not for everyone.
If you're the kind of person who always has a book on the nightstand, who reads every evening, enjoys a long family saga, I recommend "Same At It Ever Was."
If you're someone who only reads one or two books a year, don't bother with any of these, I've got better recommendations.
But if you're a regular reader and looking for what's next, check them out.
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
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-iHeart: https://ihr.fm/2Gi5PFj
-Apple: https://apple.co/2ndmpvp
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Lauren Christy-This Week's Podcast
Songwriter/producer Lauren Christy has worked with everybody from Avril Lavigne to Jason Mraz to Korn to Bebe Rexha and many more. This is her story.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lauren-christy/id1316200737?i=1000670767228
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1REpTcCysRmxZtsN1SLMhL?si=x4NaU97NS567YguJgzV4Fw
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-the-bob-lefsetz-podcast-30806836/episode/lauren-christy-220546754/
https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9ff4fb19-54d4-41ae-ae7a-8a6f8d3dafa8/episodes/8917bdbb-5721-43fb-bd4b-6d21b6db56e9/the-bob-lefsetz-podcast-lauren-christy
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-iHeart: https://ihr.fm/2Gi5PFj
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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lauren-christy/id1316200737?i=1000670767228
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1REpTcCysRmxZtsN1SLMhL?si=x4NaU97NS567YguJgzV4Fw
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-the-bob-lefsetz-podcast-30806836/episode/lauren-christy-220546754/
https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9ff4fb19-54d4-41ae-ae7a-8a6f8d3dafa8/episodes/8917bdbb-5721-43fb-bd4b-6d21b6db56e9/the-bob-lefsetz-podcast-lauren-christy
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-iHeart: https://ihr.fm/2Gi5PFj
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Wednesday 25 September 2024
His Three Daughters
Netflix trailer: https://t.ly/90JuB
This is my kind of movie.
It may not be yours.
It played for two weeks in theatres.
I don't know why anybody would go.
All the action is in streaming television.
But the media keeps focusing on films, most of which go unseen.
Distribution is king but everybody still thinks it's content.
You can do something great and no one can see it/hear it these days. Once upon a time the great surfaced by itself, but today something can be really good and get no traction. The question is how do you put something great in front of the public such that people see it.
You put it on Netflix.
And you don't decry Spotify, you embrace it.
Or as Sam Kinison once said about starving people in Africa...send them suitcases, not food, they need to move where the food is!
But I feel like a lone voice in the wilderness. Because the aged Boomers and Gen-X'ers need to feel superior to the young 'uns, so they keep trumpeting foreign and indie films in the theatre, abhor anything to do with the smartphone and for reasons of status, displaying their ignorance, pooh-pooh anything with a hint of the mainstream.
But this us vs. them paradigm is dead. We're all foraging for content. It's a journey through the Sargasso Sea, and one must not be afraid of jumping in and swimming.
And now back to the movie...
I guess I just get angry. You just can't change conventional wisdom, which is controlled by those who don't know what is going on. The same people who missed Trump the first time around, the people who keep telling us they know better, who are in a bubble but don't even realize it, never mind admit it.
The most powerful device you own is your smartphone. Get the latest and the greatest, keep it for a couple of years and get a new one. You want the power and the features.
And assuming you're not a young 'un who watches everything on that same small device or a laptop, buy the largest, highest quality flat screen television for your abode, this is the heart of today's long form entertainment. The script has flipped. You needed a good stereo in the seventies, today you need a good television.
Finally the movie...
Felice thought Natasha Lyonne always plays the same character, and the entire film was too stagey.
I'll agree on both counts, but it did not detract from my enjoyment of the movie.
What we've got here is siblings, in the apartment of their youth, waiting for their father to die.
I'm not sure someone without siblings will have the same experience. But if you've got two or more brothers or sisters, and the second parent is on their way out, you'll get it completely.
It's usually the older sibling who demands control. Who becomes exasperated with the inadequacies of the youngest sibling. Who ponders the future of this youngster and says they must face the future themselves and but still meddles.
Meanwhile, the youngest was the last person to leave the nest, if at all. He or she has a special relationship with the parent. The dynamic is different once the other two are gone. The parents are usually tired, there is largesse with the youngest sibling, whereas they were strict with the oldest, placed all their hopes and dreams upon them.
Carrie Coon is exceptional in this movie. I'm not saying you'll like her, I'm just saying she nails the character. She believes if she doesn't do everything, the whole thing will fall apart. Meanwhile, she is not happy that she's carrying the weight of the enterprise on her shoulders, and she keeps telling you so.
As for the youngest... She has been denigrated, pushed aside for so many years, that she alternately stays quiet or yells out.
Meanwhile, the person in the middle is lost in the shuffle.
Elizabeth Olsen is the child in the middle. Her character is not wholly believable, she's always upbeat, followed the Grateful Dead but appears to be straight out of a Lululemon ad. She wants to make peace. She's invested in her daughter. She is so fearful of being overwhelmed that she lives a circumscribed life. And although she can get overloaded, she refuses to dominate, although she will blow the whistle.
The eldest, Carrie Coon, thinks her sh*t doesn't stink. She thinks she knows and everybody else does not. She doesn't even think of questioning her beliefs and actions. She's the oldest, she's the most together, she's right. Period. And when confronted with facts she has overlooked, she fights back.
That's what you rarely see in movies, characters doubling-down. Usually when someone is confronted with the truth, they immediately go into self-doubt, they admit they're wrong and there's a kumbaya moment, a coming together. But in real life, the one in power doesn't do this at all, he or she amps it up, becomes emphatic, is intense and oftentimes employs a scorched-earth strategy. When Benjy tells Katie (Carrie Coon) that Rachel (Natasha Lyonne) has been there all the while, doing all the work, taking the father to the bathroom, that even he spent a lot of time watching sports with the father... Katie/Carrie doesn't buy it, and insists that he leave the house, immediately.
Family dynamics, they don't comport with the rest of the world. It's a world unto itself. And he or she who yells loudest often wins.
And then there's the money. I've got a friend who says you never really know your siblings until you share an inheritance.
Katie and Christina (Elizabeth Olsen) don't like it that Rachel will inherit the rent-controlled apartment, that her name is on the lease.
Doesn't matter how much Katie and Christina have, that their lives are richer in many ways, especially economically, than Rachel's, they're unhappy that they're not getting more, at heart they believe they're getting screwed.
And Rachel refuses to accept this dynamic. Two sisters are playing a game that Rachel doesn't. Rachel has checked out, and the sisters deride her for it and insist she must play their game.
But Vincent is Rachel's father too.
Katie can't see emotions, even though she thinks she does. Everything is viewed through a prism of math. What she's done, what she's entitled to. And no one has as much responsibility as she does, NO ONE! You could never convince her otherwise.
A nice evening's entertainment.
Now despite the festivals, despite some of these films playing in art houses, indie cinema, as an exhibition form, is in the doghouse. Because no one wants to go. The Boomers, who grew up on it, know that it's a bad economic proposition. You've got to go on the theatre's schedule, overpay for a ticket and maybe parking too. Meanwhile, at home you can watch nearly whatever you want whenever you want. Movies in a theatre are an ancient paradigm. In order to work the theatre must be right next door and the film needs to start as soon as you get there. But that's not how it works.
Don't equate this with music. A show is a one time event. A film is static, it's the same wherever you see it. Why not see it at home?
The major studios have realized this, so it's all about event pictures, sequels and superhero movies, mostly attended by youngsters who need to get out of the house.
But what if you're looking for a bit more from a visual experience. What if you're looking to be touched internally, to still be thinking when the credits roll...
For that you need to go to your streaming outlet, and Netflix is king. If you don't have a subscription, you're completely out of the loop.
But many feel superior. Many of the educated don't have an account, still think television is the idiot box.
But the joke is on them.
Do I think the general public wants to watch "His Three Daughters"?
No. Just a certain subsegment of the public. That's the key to winning entertainment today. Don't try to appeal to everybody, that is death.
I see Sabrina Carpenter and Travis Scott are battling for number one on the chart. I don't care to listen to either of them. And I'm in the majority here. But rather than try to assess what the majority is interested in, which is a cornucopia of offerings, choice, traditional record labels and major media still keep trying to corral us into one pen, listening to the same songs and watching the same movies as if it's still 1985. But the internet blew that world apart.
I'm hipping you to "His Three Daughters."
And when "intellectuals" boast about going to the movie theatre, laugh at them. Who has that much time to burn? To get in the car, sit through all those trailers? I certainly don't. In a world of so many offerings, I want to partake of as many as I can.
Unfortunately, it's hard to wade through and find what stimulates and satiates.
If you're fascinated by family dynamics, identity and behavior, I highly recommend "His Three Daughters." Sure, it could almost as easily play on a stage, the cinematography is nothing special, but the humanity, the essence of life, the questions are right there in front of you.
You'll identify.
Or you won't.
But I did. And maybe you will.
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
Listen to the podcast:
-iHeart: https://ihr.fm/2Gi5PFj
-Apple: https://apple.co/2ndmpvp
--
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This is my kind of movie.
It may not be yours.
It played for two weeks in theatres.
I don't know why anybody would go.
All the action is in streaming television.
But the media keeps focusing on films, most of which go unseen.
Distribution is king but everybody still thinks it's content.
You can do something great and no one can see it/hear it these days. Once upon a time the great surfaced by itself, but today something can be really good and get no traction. The question is how do you put something great in front of the public such that people see it.
You put it on Netflix.
And you don't decry Spotify, you embrace it.
Or as Sam Kinison once said about starving people in Africa...send them suitcases, not food, they need to move where the food is!
But I feel like a lone voice in the wilderness. Because the aged Boomers and Gen-X'ers need to feel superior to the young 'uns, so they keep trumpeting foreign and indie films in the theatre, abhor anything to do with the smartphone and for reasons of status, displaying their ignorance, pooh-pooh anything with a hint of the mainstream.
But this us vs. them paradigm is dead. We're all foraging for content. It's a journey through the Sargasso Sea, and one must not be afraid of jumping in and swimming.
And now back to the movie...
I guess I just get angry. You just can't change conventional wisdom, which is controlled by those who don't know what is going on. The same people who missed Trump the first time around, the people who keep telling us they know better, who are in a bubble but don't even realize it, never mind admit it.
The most powerful device you own is your smartphone. Get the latest and the greatest, keep it for a couple of years and get a new one. You want the power and the features.
And assuming you're not a young 'un who watches everything on that same small device or a laptop, buy the largest, highest quality flat screen television for your abode, this is the heart of today's long form entertainment. The script has flipped. You needed a good stereo in the seventies, today you need a good television.
Finally the movie...
Felice thought Natasha Lyonne always plays the same character, and the entire film was too stagey.
I'll agree on both counts, but it did not detract from my enjoyment of the movie.
What we've got here is siblings, in the apartment of their youth, waiting for their father to die.
I'm not sure someone without siblings will have the same experience. But if you've got two or more brothers or sisters, and the second parent is on their way out, you'll get it completely.
It's usually the older sibling who demands control. Who becomes exasperated with the inadequacies of the youngest sibling. Who ponders the future of this youngster and says they must face the future themselves and but still meddles.
Meanwhile, the youngest was the last person to leave the nest, if at all. He or she has a special relationship with the parent. The dynamic is different once the other two are gone. The parents are usually tired, there is largesse with the youngest sibling, whereas they were strict with the oldest, placed all their hopes and dreams upon them.
Carrie Coon is exceptional in this movie. I'm not saying you'll like her, I'm just saying she nails the character. She believes if she doesn't do everything, the whole thing will fall apart. Meanwhile, she is not happy that she's carrying the weight of the enterprise on her shoulders, and she keeps telling you so.
As for the youngest... She has been denigrated, pushed aside for so many years, that she alternately stays quiet or yells out.
Meanwhile, the person in the middle is lost in the shuffle.
Elizabeth Olsen is the child in the middle. Her character is not wholly believable, she's always upbeat, followed the Grateful Dead but appears to be straight out of a Lululemon ad. She wants to make peace. She's invested in her daughter. She is so fearful of being overwhelmed that she lives a circumscribed life. And although she can get overloaded, she refuses to dominate, although she will blow the whistle.
The eldest, Carrie Coon, thinks her sh*t doesn't stink. She thinks she knows and everybody else does not. She doesn't even think of questioning her beliefs and actions. She's the oldest, she's the most together, she's right. Period. And when confronted with facts she has overlooked, she fights back.
That's what you rarely see in movies, characters doubling-down. Usually when someone is confronted with the truth, they immediately go into self-doubt, they admit they're wrong and there's a kumbaya moment, a coming together. But in real life, the one in power doesn't do this at all, he or she amps it up, becomes emphatic, is intense and oftentimes employs a scorched-earth strategy. When Benjy tells Katie (Carrie Coon) that Rachel (Natasha Lyonne) has been there all the while, doing all the work, taking the father to the bathroom, that even he spent a lot of time watching sports with the father... Katie/Carrie doesn't buy it, and insists that he leave the house, immediately.
Family dynamics, they don't comport with the rest of the world. It's a world unto itself. And he or she who yells loudest often wins.
And then there's the money. I've got a friend who says you never really know your siblings until you share an inheritance.
Katie and Christina (Elizabeth Olsen) don't like it that Rachel will inherit the rent-controlled apartment, that her name is on the lease.
Doesn't matter how much Katie and Christina have, that their lives are richer in many ways, especially economically, than Rachel's, they're unhappy that they're not getting more, at heart they believe they're getting screwed.
And Rachel refuses to accept this dynamic. Two sisters are playing a game that Rachel doesn't. Rachel has checked out, and the sisters deride her for it and insist she must play their game.
But Vincent is Rachel's father too.
Katie can't see emotions, even though she thinks she does. Everything is viewed through a prism of math. What she's done, what she's entitled to. And no one has as much responsibility as she does, NO ONE! You could never convince her otherwise.
A nice evening's entertainment.
Now despite the festivals, despite some of these films playing in art houses, indie cinema, as an exhibition form, is in the doghouse. Because no one wants to go. The Boomers, who grew up on it, know that it's a bad economic proposition. You've got to go on the theatre's schedule, overpay for a ticket and maybe parking too. Meanwhile, at home you can watch nearly whatever you want whenever you want. Movies in a theatre are an ancient paradigm. In order to work the theatre must be right next door and the film needs to start as soon as you get there. But that's not how it works.
Don't equate this with music. A show is a one time event. A film is static, it's the same wherever you see it. Why not see it at home?
The major studios have realized this, so it's all about event pictures, sequels and superhero movies, mostly attended by youngsters who need to get out of the house.
But what if you're looking for a bit more from a visual experience. What if you're looking to be touched internally, to still be thinking when the credits roll...
For that you need to go to your streaming outlet, and Netflix is king. If you don't have a subscription, you're completely out of the loop.
But many feel superior. Many of the educated don't have an account, still think television is the idiot box.
But the joke is on them.
Do I think the general public wants to watch "His Three Daughters"?
No. Just a certain subsegment of the public. That's the key to winning entertainment today. Don't try to appeal to everybody, that is death.
I see Sabrina Carpenter and Travis Scott are battling for number one on the chart. I don't care to listen to either of them. And I'm in the majority here. But rather than try to assess what the majority is interested in, which is a cornucopia of offerings, choice, traditional record labels and major media still keep trying to corral us into one pen, listening to the same songs and watching the same movies as if it's still 1985. But the internet blew that world apart.
I'm hipping you to "His Three Daughters."
