Josh's Blog

In My Soul

2011-12-24T22:42:00.001-08:00

I just released a brand new song for free via Bandcamp. Happy holidays everyone :)

In My Soul by Josh Haden

Josh Haden's Devoted Now On Bandcamp

2011-11-15T14:39:00.000-08:00

My 2007 Dan the Automator-produced solo album is now available from Bandcamp. It features performances from John Medeski, Kid Koala, and Merlo Podlewski (bassist for Jack Johnson).

Devoted by Josh Haden

2011-10-30T13:54:00.000-07:00

In 2008, when I was recording the Charlie Haden Family & Friends album with my family in Nashville, my dad gave all us kids a copy of a book called The Ozarks' Greatest Hits: A Photo History Of Music In The Ozarks by Wayne Glenn.

I'm reading books constantly, plus I subscribe to 20+ magazines and comic books so you can imagine how long my reading queue is, but I finally finished all 537 pages of it last week. When I first started reading it, I kept online bookmarks of all the music the book mentioned, both well-known and obscure, but after a little while I realized if I kept doing that it would take me forever to finish the book. Luckily, the author supplied a list of 50 of what he considered the most important artists to emerge from the Ozarks regions of Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma between ca. 1800s to the 1980s: "50 of the Ozarks' Greatest Hits".

I found 28 of these artists on Spotify and made a playlist containing them which can be found here: http://open.spotify.com/user/123142301/playlist/4IxSmftWBsL0ELWNsBcNkP.

My dad was born in Shenandoah, Iowa in 1937 and moved along with his family to the Ozarks (Springfield, MO), when he was a kid. The Haden Family was an important country/western/gospel group in the Ozarks in the 1930s to the 1950s and they figure prominently in the book. My favorite picture is of Chet Atkins horsing around on guitar with my grandfather Carl.

A link to the book is here: http://www.amazon.com/Ozarks-Greatest-Hits-Photo-History/dp/0976966093. PBS did an amazing piece about it here: http://video.optv.org/video/1392424315/.

For those of you who don't have Spotify here's a list of the artists and songs:

I'd Like To Be - Hugh Ashley
Best Of Friends from The Fox & The Hound - Buddy Baker
You're The Greatest - Dallas Bartley
There's A Star Spangled Banner Waving - Elton Britt
Abraham Lincoln - Albert Brumley w/ Anita Kerr Singers
Green Onions - Booker T. & The MGs
Dooley - The Dillards
Tennessee Stud - Jimmie Driftwood
Peace In The Valley - Red Foley
Keep On The Sunny Side/Roll Us Over The Tide - Haden Family
Organ Grinder's Swing - Joe Haymes
The Weight - The Band
How The Other Half Lives - Jan Howard
Gone - Ferlin Husky
Just A Closer Walk With Thee - The Jordanaires
Green Door - Jim Lowe
Spaceship Orion - Ozark Mountain Daredevils
Cool Water - Sons Of The Pioneers
Gold Digger's Song - Dick Powell
Why Don't You Haul Off And Love Me - Wayne Raney
Frog Legs Rag - James Scott
Bop A Lena - Ronnie Self
Wishful Thinking - Wynn Stewart
A Satisfied Mind - Porter Wagoner
Skeleton Rag - Percy Wenrich
Speedin' West - Speedy West
Take My Breath Away (from Top Gun) - Tom Whitlock
Sparkling Brown Eyes - Wilburn Brothers

Spain Inna Rub-A-Dub Style

2011-09-16T14:28:00.000-07:00

The band High Chimes has released a series of Spain cover songs in reggae style...they are well worth checking out.

Nobody Has to Know by high chimes

born to love her (spain cover) by high chimes COVERING spain

every time I try (spain cover) by high chimes COVERING spain

Spain - Untitled #1 (Original Demo Version)

2011-08-23T21:51:00.000-07:00

I recently released "Blue Moods Of Spain: A History, Pt. 2", a 9-song retrospective album containing original versions of songs that appeared on "Blue Moods" along with a 20-page booklet containing liner notes, archival photos and flyers, and more. It only costs $5.00 exclusively from Bandcamp, but you can download one of the songs for free below.

Untitled #1 by Spain

Top Three Favorite Spain Songs - Election Results

2011-03-10T13:15:00.000-08:00

Recently I asked the question, "What are your three favorite Spain songs?"

Election results are in: Out of 21 responses - 17 from Facebook, three from Twitter, and one from Ping - (band members don't count) the top three favorite Spain songs are: Untitled #1, Every Time I Try, and Nobody Has To Know (official tally below).

"Every Time I Try" will thus be added to Spain's live set starting in May. :) (Untitled is already in the set.)

Thank you everyone who let your opinions be known!!

Untitled #1: 12
Every Time I Try: 9
Nobody Has To Know: 6 
Easy Lover: 5
Ray Of Light: 4
Before It All Went Wrong: 3
Our Love Is Gonna Live Forever: 3
Spiritual: 3
Mary: 2
She Haunts My Dreams: 2
Do You See The Light: 1
Hoped And Prayed: 1
I’m Leaving You: 1
I Believe: 1
I Lied: 1
I Love You: 1
It’s So True: 1
Long Time Ago: 1
Phone Machine: 1
Ten Nights: 1
Waiting For You To Come: 1
World Of Blue: 1

Quote Of The Day

2010-12-30T11:15:00.000-08:00

Actually from yesterday (can't blame me for having trouble keeping up with my newspaper reading).

"I think it's a lot to ask of a candidate to think about not only who gave them money, but who those contributors might be doing business with," - Laura Friedman, Glendale (CA) City Councilmember. From here.

Today's update to this story is here: Lockyer, Chiang freeze money they got from developer

Read it and weep. Happy holidays and Merrrrry Christmas Los Angeles!

White Sand

2010-12-10T12:21:00.000-08:00

"White Sand" is a song from the new "Blue Moods Of Spain: A History, Pt. 1", released this week from my Diamond Soul Recordings label. Enjoy as a song from my oft-neglected podcast, Diamond Sounds.

Blue Moods Of Spain: A History, Pt. One Now Available

2010-12-09T17:59:00.000-08:00

13 previously unreleased songs, 20-page .pdf booklet with liner notes, archival photos, song descriptions, album credits, and lyrics, exclusively from bandcamp.com.

Treacherous Jaywakers - Life Is Lived In Vain & Hey Hey Hey

2010-10-11T00:15:00.000-07:00

Another record I listened to was a test pressing of my first band Treacherous Jaywalkers' debut EP entitled "Sunrise". I couldn't find any of the songs on the internet but two videos of this band do exist on youtube. The videos were shot for Public Access TV in San Diego, CA sometime in 1990 shortly before the band broke up, if I'm not mistaken. These are songs from late in our repertoire...if you listen to "Hey Hey Hey" you can already hear the seeds of my band Spain, I'm even playing the same bass I used for "Blue Moods" in this clip. Treacherous Jaywakers was a band I started with friends in high school when I was sixteen, we recorded a lot of songs and I'm still proud of all of them. Enjoy.

Soulsavers - Love & Precious Time

2010-10-10T23:43:00.000-07:00

Tonight was vinyl night...meaning I listen to old records from my youth while my wife falls asleep on the couch :) .... anyways, I came across the debut 2002 ep from a great band from the U.K. called Soulsavers...I sang on a song or two on it and on their debut CD called Tough Guys Don't Dance...happy to see the songs on youtube...I think they stand up pretty well...proud of the songs and of the band...enjoy.

Rocktime Podcast

2010-10-02T09:33:00.000-07:00

Spain's latest song, "I'm Still Free", was included in a recent edition of the Rocktime podcast.

Eight Songs I've Sung

2010-08-12T19:13:00.000-07:00

I recently posted, onto 8tracks.com, a group of eight songs I have sung on, for your possible listening enjoyment, including songs from Spain, Charlie Haden Family & Friends, Esbjörn Svenssön Trio, Soulsavers, Blue Man Group, and Handsome Boy Modeling School.

Two More Ways To Tell Me Where Spain Should Play

2010-08-12T09:21:00.000-07:00

Alternatively, or in addition to, the Spain GigsWiz widget, tell the Spain Eventful widget below where you'd like Spain to play. And/or, if you'd like, join my mailing list here, and the city/state/country in which you reside will be recorded (if you want it to). Any and all of these methods will help me decide where we'll play when it comes time to book the first Spain tour since 2001.

View all Spain tour dates

Tell Me Where Spain Should Play

2010-08-11T17:40:00.000-07:00

My band Spain is in the studio right now recording our new album. But when we're finished recording, we'll start trying to book a tour, and quite possibly we'll play in your town, or a town close to you.

Where would you like us to play? Go here, fill out the simple form and let me know!

Magnet Magazine - MP3 At 3PM: Spain

2010-08-09T22:09:00.000-07:00

Magnet Magazine online recently featured my band Spain's new song "Hang Your Head Down Low" in their "MP3 At 3pm" column. Many thanks.

The Band Spain, Daniel Brummel, and a singing bowl.

2010-08-04T00:39:00.000-07:00

Spain guitarist Daniel Brummel recently recorded a singing bowl overdub on the upcoming album by the band Spain.

I'm Now A Fan Of Gorillaz

2010-07-30T00:41:00.000-07:00

I have to admit Gorillaz never did anything for me, but reading the accompanying article and listening to the concert changed my mind, now I find there's some seriousness to their goofiness which I thought, before was goofy but not the good kind of goofiness. Its actually not the bad kind of goofiness at all.

Free Song Download From The Band Spain & Bandcamp.com

2010-07-15T21:28:00.000-07:00

<a href="http://spaintheband.bandcamp.com/track/hang-your-head-down-low">Hang Your Head Down Low by Spain</a>

Longtime fans and new listeners alike are now able to download the most recent song from the band Spain, "Hang Your Head Down Low", for free from Spain's Bandcamp.com page. The song, culled from Spain's "I'm Still Free" EP, represents the band's first new songs in over eight years. Spain is currently in the studio working on their new album, to be released in late 2010 or 2011. In exchange for the free download, participants will be signed-up to Josh Haden's/Spain's free email list, the Haden Harangue, from which one can unsubscribe at any time.

Q&A Josh of Spain

2010-06-08T08:55:00.000-07:00

Q&A Josh of Spain

June 6, 1:22 PMLA Indie Music Examiner Michele McManmon

The group Spain is a deep, soulful, moody love child of the talented bassist Josh Haden. The group made a huge impact on the music scene in the 1995-2003 with 4 CD releases, gaining the attention of greats such as Johnny Cash, producer Rick Rubin, and legendary bassist Mike Watt.

To help Spain get their single "I'm still free" released on 7" Vinyl please go to:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/joshhaden/kickstart-the-band-spains-im-still-free-7

Spain played a stellar set at the Silverlake Jubilee, making it obvious these cats traverse into another dimension with their music. After the Q&A it became obvious that perhaps they may even create an Indie revolution within the Industry by using Kickstarter.com to get their work out to the world without backing from a label with your help.
Talking with Josh is like gliding on a pond of fresh ice...

Your Dad is Charlie Haden, a great jazz bassist that played with Ornette Coleman. Is your Dad originally from the Mid-West?

He was born in Shenandoah, Iowa. His family made their living singing as a group called the Haden Family. They played instruments too, like guitar, bass, and mandolin. They would travel from town to town, show up in a town, and go to the local radio station, knock on the door, and ask if they could perform gospel-country music. They eventually settled in Springfield, Missouri.

You certainly come from a long line of talented musicians?

Yeah, on my Mom’s side too. My Mom’s family was part of the Los Angeles Mandolin Orchestra. It was like a 40 piece, or many players, whom all played mandolin, except a few who played bass, and the bass were called mando-bass. It’s a double, acoustic, stand up bass with a more flat body. I’m not sure what the difference is with tone.

