To be clear, i know about 10-12 country songs. And some of them are actually more pop than country, so I will annoy true country music aficionados, but whatever. It’s Country Nite for me.

Where: https://youtu.be/FVfRbqJJJKc

When: Monday Nite, October 19th 7:30PM EDT (“doors” open at 7 for community hang) -

Who gets 10%: https://www.violenceinboston.org - The mission of Violence in Boston is to improve the quality
of life & life outcomes of individuals from disenfranchised communities by reducing the prevalence of violence and the impact of associated trauma. Established with $1,000 in 2017, the plan is to provide any resident, who experiences any form of violence, the ability to walk in and obtain all required assistance from VIB staff.

$$$: http://paypal.me/vancevancevance or
https://venmo.com/vancevancevance or
a check to VanceFunder P.O. Box 17, Arlington, MA 02476 for this web-groovery.
Pay or not. It’s up to you. Let’s just stay connected.

This week’s pajamas: maybe

I coach voice, songwriting, performance. Contact me. I have some open spots

Good Good Man - the CD - streaming all platforms, even get it from me…

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~ COMMERCIAL #1 ARLINGTON PET FOOD PANTRY - https://www.facebook.com/Arlington-Pet-Food-Pantry-102579731353594

So Deb and I were walking with Bessie earlier today and we took a back-ish route through a side street. We were talking about food insecurity, and where I might donate this PajamaParty cycle, I swear, and we stumbled upon a sign in this yard saying "Arlington Pet Food Pantry”.

Hell yeah, we knocked on the door.

Short story short is that LeeAnna and Matt take food, leashes, and other animal items for distribution. Alas, they have a current problem - they have too much stuff!! They know the need is out there, but they cannot be a delivery service. Plus, they are not yet 501(c)(3) so they also cannot take monetary donations.

So here’s my shout-out ask: Do you know of groups, people, situations in my area that have food insecure pets? Contact them above. And get ready to drive to the bin at their house.

~COMMERCIAL #2 A1 AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR STORY - https://www.facebook.com/A1-Automotive-Repair-162543043764901/

Justin and Paul are my go-to guys. Their prices are about median, so I just put it on the card. But they want you back so they really take care of you. Justin remembers my name. As they explain stuff, I see a set of keys on the wall that say “Novick”. I jog home laughing.

Next day, car done, as they hand me the bill, I say “That was Billy Novick’s keys, weren’t they?” Justin laughs and verifies that, and he asks if we have ever played together. I reply “He’s on two of my albums...” They both blanche - clearly not jazz fans. I reassured them that I jogged there listening to Steve Earle’s "Copperhead Road", and they look a little less pre-pukey. I muse about playing a joke by calling Billy saying that “some Black guy with a Poodle came and picked up your car with a bad check…” They said hands down that they would have joyously run with that.

So I tell this story on Billy Novick’s Facebook page as we have about then same birthdays (he is, however, much, much older...) and he replies (I use without permission):

"Isn't that some kind of HIPPA violation? Isn't my privacy supposed to be protected? Next time I see you you'll say something like 'I realize I'm not supposed to know any of this, but I just had to tell you how sorry I am to hear that your wheels were out of alignment. I hope everything works out ok- you're in my thoughts and prayers.'”

Jesse Williams, bass player who has worked with both of us and also takes his car there chimed in with how we should go play a jazzy soft-shoe version of Steve Miller’s Take The Money And Run. Bless their Classic Rock hearts...but yeah, take your car here.

~ THESE LEAVES - Yeah. My side yard. Looks like I live in the woods don’t it? So pretty

~ NEW APPLE VARIETY - This variety of apple is called Toddler’s Head. OK that’s a lie, but I swear this apple is so large even an open pie crust be saying “Enough! One apple per pie is plenty...damn!!”. She got these at the CSA. I believe CSA stands for “Crazy-Sized Apple”...and yes that’s some lyrics scratched out on the side of the apple and that old model plane book. No, don’t get your hopes up yet.

~ MY BIRTHDAY - was amazing. Thank you all.

~ SHORTHAND - In conversation with a guy sporting WE SUPPORT POLICE signs in the yard, he talked about dispensing food and supplies to - and here’s where he went fishing - “I’m looking for the PC term here…neighborhoods where folks are impoverished and underserved...”

I interrupted with, “I got you. We’re all good - use whatever shorthand you need”. I added with a grin, maybe a poor attempt at comedy to ease his language consternation, “I get it...I’m Black, you know...”

He paused and spread his hands and said “And that doesn’t really matter to me.”

I guess I’m just old, more secure, and I’ve been at this living in this skin thing a long time.

I replied, “It does to me”. He nodded acknowledgment and we talked caringly on.