And when "intellectuals" boast about going to the movie theatre, laugh at them. Who has that much time to burn? To get in the car, sit through all those trailers? I certainly don't. In a world of so many offerings, I want to partake of as many as I can.
Unfortunately, it's hard to wade through and find what stimulates and satiates.
If you're fascinated by family dynamics, identity and behavior, I highly recommend "His Three Daughters." Sure, it could almost as easily play on a stage, the cinematography is nothing special, but the humanity, the essence of life, the questions are right there in front of you.
You'll identify.
Or you won't.
But I did. And maybe you will.
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
Listen to the podcast:
-iHeart: https://ihr.fm/2Gi5PFj
-Apple: https://apple.co/2ndmpvp
--
http://www.twitter.com/lefsetz
--
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Tuesday 24 September 2024
Re-Steve Poltz
What you wrote about Steve is equal parts genuine, and generous. We both know he deserves it. But you really did him well. You captured his spirit so beautifully. Bravo.
Very nice to meet you, and to chat, and to laugh...what a most lovely time. Thanks for including me w/ such a positive light in your story, as well. You have a lot of reach. Deservedly so. I see it as a match for your thoughtfulness, your intelligence and your scruples. Bravo, again.
I look forward to the next time, Bob. We'll see you down the road.
Kenneth Pattengale
_________________________________
Hey Bob, I'm so glad you got to see Steve, I co-wrote the Petrichor song with him.
We made friends instantly when I went to see Tommy Prine, John's son, and it turned out Tommy was sick and Steve took his place at the show. I had never seen Steve before and I was there with a couple of songwriter bluegrass pals Shawn Camp and Nick Forster, who had never seen him either.
We were gonna leave when he started his set because there are no harsher judges than bluegrasser songwriters. Shawn was looking at his watch and pointing at the door and then Steve took us over and we were blown away. When he told the Prine story we were all in, cause we were pals with John and I got to co-write and play on his Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings record. I could just see John in the van, realizing that the Disney store was right next to his hotel, the whole story is a wonder. Just as you described, I told everybody about Steve, and I'm still telling everybody, and we've written a big pile of songs together. I told my wife about him and insisted on taking her to see him, cause I couldn't wait to see her reaction. I've been making music for a living my whole 74 years and it's very rare that I'm as entertained as I am by Steve. He is a brave man with no set list that trusts his talent and goes for it every show. I've been reading your stuff for years and I'm thrilled that you championed Steve. I was pleased to see that you included my post the other day about the loss of my longtime pal JD Souther. Another recent loss was my friend Will Jennings, and too many more. It's that time of life, still hard to take. Thank you so much for what you do, I'll be reading along and probably agreeing.
Gary Nicholson
_________________________________
Steve Poltz did one of the most amazing in-store performances we've ever hosted at Grimey's. He's supposed to be promoting his new album at the time (Shine On, produced by my friend Will Kimbrough, who also wrote Jimmy Buffet's 'Bubbles Up' and accompanies Steve on this performance), but he pretty much just does his thing - telling stories, making songs up on the spot, engaging and interacting with the audience and ENTERTAINING. He pulls Molly Tuttle and Grant Lee-Philips out of the audience and up to the stage to join in and even convinces Grant to do his Neil Diamond impersonation! It's big fun and his bit with the kids is genuinely heart-touching. The performance is pro-shot and still up on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D30vn1upUwU
I love that you're championing Steve Poltz. He's a genuine treasure.
Doyle Davis
_________________________________
As a performer in San Diego people always ask me "who should I see first" I say "Poltz". "Who should I see 2nd?" "Poltz". I've seen him two days in row where he didn't play the same song. I've spent days with him on white water rafting trips and he always had something positive to say. Just being around, him for a few days at his songwriting camp. inspired me to write some of my popular songs. I just saw him here in Reno and for the first hour he played new songs that I didn't know, and nobody was bored.
He's one of my few true heroes.
Ronald Hill
_________________________________
Thanks, Bob, for shedding even more light on San Diego fixture Steve Poltz. And he's everywhere at once! Just ran into him again here in town during the Americana Music Week last Wednesday, appearing at the Madison House Agency function – outside, during the day – and he killed (as usual).
Larry Butler
Nashville
_________________________________
Thank you for the Poltz piece. I've been following him since the mid 90s when we toured with the Rugburns. We've recorded 4 of his songs and are about to release another. His absurdist humor is spot on & makes the coldest hipsters laugh. He's also one of the best acoustic guitar players alive.
And he shook hands with Elvis.
TCB
Bill Davis
_________________________________
Steve Poltz is indeed terrific and I'm glad you wrote about him. He's a pal. but despite that I'll insist he's the best live one-man-with-guitar artist I have EVER seen, and I'm 90 (i.e. older than most dirt) and seen a LOT of music over the last 75 years.
The only person who's even come close — as a story teller and entertainer — was Loudon Wainwright III in his early years.
Cheers,
Richard Flohil
_________________________________
Bob, facts: He's a national treasure. I'm going to his show at the Ark in Ann Arbor, and I should bring a seat belt for my chair; who knows where this trip he's driving us will take us.
Mike Vial
_________________________________
I met Steve in 2002 when he played at my house with Beaver Nelson, Scrappy Jud Newcomb and Adam Carroll. It was the beginning of what has become a very long journey. I have now seen Steve perform 113 times, in 20 states, DC and Ontario, travelled cross country with him, gone to baseball games with him, stayed in his apartment, he has stayed with us, and my wife and I were with him the night of his stroke in Wilmington Delaware and took him to the hospital in Princeton NJ. I have introduced him on more than a few occasions and to say that each show has been great is an understatement. As he says, "this is the greatest show I have ever played".... he truly believes that!! He is a dear friend who should be as big as the biggest rock star, but no matter it doesn't bother him in the least! He is a dear friend and I can't wait to see him the next time because every show is different. Thanks for being in my life Steve.....you make it better!!
lou DeMarco
Momentary Love Management
_________________________________
I've been writing about Steve Poltz since he released his solo debut One Left Shoe in 1998, when he was encouraging audiences to sing along like Chewbacca and regaling us with stories about how he and Jewel wound up on a boat with Mexican narcotics officers arresting drug smugglers right before they wrote You Were Meant for Me. And every word of it was true, there are photos to prove it. Somehow he wanders the globe in a cloud of fairy dust, picking up inspiration as he goes along and building audiences bit by bit along the way, he really is a one-of-a-kind mutant, hard-wired to entertain, a 21st Century song-and-dance man who never uses a setlist and can go off in any one of a million directions at once.
Amazingly, he recorded his 2010 album Dreamhouse in my hometown of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia (with Canadian rocker extraordinaire Joel Plaskett), before heading to my partner Jordanna's hometown of Perth, Australia to make his next album Noineen Noiny Noin (the Aussie pronunciation of "1999"), basically two polar opposite ends of the planet. We go to see him every chance we get, and if he spots us in the crowd, he'll perform From the Top of Her Head with the line "from COOKEtown to Perth, to the ends of the Earth" with a wink and a smile (on the album it's "from Darwin to Perth"), so it's become "our song" in the popular parlance. How do you top that?
~Stephen Cooke
Halifax, NS
_________________________________
He is a favorite of ours! Love the Prine story - it is hysterical in its full story! Love his guitar story and he is a good player too! Love Poltz
Terri Williams
_________________________________
One of the 10 best shows I've ever seen was Poltz at McCabe's a few years back, before the pandemic. He is my kind of religion, boy howdy.
Sorry to have missed this past Sunday. I could have used some of that, even if it does leave me a dishrag for the rest of the week.
Colleen Wainwright
_________________________________
Truth. Thx for writing about him.
I've seen him 30+ times. He's terrific. One of the best storytellers. He's hilarious. Non-stop laughter. The best kind. And so talented. I love the crowd participation how he involves everyone and nobody in the audience feels left out.
Fiona Bloom
_________________________________
Ok I will go see him!!!
Peter Noone
_________________________________
Thank you a thousand times for singing the praises of Steve Poltz, a true gem. I was stage managing the Angeline's Bakery stage at the Sisters Folk Festival many years ago on a Sunday afternoon, the last show of the festival. We cleared the chairs and packed 'em in, thank God the fire marshall didn't arrive. Poltzy made 'em laugh, made 'em cry, crowd surfed and played way over his allotted time, until he had nothing left. Incredible, amazing, unforgettable. He deserves every accolade!
Sean McGowan
Portland, OR
_________________________________
Steve Poltz is the genuine article and one of my favorite people.
Our company managed Steve for several years in the mid-2000s. It was a difficult time in the music business as managers and artists were trying to figure out a path forward, especially hard for an artist who had previously been on a major label.
I signed Steve because the talent was undeniable, but he was basically starting over again and it was a tough climb. To Steve's credit, he persevered for the last 15 years and became that show business rarity - a late career success story. We are still friends and I couldn't be happier for him!
Charles Driebe, Esq.
_________________________________
Poltz is amazing, and a friend of a friend (I think that's probably Steve's relationship to everyone on Earth at this point).
Saw him a few years ago at Largo. Couldn't believe how good the show was or how lucky I was to see it.
He's also an VERY fun follow on the old Facebook.
Probably the best troubadour you'll ever see. Even though Bob Schneider is in the conversation.
Tim Wood
_________________________________
Kenneth Pattengale would be a perfect compliment to this guy. I have neever seen Steve Politz, but was fortunate to see the Milk Carton Kids maybe 10 years ago at a Studio 519 show in Redondo Beach. They were incredible, and I have kept an eye out for them ever since. Glad they are all making it in a niche genre.
Terry Watson
_________________________________
Oh Bob! Thanks so much for lauding the Saturday afternoon folk festival killer that is Steve Poltz. My son was out with the brunette Joni named Heather Maloney a few years back (I couldn't get Heather to call their full band act "Heather Maloney and the New Stone Ponies")and they were sharing the stage with Poltzie often.
I used to bump into him at 3rd and Lindsley in Nashville hanging and listening to the Long Players rip thru the white album with Pat Sansone of Wilco stepping up to sing the high ones…
He's the essence of what live music is supposed to be …. FUN! I hope you're sides recover from the good splitting.
Enjoy your emails so…
Blaine
Dr. Blaine Leeds
_________________________________
I had the good fortune of seeing Steve perform twice last week in Nashville - first, at an intimate house concert of singer/songwriters hosted by my buddy Craig Lackey (a songwriter and neighbor of Steve), and then again 4 days later when he performed as part of the lineup for Americanfest. He performed at the club 3rd & Lindsley, doing a full set right before the headline act of Dave Alvin and The Guilty Ones with Jimmie Dale Gilmore.
Both performances from Steve that I saw were uniquely different and equally entertaining. I've seen him perform 4 times now, and I can attest that each show is different and captivating - and all are HILARIOUS ! After each and every show, I indeed felt like I had witnessed "the greatest show he's ever done".
Hope you're well.
Phil Stanley
P.S. Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore were AMAZING. I highly recommend seeing them whenever and wherever you can.
_________________________________
A much loved San Diego treasure his annual 50th birthday parties at the Belly Up in Solana Beach, CA are one's of legend! This review is stellar and as longtime supporter of local music in San Diego, I appreciate your support of this unique human that can change your life, such an entertainer. Comedy and Music all from the mind of one person...
THX
Tim Pyles
_________________________________
I have seen Poltz twice, once at a club in Nashville and once at a house concert in Phoenix, and you are spot on-he owns his stage. I have a few of his albums, but they are no substitute for his live show. The stories are as important as the songs.
Laurence Cavanaugh
_________________________________
Poltz is amazing. Just saw him in Nashville at AMA.
Donald Cohen
_________________________________
The greatest aspect of your podcast is that it opens up my eyes to new and not so new artists. I missed the boat on Steve Poltz until I heard him on your show. I have listened to it three times in its entirety and I have sent it to all of the music fans I know.
I am now scouting a Steve Poltz show near me or in Nashville so I can see him in person. Thank you for always finding fascinating guests and for opening my eyes to artists who have so much to offer.
You facilitate opening the lid to so many new rabbit holes the listener gets to climb down. Every podcast sends me on a deep dive that leads to a world of musical treasures!
Thank you!
Stephen Jones
_________________________________
Thank you for the thoughtful review or my client. I as well as our entire team appreciate it and couldn't agree more with your sentiment.
Sincerely,
Adam Bauer
Madison House, LLC
_________________________________
Yup. Poltz is a force of nature. Thank you for giving Steve his due. I haven't been to a major concert in years - just for this reason. House concerts. Small clubs - McCabes. The Coach House. Belly Up, Winstons. These are the places music truly comes alive. Ellis Paul. Lisa Sanders, Poltz, T Sisters, Jeff Berkley, Calman Hart just to name a few. Betcha never heard any of these folks and you are worse for it. The road is full of 'small acts' that'll blow your socks off. Dave Alvin used to come to a local venue, AMSD (Acoustic Music San Diego) and give you one of those shows you talk about to, as you said, all your friends. And these smaller venues will expose you to music that you (probably) wouldn't give a shot. I'm a rock and roller to the core but that started changing when I saw the likes of Dave Stamey (Cowboy), Led Kaapana (Slack Key guitar), and Ray LaMontaigne (in a room with 40 people before he 'made it). The only person I'll see in an arena environment is Springsteen. Like him or not his shows are never less than spectacular. Point being, see Poltz and adventure to those other acts that don't blip on the radar and you will be richer for it.
Robert Tussey
_________________________________
Steve Poltz is awesome.
I saw Steve at a house show the night he ran the sausage race in Milwaukee. It was a perfect night. During our break, we chatted about Obama and politics. Later, he sang me a birthday song because he thought I was cool. I had been a fan for a while and believe I may have everything he has recorded.
He is way cool. The show was in the basement rec room of a home in suburban Milwaukee. Cozy and fun. He played his heart out. It is one of the best shows I have ever seen.
Once again, Bob, you are correct. Find the closet (or fly cross country) show and see Poltz.
Your pal,
Kevin Lampe
_________________________________
I love both of these men. Thanks for writing them up!
Auyon Mukharji
_________________________________
Known him for years and years in San Diego, he's a real character
Marty Schwartz
_________________________________
In 2012, I remember strongly urging you to join us at the Swallow Hill room at Folk Alliance to experience Steve and his massive talent. We also had some other musical luminaries including the Wood Brothers, Elephant Revival, and Tim and Nikki Blum.
I wish I had taken a photo of your smile. It was the same one we were all wearing as we got "Poltz-ed".
I'm so glad you included him in your blog this week. His stories and songs in a live setting surpass every live show I've attended. And you're right, all the stories he tells are true, and unbelievable. Stories like him and Jewel joining Federales on a huge drug bust in Mexico. Or a Poltz/David Cassidy collaboration that went absurdly awry in the front row of a venue in Las Vegas. He can even make a story about winding his watch hilarious.
But it's not just the humor. Songs like "Brief History of My Life" and "Medical Career" are deep and so touching as to bring tears.
Poltz earned his kudos through years and years of touring and expert song craft. It's something he must do, not just something he simply wants to do.
I remember sitting with him in an auditorium in a Toronto while you were speaking about the music business to a large assembly of music industry peeps. When you were taking questions, Poltz asked you how many people subscribed to "The Lefsetz Letter." You smiled and said "I can't tell you exactly, but it's the population of a good-sized city."
Bob, I hope your city of subscribers gets a chance to see Steve Poltz, to experience his energy, his stories and his songs.
Thanks for your work.