When did you fall in love with the bass? Was that your first instrument?

When I was 12 or 13 I got my first guitar and I really didn’t, I don’t know what, but I just didn’t connect to it, the chords and too many strings, so I told my Dad I wanted to switch to bass and at the time, and he was visiting his family in Missouri, and the Haden family owned a pawn shop, and he got me a bass from the pawn shop. That’s how I started playing bass. I was fourteen. (He says smiling through his voice).

Who were your musical influences?

Whatever was on the mainstream radio, Van Halen, Led Zepplin, Aerosmith, you know? Then I remember going to school and a friend came in with his boom box and a cassette, and he slammed it down on the table and said “Josh you gotta listen to this” and it was Black Flag’s “Jealous Again” and that changed my life. It changed everything. I was 13. I forgot all about Led Zepplin and Van Halen. It was all punk rock from that point on and that’s when I started playing in bands. I listen to classical, country, jazz, bluegrass, and a band named Tindersticks now.

What bass players stand out for you?

What I do as a bass player is pretty simple. I don’t read or write music. I haven’t taken numerous lessons, and I do it by ear. There are some incredible bassists that are revolutionary, just building off of what Jacko Pastorius has started. This was a long time ago, but Mike Watt (Bassist for re-formed Stooges) wanted to start a bass band with me, and I couldn’t keep up with him. He’s such an incredible bass player that I had to tell him I couldn’t do it, cause it was too complex for me. I was listening to this guy in a speed metal band, I think they’re called Augury, it just blew me away. There are people like Flea that are just over the top, he’s great at playing and has a great musical ear. Mike Watt, Steve Lawson from the UK, of course my Dad, and Charles Mingus. I’m listening to Mingus, Mingus, Mingus a lot lately.

What is it about that album that stands out for you?

I spoke to my Dad about it and he said it’s a great album, but it’s completely different. It’s a jazz record, but it’s different from any other jazz record. It’s like taking a big band and turning it upside down.

What were the origins of Spain?

It was a gradual progression of wanting to do something different, wanting to broaden my musical horizons…all my friends went one direction and I went the complete opposite. I went to UC Irvine and that’s where I met the guitarist, Ken Boudakian, who was on the first Spain record. We were put together as roommates and when I graduated in ’91, I called Ken to start a new band. Back in ’91-92 that’s how it started, I just didn’t have a name for the band.

So your origins were punk rock?

They still are…you know I listen to all kinds of music. I still read Maximum Rock n Roll at 42, I still listen to Punk Rock. The new Spain record we are recording right now, a few of the songs on the recording, are totally different then the “Spain” sound that the group has kind of been pigeon-held in: slow core, down tempo, mopy and introspective. The first record I was consciously writing songs to mock the Rock n Roll idiom. I was trying to write Rock n Roll changes in the song at a very slow tempo because I wanted majestic Rock n Roll chord changes and guitar solos, but at a really slow tempo, which is like, on the first Spain record a song called “I lied”. I can’t make the same records over again though, so the subsequent Spain records change musically. This latest one, it’s been almost 10 years since the last Spain record has been released. There are 2 songs on this new release are very up-tempo and even, God forbid, kinda Rock n Roll. A friend of mine told me not to mess up the Spain formula, to which I said “the songs may be faster, but they’re still in the Spain idiom with song structure, they’re Spain”. They are Blues based songs. We played two of them at the (Silverlake) Jubilee.

How did it feel playing them live?

It felt good. I got to belt out the lyrics and usually I’m borderline whispering the lyrics. A friend of mine at the show asked me if I had originally written the song for my punk rock band, and I hadn’t, but they were so far off of Spain’s regular motis apperondi. I’ve never been a fan of categories

So your songs are all blues based? No jazz? I’ve been told by musicians it’s either one camp or the other…

It’s true that usually bands go one way or another and the second Spain record had much more of a Country music influence and the third one had more of a Rock influence. That’s the best thing about my band is that we are all influenced by different styles and it comes through in our music. It gives me more avenues of expression. It’s sort of a mish mash of blues, country, pop, rock, jazz, but the tempo has to be slow and very little distorted guitar, but now I still adhere to that for the most part, but I’m branching out a little bit.
Part II Josh talks about his connection with Johnny Cash, Rick Rubin, and his revolutionary idea on releasing his own vinyl...Indie style

http://www.spaintheband.com/
http://www.myspace.com/worldofspain

How did Johnny Cash come to record your song “Spiritual”?

“Rick Rubin who was producing Johnny Cash’s record that the song appeared on heard the Spain version off of “Blue Mood” played on KCRW, and I guess Rick played it for him and he liked it, so Johnny recorded it. So it was that easy.”

Without your permission? How rude?

I don’t know what the rules are governing that but, you know, they didn’t even have to ask me. Rick called me at some point, it was so long ago, I don’t quite remember, but I had a manager at the time and he must’ve told my manager, who told me, that Johnny Cash is going to cover “Spiritual” and I mean, what do you say to that? It’s like every songwriters dream come true. Plus he, back then as he is now, was such a big influence on me, and plus there’s the whole family connection with my Dad, who grew up singing country songs on the radio, and was in the Mid-West and knew the Carter family. My Dad’s Dad and his Mom used to hang out with the Carter family. It seems like a full completion of the circle and it’s so incredible, I still can’t believe it. How long ago was it, 15 years ago and I still can’t get over it.

Do you have a date for Spain's new release?

No. I don’t like setting dates because it often gets pushed back anyway. I’m in a great place where we don’t have a record deal and so we are recording at a very leisurely pace. I have no pressure of deadline. My intention is to release it on my own label. That’s a whole nother aspect of my career and Spain in general. The problems in the execution of contractual agreements with other record labels that make me feel very free now. I don’t have the encumbrance of someone at a label, who doesn’t know my music as well as I do telling me how and when I should present my music. I’m savoring this feeling of being totally independent.

How did you come up with the idea for Kickstarter.com to help get your music printed on Vinyl if you match the dollar amount needed to do so?

The whole issue with Spain’s single “I’m still free” is that I had an agreement with this other label to put it out on vinyl. A series of events made me not want to work with them. I was still left with the idea of wanting to release it on vinyl though and so my friend told me about Kickstarter.com. The way it works is that the person who wants to buy the 7” is basically pre-ordering the disk, but their also financing the creation of all the disks. The manufacturing and shipping for all the 7” will be $1400. Also though the person placing the order can pledge certain amounts of money, like for $10 you get the 7”, for $15 you get it autographed, and $20 gets your name in the “Thank You” section. I don’t know if it’s gonna work out. If it doesn’t then I can’t release it because I don’t have the money for it right now for the up front costs. It’s worth giving it a try.

I think it’s great that you’re generating new ideas of ways that Indie Artists can try to get their music out their without a label. It’s very inspiring what you are doing!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/joshhaden/kickstart-the-band-spains-im-still-free-7
http://www.spaintheband.com/
http://www.myspace.com/worldofspain

Spain Performing At Silver Lake Jubilee, May 22 2010 At 7pm

2010-05-06T10:12:00.000-07:00

My band Spain will be performing at the first annual Silver Lake Jubilee on Saturday, May 22 at 7pm. For more info click here.

Kickstart The 7" Version Of Spain's "I'm Still Free" Single

2010-04-30T16:47:00.000-07:00

As you may or may not have heard, my band Spain was planning to release, with an outside label, a 7" of our first new songs in over eight years - "I'm Still Free", and "Hang Your Head Down Low" - recorded during the summer of 2009. The agreement with said record label fell through, as agreements sometimes do, and I'm left with two great songs and no money for upfront 7" manufacturing costs (I did release the songs digitally and as a limited edition CD single, much less expensive endeavors). I decided to partner with a website called Kickstarter.com and appeal directly to you for support in manufacturing the single to 7" vinyl, the way the songs should have been released in the first place.

If you go to our page at Kickstarter, you'll see there are different levels of involvement within which you can participate in the manufacturing of the 7", starting at $10 for a copy of the disc sent to you, to $15 for an autographed copy, to $20 for an autographed copy and your name printed on the back of the 7" jacket as a way of thanking you for your support. Once you make a pledge, you'll get access to exclusive messages and updates on how the progress of the manufacturing is going. Also on the website is a short video of me explaining the project, with a surprise guest appearance by my cat Dexter.

Drill, Baby, Drill!

2010-04-28T07:20:00.000-07:00

Coast Guard will start burning some Gulf slick oil

NEW ORLEANS – Authorities will begin burning some of the thickest oil in a massive slick from a rig explosion off the coast of Louisiana.
A Coast Guard spokesman says the burn is expected to begin Wednesday morning.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Prentice Danner says fire-resistant containment booms will be used to corral some of the thickest oil on surface, which will then be ignited. It was unclear how large an area would be set on fire or how far from shore the first fire would be set.
The slick is the result of oil leaking from the site of last week's huge explosion of a deep water oil rig that burned and sank. Eleven workers are missing and presumed dead. Oil continues to spill undersea, where robot submarines have been unable to cap the well.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Coast Guard is considering setting fire to a large oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico to keep the mess away from shore as efforts to cap a spewing well fail.
Crews have been unable to stop thousands of barrels of oil from fouling gulf waters since an April 20 explosion sank the Deepwater Horizon, which was drilling 50 miles off the Louisiana coast. Eleven workers are missing and presumed dead, and the cause of the blast has not been determined.
Coast Guard Rear Adm. Mary Landry said the controlled burns would be done during the day far from shore. Crews would make sure marine life and people were protected and that work on other oil rigs would not be interrupted.
The burning could start as early as Wednesday afternoon, but whether it will work is unclear. Officials would be considering weather conditions including wind and waves in deciding whether to go ahead with the burn, BP spokesman Neil Chapman said Wednesday.
Ed Overton, a professor emeritus of environmental sciences at Louisiana State University, questioned the method.
"It can be effective in calm water, not much wind, in a protected area," he said. "When you're out in the middle of the ocean, with wave actions and currents pushing you around, it's not easy."
He has another concern: The oil samples from the spill he's looked at shows it to be a sticky substance similar to roofing tar.
"I'm not super optimistic. This is tarry crude that lies down in the water," he said. "But it's something that has got to be tried."
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, birds and mammals are more likely to escape a burning area of the ocean than escape from an oil slick. The agency said birds might be disoriented by the plumes of smoke, but they would be at much greater risk from exposure to oil in the water.
A similar burn off the coast of Newfoundland in 1993 eliminated 50 to 99 percent of captured oil. However, burning the oil also creates air pollution, and the effect on marine life is unclear.

