Issue 1: Opening riff...
A new newsletter (and podcast eventually) exploring activism, politics, music and anything else that seems interesting.
Hey, and welcome to The Blue Note. Before we get any further, hit play:
That’s better.
So, what is this?
I’m launching The Blue Note to serve as a creative outlet, a way to amplify the good work small/local progressive activists are doing, a place to gather my thoughts about the week’s top news stories, share the song(s) that is/are stuck in my head, and whatever else comes to mind.
The Blue Note will take shape as time goes on. I don’t want to limit what it is or can be. Politics, activism, music, movies, books. Whatever. Let’s talk about it all.
That’s where you come in.
Most importantly, I want this to be a two-way conversation. There’s too many newsletters and podcasts and Facebook pages and Twitter accounts (and more) that are just the account talking at the audience. That sucks. That’s not fun.
I want to hear from you. Don’t hesitate to reply to these with what’s going on in your area. The grassroots ecosystem in this country is way too siloed. Together we can collaborate and share information, new songs, book suggestions, anything.
To start, send me music recommendations. What song has been stuck in your head the past few days? Each week, I’ll include a new song at the top with a credit the person who suggested it. So reply to this email with a song. Include your Twitter @ if you have one.
Rare setlists up for auction
This one is pretty cool.
A ton of artists have donated setlists to be auctioned off for charity. The setlists are autographed and come from acts like Sigur Rós, Rush, A$AP Rocky, REM, Janelle Monáe and—one of my personal favorites—Nine Inch Nails.
The proceeds benefit Ministry of Stories, as well as The International Congress of Youth Voices.
Bidding ends May 2 and you can join the bidding HERE.
Which one do you want most?
Happy Belated Earth Day
I realize this is going out after Earth Day, but since we’ve only got a few years left before it’s too late to address climate change, it’s always time to talk about environmental activism.
But, let’s start at the beginning. Do you know what the first environmental song was?
Why, it’s “Woodman! Spare That Tree!” from 1837, by George Morris and Henry Russell.
Check out this banger:
WOODMAN, spare that tree!
Touch not a single bough!
In youth it sheltered me,
And I ’ll protect it now.’
T’was my forefather’s hand
That placed it near his cot;
There, woodman, let it stand,
Thy axe shall harm it not.
The song lived on, even into the 20th Century, with it being used in political cartoons. Here’s an example of one from 1966 depicting Dean Rusk, Secretary of State under LBJ at the time, protecting a tree representing a $3.4 billion foreign aid request, with the “Senate Foreign Relations Committee” looming nearby with an axe.
I’ll admit, I’ve never heard of the song before today. Have you? Also, if you know of any other uses/references in pop culture, let me know!
Stop & Shop workers WIN!
You may have heard/seen this week that Stop & Shop workers in several states in the Northeast went on strike to demand a more equitable contract.
Well, Sunday they reached a preliminary agreement!
Sophie Weiner of Splinter writes:
Stop & Shop workers in the United Food and Commercial Workers union will get to go back to work after over a week of striking that followed the breakdown of negotiations with management over pay, health insurance, and benefits. The workers now have a tentative three-year agreement with management that satisfies their demands, according to the Associated Press.
“Today is a powerful victory for the 31,000 hardworking men and women of Stop & Shop who courageously stood up to fight for what all New Englanders want,” the union said in a statement.“Under this proposed contract, our members will be able to focus on continuing to help customers in our communities enjoy the best shopping experience possible and to keep Stop & Shop the number one grocery store in New England,” the union said. “The agreement preserves health care and retirement benefits, provides wage increases, and maintains time-and-a-half pay on Sunday for current members.”
This is a hard-fought and well-earned victory for the workers. Congrats and solidarity.
Here’s “Union Town” by Tom Morello’s solo project The Nightwatchman:
This is a union town, a union town
All down the line
This is a union town, a union town
All down the line
And if you come to strip our rights away
We’ll give you hell every time
This is a union town, a union town
All down the line
Impeachment?
It’s the hot question in politics. In the aftermath of the Mueller report, many Democrats are calling for Trump’s impeachment.
The pitfalls have me concerned. First and foremost, it’s practically guaranteed to be an unsuccessful effort. Republicans still control the Senate. So, the question then becomes which side will use it more successfully in 2020, and quite frankly I’m not convinced the Democrats will be the ones to wield it in a smarter, more strategic way. I have this fear that Republicans will use it to motivate their base, stoking that victimhood complex that worked so well in 2016 and drive turnout.
So, should they? Weigh in on this Twitter poll:
That said, impeachment related to emoluments and other corruption issues related to Trump profiting from his businesses while in office is a different story. For another issue!
So, for this one I figured I’d keep it somewhat brief. What do you think? What do you want to see more of? What song should kick off the next issue? I’d love to hear from you.
-jordan
@jordanuhl/@thebluenotenews