Tom Scharf
_________________________________
Ok, thanks!
Steve Poltz - 2024 Tucson Folk Festival
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klN_aLpBPu0
Tom Martin
_________________________________
After years of reading your column, this is the first time I felt a need to respond. Mainly because I have a very personal attachment to Steve Polz which I will explain, but also because I agree with you the days of artist development and believing in your gut an Artist has talent and are not swayed by any analytics or lack thereof has diminished.
The Artist and the music should always come first. If you believe in a talent, there's a belief and a magic about them you are inclined to see it through and come up with a long-term plan to see them succeed.
You nailed it with Steve Polz and thank you for giving him the recognition he deserves. No one works harder than him. That should not change with the new ways of doing business and should always be about a connection emotionally with an audience and Steve Polz has that.
I met Steve Poltz in the late 90's. I had been a manager for such artists as Gregg Allman, Ronnie Spector, and the great Jeff Buckley, among others. When Buckley passed tragically, Danny Goldberg, who I co-managed the Allman Brothers Band with and because I was very successful with Artists internationally, (many of them you would have not heard about because they were not popular in the U.S), asked if I would be interested in running the international department at the Mercury Records Group.
This was my first corporate job, and I applied the same management philosophy I always had to my new role. In a short period of time, we took the label from one million seller to many, including Cake, The Mighty, Mighty Bosstones and the most controversial project, was David Munns and myself set on making Shania Twain a huge pop star internationally before she broke in the U.S. We re-imagined her and with redoing her country album into a pop album. We also gave her a new image and worldwide they all said we were crazy it would never happen. However we believed and it happened.
Everyone thought I was crazy around the world for wanting to release these artists internationally, but we succeeded with all and became the number one label in the world with this focus at that time.
Therein comes Steve Polz. When I met him at the record company and even without hearing him perform, I found him infectious. Then when I did see him perform, I knew he had what it took. I then came up with a plan for him to break internationally because my gut believed in him.
Fortunately, with my new role, I had a President in Danny Goldberg, that allowed me to do as I thought was best for the label and the Artists and no one had a say in what I wanted to do but myself. This was why we became successful. No one was questioning me with the decisions I was making either artistically or financially. Steve Polz was one of those decisions I am proud to play a small part in wanting to make him successful. We began building his fan base one fan at a time with live shows and very little support from the affiliates around the world. It did not matter. He began building the base that he has today.
I knew if people saw Steve Polz perform live, they would fall in love with him. Not only newfound fans, but media and others at the labels around the world. Because it was just Steve and a guitar, the costs were low and we began booking shows in small venues in the UK, Europe, and Australia. Audiences fell in love with him like you and I have.
I still talk to Steve occasionally and follow him on the social media platforms. I am so proud of what he has accomplished. He always had the attitude to do what it took to succeed. He also was not a huge expenditure for the label. Did he sell millions of what they then called albums, no! What he did do was build a real career for himself internationally.
You hit the nail on the head with Steve Polz and thanks for highlighting him in your column. You are right.....Go see Steve Polz live and you will be transfixed by his talent and keep coming to his live shows.
Thanks Bob. Artist development is not dead to some of us.
Dave Lory
President
Worldwide Entertainment Group
_________________________________
Bob,
Thank you. It was fantastic to see you.
I'm honored that you wrote all those words about the evening. I hope we can one day eat some food together. I would like that.
Cheers,
Steve P
https://linktr.ee/stevepoltz
Very nice to meet you, and to chat, and to laugh...what a most lovely time. Thanks for including me w/ such a positive light in your story, as well. You have a lot of reach. Deservedly so. I see it as a match for your thoughtfulness, your intelligence and your scruples. Bravo, again.
I look forward to the next time, Bob. We'll see you down the road.
Kenneth Pattengale
_________________________________
Hey Bob, I'm so glad you got to see Steve, I co-wrote the Petrichor song with him.
We made friends instantly when I went to see Tommy Prine, John's son, and it turned out Tommy was sick and Steve took his place at the show. I had never seen Steve before and I was there with a couple of songwriter bluegrass pals Shawn Camp and Nick Forster, who had never seen him either.
We were gonna leave when he started his set because there are no harsher judges than bluegrasser songwriters. Shawn was looking at his watch and pointing at the door and then Steve took us over and we were blown away. When he told the Prine story we were all in, cause we were pals with John and I got to co-write and play on his Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings record. I could just see John in the van, realizing that the Disney store was right next to his hotel, the whole story is a wonder. Just as you described, I told everybody about Steve, and I'm still telling everybody, and we've written a big pile of songs together. I told my wife about him and insisted on taking her to see him, cause I couldn't wait to see her reaction. I've been making music for a living my whole 74 years and it's very rare that I'm as entertained as I am by Steve. He is a brave man with no set list that trusts his talent and goes for it every show. I've been reading your stuff for years and I'm thrilled that you championed Steve. I was pleased to see that you included my post the other day about the loss of my longtime pal JD Souther. Another recent loss was my friend Will Jennings, and too many more. It's that time of life, still hard to take. Thank you so much for what you do, I'll be reading along and probably agreeing.
Gary Nicholson
_________________________________
Steve Poltz did one of the most amazing in-store performances we've ever hosted at Grimey's. He's supposed to be promoting his new album at the time (Shine On, produced by my friend Will Kimbrough, who also wrote Jimmy Buffet's 'Bubbles Up' and accompanies Steve on this performance), but he pretty much just does his thing - telling stories, making songs up on the spot, engaging and interacting with the audience and ENTERTAINING. He pulls Molly Tuttle and Grant Lee-Philips out of the audience and up to the stage to join in and even convinces Grant to do his Neil Diamond impersonation! It's big fun and his bit with the kids is genuinely heart-touching. The performance is pro-shot and still up on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D30vn1upUwU
I love that you're championing Steve Poltz. He's a genuine treasure.
Doyle Davis
_________________________________
As a performer in San Diego people always ask me "who should I see first" I say "Poltz". "Who should I see 2nd?" "Poltz". I've seen him two days in row where he didn't play the same song. I've spent days with him on white water rafting trips and he always had something positive to say. Just being around, him for a few days at his songwriting camp. inspired me to write some of my popular songs. I just saw him here in Reno and for the first hour he played new songs that I didn't know, and nobody was bored.
He's one of my few true heroes.
Ronald Hill
_________________________________
Thanks, Bob, for shedding even more light on San Diego fixture Steve Poltz. And he's everywhere at once! Just ran into him again here in town during the Americana Music Week last Wednesday, appearing at the Madison House Agency function – outside, during the day – and he killed (as usual).
Larry Butler
Nashville
_________________________________
Thank you for the Poltz piece. I've been following him since the mid 90s when we toured with the Rugburns. We've recorded 4 of his songs and are about to release another. His absurdist humor is spot on & makes the coldest hipsters laugh. He's also one of the best acoustic guitar players alive.
And he shook hands with Elvis.
TCB
Bill Davis
_________________________________
Steve Poltz is indeed terrific and I'm glad you wrote about him. He's a pal. but despite that I'll insist he's the best live one-man-with-guitar artist I have EVER seen, and I'm 90 (i.e. older than most dirt) and seen a LOT of music over the last 75 years.
The only person who's even come close — as a story teller and entertainer — was Loudon Wainwright III in his early years.
Cheers,
Richard Flohil
_________________________________
Bob, facts: He's a national treasure. I'm going to his show at the Ark in Ann Arbor, and I should bring a seat belt for my chair; who knows where this trip he's driving us will take us.
Mike Vial
_________________________________
I met Steve in 2002 when he played at my house with Beaver Nelson, Scrappy Jud Newcomb and Adam Carroll. It was the beginning of what has become a very long journey. I have now seen Steve perform 113 times, in 20 states, DC and Ontario, travelled cross country with him, gone to baseball games with him, stayed in his apartment, he has stayed with us, and my wife and I were with him the night of his stroke in Wilmington Delaware and took him to the hospital in Princeton NJ. I have introduced him on more than a few occasions and to say that each show has been great is an understatement. As he says, "this is the greatest show I have ever played".... he truly believes that!! He is a dear friend who should be as big as the biggest rock star, but no matter it doesn't bother him in the least! He is a dear friend and I can't wait to see him the next time because every show is different. Thanks for being in my life Steve.....you make it better!!
lou DeMarco
Momentary Love Management
_________________________________
I've been writing about Steve Poltz since he released his solo debut One Left Shoe in 1998, when he was encouraging audiences to sing along like Chewbacca and regaling us with stories about how he and Jewel wound up on a boat with Mexican narcotics officers arresting drug smugglers right before they wrote You Were Meant for Me. And every word of it was true, there are photos to prove it. Somehow he wanders the globe in a cloud of fairy dust, picking up inspiration as he goes along and building audiences bit by bit along the way, he really is a one-of-a-kind mutant, hard-wired to entertain, a 21st Century song-and-dance man who never uses a setlist and can go off in any one of a million directions at once.
Amazingly, he recorded his 2010 album Dreamhouse in my hometown of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia (with Canadian rocker extraordinaire Joel Plaskett), before heading to my partner Jordanna's hometown of Perth, Australia to make his next album Noineen Noiny Noin (the Aussie pronunciation of "1999"), basically two polar opposite ends of the planet. We go to see him every chance we get, and if he spots us in the crowd, he'll perform From the Top of Her Head with the line "from COOKEtown to Perth, to the ends of the Earth" with a wink and a smile (on the album it's "from Darwin to Perth"), so it's become "our song" in the popular parlance. How do you top that?
~Stephen Cooke
Halifax, NS
_________________________________
He is a favorite of ours! Love the Prine story - it is hysterical in its full story! Love his guitar story and he is a good player too! Love Poltz
Terri Williams
_________________________________
One of the 10 best shows I've ever seen was Poltz at McCabe's a few years back, before the pandemic. He is my kind of religion, boy howdy.
Sorry to have missed this past Sunday. I could have used some of that, even if it does leave me a dishrag for the rest of the week.
Colleen Wainwright
_________________________________
Truth. Thx for writing about him.
I've seen him 30+ times. He's terrific. One of the best storytellers. He's hilarious. Non-stop laughter. The best kind. And so talented. I love the crowd participation how he involves everyone and nobody in the audience feels left out.
Fiona Bloom
_________________________________
Ok I will go see him!!!
Peter Noone
_________________________________
Thank you a thousand times for singing the praises of Steve Poltz, a true gem. I was stage managing the Angeline's Bakery stage at the Sisters Folk Festival many years ago on a Sunday afternoon, the last show of the festival. We cleared the chairs and packed 'em in, thank God the fire marshall didn't arrive. Poltzy made 'em laugh, made 'em cry, crowd surfed and played way over his allotted time, until he had nothing left. Incredible, amazing, unforgettable. He deserves every accolade!
Sean McGowan
Portland, OR
_________________________________
Steve Poltz is the genuine article and one of my favorite people.
Our company managed Steve for several years in the mid-2000s. It was a difficult time in the music business as managers and artists were trying to figure out a path forward, especially hard for an artist who had previously been on a major label.
I signed Steve because the talent was undeniable, but he was basically starting over again and it was a tough climb. To Steve's credit, he persevered for the last 15 years and became that show business rarity - a late career success story. We are still friends and I couldn't be happier for him!
Charles Driebe, Esq.
_________________________________
Poltz is amazing, and a friend of a friend (I think that's probably Steve's relationship to everyone on Earth at this point).
Saw him a few years ago at Largo. Couldn't believe how good the show was or how lucky I was to see it.
He's also an VERY fun follow on the old Facebook.
Probably the best troubadour you'll ever see. Even though Bob Schneider is in the conversation.
Tim Wood
_________________________________
Kenneth Pattengale would be a perfect compliment to this guy. I have neever seen Steve Politz, but was fortunate to see the Milk Carton Kids maybe 10 years ago at a Studio 519 show in Redondo Beach. They were incredible, and I have kept an eye out for them ever since. Glad they are all making it in a niche genre.
Terry Watson
_________________________________
Oh Bob! Thanks so much for lauding the Saturday afternoon folk festival killer that is Steve Poltz. My son was out with the brunette Joni named Heather Maloney a few years back (I couldn't get Heather to call their full band act "Heather Maloney and the New Stone Ponies")and they were sharing the stage with Poltzie often.
I used to bump into him at 3rd and Lindsley in Nashville hanging and listening to the Long Players rip thru the white album with Pat Sansone of Wilco stepping up to sing the high ones…
He's the essence of what live music is supposed to be …. FUN! I hope you're sides recover from the good splitting.
Enjoy your emails so…
Blaine
Dr. Blaine Leeds
_________________________________
I had the good fortune of seeing Steve perform twice last week in Nashville - first, at an intimate house concert of singer/songwriters hosted by my buddy Craig Lackey (a songwriter and neighbor of Steve), and then again 4 days later when he performed as part of the lineup for Americanfest. He performed at the club 3rd & Lindsley, doing a full set right before the headline act of Dave Alvin and The Guilty Ones with Jimmie Dale Gilmore.
Both performances from Steve that I saw were uniquely different and equally entertaining. I've seen him perform 4 times now, and I can attest that each show is different and captivating - and all are HILARIOUS ! After each and every show, I indeed felt like I had witnessed "the greatest show he's ever done".
Hope you're well.
Phil Stanley
P.S. Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore were AMAZING. I highly recommend seeing them whenever and wherever you can.
_________________________________
A much loved San Diego treasure his annual 50th birthday parties at the Belly Up in Solana Beach, CA are one's of legend! This review is stellar and as longtime supporter of local music in San Diego, I appreciate your support of this unique human that can change your life, such an entertainer. Comedy and Music all from the mind of one person...
THX
Tim Pyles
_________________________________
I have seen Poltz twice, once at a club in Nashville and once at a house concert in Phoenix, and you are spot on-he owns his stage. I have a few of his albums, but they are no substitute for his live show. The stories are as important as the songs.
Laurence Cavanaugh
_________________________________
Poltz is amazing. Just saw him in Nashville at AMA.
Donald Cohen
_________________________________
The greatest aspect of your podcast is that it opens up my eyes to new and not so new artists. I missed the boat on Steve Poltz until I heard him on your show. I have listened to it three times in its entirety and I have sent it to all of the music fans I know.
I am now scouting a Steve Poltz show near me or in Nashville so I can see him in person. Thank you for always finding fascinating guests and for opening my eyes to artists who have so much to offer.
You facilitate opening the lid to so many new rabbit holes the listener gets to climb down. Every podcast sends me on a deep dive that leads to a world of musical treasures!
Thank you!
Stephen Jones
_________________________________
Thank you for the thoughtful review or my client. I as well as our entire team appreciate it and couldn't agree more with your sentiment.
Sincerely,
Adam Bauer
Madison House, LLC
_________________________________
Yup. Poltz is a force of nature. Thank you for giving Steve his due. I haven't been to a major concert in years - just for this reason. House concerts. Small clubs - McCabes. The Coach House. Belly Up, Winstons. These are the places music truly comes alive. Ellis Paul. Lisa Sanders, Poltz, T Sisters, Jeff Berkley, Calman Hart just to name a few. Betcha never heard any of these folks and you are worse for it. The road is full of 'small acts' that'll blow your socks off. Dave Alvin used to come to a local venue, AMSD (Acoustic Music San Diego) and give you one of those shows you talk about to, as you said, all your friends. And these smaller venues will expose you to music that you (probably) wouldn't give a shot. I'm a rock and roller to the core but that started changing when I saw the likes of Dave Stamey (Cowboy), Led Kaapana (Slack Key guitar), and Ray LaMontaigne (in a room with 40 people before he 'made it). The only person I'll see in an arena environment is Springsteen. Like him or not his shows are never less than spectacular. Point being, see Poltz and adventure to those other acts that don't blip on the radar and you will be richer for it.