Crews from the Texas General Land Office Oil Spill Prevention and Response Program are bringing in equipment to help corral the oil and burn the slick.
Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson said burning surface oil is one of the best ways to deal with so large a slick.
The last time crews with the agency used fire booms to burn oil was a 1995 spill on the San Jacinto River, Patterson said.
"When you burn it, the plume from the fire is the biggest environmental concern, but this far out to sea it will not be as big of a problem," Patterson said.
Oil from the Deepwater Horizon is not expected to reach the coast until late in the week, if at all. But longer-term forecasts show the winds and ocean currents veering toward the coast. The glistening sheen of sweet crude is forming long reddish-orange ribbons of oil that, if they wash up on shore, could cover birds, white sand beaches and marsh grasses.
"As the days progress, the (oil) plume will migrate north, northeast," said Gregory W. Stone, an oceanographer and head of the Coastal Studies Institute at Louisiana State University. "That plume will push onshore."
Hotel owners, fishermen and restaurateurs are keeping anxious watch.
Louis Skrmetta, 54, runs a company called Ship Island Excursions that takes tourists to the Gulf Islands National Seashore, where white-sand beaches and green water create an idyllic landscape.
"This is the worst possible thing that could happen to the Mississippi Gulf Coast," he said. "It will wipe out the oyster industry. Shrimping wouldn't recover for years. It would kill family tourism. That's our livelihood."
The last major spill in the Gulf was in June 1979, when an offshore drilling rig in Mexican waters — the Ixtoc I — blew up, releasing 140 million gallons. It took until March 1980 to cap the well, and the oil contaminated U.S. waters and Texas shores.
As of Tuesday, the spill was about 20 miles offshore, south of Venice, La. It covered an expanding area about 48 miles long and 80 miles wide, but with uneven borders, making it difficult to calculate its area in square miles.
"I understand there's got to be industry, but it's so sad for our kids. We don't have a lot of beaches left," Bonnie Bethel, 66, said as she watched her grandchildren splash in the water on a Mississippi beach. "Can you imagine these poor birds in oil?"
Thousands of birds such as egrets and brown pelicans are nesting on barrier islands close to the rig's wreckage. If the oil gets to them, rescuers would need to reach their remote islands, wash them down and release them back into the wild.
Michael Ziccardi, director of the Oiled Wildlife Care Network affiliated with the University of California at Davis, said he is standing by to clean up Gulf Coast birds.
"Just about any petroleum can cause problems for birds because they lose their waterproofing, and that's what keeps them dry and warm," Ziccardi said. "It's a really difficult time, and we're close to the peak of migration."
The spill also threatens billions of fish eggs and larvae coating the Gulf's surface this time of year.
If the well cannot be closed, almost 100,000 barrels of oil, or 4.2 million gallons, could spill into the Gulf before crews can drill a relief well to alleviate the pressure. By comparison, the Exxon Valdez, the worst oil spill in U.S. history, leaked 11 million gallons into Alaska's Prince William Sound in 1989.
BP said Tuesday that it planned to begin drilling a relief well to redirect the leaking oil in a $100 million effort to take the pressure off the blown-out well.
The company said it would begin the drilling by Thursday even if crews can shut off oil leaking from the pipe 5,000 feet underground. Robot subs have tried to activate a shut-off device, but so far that has not worked.
Chapman said 49 vessels — oil skimmers, tugboats barges and special recovery boats that separate oil from water — are working to round up oil.
In Washington, meanwhile, the Obama administration launched a full investigation of the explosion, promising every available resource.

Spain - Hang Your Head Down Low - The Video

2010-04-05T14:46:00.000-07:00

Vote For An And Aerjen

2010-03-26T01:37:00.000-07:00

I recently took time out of recording the new Spain album to tell everyone to vote for the team of An and Aerjen in the current version of Belgium's "So You Think You Can Dance" TV show. Exercise your right to vote!

Iran-Contra Minority Report '87

2010-03-19T01:18:00.000-07:00

Grab some popcorn and your significant other, and cozy up to a nice, quiet evening watching "Iran-Contra Minority Report '87", starring a young and dashing Dick Cheney.

The Return Of The Blue Moods Of Spain

2010-03-12T09:47:00.000-08:00

Music writer Scott Timberg did a nice write-up of my band Spain for his blog The Misread City.

Soul In Pop: Spain's "Hang Your Head Down Low" Review

2010-02-19T10:49:00.000-08:00

A nice review of my band Spain's new song "Hang Your Head Down Low" from La Blogotheque:

3. Spain - "Hang Your Head Down Low"

Ça aurait pu être Bill Callahan. On aurait pu choisir Stuart Staples. On retiendra Josh Haden. Il y a dans cette chanson de la retenue, de la douceur, une sensibilité qui flirte autant avec la soul qu’avec la prière (mais n’est-ce pas au fond la même chose). Il y a du recueillement, de l’évocation, de la sensualité. Et même un solo de guitare!

Political Stumping

2010-02-07T23:11:00.000-08:00

I usually don't stump for specific political organizations, but two interesting recent events in U.S. politics have inspired me to do just that.

The first was something President Obama said in his 2010 State Of The Union address: "...if anyone from either party has a better approach that will bring down premiums, bring down the deficit, cover the uninsured, strengthen Medicare for seniors, and stop insurance company abuses, let me know."

A young doctor by the name of Dr. Margaret Flowers took Obama at his word and went to the White House with a letter addressed to the President describing why in her opinion a single-payer approach to health care would fulfill all of his stated requirements. Not only did the President not accept her letter, Dr. Flowers was eventually arrested for trying to deliver the letter to him.

Dr. Flowers isn't some lunatic nutcake. She is a physician who's vision of health care is, as she states in her letter, supported by 65% of the American public and 59% of physicians. So she has some clout and evidence to back up her theories.

Now, if by what Flowers means by "single-payer" health care is meant "free (for the patient), universal, publicly-funded health care", I, too, support the validity of such an idea, and I signed the “Open Letter to President Obama to Support Single-Payer Health Care,” which can be found on the Physicians for a National Health Program website, and, if you agree with me, I urge you to do the same, seeing as though Obama has so much as said that he would consider such ideas. I thought he was open to the single-payer idea from the start, but obviously I was wrong or a lone physician wouldn't have felt the need to get arrested trying to deliver the idea to him.

In my opinion any government that gives the well-being of money priority over the well-being of its citizens should be ashamed of itself. Just as it is my opinion any government that allows even one of its citizens to live in poverty should be ashamed of itself. These are just my opinions though.

The other interesting recent event is the U.S. Supreme Court ruling Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the details of which can be found here.

How any person can call himself a conservative, say that they are against the status quo of big money influence in politics, and then support this ruling is beyond me. What this ruling says, amongst other things, is that if a wealthy corporation has the money to support a political cause in an advertisement or "movie" during primetime television, then the right to free speech applies to the corporation. If an unwealthy corporation, or group, or organization, or individual would like to support a political cause in an advertisement or "movie" during primetime television but doesn't have the financial means to do so, then said group or individual needs to either shut up (at least in their hopes of making their case on primetime TV in competition with the corporation), or bust out their soapbox and go to some streetcorner (or lonely website outpost) somewhere and scream "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore" to anyone who'll listen. Said people who are all probably lunatic nutcases like Dr. Flowers.

This ruling is about free speech. Conservatives say it supports free speech, liberals, like me, say it stifles it. I heard one liberal TV pundit ask a conservative TV pundit, if corporations are people why don't you support an electoral system in which corporations are afforded the right to vote as well? The conservative conveniently skirted this question.

Anyways, I signed the Move To Amend's "Motion to Amend" the U.S. Constitution to make it clear that corporations are not human beings, nor were they ever intended to be by our founding fathers. If you agree with me, I urge you to sign it too.

I Can Drive 55 - The Blog

2010-01-25T11:11:00.001-08:00

I highly recommend this new blog, which is sort of like "Zen and the Art Of Driving" in diary form. Excellent reading and carries important messages for all of us.

"Socialized Democracy"?

2010-01-22T11:48:00.000-08:00

a question for conservatives (including president obama): is it "socialized democracy" when every american, regardless of their financial income, has the right to an equal vote? why is the concept that every american, regardless of their financial income, should have the right to equal healthcare, called "socialized healthcare"? if the equal right to vote is called "democracy", shouldn't the equal right to healthcare be called "democratic healthcare"? and another question for conservatives: if you were to have our government force people to pay money for healthcare, shouldn't you support the concept that our government should force people to pay money to vote?

Jim Keltner & "Every Time I Try"

2010-01-21T08:45:00.000-08:00

There's a great interview with legendary drummer Jim Keltner in the Jan/Feb 2010 issue of Drumhead magazine.

Not many people know this but Jim Keltner played drums on the track "Every Time I Try" performed by my band Spain for the soundtrack of Wim Wender's 1997 film End Of Violence. Not the version that appears on the second Spain CD She Haunts My Dreams (Joey Waronker plays drums on that one), but the original version which can be found here and here.

We were introduced to Mr. Keltner through our association with former Dreamworks Records president Lenny Waronker (Joey's dad). I remember at the session (which took place at Conway Recording Studios in Hollywood) thinking how great he sounded and how he made the song come alive. At one point myself and one of the band members had a little argument about how we should play and/or arrange the song, and we asked Mr. Keltner what he thought, to which he replied, "Its a great song...I'll play it however you like!"

Anyways, Mr. Keltner isn't credited on either the soundtrack or the CD single version of the song, so I thought I might write about it here. It was one of the most memorable recording sessions I've been a part of and I'm so thankful he was able to play on one of my songs. I am truly blessed!

Martin Luther King, Jr. And Non-Violence

2010-01-18T00:45:00.001-08:00

The Power of Non-Violence By Martin Luther King, Jr.

2010-01-18T00:14:00.000-08:00

The Power of Non-violence

Martin Luther King, Jr.
June 4, 1957

From the very beginning there was a philosophy undergirding the Montgomery boycott, the philosophy of nonviolent resistance. There was always the problem of getting this method over because it didn’t make sense to most of the people in the beginning. We had to use our mass meetings to explain nonviolence to a community of people who had never heard of the philosophy and in many instances were not sympathetic with it. We had meetings twice a week on Mondays and on Thursdays, and we had an institute on nonviolence and social change. We had to make it clear that nonviolent resistance is not a method of cowardice. It does resist. It is not a method of stagnant passivity and deadening complacency. The nonviolent resister is just as opposed to the evil that he is standing against as the violent resister but he resists without violence. This method is nonaggressive physically but strongly aggressive spiritually.

NOT TO HUMILIATE BUT TO WIN OVER

Another thing that we had to get over was the fact that the nonviolent resister does not seek to humiliate or defeat the opponent but to win his friendship and understanding. This was always a cry that we had to set before people that our aim is not to defeat the white community, not to humiliate the white community, but to win the friendship of all of the persons who had perpetrated this system in the past. The end of violence or the aftermath of violence is bitterness. The aftermath of nonviolence is reconciliation and the creation of a beloved community. A boycott is never an end within itself. It is merely a means to awaken a sense of shame within the oppressor but the end is reconciliation, the end is redemption.

Then we had to make it clear also that the nonviolent resister seeks to attack the evil system rather than individuals who happen to be caught up in the system. And this is why I say from time to time that the struggle in the South is not so much the tension between white people and Negro people. The struggle is rather between justice and injustice, between the forces of light and the forces of darkness. And if there is a victory it will not be a victory merely for fifty thousand Negroes. But it will be a victory for justice, a victory for good will, a victory for democracy.

Another basic thing we had to get over is that nonviolent resistance is also an internal matter. It not only avoids external violence or external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. And so at the center of our movement stood the philosophy of love. The attitude that the only way to ultimately change humanity and make for the society that we all long for is to keep love at the center of our lives. Now people used to ask me from the beginning what do you mean by love and how is it that you can tell us to love those persons who seek to defeat us and those persons who stand against us; how can you love such persons? And I had to make it clear all along that love in its highest sense is not a sentimental sort of thing, not even an affectionate sort of thing.

AGAPE LOVE

The Greek language uses three words for love. It talks about eros. Eros is a sort of aesthetic love. It has come to us to be a sort of romantic love and it stands with all of its beauty. But when we speak of loving those who oppose us we’re not talking about eros. The Greek language talks about philia and this is a sort of reciprocal love between personal friends. This is a vital, valuable love. But when we talk of loving those who oppose you and those who seek to defeat you we are not talking about eros or philia. The Greek language comes out with another word and it is agape. Agape is understanding, creative, redemptive good will for all men. Biblical theologians would say it is the love of God working in the minds of men. It is an overflowing love which seeks nothing in return. And when you come to love on this level you begin to love men not because they are likeable, not because they do things that attract us, but because God loves them and here we love the person who does the evil deed while hating the deed that the person does. It is the type of love that stands at the center of the movement that we are trying to carry on in the Southland—agape.