Robert Tussey
_________________________________
Steve Poltz is awesome.
I saw Steve at a house show the night he ran the sausage race in Milwaukee. It was a perfect night. During our break, we chatted about Obama and politics. Later, he sang me a birthday song because he thought I was cool. I had been a fan for a while and believe I may have everything he has recorded.
He is way cool. The show was in the basement rec room of a home in suburban Milwaukee. Cozy and fun. He played his heart out. It is one of the best shows I have ever seen.
Once again, Bob, you are correct. Find the closet (or fly cross country) show and see Poltz.
Your pal,
Kevin Lampe
_________________________________
I love both of these men. Thanks for writing them up!
Auyon Mukharji
_________________________________
Known him for years and years in San Diego, he's a real character
Marty Schwartz
_________________________________
In 2012, I remember strongly urging you to join us at the Swallow Hill room at Folk Alliance to experience Steve and his massive talent. We also had some other musical luminaries including the Wood Brothers, Elephant Revival, and Tim and Nikki Blum.
I wish I had taken a photo of your smile. It was the same one we were all wearing as we got "Poltz-ed".
I'm so glad you included him in your blog this week. His stories and songs in a live setting surpass every live show I've attended. And you're right, all the stories he tells are true, and unbelievable. Stories like him and Jewel joining Federales on a huge drug bust in Mexico. Or a Poltz/David Cassidy collaboration that went absurdly awry in the front row of a venue in Las Vegas. He can even make a story about winding his watch hilarious.
But it's not just the humor. Songs like "Brief History of My Life" and "Medical Career" are deep and so touching as to bring tears.
Poltz earned his kudos through years and years of touring and expert song craft. It's something he must do, not just something he simply wants to do.
I remember sitting with him in an auditorium in a Toronto while you were speaking about the music business to a large assembly of music industry peeps. When you were taking questions, Poltz asked you how many people subscribed to "The Lefsetz Letter." You smiled and said "I can't tell you exactly, but it's the population of a good-sized city."
Bob, I hope your city of subscribers gets a chance to see Steve Poltz, to experience his energy, his stories and his songs.
Thanks for your work.
Tom Scharf
_________________________________
Ok, thanks!
Steve Poltz - 2024 Tucson Folk Festival
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klN_aLpBPu0
Tom Martin
_________________________________
After years of reading your column, this is the first time I felt a need to respond. Mainly because I have a very personal attachment to Steve Polz which I will explain, but also because I agree with you the days of artist development and believing in your gut an Artist has talent and are not swayed by any analytics or lack thereof has diminished.
The Artist and the music should always come first. If you believe in a talent, there's a belief and a magic about them you are inclined to see it through and come up with a long-term plan to see them succeed.
You nailed it with Steve Polz and thank you for giving him the recognition he deserves. No one works harder than him. That should not change with the new ways of doing business and should always be about a connection emotionally with an audience and Steve Polz has that.
I met Steve Poltz in the late 90's. I had been a manager for such artists as Gregg Allman, Ronnie Spector, and the great Jeff Buckley, among others. When Buckley passed tragically, Danny Goldberg, who I co-managed the Allman Brothers Band with and because I was very successful with Artists internationally, (many of them you would have not heard about because they were not popular in the U.S), asked if I would be interested in running the international department at the Mercury Records Group.
This was my first corporate job, and I applied the same management philosophy I always had to my new role. In a short period of time, we took the label from one million seller to many, including Cake, The Mighty, Mighty Bosstones and the most controversial project, was David Munns and myself set on making Shania Twain a huge pop star internationally before she broke in the U.S. We re-imagined her and with redoing her country album into a pop album. We also gave her a new image and worldwide they all said we were crazy it would never happen. However we believed and it happened.
Everyone thought I was crazy around the world for wanting to release these artists internationally, but we succeeded with all and became the number one label in the world with this focus at that time.
Therein comes Steve Polz. When I met him at the record company and even without hearing him perform, I found him infectious. Then when I did see him perform, I knew he had what it took. I then came up with a plan for him to break internationally because my gut believed in him.
Fortunately, with my new role, I had a President in Danny Goldberg, that allowed me to do as I thought was best for the label and the Artists and no one had a say in what I wanted to do but myself. This was why we became successful. No one was questioning me with the decisions I was making either artistically or financially. Steve Polz was one of those decisions I am proud to play a small part in wanting to make him successful. We began building his fan base one fan at a time with live shows and very little support from the affiliates around the world. It did not matter. He began building the base that he has today.
I knew if people saw Steve Polz perform live, they would fall in love with him. Not only newfound fans, but media and others at the labels around the world. Because it was just Steve and a guitar, the costs were low and we began booking shows in small venues in the UK, Europe, and Australia. Audiences fell in love with him like you and I have.
I still talk to Steve occasionally and follow him on the social media platforms. I am so proud of what he has accomplished. He always had the attitude to do what it took to succeed. He also was not a huge expenditure for the label. Did he sell millions of what they then called albums, no! What he did do was build a real career for himself internationally.
You hit the nail on the head with Steve Polz and thanks for highlighting him in your column. You are right.....Go see Steve Polz live and you will be transfixed by his talent and keep coming to his live shows.
Thanks Bob. Artist development is not dead to some of us.
Dave Lory
President
Worldwide Entertainment Group
_________________________________
Bob,
Thank you. It was fantastic to see you.
I'm honored that you wrote all those words about the evening. I hope we can one day eat some food together. I would like that.
Cheers,
Steve P
https://linktr.ee/stevepoltz
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Monday 23 September 2024
Re-Nova Festival Exhibition
Dear Bob,
I can't thank you enough for covering the Nova exhibition—your column was outstanding. As the son of a Holocaust survivor who endured Auschwitz and Buchenwald, I traveled to Israel this past December to witness firsthand the horrors of the October 7th attacks. I visited Kibbutz Nir Oz, the Nova Festival site, and other areas that were devastated. While there, my tour guide told me she had to attend the funeral of a hostage tragically shot by the Israeli army while fleeing captivity. His name was Yotam Haim, a drummer in a metal band. As a fellow spend my days with musicians, I felt compelled to join her and pay my respects. In a deeply moving moment, Yotam's brother performed a ten-minute drum solo beside the casket before their father cast the drumsticks into the grave. At that moment, I knew I had to do something. I decided to invite ten musicians, all victims of October 7th, to my Rock n Roll Fantasy Camp. I hoped that four days of playing music could bring them a measure of happiness and begin their healing process. In March, I brought these musicians, including Tuval's Haim the brother and drummer, to the Camp, where they jammed at the Whisky a Go Go, The Viper Room, and rehearsed with incredible artists. Their journey is being documented for a film I'm currently producing. This month, I'm back in Israel to complete the documentary, interviewing these courageous musicians and sharing their stories. Today, I'm heading to the site of the Nova Festival to film Raz Shiffer, a vocalist who survived the attack but still longs for the return of many friends who remain in captivity. Your column was so important because we must never forget these tragedies, just as we must never forget the Holocaust. My father shared his stories with me every day, and I'm thankful he did. When this tragedy unfolded, I knew I had to do my part to help these musicians find healing through music. I hope you column will encourage our industry visit the Nova exhibition in Los Angeles, as I did last month, grasp the gravity of the suffering these innocent festival-goers endured. It still feels unreal that, in my lifetime, we Jews are facing a tragedy reminiscent of the Holocaust. I often wonder what my father would say if he were alive today to witness October 7th. May we soon see the safe return of the hostages and peace for Israel and the world.
Warmest regards,
David Fishof
_______________________________________
I just got back from Israel where I saw, in person, the Nova site and the collection of vehicles stacked up and filling a nearby lot located at a nearby collective, and the bus stop shelters that were riddled with bullets and that held 30 or 40 people (they are big enough for 6-8 people) trying to survive. Everything you describe and have witnessed is all the more powerful when you're at Re'im Junction, the sleepy rest stop where Nova was held. The refrigerators, the dumpsters, the fields where the (un)lucky ones, as you described, lived or died... Their stories come to life and the QR codes on placards link you to then real-time audio and video. My overriding thought as I described the experience to my friends back here in the States was, "It could have been any of us, or any of our kids". Thank you for keeping up with this story, from your "Pagers" post and through today. So important that the truth be told, not the propaganda.
Josh Orenstein
_______________________________________
A very scary time. My temple had a swastika painting on its door a year ago. For years now when I go to services I go through a metal detector and we have armed security. This is not long ago or far away. It's here today.
Michael Rosenblatt
_______________________________________
Thank you for writing about this. I went to the exhibition yesterday and I will never be the same. I forced myself to walk through the area with the photos that you referenced, as painful as it was, because I wanted to honor the dead and remind myself that it could've been me, it could have been any of us. I would love to live in a world where 99.9% (presumably) of the people walking through the exhibition weren't Jewish; like so many other things in today's world, I felt like we were in our own echo chamber. For us to make progress, everyone else needs to walk through it. Perhaps the sights, sounds, and smells, experienced firsthand, would open up some people's minds and hearts.
Jonathan Zucker
_______________________________________
Just returned from not only visiting The Nova Exhibition but Thee Holy Brothers (the duo I'm in with Willie Aron) played a short set at the event followed by a speech by a survivor of Oct. 7.
The exhibit is emotional and takes one's breath away.
It also hits close to home. My grandparents left Poland and ended up in Palestine (pre-1948 Israel). My grandmother's family in Poland was slaughtered by the Nazis. My parents were born in Israel. I have many family members in Israel.
Thank you Bob for standing up against anti-semitism.
Marvin Etzioni
_______________________________________
Again, thank you Bob, for another important missive! I wish half of the Jews in Hollywood had as much gumption as you. If anything has become clear to me since October 7th, it's that people generally fall into the following spectrum: they either get everything you just said, or they hate Jews; or, if they're in the middle (and equivocate, or get confused and can't tell the difference between good and evil), they are STUPID. Plain and simple. Feelings are more important than facts, and all intellectual reasoning has gone out the window. It just wouldn't if Jews weren't involved. Most Jews of the Gen X or younger variety have assumed that we were past the dark ages of pure Jew hatred; that our non-Jewish brethren would be there for us and have our backs. It has become patently clear that this generation is more than happy to abandon us all over again. It's a terribly sobering reality but one that Jews (especially the sycophant leftie Jews) ignore at their peril.
Keep speaking up!
Andrea Bergman
Toronto
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Something really stupid has happened in the last 20 years to cause clueless college students and intellectual elites to imagine that Jews are "while colonial settlers" and Hamas and Palestinians and Hezbollah are "oppressed people of color".
Something smirky and self-satisfied and holier-than-thou infuses the know-it-all class with a complete detachment from reality because they've lived their privileged lives in this great country that really is an island of sanity and civilization compared to much of what is happening in huge areas of this planet.
The holier-than-thou, know-it-all class needs to spend time in those countries surrounding Israel. They need to understand what the mullahs and the dictators really think about women, gays, rule of law, civil rights, science. They need to see for themselves where that kind of thinking leads and then decide which side they are on.
Michael Hugos
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Bob, I was at the exhibit in NYC. I knew what to expect but had to represent. Those photos of all those beautiful young people got to me too. The lack of empathy and support BEFORE Israel responded is something I will never forgive nor forget.
These are dangerous times for Jews around the world. The resurgent world wide neo-Nazi movement both celebrates and denies the Holocaust. Their embrace of Aryan ethnic purity makes an exception when it comes to Islamo-fascism. Reminiscent of Hitler's alliance with the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem. They all want to wipe us off the face of the earth!
Throw in your standard anti-Semitism which crosses national, ethnic and religious boundaries (but, does not call for our extermination), and you've got a very inhospitable climate for Jews everywhere.
Who are our allies? I'm a bit leery of the Christian Zionists (like Richie Furay) who profess their love for the land of Israel and its people. I'm certainly uncomfortable with their simultaneous love for Trump, and their rejection of the humanistic values that someone like me holds dear. I find little common ground with the extreme right wing Jews and the extreme left wing Jews who both seem to be trying to march us down the road to oblivion with their warped world views.
It's the oldest hatred, and it's never going away. I hope that we never go away too. We've survived the Romans, the Babylonians, Inquisitions, Pogroms, the Holocaust and dozens of other organized attempts to exterminate us.
It used to be said that Israel will always be there for us. I'm not so sure, anymore, if Israel can even save itself.
In Solidarity
Jeff Douglas
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Thank you for posting this Bob.
I have no love lost for Netanyahu, and even less for Jewish extremists like Ben Gvir and his ilk (who should have never gotten close to any government position), but I am convinced that Netanyahu is right and Biden, Harris and many on the Democratic left are wrong. History has taught us (Jews and non--Jews who are willing to study history and learn from it) that the only solution here is the elimination of both Hamas and Hezbollah as a fighting force. None of the previous negotiations and cease-fires held, Hamas/Hezbollah/Iran violated them all.
What the US administration, the EU, UN, etc., are asking from Israel perfectly fits Einstein's definition of insanity.
All the best: Thomas
p.s.: I am a lifelong Democrat and will not support/vote for Trump, no matter what. But it is getting very difficult, given how much Biden/Harris seem to be under the influence of the ever more antisemitic far left wing of the Democratic party.
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My music business history is with a Christian Rock band called Big Tent Revival. I am appalled at the antisemitism which is on the rise among the evangelical community. It used to be that the Jewish community could count on the fact that evangelicals supported Israel. While many of us still do, it is no longer a given.
Nobody who reads the Bible cover-to-cover, seeking to know God better, closes the Bible and says, "I hate the Jews." So, the systemic problem within the evangelical community stems from Biblical illiteracy, which makes Christians highly vulnerable to suggestion. These days, I run a ministry called GroundworksMinistries.com where we lead people day-by-day and chapter-by-chapter thru the Bible. The best way to fight lies is with the truth.
Last November I was invited by people within the JNF & KKL to travel to Israel with 6 other Christian leaders. We arrived in Israel the first week of December. With armed security & armored vehicles, we visited kibbutz Be'eri, Sderot & Nir Oz on the border of Gaza. We also visited the Knesset, met with members of Parliament and visited the #BringThemHomeNow headquarters.
If you think seeing a portable toilet riddled with bullet holes during an exhibit was stirring, words cannot describe what it was like to personally stand almost the rubble & aftermath of the Hamas savagery we saw. To see the piles of burnt-out cars from the music festival and to hear first-hand from residents who somehow survived.
Israel is doing exactly what needs to be done. Tyranny cannot be calmed down. It must be put down. I just hope more people can experience the images and hear the testimonies of what truly happened last October 7. And that eyes will be opened to see things as they are. Because America is ripe for the same level of evil.
Am Yisrael chai!
Steve Wiggins
Memphis TN
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Sir,
You just earned the above honorific title with this newsletter. You will undoubtedly get tons of negative emails from Jews and non-Jews alike. I am not Jewish by birth, I have Jewish relatives via a second marriage, I am tangentially familiar with anti Semitism, and I am appalled by the events in Israel, that transpired.