SOME POWER IN THE UNIVERSE THAT WORKS FOR JUSTICE

I am quite aware of the fact that there are persons who believe firmly in nonviolence who do not believe in a personal God, but I think every person who believes in nonviolent resistance believes somehow that the universe in some form is on the side of justice. That there is something unfolding in the universe whether one speaks of it as a unconscious process, or whether one speaks of it as some unmoved mover, or whether someone speaks of it as a personal God. There is something in the universe that unfolds for justice and so in Montgomery we felt somehow that as we struggled we had cosmic companionship. And this was one of the things that kept the people together, the belief that the universe is on the side of justice.

God grant that as men and women all over the world struggle against evil systems they will struggle with love in their hearts, with understanding good will.Agape says you must go on with wise restraint and calm reasonableness but you must keep moving. We have a great opportunity in America to build here a great nation, a nation where all men live together as brothers and respect the dignity and worth of all human personality. We must keep moving toward that goal. I know that some people are saying we must slow up. They are writing letters to the North and they are appealing to white people of good will and to the Negroes saying slow up, you’re pushing too fast. They are saying we must adopt a policy of moderation. Now if moderation means moving on with wise restraint and calm reasonableness, then moderation is a great virtue that all men of good will must seek to achieve in this tense period of transition. But if moderation means slowing up in the move for justice and capitulating to the whims and caprices of the guardians of the deadening status quo, then moderation is a tragic vice which all men of good will must condemn. We must continue to move on. Our self—respect is at stake; the prestige of our nation is at stake. Civil rights is an eternal moral issue which may well determine the destiny of our civilization in the ideological struggle with communism. We must keep moving with wise restraint and love and with proper discipline and dignity.

THE NEED TO BE "MALADJUSTED"

Modern psychology has a word that is probably used more than any other word. It is the word "maladjusted." Now we all should seek to live a well—adjusted life in order to avoid neurotic and schizophrenic personalities. But there are some things within our social order to which I am proud to be maladjusted and to which I call upon you to be maladjusted. I never intend to adjust myself to segregation and discrimination. I never intend to adjust myself to mob rule. I never intend to adjust myself to the tragic effects of the methods of physical violence and to tragic militarism. I call upon you to be maladjusted to such things. I call upon you to be as maladjusted to such things. I call upon you to be as maladjusted as Amos who in the midst of the injustices of his day cried out in words that echo across the generation, "Let judgment run down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream." As maladjusted as Abraham Lincoln who had the vision to see that this nation could not exist half slave and half free. As maladjusted as Jefferson, who in the midst of an age amazingly adjusted to slavery could cry out, "All men are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights and that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." As maladjusted as Jesus of Nazareth who dreamed a dream of the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. God grant that we will be so maladjusted that we will be able to go out and change our world and our civilization. And then we will be able to move from the bleak and desolate midnight of man’s inhumanity to man to the bright and glittering daybreak of freedom and justice.

reprinted from here.

Song of the Day: Spain - I’m Still Free

2010-01-06T10:02:00.000-08:00

Song of the Day: Spain - I’m Still Free

http://blog.kexp.org/blog/2010/01/06/song-of-the-day-spain-im-still-free/

Spain To Be Featured On KEXP's Song Of The Day Podcast Jan. 6, 2010

2010-01-04T01:05:00.000-08:00

My band Spain's new song, "I'm Still Free", will be featured on KEXP's Song Of The Day podcast this Wednesday, January 6. As always, this podcast is available for free. I myself have subscribed to this podcast for a long time now so its a great honor to be a part of it!

Subscribe to the KEXP Song of the Day podcast with iTunes:
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=121393815

Subscribe to the KEXP Song of the Day podcast with another service:
http://www.kexp.org/podcast_songoftheday.xml

Learn more about all of the KEXP podcasts:
http://www.kexp.org/podcasting/podcasting.asp

To download from the KEXP Blog:
http://blog.kexp.org

Spain Featured In KEXP's Music That Matters Podcast

2009-12-27T18:16:00.000-08:00

Spain's new song, "I'm Still Free", is featured in the latest Music That Matters podcast from Seattle's radio station KEXP. You can download the podcast now for free using iTunes here, using a different service here, or you can download the entire podcast in mp3 form here. Its also available directly from KEXP's website.

Spain At Spaceland - The Photos

2009-12-23T09:42:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who came to watch my band Spain play at Spaceland in Silver Lake, California. It was our second show with new guitarist Daniel Brummel and the first time we got to play a few new songs live so we had a lot of fun.

Spain guitarist/keyboardist Randy Kirk: Setting up his keyboard

rig can be a drag...unless the keyboard happens to be a Hammond Organ!

Spain drummer Matt Mayhall at soundcheck.

Sounds good!

I didn't take this picture.

Mad Gregs opened the show.

At precisely 11pm, Spain took the stage.

I play bass and sing.

Daniel Brummel plays guitar.

Thanks to Lindsay for selling our new limited edition CD for us at the show! For more photos of our Spaceland set, check out my flickr site!

Spain - I'm Still Free: The Video

2009-12-15T00:40:00.001-08:00

Loveless Motel proprietor Billy Burke took video footage of my band Spain while we were recording our latest single, "I'm Still Free", edited it together with the finished song and uploaded it to Youtube. We had no idea he was filming!

Spain To Perform Live At Spaceland On Dec. 19, 2009 - The Commercial

2009-12-03T14:25:00.000-08:00

Come see my band Spain perform live at Spaceland in Los Angeles on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009!

New Spain 7" Release Date Has Been Delayed

2009-11-24T16:37:00.000-08:00

As you probably already know, Daniel, Billy, and I have been locked in the studio for weeks making improvements on the new Spain song "I'm Still Free". Matt's and Randy's parts were already perfect. We finally finished the song last night and now its ready for mastering but, alas, not in time for the strict deadline of December 15 set by label Acuarela Discos. Those guys are slave drivers, really. Anyways, in result we've delayed the release of the 7" and iTunes digital until January 26, 2010. So, you'll have to wait until then to hear the first official release of new Spain songs in, well, a long time. I may put the new version of "I'm Still Free" on the Spain Myspace page soon. I'm undecided about it. Acuarela president, er, dictator, Jesús Llorente, a friend of mine, and a good man, would rather us not, but I say, let the people hear the music. Free their ears from monotony and let them get a sneak preview of a song that took four years to write, and three to record, concurrently. Its Myspace, for crying out loud, it doesn't cost anything, and people can't download it. No one's making any money off of it, but, what the hey? Oh, wait. My Myspace uploading privileges have been temporarily suspended. Something about copyright violations for uploading songs I wrote. I should take care of that. In the meantime, what do you think? Should I break down and take the humiliating "myspace copyright law quiz" so I can upload the new version of "I'm Still Free" for you to hear, or would you rather be surprised on January 26? That way I could avoid having to "talk" to Myspace. But I'll have to contact them sooner or later. Who knows? Who cares? You be the judge! Leave a comment!

As an addendum, the Spain 7" release party at Spaceland on December 19 is still happening. I'll be selling a very special limited-edition cd of the new single at the gig. The show must go on.

Charlie Haden Family & Friends At Walt Disney Hall - The Report

2009-11-20T09:28:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone for coming to the Charlie Haden Family & Friends show at Walt Disney Hall! It was a lot of fun, and the music was amazing. I loved singing Donovan's "Catch The Wind", its one of my dad's favorite songs and we'd been trying to find an opportunity to play it for some time. All of the musicians sounded so great! Special thanks to Jerry Douglas for his amazing dobro solos on "Spiritual", can't get much more inspired than that!

If you thought the music on stage was good, you should have heard it in the halls backstage before the show. One of my favorite things about playing with this group is hearing the guys (Dan Tyminski, Bryan Sutton, Mark Fain, Jim Mills, Sam Bush, Stuart Duncan, and Jerry Douglas) jamming impromptu before we hit the stage.

Its always fun to watch my brother-in-law Jack Black ham it up on stage. My sisters, Petra, Rachel, and Tanya, sang in perfect harmony. My dad's wife Ruth Cameron sounded incredible, and my dad, as bandleader and bluegrass diplomat, held down the fort with his full bass notes and entertained and enlightened the audience as always with stories of his bluegrass past and words of inspiration and encouragement.

It was great to see my friend Ravi Coltrane backstage.

Meeting of the violinists: Lindsay Stella & Petra Haden

Spain keyboardist/guitarist Randy Kirk & Spain

guitarist Daniel Brummel made an appearance.

My dad Charlie & I backstage after the show.

UC President Mark G. Yudof Is A Lying, Ungrateful, Despotic, Selfish Hypocrite

2009-11-19T14:44:00.001-08:00

I've been waiting for a chance to post a blog entry about Tuesday night's Haden Family & Friends show at Walt Disney Hall in downtown L.A., but I've been so busy I haven't had any free time!

Now I have a moment to write about what a great experience it was but before I do so I just wanted to make a brief comment about the student fee hike imposed by the UC board of regents today.

As a UC alma mater I'm particularly concerned about it because every year around this time I'm hit up for money by some UC student telling me UC is broke and needs all the help it can get. How can they expect me to want to donate money when they're raising student fees? They should be lowering fees and showing that they are serious about giving every Californian a chance for an education.

As recounted by this L.A. Times article, UC President Mark G. Yudof said, regarding the fee hike, "I hate to say it, but if you have no choice, you have no choice." The article went on to say Yudof "empathized with student anger, but said it would be better directed toward state lawmakers who have cut education funding."

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if President Yudof is saying he has such "empathy" with students, why doesn't Yudof himself take his own advice, march up to Sacramento and tell Gov. Schwarzenegger how angry he is? Why doesn't he not support fee hikes? Or better yet, why doesn't he cut his own salary to show students he too is willing to make sacrifices for higher education, or, even better, call a general student strike until this situation is remedied?

I'd like to say a couple of things about the convenience of this fee hike. First of all, higher fees means more money in President Yudof's pockets. Secondly, higher fees means more money to be made by the student loan companies that are in cahoots with UC, and have been ever since student loan companies were invented.

On the front page of this morning's aforesaid L.A. Times is a photograph of students protesting the fee hikes. One student holds a sign that reads "California...#1 in Prison Spending[,] #48 in Education." And this to me is the crux of the matter. A financial crisis gives certain lawmakers excuses to cut education funding while letting the root causes of poverty and crime continue. As long as people are uneducated, crime will continue to rise, prisons will continue to be overcrowded, more money will have to be spent on police and law enforcement, and conservative politicians (due to the uneducated citizenry) will continue to be elected, allowing the cycle to continue ad infinitum. When will it stop?

Spain At Crane's - The Report

2009-11-12T08:51:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone for coming to Spain's show last night at Crane's Tavern in Hollywood. We had a lot of fun and it was great to see folks I hadn't seen in quite awhile. It was our first gig in a long time - and our first with new guitarist Daniel Brummel - and it felt good to get my stage feet back with such a welcoming audience.

Its also been so long I'm out of practice -- forgot to bring my camera!!

It was great to see: Daniel's dad (longtime Spain fan!), Ron Frank, my cousin John Wells, music producer John Chelew, Loveless Motel (studio where Spain has been recording lately) owner/engineer Billy Burke, Jamie Drake (great set, Jamie!), and many other friends and familiar faces. Even our friend/practice space-mate Jud showed up, on his bicycle a few hours late, but its the thought that counts. He rode all the way from West Covina!

Crane's is a great intimate venue with two rooms (full bar and performance area) and a cool back patio. A lot of the people who attend are locals and regulars which gives it a cozy, familiar vibe that's hard to find in L.A., even though its right off Hollywood Blvd. Rare indeed! Highly recommended. Thanks for having us Crane's! And thanks to Jamie for inviting us to play during her residency there, check out her music!

Spain In The Studio, Again!

2009-11-09T09:04:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend Spain's Daniel Brummel and Loveless Motel owner/engineer Billy Burke worked diligently on the new Spain song "I'm Still Free", making improvements in anticipation of its Dec. 15 2009 release on Acuarela Discos.

An Open Question For Liberals

2009-11-08T23:11:00.001-08:00

If Man's nature is essentially good, then why does he need to be governed?

"GOP healthcare plan isn't about helping the uninsured"

2009-11-08T22:50:00.000-08:00

Found this great article today (where it was entitled, "GOP plan is a bogus effort"; the article is titled differently in the Times online edition) on the front page of the L.A. Times Business section, of all places.

Republican Rep. John Boehner spoke yesterday of the "sanctity of life" when opposing the anti-abortion funding amendment to the health bill. That's all fine and good, but for Boehner, and his Republican and certain Independent and Democratic allies, the sanctity of life stops at the fetus; after a person is born, its straight to hell.

An Open Question For Conservatives

2009-11-07T14:48:00.000-08:00

If Man's nature is essentially evil, then why is it important that he have freedom?

How Many Ways Can Gov. Schwarzenegger Say "Fuck You" To California?

2009-10-30T23:32:00.000-07:00

How many ways can Gov. Schwarzenegger say "fuck you" to California?

Several! He can get creative too!

I thought he was going to stop giving Californians the finger, fine blended tobacco-stained as it is, after trying to close the state parks. Not entirely successful at that one.

Would Gray Davis ever have had the fake cow testicles to pull an acrostic stunt like this? I don't think so! I wonder how loudly Sen. Issa is laughing!

The "ball's" in your court, Assemblyman Ammiano!

Re: Pelosi: New health care bill is 'historic moment'

2009-10-29T09:52:00.000-07:00

From the article:

"Speaking on the steps of the Capitol, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Congress was "on the cusp of delivering on the promise of making affordable, quality health insurance available to every American.""

Let's ignore for now the possible definitions of "affordable" and "quality". The beginning of the very next paragraph reads:

"Officials said the measure, once fully phased-in over several years, would extend coverage to 96 percent of Americans."

So, which is it? Will the legislation cover every American, as Pelosi said, or just 96 percent, as officials are reported as saying.

Why might the proposed legislation cover only 96 percent? Who are the 4 percent who won't be covered? Why are the lives of the 4 percent not worth, monetarily speaking, as much as the lives of the 96 percent?

Why is it that Pelosi and other key Democratic legislators don't support free universal health care that would cover all Americans, not just a portion of them?

Stop The Presses! Sarah Palin Is Greedy!

2009-10-29T09:24:00.001-07:00

Read this article today about how Iowa Republicans are upset Sarah Palin is trying to charge them $100,000 to speak at a conservative group's event next month.

Why are Iowa Republicans so upset? Isn't that what capitalism's all about? Pulling oneself up from one's bootstraps and becoming successful? Supply and demand?

Surely, if Palin can charge that much money for a speaking engagement and get away with it, shouldn't her fellow Republicans be proud of her?

And what about all the money Republican lawmakers have accepted from the health insurance industry to secure their opposition to health care reform? Isn't this just the way things work?

Karen Ignagni Is A Spawn Of Satan

2009-10-26T09:18:00.000-07:00

Read this article to find out how health insurance industry lobbyist Karen Ignagni is almost single-handedly preventing free universal health care in America from becoming a reality.

I already wrote, in a previous blog entry, that President Obama never wanted universal health care in the first place. The House bill (which contains a "public option", Baucus' Senate Finance Committee bill doesn't) will only cover 97% of those eligible, far from universal.

Both of these "health care reform" bills contain a mandate that people must buy health insurance. Such a mandate will insure that the health insurance industry will have millions of new customers, putting billions more into the pockets of health insurance industry executives, employees, and lobbyists. Money will continue to be seen as more valuable than people.

As long as people have to pay money to insurers and providers for health care, some people will be able to afford it, and some people wont. Some people will receive health care, and some won't. Some people will live, and others will die unnecessarily.

The only way to "keep the health insurers honest" is to get rid of the health insurance industry entirely! Let the health insurance industry executives, employees, and lobbyists get their greed on in some other industry, like the music business!

New Spain Songs - The Commercial

2009-10-20T01:11:00.000-07:00

To Mayor Villaraigosa: Sell The Police Stations To Non-Profits!

2009-10-12T16:34:00.000-07:00

Hey Mayor! If Los Angeles can't maintain its police force, why not do to police stations what you're doing to our schools?

Instead of making "fiscally responsible compromises", sell individual police stations to the highest non-profit bidders! Its a win-win situation!

New Spain Songs Up

2009-10-09T17:06:00.000-07:00

The new Spain single won't be released until December 15, but you can hear the songs now on the Spain Myspace mp3 player. Enjoy!

Republicans: Rape Is OK If The Perpetrators Are One Of Us

2009-10-08T13:23:00.000-07:00

Important to note: Halliburton has been a huge GOP campaign contributor.

GOP votes against measure to help victims of rape at govt. contractors

Sens. Max Baucus, Kent Conrad, Blanche Lincoln, Bill Nelson, & Tom Carper Are Shills For The Health Insurance Industry

2009-09-30T09:36:00.000-07:00

I know we wanted more transparency in government, but this is ridiculous.

Yesterday in the Senate Finance Committtee Democratic Senators Max Baucus, Kent Conrad, Blanche Lincoln, Bill Nelson, and Tom Carper all voted against Sen. Rockefeller's "public option" amendment to health care reform.

Don't the "fearful five" know that the American people can see right through them?

This group of Senators don't care one iota for the health and well-being of their constituents. All they care about is the health and well-being of their health insurance industry campaign donors, and the health and well-being of their own pocketbooks.

A Revamped Website

2009-09-28T14:58:00.000-07:00

Recently, I took down my old website and put up a new one in its place. Check it out when you get a chance. I did it myself. http://www.joshhaden.com.

Republicans Are Hijacking Patriotism From The Patriotic, And Democrats Are Letting Them Get Away With It.

2009-09-28T00:26:00.000-07:00

We all know that Republicans will lie, cheat, and steal to get what they want.

Its not that Republicans don't know lying, cheating, and stealing are wrong; its that, in their view, lying, cheating, and stealing are justified if it results in them retaining their power, or, even better, broadening it. Doing so, in their eyes, better secures our "free" society.

Republicans believe that, since man is inherently evil, its better to enslave the (evil) majority to ensure that the good who can rule best (Republicans) are able to survive. This signals a major difference, some would say, the major difference, between the worldview of Democrats, who believe that man is inherently good, and that the enslavement of anyone, even Republicans, does nothing to promote the goal of a peaceful and sustainable world.

So, everyone, including Republicans, know that Republicans are liars, cheaters, and stealers, and know that Republicans are able to justify this fact to themselves by convincing themselves the end justifies the means. This shouldn't be surprising to anyone.

When Sen. Lindsay Graham goes on national television and says that "Americans don't support Obama's healthcare proposals," I know exactly what he's saying.

He's not saying that all Americans oppose Obama's healthcare proposals. He knows the majority of Americans actually support Obama's healthcare proposals. However, by saying "Americans don't support Obama's healthcare proposals" he's achieving the dual result of accusing those who do support Obama's healthcare proposals of being un-American, and thus, unpatriotic; and, on the other hand, helping to create, or insinuate, an anti-Obama healthcare plan atmosphere in general, hopefully inculcating in the minds of those who may be on the fence about Obama's healthcare proposals that they should be against them after all, because anything else would be un-American, and thus, unpatriotic. Sen. Lindsay Graham, is, after all, a Republican, all-knowing and all-powerful.

I would just like to say that I support Obama's healthcare plan if it contains language permitting free universal healthcare, and I'm an American. So I just proved Sen. Lindsay Graham wrong. I'm an American, and I support Obama.

Will someone please explain to me what is so American about letting a human being die because they don't have access to healthcare?

Will someone please explain to me what is so American about caring more for the survival of health insurance companies than the survival of human beings?

Will someone please explain to me what is so un-American about believing that America should care about the well-being of all its citizens, not just some of them? That if one human being suffers, then we all suffer?

Will someone please explain to me what is so un-American about the belief that every American should have access to healthcare, even if they don't have the money to pay for it?

Feel free to respond, especially you anonymous Republicans out there! :) Hint: democracy and capitalism are not the same thing.

Time to Get Real About the ACORN "Controversy"--and Republican Double Standards

2009-09-23T16:03:00.000-07:00

Check out this great article from the Huffington Post, the title says it all.

Spain 7" Release Date & A Gig

2009-09-22T00:58:00.000-07:00

Our good friends at Acuarela Discos will be releasing Spain's new 7" "I'm Still Free" b/w "Hang Your Head Down Low" on Dec. 15, 2009.

To celebrate we'll be playing at Spaceland in Los Angeles on Dec. 19. Hope you can make it!

The Left Should Reclaim 'Freedom'

2009-09-18T12:52:00.000-07:00

Found this great article today while perusing my blog subscription feeds.

Conservatives Say It's Their Turn For Empowerment?

2009-09-17T11:11:00.000-07:00

I suppose it remains to be seen if Rep. Joe Wilson's "emotional" heckling of the President, and the conservative opposition to real health care reform, is rooted in racism (also, here), but nobody, conservatives and Republicans (is there a difference?) included, can deny that the conservative movement and the Republican worldview in general is historically rooted in the racism, sexism, homophobia, bigotry, intolerance, and hatred of anyone who thinks and/or looks different than they do, experienced in America during the last 200+ years.

If the conservatives and Republicans could have their way, slavery would still be legal, people who aren't white would have to sit at the back of buses, wouldn't be able share drinking fountains with white people, and wouldn't be able to eat at certain restaurants, people who have political beliefs on the left end of the spectrum wouldn't be able to find work, women wouldn't be able to vote, and gays and lesbians wouldn't be able to marry (ooops, still working on that last one).

Conservative Americans have a lot to thank American liberals for, but when it comes to defending their stance against many of President Obama's ideas, conservatives will always have to contend with the history of intolerance perpetuated, historically, by themselves.

Sen. Max Baucus Is A Shill For The Health Insurance Industry

2009-09-16T09:40:00.000-07:00

Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., speaks with the press following a meeting on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009, in Washington. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari) from huffington post.

Today Sen. Max Baucus "finally" unveiled his "groundbreaking" health insurance reform proposals, which in actuality would reform nothing, and would leave the health insurance companies much richer and more powerful than ever.

Interesting to note that, according to the Max Baucus page on opensecrets.org, amongst Baucus' top 20 campaign contributors are Schering-Plough Corp, Aetna Inc, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, & Wyeth.

Spain On Twitter

2009-09-15T09:57:00.000-07:00

My band Spain now has a twitter page.

Shills For The Wealthy March On Washington

2009-09-13T00:14:00.000-07:00

Demonstrators are shown during a rally at Freedom Plaza in Washington. (Jose Luis Magana / Associated Press / September 12) from L.A. Times.

This weekend, the racist, the bigoted, the homophobic, the selfish, the self-centered, the narcissistic, the greedy, the two-faced, the cowardly, the unforgiving, the unreasonable, the unfaithful, the hypocritical, the hateful, the close-minded, the narrow-minded, the tea-bagged, the frightened of change, the proud sponsors of the status quo, conservatives, Republicans alike, all came together at our nation's capital to heckle a resounding "YOU LIE!"

I know, they "just let their emotions get the best of them." They are so sensitive!

I saw some footage of the "Taxpayer March On D.C." on C-SPAN and watched an interview with a man holding a "McCarthy Was Right" sign. Do you see where this "revolt" is going? Backwards in time, to the good old days, when men were men, women washed the dishes, peoples' lives were destroyed for their political beliefs, and anyone who looked different got their heads bashed in or were found in the morning hanging from a tree limb.