Thank you for finally taking a bold stance against the terrorists. Pure and simple it is terrorism, barbarism, take your choice. There is ONLY one way to deal with terrorists-exterminate them. The hard part is the killing of innocents. I read all these reports in supposedly neutral news sources. They all report how many children and innocents were killed, ACCORDING TO THE GAZA MINISTRY OF HEALTH, or some other quasi agency that is fully under control by Hamas. Do not believe this for a second, and people should not even listen to these reports. And the news outlets should be forced to have a disclaimer that says the piece of sh*t terrorist said this is how many people died. I fear that these reports are part of the plan to have everyone hate Israel, and the news organizations are complicit.
Mark MacGilvray
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I am totally mystified at the opinions of many here in Canada that think the blame lies with Israel because of all the land annexation . There was detente a year ago however Hamas had to violate it with a savagery that is incomprehensible . I am not Jewish but my condolences go out to the families of those that perished last October I just can't fathom how parents are delaing with the passing of their children.
Chris Chapin
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For over 5,000 years, there has not been a single century where Jews were not persecuted for their identity. When Israel was finally established, the world expressed shock when Jews declared and continue to declare "never again." Figures like AOC and others on the far left are outraged when Israel defends itself to protect its people.
On December 7, 1941, Japan killed over 2,000 Americans at Pearl Harbor. In response, the U.S. ultimately killed over 2 million Japanese. At the time, no one considered America's response excessive, and those who fought in WWII are still celebrated as the Greatest Generation. When Nazi Germany initiated WWII, the Allies understood that peace would only come with Germany's unconditional surrender, as they sought world domination, destroying everything in their way. Similarly, Hamas and Hezbollah have made it clear that they will never agree to coexist with Israel. For them, peace means the destruction of Israel and the death of its Jewish population. With such an adversary, Israel has no choice but to adopt the same stance that America and the Allies did during WWII. Those who forget the past…
Neal Berz
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I am with you Bob.
The biggest problem for the Israelis is the battle is between those who love life (Israel) and those who love death.
Hamas strategy is to have as many Palestinian deaths as possible to turn public opinion against Israel.
If Hama actually cared about the lives of Palestinians, they would surrender.
Dave Machanick
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"One man with courage makes a majority."
-Andrew Jackson
Thank you Bob.
Andrew Lurie
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Thank you Bob from a London jew in the music industry. It's been a tough 11 months, the music industry didn't / doesn't care about what happened at Nova. they pay more attention to Hamas stories coming out of Gaza.
Toby Harris
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As a Jew, and someone whose grandparents escaped Germany right before the Holocaust (but lost many family members), THANK YOU for discussing the film, what it showed and taking a public stand even if it might jeopardize certain things for you. This is especially critical today as Trump is now saying if he loses it could be because Jews didn't vote for him…WTF! NEVER FORGET!
Joanne Hoffman Garroway
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Appreciate you NOT shutting up and bowing your head.
And thank you for sharing your experience at Nova. Hoping more people, especially in the industry, will be open to visiting the exhibition themselves before it leaves.
Ali Harnell
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Please keep writing Bob.
I don't have anything to say, add to, or respond with but please just keep writing.
I've shared one recent article by you with a video clip of a movie recently to my daughter and wife in hopes they would view and understand a little more but they haven't. My daughter has friends who will not go to Starbucks "they" believed they were sending money to Israel? She's confused of why and this conflict still.
I'm not a jew but this is a vicious cycle. I think I understand at times but then I don't...Then my kids ask...Trying to understand but its difficult.
Steven Anderko
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Beautiful, heartfelt writing Bob.
Anti-Semitism has been alive and well since the moment the tribe of Israel was established. I'm a Goy married to a Jew with Jewish kids that celebrate Jewish holidays and go to Christian church - so we see all sides of it. Your comment about hearing the comments people make when they don't think any Jews are around rings so tragically true.
Ryan Taylor
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Thanks for writing about this, Bob.
Jon Gordon
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Thank you, Bob, for standing strong and writing this truth.
Best,
Al Rose
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Thank you for this.
Kia Kamran P.C.
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Thank you for writing about Nova.
Eve Barlow
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"But the Israelis are no different from Hamas or Hezbollah." Yeah, they are. They've got more and bigger and better guns and bombs (courtesy of the U.S.) and a sophisticated, well-trained military. The Oct. 7 incursion was heinous (and, speaking of heinous, Arabs are Semites too). I don't defend either side, but the slaughter of tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza, including women and children, was way over the top. You can't stop a movement like Hamas or Hezbollah by bombing it out of existence. The more you bomb, the more young Arabic men will join up against the oppressor. And, make no mistake, Israel has been the oppressor for years. The Israelis brag they killed one top Hezbollah commander. Along with sixteen innocent civilians. This has to stop. The military mindset has to change.
By the way, I'm Jewish (ethically). My family is Jewish on both sides as far back as you want to go.
Netanyahu is doing this to stay out of jail. Trump would do the same. I only hope they both wind up sharing a cell.
emiltonmyers
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Thanks for sharing this Bob. Youre words are wise and true. We must never forget- and we must fight for whats right. Its always taken the world til we are on the brink of elimination to want to help- and history repeats itself- sadly i feel we're heading down the same path.. it wont be til they are trying to capture all jews (and all Americans as well- cmon people!!!!) will the masses wake up again.
Jason Roth
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Keep writing about this. People need the information.
Carl Nelson
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Thank you. I'm
A Jew and shared this w a bunch of my Jewish friends in LA. If anything, it helps to articulate a complicated situation, short term and long term. Bob, if you are anything, you are a great communicator…this gives us something to run with.
Brad Cole
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Hi Bob thanks for writing about this and drawing attention to the horrific details too.
Andrew Einhorn
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Non-Jew here, non-anything really but a staunch supporter of Israel and its people. Don't you dare not write about it! How else are we (outside of LA) supposed to know about these things?
Those that are tired of you writing about it can unsubscribe, and/or go f#ck themselves.
Ken Baum in KC
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The Zionist movement chose Palestine to move to, can't pretend to be victims when the indigenous population aren't happy about being forced out of their homes and their country. And the religion of the colonial settlers is totally irrelevant. Shockingly bad take to pretend the Palestinians are motivated by "anti-semitism". They would fight back just as hard if the perpetrators were Sikh, Zoroastrian, Martian. Surely you know all this.
CHARLES KENNEDY
invisible hands music / astral horizon press
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Bob - I applaud you.
Larry Anderson
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Damn, Bob. Thank you for your bravery. I'm not Jewish, but with you. To quote a man much wiser than myself: what kind of crazy, f*cked-up world do we live in?
Stuart Gunter
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My German tutor in Switzerland had the tattoo on her wrist. What people may not want to admit is that what happened to the Jews under the Nazis was a product of human nature and political convenience. Those two factors are independent of religion, race, etc. They can pop up at any time, anywhere.
What happened to the Jews was not a once-in-forever event, but one that has occurred with disturbing regularity over the centuries. What made it unique was that the Nazis applied technology that wasn't around in, say, the middle ages. BUT the technology we have today is far worse, so it's that much more important for people to recognize the darkest impulses of human nature, and work against it wherever it appears.
Craig Anderton
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Thank you for this. I took Rebecca (16) to see this before she went to Israel this summer. We were speechless and numb wandering through … and seeing the clothes left behind made it even more real.
Simma Levine
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Spot on. They have always and seems as if will always hate us for being us.
Mark Swartz
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Amen Bob.
Xeni/Jennifer Hamm
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Thank you for using your voice. Too many are silent. Too many are siding with the unfathomable. The blue-haired bull-ringed generation are lost. But they are a small minority. Just a loud one. Keep speaking up. Thank you.
Dorit Kalev
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Don't stop telling this story, Bob.
Tony D'Amelio
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Bob it's clearly painful for you to write this and I ache for you and all Jewish people. How does this brutality still happen? It makes no sense.
Keep making us all aware of these important things that we need to be made aware of.
Thank you,
Hal Kempson
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Horrific – and critical that it receive publicity.
This Gentile is one million % with you. And so is my college sophomore daughter. These non-Jews always wants to hear about it.
Your parents raised you right. Jew hate is the world's oldest, and it will never disappear. Best to follow the advice of that famous sage, Adam Sandler, who I think once said his father taught him to punch anyone in the face who said something anti-semitic. Sounds right.
At college you have these idiots who've never even met a Jew – most Americans have not. They only know Trump tells them George Soros is bad and AOC tells them Zionism is evil and BDS is about justice. Intellectual sheep, ripe for the pro-Hamas conversion funded by Iran dollars.
Speaking of Iran, please don't forget official US government appeasement of Iran began in 2009 when Obama let the young people who launched the Green Revolution be slaughtered by the IRGC because Obama trusted them to give up their nukes. He was a naïve fool and Netanyahu knew it (so did Putin – "red line" anyone?). Bibi is lots of things, but naïve vs Iran he is not. The Obama Iran strategy has lost us years and no doubt let them pass the point of no return for nukes. And liberal media give him a complete pass. Ho hum.
Edward Ryan
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Shocking, horrifying, unimaginable, and so so sad for us all....
Young Hutchinson
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Thank you for writing this.
Erica Novich
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Bob when Oct.7 happened I saw video, mostly on Twitter and it was beyond disgusting. I really couldn't believe what I was seeing, it was barbarism on a massive scale. Hamas and Hezbollah just raised from kids to kill Jews, it is something I just can't wrap my head around. Israel has the right to defend itself and I support that.
I'm 66 Bob, I thought the world we are seeing now was behind us just history but I guess not.
Doug Gillis
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Horrible, horrible.It's so horrible, it's hard to believe. Hatred is so evil.
For what it's worth, Bob, you've got an ally in me. An evangelical Christian who might have differing opinions on several political issues. I don't know if it makes sense to you or not, but Christians (probably most) have an undying and unwavering love for their Jewish brothers and sisters. We are honored to be grafted "into the vine" that grows from God's heart to His people. Israel and Jews are the apple of God's eye and that is not a trite saying. There's millions of us. We love you.
I hope that's meaningful. I hate to say something so near and dear to my heart for fear it might get trampled, but that is the vulnerability of love.
Call me crazy.
Doug Van Pelt
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Thanks Bob for speaking out and being the candle in a dark tunnel.
Bob Stein
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I'm glad you shared.
~Lisa Wohl
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Get down off the cross for f*cks sake and stick to the music business.
Sidney Cooke
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Thank you
Peter Noone
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I agree with you. And I am sorry it has to be this way.
Laura
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Good column, I agree with all of it. I'd see the movie if I thought I could stand it.
BTW have you seen the polling that says a MAJORITY of Americans favor mass deportation of immigrants? Do they have any idea of what that looks like? Tearing families out of their homes in the middle of the night, without warrants or the right to counsel. As if it will stop with the "illegal" immigrants. It won't, JD Vance has told us that much.
I get it, some men and women on the street read the question and think, "They're illegal, get 'em out of here!" And then they stop thinking.
Meanwhile Trump says that Jews will be blamed if he loses. As if any Jew who knows what "deportation" really means, would even dream of voting for him.
Jonathan Bernstein
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Bob, I agree with everything you've written in this article . So, how in the hell can you support the Biden Harris administration?!!!!
Mike Mitchell
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I for one absolutely want to hear this and other posts you make about antisemitism. Keep expressing yourself, do not worry about if the audience wants to hear it. We subscribe because we want to hear from you.
Thanks
Ken Seider
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Hey Bob.
Non-Jew here. Keep writing about it. Thank you.
Matthew Wilson
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Thank you for writing about this.
Nathan Benditzon
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There are plenty of non-Jews like myself who do care and who do want to hear about this! And I am not virtue signaling here. I just know where I stand.
In my social newsfeeds, there is a much higher percentage of "friends" condemning Israel than there are Trump supporters (at least openly).
This conflict is one of the few issues that shakes up the bubble I know I am generally stuck in, and I believe that is a good thing.
Matt Robertson
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Thank you
Marlee Ehrlich
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Great piece. Thanks for writing this
Matthew Segal
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Thank you for writing this.
Eliana Eskinazi
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Thanks for touching on this...
Scott Maness
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So I guess you're OK then with the Israelis slaughtering all the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
-- proud Jew
David Rubien
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Thank you for this.
Avital Ferd
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I'm glad you wrote about this. The exhibition itself sounds way too brutal for me to see it personally. But as someone with many Jewish friends, I feel the Holocaust and now the Nova atrocities as wounds in my heart. So is Israel's ongoingly violent response. Meanwhile, the Republican candidate for President says if he loses the election, it will be the fault of the Jews. Which means Trump is directly inviting MAGA violence against Jews. Enough already.
- Greg Dennis
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I live in a small town in Tennessee. This one got my attention. Keep writing. Write about everything. You make a difference!
Brad Durham
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Bob you hit the nail on the head. Very well said and your sentence "rust never sleeps, nor does antisemitism " should resonate with us all. And I mean ALL OF US!
Be safe!
Gary L. Rombough
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Thank you for writing this Bob. I don't understand how the world thinks anymore.
Your summary of the ongoing situation is a tragic one yet as I read your post common sense prevails
Thank you for your honesty
Mark Adkins
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I'm not sure how and why I managed to get to the exhinibition... As I entered with some help from a security guy, since I was limping, I instantly felt as if I was in a concentration camp tour, and I'm yet to take this trip in the future... I had no idea about the magnitude of the horror inside as you described it so well. I took some photos including the restrooms raw full of bullets. I can't look at the photos now. I'm traumatized.
I can't describe how an IDF exofficer, who served in Gaza under so different circumstances in 1989, feels about this utterly horrendous atrocities. I have my personal story which simply telling you that my main reason for leaving Israel in 1991 was the perception of the bad direction of the state which in many ways committed suicidal acts after I left, including Rabin's murder, including the current crime minister instigating this murder. All I knew back then that the state of Israel ran away from its historical role. This is no justification for the colossal failure and the consequences that are the worst in the modern history of the state since 1948. But unfortunately, pogroms of all kinds took place in the long Jewish history, except this one was coming with full knowledge of the top political and defense brass. To be clear, no comparison could be made in any way to the Holocaust, which is a stand alone period out of the general history. A comparison could be made maybe to the American history's Pearl Harbor, or to 9/11?
In short to say now I told you then how bad things were, I knew we were in bad shape, but to imagine all of that? But in fact Bibi refrained from action for years and supplied and supported Hamas with millions and millions dollars in cash.
So, how is one supposed to feel about that now? You tell me, Bob.
Ami Benee Levy
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Deeply powerful - thank you Bob for your courage to write this missive and be a voice of reason among the insanity of these times...
With gratitude & respect,
Andrew M. Genger
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Trump's loud gaslight Friday: if I lose blame the Jews. He said it twice. So first immigrants, then who is next, gays or Jews?
Steve Tipp
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Please don't stop writing about this.
A lot of people are uninformed and don't seem to want to be informed, so we have to keep saying this until it starts to sink in This isn't about Gaza, or Gazans. Hamas has been the government there for almost 20 years. and if they wanted a better life for their people, they had time to build a society that could not be denied.
And instead of building up a life for Gazans, instead of taking what wasleft for them when Israel withdrew in 2005 and left them industries and money. Instead of using the billions of aid that's been sent there from around the world, they used the money to dig sophisticated tunnels, indoctrinated yet another generation into racist hatred And then carried out a raid where they went in to murder people in the most horrifying ways possible.
And the next day instead of the world reacting with horror, we had some people, highly organized and perhaps even prepared in advance go on the street celebrating the brutal sadistic tortures and murders. And then it, incredibly, got worse in terms of reaction and anti-Semtisim.