I love the line in this MSNBC article: "Many protesters said they paid their own way to the event — an ethic they believe should be applied to the government." Um, how else would they get to the event? I wonder how many of these "protestors" are bankrolled by the health industries, oil industries, and any other industry that stands to lose money and power if some of Obama's ideas are enacted.

Now, I'm not shilling for Obama. However, I don't think for a minute that any of these people care about the well-being of all Americans, some Americans, maybe. Anyone who doesn't think like they do are unpatriotic and not worth consideration at a hospital, much less as a human being.

Is this the kind of future that Jesus envisioned?

I saw a Republican Senator on TV yesterday saying that Republicans, unlike many Democrats, don't want to solve the health care problem "from the top down, but from the ground up." Republicans, says this Senator, want many of the same things Democrats do, for example, an end to many of the most heinous health insurance practices which unfairly deny people care.

I love this Senator's timing. Do you think we would see any change whatsoever in our healthcare system if Obama hadn't been elected? These "protestors" are running scared, as they always do, from anything that veers away from the status quo. They want money to stay concentrated with the wealthiest, the poor to stay in their place, and the middle-class to stay ignorant, uneducated, and complacent, and they'll say or do anything, even lie to themselves, to make sure things stay the way they are.

Michael D. Duvall, Heidi DeJong Barsuglia, And The Politics Of Lobbying Energetically For Energy Reform

2009-09-09T16:24:00.000-07:00

From OC Weekly:

OC Assemblyman In Bed With Lobbyist . . . No, Literally In Bed By R. Scott Moxley

Duvall ran from reporters today in the capitol

SACRAMENTO--Freshmen legislators arriving in Sacramento receive advice from veteran  politicians about the intricacies of working in California's capital. One of those tips is to remember that microphones broadcasting legislative debates can also capture embarrassing, career-ending personal admissions if a politician isn't careful. Michael D. Duvall, Orange County's 72nd Assembly District representative, must have forgotten the warning.

In July--two days after Assembly Speaker Karen Bass and Republican leader Sam Blakeslee put Duvall on the Rules Committee that oversees member ethics--the second-term, conservative, Republican assemblyman sat in a public hearing and vividly described lewd details about his trysts with a female lobbyist whose clients had business before another committee on which  Duvall sits. 

Duvall, speaking to a relatively mum Republican colleague seated to his left, apparently had no idea his dais microphone became live beginning about a minute before the start of a cable-televised committee hearing. He was captured in the middle of recounting portions of an affair. 

"She wears little eye-patch underwear," said Duvall, who is married with two children. "So, the other day she came here with her underwear, Thursday. And  so, we had made love Wednesday--a lot! And so she'll, she's all, 'I am going  up and down the stairs, and you're dripping out of me!' So messy!"

That line may quickly become part of colorful Sacramento political lore. In the meantime, it leads me to a question: Can someone please buy the assemblyman a box of condoms? 

Duvall--who was twice a president of the Yorba Linda Chamber of Commerce, served two terms as mayor of Yorba Linda before entering the assembly in  2006, and is the owner of an insurance agency--continues his tale: "So, I am getting into spanking her. Yeah, I like it. I like spanking her. She goes, 'I know you like spanking me.' I said, 'Yeah! Because you're such a bad girl!'"

He then laughed. 

The assemblyman representing Anaheim, Fullerton, Placentia, Orange, Brea, La  Habra and Yorba Linda then offered clues to the identity of his sex partner. 

"And so her birthday was Monday," he said at the Wednesday, July 8 committee hearing. "I was 54 on June 14, so for a month, she was 19 years younger than  me. I said, 'Now, you're getting old. I am going to have to trade you in.' And she goes, '[I'm] 36.' She is 18 years younger than me. And so I keep  teasing her, and she goes, 'I know you French men. You divide your age by  two and add seven, and if you're older than that, you dump us.'"

According to voter-registration records reviewed by the Weekly, veteran Sacramento-based lobbyist Heidi DeJong Barsuglia turned 36 years old on Monday, July 6.

Legislative sources say they have witnessed Duvall, who is vice chairman of  the Assembly's powerful Committee on Utilities & Commerce, socializing after-hours with Barsuglia. Sources--who asked for anonymity because of  Duvall's power in the capital--say Susan Duvall usually stays in Orange  County during the week, when her husband flies to Sacramento. They also say  they have seen Duvall with Barsuglia in restaurants, "arm-in-arm" at political fund-raising events and even shopping together for groceries just blocks from the capitol building. 

"Their relationship is the worst-kept secret in Sacramento," a capitol staffer recently told me. "He's old and fat. She's hot, blonde and about 20  years younger. He could have never gotten a woman like that before he got  this job.'"

In April--two months after Duvall became vice chairman of the Utilities &  Commerce committee--privately owned California utility giant Sempra Energy hired Barsuglia as one of its top lobbyists, according to Secretary of State  records.  Barsuglia, who has a law degree and once worked as a speechwriter for  Governor Pete Wilson, had previously worked at the California Retailers  Association (CRA). During 25 months of work at CRA, she reported that she incurred no reportable lobbying expenses. She joined Sempra after the  departure of another lobbyist: David Hayes, who was named deputy director of the Interior Department by President Barack Obama.  The San Diego-based utility conglomerate isn't shy about lobbying  lawmakers for favorable treatment. This session, they gave Duvall $1,500 in campaign contributions. In May, the assemblyman officially adopted the company's negative view on Assembly Bill 64, which proposes increasing the percentage of electricity the utilities must procure from environmentally  sensitive sources. 

Repeatedly asked to explain his recorded sexual boasting, a red-faced Duvall fled me and another reporter, Dave Lopez of KCBS in Los Angeles, three times this afternoon in capitol hallways. He also ignored three handwritten interview requests that were delivered to him on the floor of the assembly. Said one assembly employee who witnessed the scene, "It definitely looks like he is afraid of you guys."

Barsuglia did not responded to a request for an interview made at Sempra's offices located across the street from the capitol building.

Sempra's 2008-2009 "Code of Business Conduct" states, "We've built [the company's] rich tradition because of the emphasis we place on ethical business conduct and compliance with the laws and regulations that govern our business. We don't compromise on either for the sake of success"

But Duvall wasn't content to just share one adulterous tale at the July 8 committee hearing. He referenced a second, simultaneous affair with another woman. He seemed amused that he was cheating on both his wife and a mistress.

"Oh, yeah, Sher, Shar, Shar," Duvall said. "Oh, she is hot! I talked to her yesterday. She goes, 'So are we finished?' I go, 'No, we're not finished.' I go, 'You know about the other one [Barsuglia], but she doesn't know about you!'"

The assemblyman punctuated his observation with laughter. 

During his political career, Duvall has unabashedly espoused conservative  principles and is known as a partisan Republican with a knack for theatrics:  He has noisily driven his Harley-Davidson motorcycle to functions. In 2008,  Duvall blasted efforts to condone gay marriage. Legislatively, he has  proposed bills to aid the insurance industry and government contractors  feeding off the state's massive transportation kitty.  He has offered a law to alter the First Amendment rights of Americans by  banning anti-war activists from putting the names of fallen soldiers on  T-shirts with messages such as "Bush lied" on the front and "They died" on the back; he observed that the dead soldiers fought to protect freedom, and "opportunists" should not be allowed to "exploit" the sacrifices with political messages opposing war. 

Such thinking impressed certain constituencies. Earlier this year, the man who never graduated from high school received "100 percent" approval scores  by the California Republican Assembly, the state's leading conservative outfit, and the Capitol Resource Institute (CRI), a fierce guardian of traditional family values. 

"Assemblyman Duvall has been a consistent trooper for the conservative causes," CRI president Karen England announced in March. "For the last two years, he has voted time and time again to protect and preserve family values in California. We are grateful for his support of California  families.'"

Acknowledging the CRI award, Duvall observed in a press release that as long as he is in office, he would work to protect "California families" from "constant assault in Sacramento."

rscottmoxley@ocweekly.com

Obama Never Wanted Universal Healthcare In The First Place

2009-09-09T07:22:00.000-07:00

First it was called universal healthcare, then "single payer system", then a "public option", now the "public option" apparantly is barely even an option.

I think its important for everybody, especially Democrats, and especially everyone who voted for him, to know that Obama never supported universal healthcare in the first place. If he had he wouldn't be giving up on it so easily.

Republicans and Democrats are too beholden to the health insurance scam's...urm...industry's money for any true "change" to come about.

Its important for everyone to realize that all those highly upset and passionate folks at these public forums who are taking up arms against what they see as death panels, torts, brainwashing, socialism, and fascism are not speaking from their hearts. They are bought and paid for by a very defensive health insurance industry that is very, very protective of its mass quantities of wealth, a cache of cash that now looks to get even larger without a "public option" being available.

The health of U.S. citizens will continue to be linked first to monetary profit and least to true concern for the well-being of people created equally under God.

I was watching one of these health-care town hall meetings on T.V. last week and one of these birther anti- health reform/fascist/socialist/death panel/brainwashing/abortion/choice of doctor pro- tort reform people declared "I'm not evil!"

If she wasn't so evil to begin with why did she feel the need to assure everyone of her lack of evil-ness? Methinks you protest too much.

Republicans Are Minions Of Satan

2009-09-05T01:38:00.000-07:00

Having a little trouble sleeping tonight and this thought just occured to me, I think its quite brilliant. Shared it on my facebook page and now I bring it to you in all its glory:

I suppose it remains to be seen if Obama is Hitler and Democrats are actually socialists, but i think Republicans should start owning up to who they really are - minions of Satan.

Mayor Villaraigosa Is An Asshole!

2009-09-01T14:56:00.000-07:00

OK...so...six LAUSD school board members, with the backing of Mayor Villaraigosa voted to, in the name of "reform", sell 250 L.A. schools to the highest "non-profit" bidders. Wouldn't real reform be addressing the problems within LAUSD itself to allow it to do the job its supposed to do? Would that be too difficult? Or expensive? Would it entail completely changing the political culture of corruption in this city? Villaraigosa prefers things status quo, so his friends, family members, and financial backers can keep their jobs. What gets me most is that he calls this "change", a la Obama style. And the people of L.A. believe him, or maybe they just don't care. Anyways, throwing nickels and dimes to fix a very expensive (and essential, as this is the education of L.A.'s future generations we're talking about here) problem, and in so doing shifting responsibility for fixing the problem elsewhere, seems more Villaraigosa and the school board's style.

As an addendum, isn't this what Republicans have been trying to do in this city for years? Last time I checked Villaraigosa was a Democrat! Shouldn't he be switching parties? It just boggles my mind.

New Interview

2009-08-29T01:05:00.000-07:00

A very cool cat just posted an interview he did with me a few months ago at the Peverett Phile.

Spain In The Studio!

2009-08-18T11:13:00.000-07:00

Last weekend my band Spain was in the studio recording two new songs for an upcoming 7" on Acuarela Discos.

I'm not sure of the release date yet but Randy and I took some photos of the session which I reproduce below!

Keyboardist Randy Kirk & drummer Matt Mayhall getting sounds.

Randy, Matt, and guitarist Daniel Brummel doing a run through of "I'm Still Free", as seen from the vocal booth.

Loveless Motel manager Billy Burke at the console.

Later we took a dinner break at the Sleepless Night cafe, where the waitresses are cruel, but the food is cheap and the coffee is good.

Singing. I step away from the microphone to breathe.

More singing.

Me and Billy discussing the "Hot Weather" iPhone app.

Daniel & Billy discussing comps.

Steinberg v. Schwarzenegger

2009-08-14T09:26:00.000-07:00

I know I'm a little behind on my blog posts but I'd like to give an update on my recent postings about Democratic culpability in the recent passage of Schwarzenegger's California budget, and in his subsequent line-item vetoes cutting funding for $400 million worth of programs Democrats would never have agreed to had they been in the original proposals.