A lot of people, don't really understand the region, but they'll throw Keffeyehs on or, worse, put them on their kids and send them to school events, and harass Jews, and for some reason not notice that they're supporting terrorists who are willing to do horrifying things to other human beings.
Why did they feel it was okay to execute 6 tortured hostages--one of whom, Eden weighed only 79 pounds after 10 months in captivity? Because they now they have people in the west who won't object to horrifying bloodshed. And the fate of the hostages still hidden in Gaza, some in Tunnels.. who the Red Cross has not bothered to go look at, who the UN has ignored...is now in the balance.. Imagine spending a year like this. The celebrations in the west could spell death for those hostages.
So we all need to keep saying this.
So I'm sorry it's affecting your subscriptions.. I repost your articles, if that makes a differennce..
But please keep writing..
Karen Gordon
P.S. I would love to go back and be the person I was on Oct 6th.
But I'm lucky. I didn't die on Oct 7. I don't have kids or relatives or friends that died on Oct 7th
I had lunch a few weeks ago with a long time friend, a very smart guy, who was visiting. It was pretty interesting to talk to him and realize the things that people, even pretty smart people, think they know
but when you start talking, don't.
I asked him, if this is truly about Israel, then why are Jews in other countries being harrassed. And the 'they all support Israel' ... doesn't wash. I know plenty of Jews who didn't react to Oct 7th and still haven't.
(Incredibly IMO) Also I know plenty of people who are not Jewish who were horrified and appalled.
So, the first clue about what's really going on here is the targeting of jews.
I just read that about six or seven schools in Toronto had their students on a field trip to march in a pro-Palestinians protest and they made a Jewish girl and a Hindu boy wear blue to symbolize that they're 'colonizers'.
It's nuts.
I've found a few books that have been helpful. The Noa Tishby book you recommended.
Her new one..
And a book I think should be widely read, by a British comedian named David Baddiel called Jews Don't Count.
A quick and easy read.. more like a long essay by a very bright person..
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F*ck what the world has to say! The enemies of Israel have had it coming since 7 October! They should rue the day they started this and now can be scared of dark and of light and question their products if they work while Israel kicks their ass like it needs to! The world doesn't like a tough jew but they like a weak one or dead ones but those days are done! We are here to stay and will not take too much sh*t!
Name withheld
(My policy is to never print e-mail without attribution unless the writer risks serious retribution for their words. This person does not. I only include it to say weak Jews who refuse to own their identity and speak their truth are part of the problem, certainly not the solution)
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I had no interest in seeing this exhibit when it came to NY, even as I was invited/asked to go at least four times by various friends. I thought it was exploitative…unnecessary…we knew what happened... unless you were living with your head in the sand. And much like yourself, I grew up indoctrinated about the tragedy, violence, hate and attempted destruction of the Jewish people…and how essential it was to understand the strength and commitment of my ancestors to insure that did not come to pass…and to celebrate my contemporary Jewishness with pride and gratitude. So I did not want to be reminded of the dark, sick and always present hatred that is everywhere, manifesting itself in the brutal and cruel murder of kids just wanting to have a good time…I knew about it and didn't want to go back there again.
However, given what has transpired over the last 11 months, the anti-semitism here in the good ole US of A that is now everywhere, even in NY, my anguish over, first and foremost, the policies of the Israeli government as I watch the destruction of Gaza as well as the reaction, or should I say non-reaction, of most of the world to the tactics of Hamas, I realize that exhibits like Nova are necessary. Perhaps especially for the Jewish folks (mostly 20 and 30 somethings) who are questioning Israel's response, (worthy of being questioned in terms of force, I agree) and the point of being Jewish at all in today's world. Many younger people have correctly questioned what it even means to be Jewish today if the country that is supposed to represent the beauty and ideals of Judaism is on a path to becoming a pariah nation. Trust me…this is what they are thinking and talking about ( my own kids and my students) and sometimes it is hard to disagree with them. Perhaps witnessing at the most basic level what is at stake is what they have to see
Myself, I do not think I will go to see the Nova exhibit. I just can't handle it I am sure. But knowing that it is there to document what the world needs to be reminded about, once again, that the brutal destruction of all Jews everywhere is the goal of Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran et al, is a necessary thing…the more things change the more they stay the same.
The question is will the people who really need to see this actually go?
Susan L. Dodes
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I never write. I'm a silent reader; I read when the headline catches my eye, I read when it relates to my life. I read this. Thank you. Thank you for writing this. Thank you for telling people to go to the exhibit. I went in New York. I knew all the stories, and still, I was profoundly impacted. At the end of the exhibit a woman waited. She was the mother of a Nova attendee. A young girl murdered in her prime. She greeted people. She wanted people to know her daughter was more than a photo, more than a name, her daughter was hers.
After the exhibit I needed time to decompress. I needed time to remind myself that life is a gift, especially in the face of those who desperately want to destroy me. My crime is my bloodline. My faith makes me worthy of hatred because it's trendy to hate Israel, to hate Jews, and to ignore the full story. Death of any innocent should never be okay, not for Jews and not for Palestinians. I lay these deaths at the feet of Hamas. Because that's where they belong. And because to blame it on anything else is to live in willful ignorance.
Your words keep my bloodline alive. Your words are your bravery, they are an education, they are powerful. Thank you.
Please keep anonymous.
(My policy is to never print e-mail without attribution unless the writer risks serious retribution for their words. This person does not. I only include it to say weak Jews who refuse to own their identity and speak their truth are part of the problem, certainly not the solution)
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You're gonna get an immense amount of blowback, but you speak the truth.
Oct 7 turned me completely around from being a far lefty anti Zionist to a VERY Zionist conservative. I mean, Bob - I might even vote for Trump. For god's sake this administration is asleep at the wheel and kamala will only be a continuation of the same.
If you print this don't put my name
(My policy is to never print e-mail without attribution unless the writer risks serious retribution for their words. This person does not. I only include it to say weak Jews who refuse to own their identity and speak their truth are part of the problem, certainly not the solution)
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My friend just forwarded your profound and chilling column about The Nova Exhibition. I have had the privilege of working with the founders, the US sponsors and a very dedicated tribe of PR people in NY, LA and DC for the past 8 months, bringing attention to the exhibition and the Oct. 7th horror.
It's been the most important thing I've done in my career. I want to thank you for your raw, honest and much needed outcry. Much of the music industry, the entertainment industry, Jews and non-Jews, have either chosen, been bullied or brainwashed into silence or complicity. Your courage is inspiring. I have renewed hope.
Thank you very much,
Susie
SUSIE ARONS | 42WEST
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Bob- Excellent column, glad that you were so moved by the Nova Exhibition and put these important thoughts about those horrific events perpetrated by Hamas into your eloquent words. As a fellow Jew, I share your thoughts and fears about the increasingly anti-Semitic world in which we live, even here in the United States. I am especially appalled and frightened at the raging hate against Jews and Israel that is going on virtually unchecked at our college campuses across the nation; including in Denver where my own daughter has suffered from significant verbal abuse, complete ostracization from her entire grad school class, and little support from her university's woke professors and administration; simply because she is Jewish and had the audacity to speak up for Israel in class right after the October 7 attacks.
And you know what brought out the animosity against my Jewish daughter at her university, Bob? She brought up the Nova festival in class. After multiple of her fellow students spoke in class one day, ranting and raving about Israel's "occupation" of Gaza, stating "Free Palestine!," and shouting "From the River to the Sea;" she tearfully responded that she had family in Israel (her Uncle, our brother-in-law is from Haifa), and that none of them knew what they were talking about. She also reminded her class that she and several of her (now former) "friends" from grad school had just been to a show together at Red Rocks the weekend before October 7; and just imagine if they had been abused and murdered in surprise attack out of nowhere that night, just like kids their same age had been at the Nova music festival in Israel by the Hamas terrorists just a week earlier. After she spoke, there was stunned silence for a moment, and then several of her classmates started calling her names and giving her grief under their breath before the professor called for a short break in class. During the break, the instructor came up to my daughter and acknowledged how difficult it must have been for her to express her thoughts like that. She then suggested that my daughter take the rest of the class off and leave for the day; which surprised my girl but she did so to avoid further verbal abuse. For the remainder of the school year, as the pro-Palestinian, pro-Hamas activists took over campuses and dominated the dialogue; virtually no one in her class spoke to her again, she was blocked on social media by all of her classmates, and no one in the university leadership really gave a damn about her or the handful of other Jewish students on campus. She has graduated and we are moving her out of town later this week, and my guess is she will rarely (if ever) return there.
And as for the question you posed: "but it's not only Muslims who are anti-Israel, a ton of Jews are too. Makes me wonder, how were they brought up?" All you have to do to answer that question is look to the many liberal Jewish members of your favored Democratic Party like Bernie Sanders, Adam Schiff, Chuck Schumer, Jamie Raskin, et al.; who do nothing but criticize and threaten to withhold support for Israel on a daily basis because of their hate for Netanyahu and his "right-wing" party. And also to get Muslim votes in Michigan. Look, I am not a huge fan of Bibi and especially his unsuccessful actions in 2023 to try and change Israeli laws regarding the Judiciary and the separation of powers to help keep himself in control. But that is immaterial to me right now, as the state of Israel and our Jewish homeland is BATTLING FOR ITS VERY SURVIVAL against the millions and millions of its Muslim neighbors who want to see Israel wiped off the map entirely.
And it's obviously not just the liberal Jewish legislative leaders, but the majority of Democrats in general, who are anti-Israel and are feeding the explosion of anti-Semitism in our nation today. It's not conservatives and Maga members who are tearing down hostage posters, destroying college campuses, burning U.S. and Israel flags, defacing U.S. monuments, threatening synagogues, throwing bricks through the windows of Jewish-owned businesses, etc. It's not conservatives and GOP members of Congress who are constantly threatening to withhold vital arms from Israel and trying to force Israel into ridiculous ceasefire terms that would keep the Hamas terrorists in power, so they can simply rebuild and attack innocent Israelis again. Its not conservatives and GOP politicians who publicly state that the terrorist-supporting protestors in Michigan, Chicago, NYC, LA, and elsewhere "have a point" and are "doing it for all the right reasons." No those are the words of Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, which are not that far off from the outrageous and dangerous anti-Israel statements being made every single day by Democratic Squad members and other liberal politicians (which are never disavowed by Dem leaders.)
I'm not a nutty Maga supporter either Bob, but at some point in your columns you need to call out the members of your own party for the dangerous and misguided statements they have made and the actions they have taken since October 7, which have greatly contributed to the huge rise in anti-Semitism and opposition to Israel's right to defend itself and even exist, in our nation today.
Bob Ellis, St Louis
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Thank you for coming to the exhibit but even more than that thank you for having the courage to speak about it. Thank you.
Scooter Braun
I can't thank you enough for covering the Nova exhibition—your column was outstanding. As the son of a Holocaust survivor who endured Auschwitz and Buchenwald, I traveled to Israel this past December to witness firsthand the horrors of the October 7th attacks. I visited Kibbutz Nir Oz, the Nova Festival site, and other areas that were devastated. While there, my tour guide told me she had to attend the funeral of a hostage tragically shot by the Israeli army while fleeing captivity. His name was Yotam Haim, a drummer in a metal band. As a fellow spend my days with musicians, I felt compelled to join her and pay my respects. In a deeply moving moment, Yotam's brother performed a ten-minute drum solo beside the casket before their father cast the drumsticks into the grave. At that moment, I knew I had to do something. I decided to invite ten musicians, all victims of October 7th, to my Rock n Roll Fantasy Camp. I hoped that four days of playing music could bring them a measure of happiness and begin their healing process. In March, I brought these musicians, including Tuval's Haim the brother and drummer, to the Camp, where they jammed at the Whisky a Go Go, The Viper Room, and rehearsed with incredible artists. Their journey is being documented for a film I'm currently producing. This month, I'm back in Israel to complete the documentary, interviewing these courageous musicians and sharing their stories. Today, I'm heading to the site of the Nova Festival to film Raz Shiffer, a vocalist who survived the attack but still longs for the return of many friends who remain in captivity. Your column was so important because we must never forget these tragedies, just as we must never forget the Holocaust. My father shared his stories with me every day, and I'm thankful he did. When this tragedy unfolded, I knew I had to do my part to help these musicians find healing through music. I hope you column will encourage our industry visit the Nova exhibition in Los Angeles, as I did last month, grasp the gravity of the suffering these innocent festival-goers endured. It still feels unreal that, in my lifetime, we Jews are facing a tragedy reminiscent of the Holocaust. I often wonder what my father would say if he were alive today to witness October 7th. May we soon see the safe return of the hostages and peace for Israel and the world.
Warmest regards,
David Fishof
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I just got back from Israel where I saw, in person, the Nova site and the collection of vehicles stacked up and filling a nearby lot located at a nearby collective, and the bus stop shelters that were riddled with bullets and that held 30 or 40 people (they are big enough for 6-8 people) trying to survive. Everything you describe and have witnessed is all the more powerful when you're at Re'im Junction, the sleepy rest stop where Nova was held. The refrigerators, the dumpsters, the fields where the (un)lucky ones, as you described, lived or died... Their stories come to life and the QR codes on placards link you to then real-time audio and video. My overriding thought as I described the experience to my friends back here in the States was, "It could have been any of us, or any of our kids". Thank you for keeping up with this story, from your "Pagers" post and through today. So important that the truth be told, not the propaganda.
Josh Orenstein
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A very scary time. My temple had a swastika painting on its door a year ago. For years now when I go to services I go through a metal detector and we have armed security. This is not long ago or far away. It's here today.
Michael Rosenblatt
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Thank you for writing about this. I went to the exhibition yesterday and I will never be the same. I forced myself to walk through the area with the photos that you referenced, as painful as it was, because I wanted to honor the dead and remind myself that it could've been me, it could have been any of us. I would love to live in a world where 99.9% (presumably) of the people walking through the exhibition weren't Jewish; like so many other things in today's world, I felt like we were in our own echo chamber. For us to make progress, everyone else needs to walk through it. Perhaps the sights, sounds, and smells, experienced firsthand, would open up some people's minds and hearts.
Jonathan Zucker
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Just returned from not only visiting The Nova Exhibition but Thee Holy Brothers (the duo I'm in with Willie Aron) played a short set at the event followed by a speech by a survivor of Oct. 7.
The exhibit is emotional and takes one's breath away.
It also hits close to home. My grandparents left Poland and ended up in Palestine (pre-1948 Israel). My grandmother's family in Poland was slaughtered by the Nazis. My parents were born in Israel. I have many family members in Israel.
Thank you Bob for standing up against anti-semitism.
Marvin Etzioni
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Again, thank you Bob, for another important missive! I wish half of the Jews in Hollywood had as much gumption as you. If anything has become clear to me since October 7th, it's that people generally fall into the following spectrum: they either get everything you just said, or they hate Jews; or, if they're in the middle (and equivocate, or get confused and can't tell the difference between good and evil), they are STUPID. Plain and simple. Feelings are more important than facts, and all intellectual reasoning has gone out the window. It just wouldn't if Jews weren't involved. Most Jews of the Gen X or younger variety have assumed that we were past the dark ages of pure Jew hatred; that our non-Jewish brethren would be there for us and have our backs. It has become patently clear that this generation is more than happy to abandon us all over again. It's a terribly sobering reality but one that Jews (especially the sycophant leftie Jews) ignore at their peril.
Keep speaking up!
Andrea Bergman
Toronto
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Something really stupid has happened in the last 20 years to cause clueless college students and intellectual elites to imagine that Jews are "while colonial settlers" and Hamas and Palestinians and Hezbollah are "oppressed people of color".
Something smirky and self-satisfied and holier-than-thou infuses the know-it-all class with a complete detachment from reality because they've lived their privileged lives in this great country that really is an island of sanity and civilization compared to much of what is happening in huge areas of this planet.
The holier-than-thou, know-it-all class needs to spend time in those countries surrounding Israel. They need to understand what the mullahs and the dictators really think about women, gays, rule of law, civil rights, science. They need to see for themselves where that kind of thinking leads and then decide which side they are on.
Michael Hugos
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Bob, I was at the exhibit in NYC. I knew what to expect but had to represent. Those photos of all those beautiful young people got to me too. The lack of empathy and support BEFORE Israel responded is something I will never forgive nor forget.
These are dangerous times for Jews around the world. The resurgent world wide neo-Nazi movement both celebrates and denies the Holocaust. Their embrace of Aryan ethnic purity makes an exception when it comes to Islamo-fascism. Reminiscent of Hitler's alliance with the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem. They all want to wipe us off the face of the earth!
Throw in your standard anti-Semitism which crosses national, ethnic and religious boundaries (but, does not call for our extermination), and you've got a very inhospitable climate for Jews everywhere.
Who are our allies? I'm a bit leery of the Christian Zionists (like Richie Furay) who profess their love for the land of Israel and its people. I'm certainly uncomfortable with their simultaneous love for Trump, and their rejection of the humanistic values that someone like me holds dear. I find little common ground with the extreme right wing Jews and the extreme left wing Jews who both seem to be trying to march us down the road to oblivion with their warped world views.
It's the oldest hatred, and it's never going away. I hope that we never go away too. We've survived the Romans, the Babylonians, Inquisitions, Pogroms, the Holocaust and dozens of other organized attempts to exterminate us.
It used to be said that Israel will always be there for us. I'm not so sure, anymore, if Israel can even save itself.
In Solidarity
Jeff Douglas
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Thank you for posting this Bob.
I have no love lost for Netanyahu, and even less for Jewish extremists like Ben Gvir and his ilk (who should have never gotten close to any government position), but I am convinced that Netanyahu is right and Biden, Harris and many on the Democratic left are wrong. History has taught us (Jews and non--Jews who are willing to study history and learn from it) that the only solution here is the elimination of both Hamas and Hezbollah as a fighting force. None of the previous negotiations and cease-fires held, Hamas/Hezbollah/Iran violated them all.
What the US administration, the EU, UN, etc., are asking from Israel perfectly fits Einstein's definition of insanity.
All the best: Thomas
p.s.: I am a lifelong Democrat and will not support/vote for Trump, no matter what. But it is getting very difficult, given how much Biden/Harris seem to be under the influence of the ever more antisemitic far left wing of the Democratic party.
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My music business history is with a Christian Rock band called Big Tent Revival. I am appalled at the antisemitism which is on the rise among the evangelical community. It used to be that the Jewish community could count on the fact that evangelicals supported Israel. While many of us still do, it is no longer a given.
Nobody who reads the Bible cover-to-cover, seeking to know God better, closes the Bible and says, "I hate the Jews." So, the systemic problem within the evangelical community stems from Biblical illiteracy, which makes Christians highly vulnerable to suggestion. These days, I run a ministry called GroundworksMinistries.com where we lead people day-by-day and chapter-by-chapter thru the Bible. The best way to fight lies is with the truth.
Last November I was invited by people within the JNF & KKL to travel to Israel with 6 other Christian leaders. We arrived in Israel the first week of December. With armed security & armored vehicles, we visited kibbutz Be'eri, Sderot & Nir Oz on the border of Gaza. We also visited the Knesset, met with members of Parliament and visited the #BringThemHomeNow headquarters.
If you think seeing a portable toilet riddled with bullet holes during an exhibit was stirring, words cannot describe what it was like to personally stand almost the rubble & aftermath of the Hamas savagery we saw. To see the piles of burnt-out cars from the music festival and to hear first-hand from residents who somehow survived.
Israel is doing exactly what needs to be done. Tyranny cannot be calmed down. It must be put down. I just hope more people can experience the images and hear the testimonies of what truly happened last October 7. And that eyes will be opened to see things as they are. Because America is ripe for the same level of evil.
Am Yisrael chai!
Steve Wiggins
Memphis TN
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Sir,
You just earned the above honorific title with this newsletter. You will undoubtedly get tons of negative emails from Jews and non-Jews alike. I am not Jewish by birth, I have Jewish relatives via a second marriage, I am tangentially familiar with anti Semitism, and I am appalled by the events in Israel, that transpired.
Thank you for finally taking a bold stance against the terrorists. Pure and simple it is terrorism, barbarism, take your choice. There is ONLY one way to deal with terrorists-exterminate them. The hard part is the killing of innocents. I read all these reports in supposedly neutral news sources. They all report how many children and innocents were killed, ACCORDING TO THE GAZA MINISTRY OF HEALTH, or some other quasi agency that is fully under control by Hamas. Do not believe this for a second, and people should not even listen to these reports. And the news outlets should be forced to have a disclaimer that says the piece of sh*t terrorist said this is how many people died. I fear that these reports are part of the plan to have everyone hate Israel, and the news organizations are complicit.
Mark MacGilvray
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I am totally mystified at the opinions of many here in Canada that think the blame lies with Israel because of all the land annexation . There was detente a year ago however Hamas had to violate it with a savagery that is incomprehensible . I am not Jewish but my condolences go out to the families of those that perished last October I just can't fathom how parents are delaing with the passing of their children.
Chris Chapin
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For over 5,000 years, there has not been a single century where Jews were not persecuted for their identity. When Israel was finally established, the world expressed shock when Jews declared and continue to declare "never again." Figures like AOC and others on the far left are outraged when Israel defends itself to protect its people.
On December 7, 1941, Japan killed over 2,000 Americans at Pearl Harbor. In response, the U.S. ultimately killed over 2 million Japanese. At the time, no one considered America's response excessive, and those who fought in WWII are still celebrated as the Greatest Generation. When Nazi Germany initiated WWII, the Allies understood that peace would only come with Germany's unconditional surrender, as they sought world domination, destroying everything in their way. Similarly, Hamas and Hezbollah have made it clear that they will never agree to coexist with Israel. For them, peace means the destruction of Israel and the death of its Jewish population. With such an adversary, Israel has no choice but to adopt the same stance that America and the Allies did during WWII. Those who forget the past…
Neal Berz
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I am with you Bob.
The biggest problem for the Israelis is the battle is between those who love life (Israel) and those who love death.
Hamas strategy is to have as many Palestinian deaths as possible to turn public opinion against Israel.
If Hama actually cared about the lives of Palestinians, they would surrender.
Dave Machanick
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"One man with courage makes a majority."
-Andrew Jackson
Thank you Bob.
Andrew Lurie
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Thank you Bob from a London jew in the music industry. It's been a tough 11 months, the music industry didn't / doesn't care about what happened at Nova. they pay more attention to Hamas stories coming out of Gaza.
Toby Harris
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As a Jew, and someone whose grandparents escaped Germany right before the Holocaust (but lost many family members), THANK YOU for discussing the film, what it showed and taking a public stand even if it might jeopardize certain things for you. This is especially critical today as Trump is now saying if he loses it could be because Jews didn't vote for him…WTF! NEVER FORGET!
Joanne Hoffman Garroway
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Appreciate you NOT shutting up and bowing your head.
And thank you for sharing your experience at Nova. Hoping more people, especially in the industry, will be open to visiting the exhibition themselves before it leaves.
Ali Harnell
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Please keep writing Bob.
I don't have anything to say, add to, or respond with but please just keep writing.
I've shared one recent article by you with a video clip of a movie recently to my daughter and wife in hopes they would view and understand a little more but they haven't. My daughter has friends who will not go to Starbucks "they" believed they were sending money to Israel? She's confused of why and this conflict still.
I'm not a jew but this is a vicious cycle. I think I understand at times but then I don't...Then my kids ask...Trying to understand but its difficult.
Steven Anderko
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Beautiful, heartfelt writing Bob.
Anti-Semitism has been alive and well since the moment the tribe of Israel was established. I'm a Goy married to a Jew with Jewish kids that celebrate Jewish holidays and go to Christian church - so we see all sides of it. Your comment about hearing the comments people make when they don't think any Jews are around rings so tragically true.
Ryan Taylor
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Thanks for writing about this, Bob.
Jon Gordon
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Thank you, Bob, for standing strong and writing this truth.
Best,
Al Rose
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Thank you for this.
Kia Kamran P.C.
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Thank you for writing about Nova.
Eve Barlow
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"But the Israelis are no different from Hamas or Hezbollah." Yeah, they are. They've got more and bigger and better guns and bombs (courtesy of the U.S.) and a sophisticated, well-trained military. The Oct. 7 incursion was heinous (and, speaking of heinous, Arabs are Semites too). I don't defend either side, but the slaughter of tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza, including women and children, was way over the top. You can't stop a movement like Hamas or Hezbollah by bombing it out of existence. The more you bomb, the more young Arabic men will join up against the oppressor. And, make no mistake, Israel has been the oppressor for years. The Israelis brag they killed one top Hezbollah commander. Along with sixteen innocent civilians. This has to stop. The military mindset has to change.
By the way, I'm Jewish (ethically). My family is Jewish on both sides as far back as you want to go.
Netanyahu is doing this to stay out of jail. Trump would do the same. I only hope they both wind up sharing a cell.
emiltonmyers
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Thanks for sharing this Bob. Youre words are wise and true. We must never forget- and we must fight for whats right. Its always taken the world til we are on the brink of elimination to want to help- and history repeats itself- sadly i feel we're heading down the same path.. it wont be til they are trying to capture all jews (and all Americans as well- cmon people!!!!) will the masses wake up again.
Jason Roth
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Keep writing about this. People need the information.
Carl Nelson
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Thank you. I'm
A Jew and shared this w a bunch of my Jewish friends in LA. If anything, it helps to articulate a complicated situation, short term and long term. Bob, if you are anything, you are a great communicator…this gives us something to run with.
Brad Cole
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Hi Bob thanks for writing about this and drawing attention to the horrific details too.
Andrew Einhorn
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Non-Jew here, non-anything really but a staunch supporter of Israel and its people. Don't you dare not write about it! How else are we (outside of LA) supposed to know about these things?
Those that are tired of you writing about it can unsubscribe, and/or go f#ck themselves.
Ken Baum in KC
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The Zionist movement chose Palestine to move to, can't pretend to be victims when the indigenous population aren't happy about being forced out of their homes and their country. And the religion of the colonial settlers is totally irrelevant. Shockingly bad take to pretend the Palestinians are motivated by "anti-semitism". They would fight back just as hard if the perpetrators were Sikh, Zoroastrian, Martian. Surely you know all this.
CHARLES KENNEDY
invisible hands music / astral horizon press
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Bob - I applaud you.
Larry Anderson
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Damn, Bob. Thank you for your bravery. I'm not Jewish, but with you. To quote a man much wiser than myself: what kind of crazy, f*cked-up world do we live in?
Stuart Gunter
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My German tutor in Switzerland had the tattoo on her wrist. What people may not want to admit is that what happened to the Jews under the Nazis was a product of human nature and political convenience. Those two factors are independent of religion, race, etc. They can pop up at any time, anywhere.
What happened to the Jews was not a once-in-forever event, but one that has occurred with disturbing regularity over the centuries. What made it unique was that the Nazis applied technology that wasn't around in, say, the middle ages. BUT the technology we have today is far worse, so it's that much more important for people to recognize the darkest impulses of human nature, and work against it wherever it appears.
Craig Anderton
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Thank you for this. I took Rebecca (16) to see this before she went to Israel this summer. We were speechless and numb wandering through … and seeing the clothes left behind made it even more real.
Simma Levine
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Spot on. They have always and seems as if will always hate us for being us.
Mark Swartz
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Amen Bob.
Xeni/Jennifer Hamm
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Thank you for using your voice. Too many are silent. Too many are siding with the unfathomable. The blue-haired bull-ringed generation are lost. But they are a small minority. Just a loud one. Keep speaking up. Thank you.
Dorit Kalev
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Don't stop telling this story, Bob.
Tony D'Amelio
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Bob it's clearly painful for you to write this and I ache for you and all Jewish people. How does this brutality still happen? It makes no sense.
Keep making us all aware of these important things that we need to be made aware of.
Thank you,
Hal Kempson
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Horrific – and critical that it receive publicity.
This Gentile is one million % with you. And so is my college sophomore daughter. These non-Jews always wants to hear about it.
Your parents raised you right. Jew hate is the world's oldest, and it will never disappear. Best to follow the advice of that famous sage, Adam Sandler, who I think once said his father taught him to punch anyone in the face who said something anti-semitic. Sounds right.
At college you have these idiots who've never even met a Jew – most Americans have not. They only know Trump tells them George Soros is bad and AOC tells them Zionism is evil and BDS is about justice. Intellectual sheep, ripe for the pro-Hamas conversion funded by Iran dollars.
Speaking of Iran, please don't forget official US government appeasement of Iran began in 2009 when Obama let the young people who launched the Green Revolution be slaughtered by the IRGC because Obama trusted them to give up their nukes. He was a naïve fool and Netanyahu knew it (so did Putin – "red line" anyone?). Bibi is lots of things, but naïve vs Iran he is not. The Obama Iran strategy has lost us years and no doubt let them pass the point of no return for nukes. And liberal media give him a complete pass. Ho hum.
Edward Ryan
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Shocking, horrifying, unimaginable, and so so sad for us all....
Young Hutchinson
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Thank you for writing this.
Erica Novich
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Bob when Oct.7 happened I saw video, mostly on Twitter and it was beyond disgusting. I really couldn't believe what I was seeing, it was barbarism on a massive scale. Hamas and Hezbollah just raised from kids to kill Jews, it is something I just can't wrap my head around. Israel has the right to defend itself and I support that.
I'm 66 Bob, I thought the world we are seeing now was behind us just history but I guess not.
Doug Gillis
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Horrible, horrible.It's so horrible, it's hard to believe. Hatred is so evil.
For what it's worth, Bob, you've got an ally in me. An evangelical Christian who might have differing opinions on several political issues. I don't know if it makes sense to you or not, but Christians (probably most) have an undying and unwavering love for their Jewish brothers and sisters. We are honored to be grafted "into the vine" that grows from God's heart to His people. Israel and Jews are the apple of God's eye and that is not a trite saying. There's millions of us. We love you.
I hope that's meaningful. I hate to say something so near and dear to my heart for fear it might get trampled, but that is the vulnerability of love.
Call me crazy.
Doug Van Pelt
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Thanks Bob for speaking out and being the candle in a dark tunnel.
Bob Stein
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I'm glad you shared.
~Lisa Wohl
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Get down off the cross for f*cks sake and stick to the music business.
Sidney Cooke
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Thank you
Peter Noone
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I agree with you. And I am sorry it has to be this way.
Laura
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Good column, I agree with all of it. I'd see the movie if I thought I could stand it.
BTW have you seen the polling that says a MAJORITY of Americans favor mass deportation of immigrants? Do they have any idea of what that looks like? Tearing families out of their homes in the middle of the night, without warrants or the right to counsel. As if it will stop with the "illegal" immigrants. It won't, JD Vance has told us that much.
I get it, some men and women on the street read the question and think, "They're illegal, get 'em out of here!" And then they stop thinking.