I find it heartening that Sen. Steinberg is suing the Gov. over his line-item vetoes. Perhaps the good Senator will redeem himself. But what I want to know is, why did he vote for the Gov's budget in the first place? He should have known something like this would happen.

Was it really the metal replica cow testicles Schwarzenegger sent to his office? Somebody explain it to me!

Day in the Life of Joe Middle-Class Republican

2009-08-13T09:21:00.000-07:00

Not sure where I was in July 2004 but I missed this well-written article about everything Republicans and "Blue Dog" Democrats have to thank liberal Democrats for.

Gov. Schwarzenegger Is An Asshole

2009-07-26T23:09:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure if there's a better way to say it, but Gov. Schwarzenegger is an asshole, and so are the people behind the scenes who are pulling his strings. And so are the California Democratic lawmakers who just handed everything California Republican lawmakers have wanted for decades on a silver platter. Wait, California Democratic lawmakers are even bigger assholes. Let's make sure we replace them with real Democrats come their respective elections. Can I get a witness!

Spain performing "Untitled #1" Live On French TV 1996

2009-07-24T20:10:00.000-07:00

Let's Not Reelect Darrell Steinberg & Karen Bass

2009-07-21T08:10:00.000-07:00

In reaching a deal on Gov. Schwarzenegger's California budget plan yesterday, California's Democratic lawmakers have done more than betray California's "real" people; they have betrayed the ideals of their party and shown what really matters to them: greed and profit.

In Darrell Steinberg's (D-Sacramento) words, they made cuts "in many areas that matter to real people", automatically recognizing, despite himself, a deep chasm between what he calls "real" people, the millions of people who depend on state services to survive (not only welfare recipients, but students, government workers, and many others) and the "fake" people who serve our government in California, who would never be affected by these cuts, but who would certainly be deeply affected by the tax hikes they oppose.

Darrell Steinberg went on to say "this is a sobering time". Sobering in exactly what way, Mr. Steinberg? Is the possiblity of raising your taxes quashing your 17-year greed high?

Karen Bass is no better. What happened to your "high" ideals, Karen?

Any Democrat who ends up voting for this atrocious budget plan should be ashamed of themselves. I hope you can sleep at night.

Charlie Haden Family And Friends at Montreal Jazz Festival

2009-07-06T10:08:00.001-07:00

I'll be singing with Charlie Haden Family and Friends Wednesday, July 8 at the Montreal Jazz Festival. Hope to see you there!

Gov. Schwarzenegger & California Republican Lawmakers Are Unpatriotic; In Addition, They Hate America And Everything It Stands For

2009-07-03T09:24:00.000-07:00

With the final decision in California today to send out IOUs instead of checks to everyone from state workers to students receiving financial aid, I wonder to myself, where is Gov. Schwarzenegger's sense of personal sacrifice? Why isn't he giving up his salary to help the state get out of debt.

A few days ago I received a comment from "Anonymous" to one of my blog postings which read, in part,

"Schwarznegger (sic) inherited a huge deficet (sic). He was making progress - without raising taxes - until the recession hit. But I know, this is making you angry."

I think the commenter is assuming that I think raising taxes is a bad thing. My response to him, which I'll paraphrase here, is if you truly loved your country, wouldn't you want to support it monetarily? Wouldn't you want to pay your dues? Surely you don't expect to live in the greatest country in the world, reaping the benefits you reap, and not give something back?

It is irresponsible for Gov. Schwarzenegger and his Republican friends to try to balance the state budget by gutting essential programs but not by raising taxes. Not even trying to compromise with Democrats. Not only is it irresponsible, its unpatriotic.

Kudos to the Democrats for having the backbone to not cave in to the Republicans and their spiteful and selfish demands. Republican lawmakers see an opportunity to pass legislation they would never in normal circumstances have any chance of passing, and being the opportunistic cowards they are, they are taking this opportunity at the worst time, the middle of the worst financial crisis in California in over a decade.

If California Republican lawmakers don't want to support their government why don't they try moving somewhere else! Let our state get back on track!

Hard-Ons with Neil Hamburger "American Exports" 7"

2009-06-17T18:48:00.000-07:00

I got the new Hard-Ons with Neil Hamburger 7" in the mail today. Now if only I could listen to it!

"Tone Deaf Governor"

2009-06-13T11:03:00.001-07:00

Mike Farrell (of M*A*S*H* fame) published a great article about Schwarzenegger's response to the voters' response to California's current money crisis.

L.A. River On Your Desktop

2009-06-10T18:19:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are interested in learning about the L.A. River but are too frightened, lazy, or busy to visit it yourself, KCET's Departures has posted a cool interactive online map that has video/audio footage and history. Hours of fun.

The Democrats Need A Darrell Issa

2009-06-03T18:22:00.000-07:00

The Democrats need a Democratic member from one of the U.S. House Of Representatives California Districts to invest over $1.6 million in a recall campaign of Gov. Schwarzenegger, get upset when the Democratic leadership tells him that in reward for his good work he won't be able to run for Governor as he had planned, watch in horror as the Democrats install movie star Ben Affleck as Governor, and then hold a press conference in which he asserts he really just wanted to continue representing his district and trying to find a solution to California's financial crisis all along, and he's just happy to get that Republican fool Arnold out of office.

I wonder if Nancy Pelosi is up for the task?

Long Time Ago

2009-05-31T16:07:00.000-07:00

Spain - Long Time Ago - Aula Magna, Lisbon, Portugal, 10 ...

Diamond Sounds

Spain (actually just me) performing their song "Long Time Ago" live at Aula Magna, Lisbon, Portugal, 10 May 1996.

Download the entire show for free from the Spain Live Music Archive page.

Josh Haden - bass, vocals

Ken Boudakian - guitar

Merlo Podlewski - guitar

David Harte - drums

"Stuff the Bankers, Starve the Kids"

2009-05-29T20:53:00.000-07:00

Robert Scheer wrote a great article regarding the fallout from the failure of the Schwarzenegger-backed ballot initiatives (which I wrote about in this post).

Credit Cards And...Guns?

2009-05-20T12:28:00.000-07:00

Will somebody please explain to me what being able to carry handguns in national parks and federal wildlife areas has to do with national credit card reform?

As the L.A. Times reports, Democrats and Republicans were able to come together on reforming questionable credit card practices such as unfair interest rate hikes (and other things too). But tacked on to the very end of the article was this paragraph (italics mine):

"As part of a compromise, the Senate legislation includes an amendment offered by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) that would allow visitors to national parks and federal wildlife areas to carry handguns if permitted by state law."

What does this mean? That Republicans won't support credit card reform unless there is some gun reform thrown in there too?

How legitimate then is Republican support for credit card reform in the first place?

Why is it that Republicans won't support a bill in Congress unless as part of that bill someone is getting hurt in some way, getting their job taken away, getting their access to healthcare taken away, getting access to a decent education taken away, or is getting shot by a .45 in a national park while birdwatching?

Josh Haden's Guide To The California Statewide Special and Consolidated Elections, May 19, 2009

2009-05-18T15:35:00.001-07:00

Note to Gov. Schwarzenegger:

You can't go around blaming the people for problems you helped create and not expect the people to get angry.

If the measures you support (1A - 1F) don't pass, don't blame the voters for an even more "dire" state of the state.

The voters don't trust you!!

California is at least as bad off now if not worse than when you replaced Gray Davis. All of the problems we are experiencing now happened under your watch.

You need to take responsibility and step down!

What is this b.s. about 1F?

There needs to be a measure on this ballot saying that, as a step towards balancing the budget, and as a way of admitting responsibility for the current crisis, and as a gesture towards showing the people they honestly want to change things, all California lawmakers must cut their salaries down to $1 a year for the next four years. I'm sure that would save California a lot of money.

Thus, for the State Measures, my strong recommendations are:

1A: No
1B: No
1C: No
1D: No
1E: No
1F: No

I know, for once I agree with the California Republican Party, but I don't think for the same reasons. The California Democratic Party support 1B, 1C, and 1F (on the rest they officially have "no position". Hmmm... Weren't these measures written by Schwarzenegger and the Democratic Party in the first place?)

For Los Angeles City Attorney, I endorse Carmen "Nuch" Trutanich. Not that I think he's any better than Jack Weiss, I just think Weiss is a little too friendly with Villaraigosa for my taste.

For the Los Angeles Community College District I endorse incumbents Angela J. Reddock and Nancy Pearlman. They seem OK to me.

My recommendations hold true for my district only. Other districts will have other and additional measures/candidates to vote for.

LAist has posted a guide to the myriad of endorsements for this election, including L.A. Times, Young Progressive Majority, and others. Kudos as always to Zach Behrens and LAist.

We All Come From God

2009-05-11T17:29:00.000-07:00

From my poetry blog.

We All Come From God

We all come from God
That's what they say

Others say
Only one comes from God
He's supposed to show us the way

Others say
None comes from God
There is no God
Its obvious they say

Still others say
There are many Gods
Each God a symbol
Of another origin from which we came

I say
In a newborn child
Is the symbol
For the beginnings of all life

From the seedling
To the star
From an idea
To its fruition

All that lives
Must be born

Their beginnings surround us

We all come from God

© 2009 Josh Haden

Divine Transportation

2009-04-17T00:11:00.000-07:00

From my photoblog.

Gone From Thinking To Praying

2009-04-10T21:26:00.000-07:00

Gone From Thinking To Praying

Gone from thinking to praying

Gone from knowing to dreaming

Gone from certitude to emptiness

Gone from determination to surrender

Gone from expression to impression

Gone from willfulness to impairment

Gone from language to deciphering

Gone from freedom to following

Gone from belief to faith

Gone from the soul to the spirit

Gone from embodiment to the mist

Gone from prediction to dereliction

Gone from certainty to forgetfulness

Gone from stability to sincerity

Gone from lost to found

Gone from faith to sound

Gone from thinking to praying

© 2009 Josh Haden

Spain performing "Ray Of Light" @ Monty, Antwerp, Belgium, 28 March 1996

2009-04-03T14:31:00.000-07:00

My band Spain performing the song "Ray Of Light" 28 March 1996 at Monty, Antwerp, Belgium. Download the entire show for free from the Spain Live Music Archive @ archive.org.

Josh Haden - bass, vocals
Ken Boudakian - guitar
Merlo Podlewski - guitar
David Harte - drums

Josh Haden's Guide To The California 26th State Senate District Special Primary Election, March 24, 2009

2009-03-24T00:47:00.001-07:00

Last night my wife Lisa and I rented Gus Van Sant's film entitled Milk.

After it finished, for about fifteen minutes I decided to give up my music career and go into politics.

Where are the politicians today who inspire, who gather the masses under a legitimate common cause and bring them marching en masse into the streets, not just for a day-long CNN photo-op to sell advertising spots? Where are the politicians who aren't already entrenched in politics, who don't already come from a political family or a political history, where are the politicians who are so passionate about their beliefs they grab a soapbox, a megaphone and set up on a street corner, starting from a grass roots effort, until thousands of people rally around them and effect real change, not just the kind of change politicians call change.

Is Obama the closest we can get?

All I've received from the candidates in this latest L.A. election are 13 one-sheet and small pamphlet mailers and two oven mitts.

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the oven mitts, but I was expecting a little more.

If the number of mailers I've received are any indication, Curren Price will be the clear winner of this race (I've received eight mailers from him). Robert Cole and Jonathan Friedman (two mailers each, although they did include said oven mitts with one of their mailers) will tie for a distant second.

However, I endorse Saundra Davis, for the mere fact she is endorsed by Congresswoman Diane Watson, and you can't go wrong with Diane Watson, at least not yet. Lots of politicians have been disappointing me lately.

Harvey Milk would never have disappointed me. Rest In Peace, Courageous Man.