Meanwhile Trump says that Jews will be blamed if he loses. As if any Jew who knows what "deportation" really means, would even dream of voting for him.
Jonathan Bernstein
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Bob, I agree with everything you've written in this article . So, how in the hell can you support the Biden Harris administration?!!!!
Mike Mitchell
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I for one absolutely want to hear this and other posts you make about antisemitism. Keep expressing yourself, do not worry about if the audience wants to hear it. We subscribe because we want to hear from you.
Thanks
Ken Seider
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Hey Bob.
Non-Jew here. Keep writing about it. Thank you.
Matthew Wilson
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Thank you for writing about this.
Nathan Benditzon
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There are plenty of non-Jews like myself who do care and who do want to hear about this! And I am not virtue signaling here. I just know where I stand.
In my social newsfeeds, there is a much higher percentage of "friends" condemning Israel than there are Trump supporters (at least openly).
This conflict is one of the few issues that shakes up the bubble I know I am generally stuck in, and I believe that is a good thing.
Matt Robertson
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Thank you
Marlee Ehrlich
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Great piece. Thanks for writing this
Matthew Segal
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Thank you for writing this.
Eliana Eskinazi
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Thanks for touching on this...
Scott Maness
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So I guess you're OK then with the Israelis slaughtering all the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
-- proud Jew
David Rubien
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Thank you for this.
Avital Ferd
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I'm glad you wrote about this. The exhibition itself sounds way too brutal for me to see it personally. But as someone with many Jewish friends, I feel the Holocaust and now the Nova atrocities as wounds in my heart. So is Israel's ongoingly violent response. Meanwhile, the Republican candidate for President says if he loses the election, it will be the fault of the Jews. Which means Trump is directly inviting MAGA violence against Jews. Enough already.
- Greg Dennis
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I live in a small town in Tennessee. This one got my attention. Keep writing. Write about everything. You make a difference!
Brad Durham
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Bob you hit the nail on the head. Very well said and your sentence "rust never sleeps, nor does antisemitism " should resonate with us all. And I mean ALL OF US!
Be safe!
Gary L. Rombough
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Thank you for writing this Bob. I don't understand how the world thinks anymore.
Your summary of the ongoing situation is a tragic one yet as I read your post common sense prevails
Thank you for your honesty
Mark Adkins
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I'm not sure how and why I managed to get to the exhinibition... As I entered with some help from a security guy, since I was limping, I instantly felt as if I was in a concentration camp tour, and I'm yet to take this trip in the future... I had no idea about the magnitude of the horror inside as you described it so well. I took some photos including the restrooms raw full of bullets. I can't look at the photos now. I'm traumatized.
I can't describe how an IDF exofficer, who served in Gaza under so different circumstances in 1989, feels about this utterly horrendous atrocities. I have my personal story which simply telling you that my main reason for leaving Israel in 1991 was the perception of the bad direction of the state which in many ways committed suicidal acts after I left, including Rabin's murder, including the current crime minister instigating this murder. All I knew back then that the state of Israel ran away from its historical role. This is no justification for the colossal failure and the consequences that are the worst in the modern history of the state since 1948. But unfortunately, pogroms of all kinds took place in the long Jewish history, except this one was coming with full knowledge of the top political and defense brass. To be clear, no comparison could be made in any way to the Holocaust, which is a stand alone period out of the general history. A comparison could be made maybe to the American history's Pearl Harbor, or to 9/11?
In short to say now I told you then how bad things were, I knew we were in bad shape, but to imagine all of that? But in fact Bibi refrained from action for years and supplied and supported Hamas with millions and millions dollars in cash.
So, how is one supposed to feel about that now? You tell me, Bob.
Ami Benee Levy
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Deeply powerful - thank you Bob for your courage to write this missive and be a voice of reason among the insanity of these times...
With gratitude & respect,
Andrew M. Genger
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Trump's loud gaslight Friday: if I lose blame the Jews. He said it twice. So first immigrants, then who is next, gays or Jews?
Steve Tipp
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Please don't stop writing about this.
A lot of people are uninformed and don't seem to want to be informed, so we have to keep saying this until it starts to sink in This isn't about Gaza, or Gazans. Hamas has been the government there for almost 20 years. and if they wanted a better life for their people, they had time to build a society that could not be denied.
And instead of building up a life for Gazans, instead of taking what wasleft for them when Israel withdrew in 2005 and left them industries and money. Instead of using the billions of aid that's been sent there from around the world, they used the money to dig sophisticated tunnels, indoctrinated yet another generation into racist hatred And then carried out a raid where they went in to murder people in the most horrifying ways possible.
And the next day instead of the world reacting with horror, we had some people, highly organized and perhaps even prepared in advance go on the street celebrating the brutal sadistic tortures and murders. And then it, incredibly, got worse in terms of reaction and anti-Semtisim.
A lot of people, don't really understand the region, but they'll throw Keffeyehs on or, worse, put them on their kids and send them to school events, and harass Jews, and for some reason not notice that they're supporting terrorists who are willing to do horrifying things to other human beings.
Why did they feel it was okay to execute 6 tortured hostages--one of whom, Eden weighed only 79 pounds after 10 months in captivity? Because they now they have people in the west who won't object to horrifying bloodshed. And the fate of the hostages still hidden in Gaza, some in Tunnels.. who the Red Cross has not bothered to go look at, who the UN has ignored...is now in the balance.. Imagine spending a year like this. The celebrations in the west could spell death for those hostages.
So we all need to keep saying this.
So I'm sorry it's affecting your subscriptions.. I repost your articles, if that makes a differennce..
But please keep writing..
Karen Gordon
P.S. I would love to go back and be the person I was on Oct 6th.
But I'm lucky. I didn't die on Oct 7. I don't have kids or relatives or friends that died on Oct 7th
I had lunch a few weeks ago with a long time friend, a very smart guy, who was visiting. It was pretty interesting to talk to him and realize the things that people, even pretty smart people, think they know
but when you start talking, don't.
I asked him, if this is truly about Israel, then why are Jews in other countries being harrassed. And the 'they all support Israel' ... doesn't wash. I know plenty of Jews who didn't react to Oct 7th and still haven't.
(Incredibly IMO) Also I know plenty of people who are not Jewish who were horrified and appalled.
So, the first clue about what's really going on here is the targeting of jews.
I just read that about six or seven schools in Toronto had their students on a field trip to march in a pro-Palestinians protest and they made a Jewish girl and a Hindu boy wear blue to symbolize that they're 'colonizers'.
It's nuts.
I've found a few books that have been helpful. The Noa Tishby book you recommended.
Her new one..
And a book I think should be widely read, by a British comedian named David Baddiel called Jews Don't Count.
A quick and easy read.. more like a long essay by a very bright person..
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F*ck what the world has to say! The enemies of Israel have had it coming since 7 October! They should rue the day they started this and now can be scared of dark and of light and question their products if they work while Israel kicks their ass like it needs to! The world doesn't like a tough jew but they like a weak one or dead ones but those days are done! We are here to stay and will not take too much sh*t!
Name withheld
(My policy is to never print e-mail without attribution unless the writer risks serious retribution for their words. This person does not. I only include it to say weak Jews who refuse to own their identity and speak their truth are part of the problem, certainly not the solution)
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I had no interest in seeing this exhibit when it came to NY, even as I was invited/asked to go at least four times by various friends. I thought it was exploitative…unnecessary…we knew what happened... unless you were living with your head in the sand. And much like yourself, I grew up indoctrinated about the tragedy, violence, hate and attempted destruction of the Jewish people…and how essential it was to understand the strength and commitment of my ancestors to insure that did not come to pass…and to celebrate my contemporary Jewishness with pride and gratitude. So I did not want to be reminded of the dark, sick and always present hatred that is everywhere, manifesting itself in the brutal and cruel murder of kids just wanting to have a good time…I knew about it and didn't want to go back there again.
However, given what has transpired over the last 11 months, the anti-semitism here in the good ole US of A that is now everywhere, even in NY, my anguish over, first and foremost, the policies of the Israeli government as I watch the destruction of Gaza as well as the reaction, or should I say non-reaction, of most of the world to the tactics of Hamas, I realize that exhibits like Nova are necessary. Perhaps especially for the Jewish folks (mostly 20 and 30 somethings) who are questioning Israel's response, (worthy of being questioned in terms of force, I agree) and the point of being Jewish at all in today's world. Many younger people have correctly questioned what it even means to be Jewish today if the country that is supposed to represent the beauty and ideals of Judaism is on a path to becoming a pariah nation. Trust me…this is what they are thinking and talking about ( my own kids and my students) and sometimes it is hard to disagree with them. Perhaps witnessing at the most basic level what is at stake is what they have to see
Myself, I do not think I will go to see the Nova exhibit. I just can't handle it I am sure. But knowing that it is there to document what the world needs to be reminded about, once again, that the brutal destruction of all Jews everywhere is the goal of Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran et al, is a necessary thing…the more things change the more they stay the same.
The question is will the people who really need to see this actually go?
Susan L. Dodes
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I never write. I'm a silent reader; I read when the headline catches my eye, I read when it relates to my life. I read this. Thank you. Thank you for writing this. Thank you for telling people to go to the exhibit. I went in New York. I knew all the stories, and still, I was profoundly impacted. At the end of the exhibit a woman waited. She was the mother of a Nova attendee. A young girl murdered in her prime. She greeted people. She wanted people to know her daughter was more than a photo, more than a name, her daughter was hers.
After the exhibit I needed time to decompress. I needed time to remind myself that life is a gift, especially in the face of those who desperately want to destroy me. My crime is my bloodline. My faith makes me worthy of hatred because it's trendy to hate Israel, to hate Jews, and to ignore the full story. Death of any innocent should never be okay, not for Jews and not for Palestinians. I lay these deaths at the feet of Hamas. Because that's where they belong. And because to blame it on anything else is to live in willful ignorance.
Your words keep my bloodline alive. Your words are your bravery, they are an education, they are powerful. Thank you.
Please keep anonymous.
(My policy is to never print e-mail without attribution unless the writer risks serious retribution for their words. This person does not. I only include it to say weak Jews who refuse to own their identity and speak their truth are part of the problem, certainly not the solution)
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You're gonna get an immense amount of blowback, but you speak the truth.
Oct 7 turned me completely around from being a far lefty anti Zionist to a VERY Zionist conservative. I mean, Bob - I might even vote for Trump. For god's sake this administration is asleep at the wheel and kamala will only be a continuation of the same.
If you print this don't put my name
(My policy is to never print e-mail without attribution unless the writer risks serious retribution for their words. This person does not. I only include it to say weak Jews who refuse to own their identity and speak their truth are part of the problem, certainly not the solution)
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My friend just forwarded your profound and chilling column about The Nova Exhibition. I have had the privilege of working with the founders, the US sponsors and a very dedicated tribe of PR people in NY, LA and DC for the past 8 months, bringing attention to the exhibition and the Oct. 7th horror.
It's been the most important thing I've done in my career. I want to thank you for your raw, honest and much needed outcry. Much of the music industry, the entertainment industry, Jews and non-Jews, have either chosen, been bullied or brainwashed into silence or complicity. Your courage is inspiring. I have renewed hope.
Thank you very much,
Susie
SUSIE ARONS | 42WEST
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Bob- Excellent column, glad that you were so moved by the Nova Exhibition and put these important thoughts about those horrific events perpetrated by Hamas into your eloquent words. As a fellow Jew, I share your thoughts and fears about the increasingly anti-Semitic world in which we live, even here in the United States. I am especially appalled and frightened at the raging hate against Jews and Israel that is going on virtually unchecked at our college campuses across the nation; including in Denver where my own daughter has suffered from significant verbal abuse, complete ostracization from her entire grad school class, and little support from her university's woke professors and administration; simply because she is Jewish and had the audacity to speak up for Israel in class right after the October 7 attacks.
And you know what brought out the animosity against my Jewish daughter at her university, Bob? She brought up the Nova festival in class. After multiple of her fellow students spoke in class one day, ranting and raving about Israel's "occupation" of Gaza, stating "Free Palestine!," and shouting "From the River to the Sea;" she tearfully responded that she had family in Israel (her Uncle, our brother-in-law is from Haifa), and that none of them knew what they were talking about. She also reminded her class that she and several of her (now former) "friends" from grad school had just been to a show together at Red Rocks the weekend before October 7; and just imagine if they had been abused and murdered in surprise attack out of nowhere that night, just like kids their same age had been at the Nova music festival in Israel by the Hamas terrorists just a week earlier. After she spoke, there was stunned silence for a moment, and then several of her classmates started calling her names and giving her grief under their breath before the professor called for a short break in class. During the break, the instructor came up to my daughter and acknowledged how difficult it must have been for her to express her thoughts like that. She then suggested that my daughter take the rest of the class off and leave for the day; which surprised my girl but she did so to avoid further verbal abuse. For the remainder of the school year, as the pro-Palestinian, pro-Hamas activists took over campuses and dominated the dialogue; virtually no one in her class spoke to her again, she was blocked on social media by all of her classmates, and no one in the university leadership really gave a damn about her or the handful of other Jewish students on campus. She has graduated and we are moving her out of town later this week, and my guess is she will rarely (if ever) return there.
And as for the question you posed: "but it's not only Muslims who are anti-Israel, a ton of Jews are too. Makes me wonder, how were they brought up?" All you have to do to answer that question is look to the many liberal Jewish members of your favored Democratic Party like Bernie Sanders, Adam Schiff, Chuck Schumer, Jamie Raskin, et al.; who do nothing but criticize and threaten to withhold support for Israel on a daily basis because of their hate for Netanyahu and his "right-wing" party. And also to get Muslim votes in Michigan. Look, I am not a huge fan of Bibi and especially his unsuccessful actions in 2023 to try and change Israeli laws regarding the Judiciary and the separation of powers to help keep himself in control. But that is immaterial to me right now, as the state of Israel and our Jewish homeland is BATTLING FOR ITS VERY SURVIVAL against the millions and millions of its Muslim neighbors who want to see Israel wiped off the map entirely.
And it's obviously not just the liberal Jewish legislative leaders, but the majority of Democrats in general, who are anti-Israel and are feeding the explosion of anti-Semitism in our nation today. It's not conservatives and Maga members who are tearing down hostage posters, destroying college campuses, burning U.S. and Israel flags, defacing U.S. monuments, threatening synagogues, throwing bricks through the windows of Jewish-owned businesses, etc. It's not conservatives and GOP members of Congress who are constantly threatening to withhold vital arms from Israel and trying to force Israel into ridiculous ceasefire terms that would keep the Hamas terrorists in power, so they can simply rebuild and attack innocent Israelis again. Its not conservatives and GOP politicians who publicly state that the terrorist-supporting protestors in Michigan, Chicago, NYC, LA, and elsewhere "have a point" and are "doing it for all the right reasons." No those are the words of Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, which are not that far off from the outrageous and dangerous anti-Israel statements being made every single day by Democratic Squad members and other liberal politicians (which are never disavowed by Dem leaders.)
I'm not a nutty Maga supporter either Bob, but at some point in your columns you need to call out the members of your own party for the dangerous and misguided statements they have made and the actions they have taken since October 7, which have greatly contributed to the huge rise in anti-Semitism and opposition to Israel's right to defend itself and even exist, in our nation today.
Bob Ellis, St Louis
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Thank you for coming to the exhibit but even more than that thank you for having the courage to speak about it. Thank you.
Scooter Braun
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