For a full list of candidates for the 26th State Senate District Special Primary Election, see my previous post here.

God Created Capitalism

2009-03-20T13:16:00.001-07:00

God Created Capitalism

If there is a God

And God
Is the creator of everything
Seen and unseen

Then it logically follows that

God created Capitalism
God created Fascism
God created Communism
God created Socialism
God created Anarchism

It logically follows that

God created Democracy
God created Aristocracy
God created Oligarchy
God created Monarchy
God created Theocracy

God created dictatorship
God created authority

God created submission
God created conformity

God created ignorance
God created indifference

God created resistance
God created revolution

God created enlightenment
God created evolution

God created a way up
God created a way down

God created a way in
God created a way out

God created Capitalism

© 2009 Josh Haden

Watch Tanned Tin Documentary On-Line

2009-03-19T12:16:00.000-07:00

From the A Short Distance Myspace page.

The documentary about the Tanned Tin festival features footage of Spain performing live along with an interview.

Hi,

We have uploaded our documentary about Tanned Tin festival called “A short distance. A film about Tanned Tin” to Dailymotion.com.
....
A short distance emerged from a personal project of a number of Audiovisual Comunication students from the University Jaume I (....Castellón.., ..Spain....) in an attempt to make a documentary capable of transmiting the essence and history of one of the most reputable and intimate music festivals in our country. In the middle of the battle between music festivals, the Tanned Tin stands out amongst the rest and configures as a cultural event that wants to attract international independent musicians. This year will see the celebration of the first decade and is stirring grand interest between musicians and audience alike.

Through a number of interviews, the documentary spans the history and the backstage moments of the festival, focusing on the 2007 edition.....
.. ..
If you want more information you can visit our myspace webpage or contact us at: ashortdistance@gmail.com....
.. ..
Many thanks.....
.. ..
Adam Brenes....

A short distance (V.O english subtitles)
Uploaded by adamgrao

Tindersticks + Spain Photos From Henry Fonda Theater 13 March 2009

2009-03-17T22:33:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos of Tindersticks I took from the show at the Henry Fonda Theater in Hollywood 13 March 2009. The first two photos are from their soundcheck. The photos of my band Spain were taken by Andrea Morgenstern.

Spain Set List Henry Fonda Theater 13 March 2009

2009-03-14T10:56:00.001-07:00

Tindersticks were incredible last night. I took some photos from the side of the stage which I'll try to post tomorrow.

Here's my band Spain's setlist (by request):

I Lied
Before It All Went Wrong
I Love You
I'm Still Free
Sevenfold
Dreaming Of Love
Waiting For You To Come
Untitled #1

Tindersticks, Spain Friday the 13th

2009-03-12T11:05:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow night, Friday, March 13, Tindersticks and my band Spain will be performing on the same stage at the Henry Fonda Theater.

This is Tindersticks' first L.A. show in over five years and one of only a handful of dates they are playing in the U.S. to support their latest CD, The Hungry Saw.

This show also marks the debut of Spain's new lead guitarist, Perry Smith.

Please come and support if you can. It would be great to see you.

Friday March 13, 2009
Tindersticks
Spain
Henry Fonda Theater
6126 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood, CA
All Ages - $28
323-464-0808

Woo hoo! Another election! California 26th State Senate District Special Election

2009-03-09T17:51:00.000-07:00

Just when you thought it was safe to bask in the glory of another completed Los Angeles election, here comes another one that's sure to bring everyone out to the polls.

The March 3 election actually isn't over yet, Amendment B is too close to call and it'll be several weeks before the result will be definitive. Hopefully it won't pass muster. You can see my previously posted endorsements here.

The upcoming election, which takes place March 24, is a "special primary election" ordered by California Governor Schwarzenegger to fill the vacancy in the 26th district of the State Senate left by now-L.A. County Board of Supervisors member Mark Ridley-Thomas.

The contenders are:

Democratic Party: Obama delegate and a senior state director for the Barack Obama for America campaign Robert Cole; California State Assemblyman Mike Davis ("California's First State Legislator to endorse Barack Obama for President"); Vice President of the Board of Education for the Culver City Unified School District Saundra Davis (endorsed by one of my favorite politicians, Congresswoman Diane Watson); Mervin Leon Evans ("the only Candidate that Says No to Gay Marriage"!); "Chartered Financial Analyst" Jonathan Friedman; and California State Assemblyman Curren D. Price, Jr.

Republican Party: Rabbi, surfer, author Nachum Shifren.

Peace and Freedom Party: Cindy Variela Henderson.

Green Party: semi-retired computer specialist Alex Walker.

California's 26th State Senate district is decidedly Democratic, but this is Los Angeles after all, and anything goes!

I just wish Zuma Dogg could somehow be involved in this election as it might make it a little more exciting.

Speaking of Zuma Dogg, after his fourth place finish in last week's mayoral run he has decided to take a break from his daily appearances at L.A. City Council fighting corruption. Visit his new blog and wish him luck on his new endeavors whatever they may be!

I'll have my endorsement for this election soon. Check back often!

Spain Tomorrow Night March 7

2009-03-06T11:04:00.000-08:00

Spain goes on at 8:30pm so get there early!

Saturday March 7, 2009
Create:Fixate Art Event
Premiere Events Center
613 Imperial St. LA, CA 90013
All Ages - $15/$20

Josh Haden's Guide To The March 3 Los Angeles Municipal Elections

2009-03-03T00:23:00.000-08:00

I wanted to write a much longer blog entry on today's Los Angeles election, in which we Los Angeleans, amongst other things, get to vote on a new mayor, but I simply didn't have the time!

Its frustrating because this is a very important election for Los Angeles, even though probably most registered voters will be ignoring it.

An incredibly fascinating article about the corrupt and out-of-control politics of our city was published last week in the L.A. Weekly, I encourage everyone who's interested to read it.

Every city's political machine is corrupt to a certain extent and Los Angeles is no exception. Watch the movie "Chinatown" with Jack Nicholson to see how twisted it is and how far back the corruption goes.

Anyways, I love my city no matter what!

Please note this guide only applies to my voting district. There are many offices and candidates I won't be covering here, a great source to check out for other districts is the Young Progressive Majority.Org Voter's Guide.

My picks for the election, without fanfare and very little if any explanation:

Mayor: David "Zuma Dogg" Saltsburg

City Attorney: None

Controller: None, there really is no good candidate running for this important office, and that's sad because this office oversees audits of city government operations and financial disbursement programs, amongst other things. The apparent front runner, council district 2 representative and council President Pro Tempore Wendy Greuel is so much a part of the problem in L.A. city government I don't know how anybody could expect her to have a proper neutral perspective to do a good job. Her television advertisements are so disingenuous (me paraphrasing: "such and such office hired a firm to teach its employees Zen meditation! Horrible! With me in office there will be no governmental funding of Zen meditation on L.A. city property!"). I'm not sure we should trust her. I hope she proves me wrong.

Los Angeles Community College District:
Member Of The Board Of Trustees, Seat No. 2: Angela J. Reddock
Member Of The Board Of Trustees, Seat No. 4: None
Member Of The Board Of Trustees, Seat No. 6: Toss-up between Robert Nakahiro & Nancy Pearlman.
Member Of The Board Of Trustees, Seat No. 7: Miguel Santiago

Measure A: YES
Measure B: NO (A good article about this measure can be found here.)
Measure C: YES
Measure D: YES
Measure E: NO

Happy voting!

I'm going to sleep now!

Josh's Blog

In My Soul

Josh Haden's Devoted Now On Bandcamp

Spain Inna Rub-A-Dub Style

Spain - Untitled #1 (Original Demo Version)

Top Three Favorite Spain Songs - Election Results

Quote Of The Day

White Sand

Blue Moods Of Spain: A History, Pt. One Now Available

Treacherous Jaywakers - Life Is Lived In Vain & Hey Hey Hey

Soulsavers - Love & Precious Time

Rocktime Podcast

Eight Songs I've Sung

Two More Ways To Tell Me Where Spain Should Play

Tell Me Where Spain Should Play

Magnet Magazine - MP3 At 3PM: Spain

The Band Spain, Daniel Brummel, and a singing bowl.

I'm Now A Fan Of Gorillaz

Free Song Download From The Band Spain & Bandcamp.com

Q&A Josh of Spain

Spain Performing At Silver Lake Jubilee, May 22 2010 At 7pm

Kickstart The 7" Version Of Spain's "I'm Still Free" Single

Drill, Baby, Drill!

Spain - Hang Your Head Down Low - The Video

Vote For An And Aerjen

I recently took time out of recording the new Spain album to tell everyone to vote for the team of An and Aerjen in the current version of Belgium's "So You Think You Can Dance" TV show. Exercise your right to vote!

Iran-Contra Minority Report '87

The Return Of The Blue Moods Of Spain

Soul In Pop: Spain's "Hang Your Head Down Low" Review

Political Stumping

I Can Drive 55 - The Blog

"Socialized Democracy"?

Jim Keltner & "Every Time I Try"

Martin Luther King, Jr. And Non-Violence

The Power of Non-Violence By Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Power of Non-violence

Martin Luther King, Jr.June 4, 1957

Song of the Day: Spain - I’m Still Free

Song of the Day: Spain - I’m Still Free

Spain To Be Featured On KEXP's Song Of The Day Podcast Jan. 6, 2010

Spain Featured In KEXP's Music That Matters Podcast

Spain At Spaceland - The Photos

Spain - I'm Still Free: The Video

Spain To Perform Live At Spaceland On Dec. 19, 2009 - The Commercial

New Spain 7" Release Date Has Been Delayed

Charlie Haden Family & Friends At Walt Disney Hall - The Report

UC President Mark G. Yudof Is A Lying, Ungrateful, Despotic, Selfish Hypocrite

Spain At Crane's - The Report

Spain In The Studio, Again!

An Open Question For Liberals

"GOP healthcare plan isn't about helping the uninsured"

An Open Question For Conservatives

How Many Ways Can Gov. Schwarzenegger Say "Fuck You" To California?

Re: Pelosi: New health care bill is 'historic moment'

Stop The Presses! Sarah Palin Is Greedy!

Karen Ignagni Is A Spawn Of Satan

New Spain Songs - The Commercial

To Mayor Villaraigosa: Sell The Police Stations To Non-Profits!

New Spain Songs Up

Republicans: Rape Is OK If The Perpetrators Are One Of Us

GOP votes against measure to help victims of rape at govt. contractors

Sens. Max Baucus, Kent Conrad, Blanche Lincoln, Bill Nelson, & Tom Carper Are Shills For The Health Insurance Industry

A Revamped Website

Republicans Are Hijacking Patriotism From The Patriotic, And Democrats Are Letting Them Get Away With It.

Time to Get Real About the ACORN "Controversy"--and Republican Double Standards

Spain 7" Release Date & A Gig

The Left Should Reclaim 'Freedom'

Conservatives Say It's Their Turn For Empowerment?

Sen. Max Baucus Is A Shill For The Health Insurance Industry

Spain On Twitter

Shills For The Wealthy March On Washington

Michael D. Duvall, Heidi DeJong Barsuglia, And The Politics Of Lobbying Energetically For Energy Reform

OC Assemblyman In Bed With Lobbyist . . . No, Literally In Bed By R. Scott Moxley

Obama Never Wanted Universal Healthcare In The First Place

Republicans Are Minions Of Satan

Having a little trouble sleeping tonight and this thought just occured to me, I think its quite brilliant. Shared it on my facebook page and now I bring it to you in all its glory:

I suppose it remains to be seen if Obama is Hitler and Democrats are actually socialists, but i think Republicans should start owning up to who they really are - minions of Satan.

Mayor Villaraigosa Is An Asshole!

New Interview

Spain In The Studio!

Martin Luther King, Jr.
June 4, 1957