Here we go. Welcome to the fifth issue of the Breaker’s Point newsletter. I am having so much fun doing these, and I look forward to sharing music and my thoughts with all of you each week. I extend a warm greeting to any newcomers, and for you initial subscribers; thanks for paying attention and even telling your friends. It means a lot to me. I had quite a long weekend, yet it was packed with fun and old friends. My brother-from-another-mother Josh Feinstein visited me here in London. It was fun showing him around and trying to expose him to all the amazing things that London has to offer by day and by night. I also saw an old camp friend that I had not seen in years. She and I were very close friends and it was nice to see her again, and we really picked up where we left off. I was fortunate enough to go to camp and form these deep friendships, and for you non-camp-goers, there are no such relationships to compare it to. I am sorry. It is a special thing. I recovered yesterday as I barely left my bed and went on a Mad Men marathon and finally finished the show. As much as I would love to write about it, I do not want to spoil it for anyone who has not seen it. I hate spoilers, so I do my best not to spoil anything for anyone else. I will say that I liked the finale and was satisfied with how the show ended.
On a more serious note, I have never distrusted the media before, at least the media that I choose to consume. I frankly am disgusted by the former president’s attack on the media and I view it as an impetus to the increasingly divided world we are trying to unite. However, I am upset with how many neutral or left-leaning sources covered the death of five ISRAELI JEWS, who were killed by Palestinian terrorists. ISRAELI JEWS were the words that they left out, and generalized by just saying five people were killed. There is definitely antisemitism in there and it makes me deeply uncomfortable. I do want to say though that I do not support Israel’s oppression and murder of Palestinians either. I am just Jewish and understand that without Israel, there are no Jews. I love the Dr. King quote that Bruce uses in his broadway show: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” Sometimes something happens so many times that King’s principle can feel untrue. However, I do not think it is untrue. You have to be an optimist because what is the alternative. Hope keeps us alive. But god damn it is so frustrating.
Otherwise, I am chomping at the bit to play live again. I am filled with so many ideas to make performances even better and show off some new songs I have not played yet, or have played a few times. There are also a lot of back-catalog tunes that do not get live representation. I promise that when I get home, and then back to Syracuse, you are all going to see the greatest Mnemonic Advice show you have ever seen. If you have a stage, let me know.
Oh s**t, it was also the Grammys last night. Eh, whatever, I don’t care to be perfectly honest.
Grateful Eight:
* Bruce Inc. has made several live shows available for stream included in the nugs.net subscription. Before this, you had to buy each one. I am super excited by this.
* My health. COVID cases are surging in the UK right now. It is a pretty bad wave. I am always grateful for being healthy.
* Summer of Soul. I started watching this Questlove-directed Summer of Soul documentary about the Harlem Culture Festival of 1969. Some of the performance footage feels surreal. There is a clip of a young Stevie Wonder upright and singing, and then ripping a drum solo. I had no idea he could even play drums. There was also an excellent B.B. King clip. I know Sly and the Family Stone turns up soon and I am excited to see that.
* NJ Bagels. It is honestly sad what they call a bagel here.
* Similar theme, but NJ diners. You don’t know how many times I do not know what I want to eat, or craving diner food. Diners are amazing. They are essential and should not be taken for granted.
* Ok, NJ delis. I would love to walk into Marra’s and get a number 17 for lunch or dinner. It is so quick and easy and delicious. London does not really have delis and if they do, they are not very good.
* Since I have shat all over London’s food situation, I will praise London beer. Other countries just do beer better than the United States. They keep the beer extra cold and pour it well. A Stella Artois in London and a Stella Artois in the US taste like different beers.
* Old Kanye. Look, I have no idea what has happened to the man in the last 3 or 4 years. I cannot even listen to his new albums, because I am so sick of 2022 current day Kanye. But, my god, this guy was a visionary. The beats are simple but soulful on albums like The College Dropout and Late Registration. The man could also rap with the rhythm and potence of the top MCs at the time. His lyrics! His lyrics were funny but poignant, politically conscious, and clever. It is objectively amazing music. Ugh. Bring that guy back. He is gone forever though.
This Week’s Rare Mnemonic Advice/Josh Carus Recording: (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
This has always been one of my all-time favorite songs. Carole King is a treasure. I even prefer her version of this song on Tapestry to Aretha Franklin’s version which of course is legendary. Something about a songwriter and a piano will always be magic to my ears. I decided it would be fun to cover as a man. It is a damned if you do and damned if you don’t situation when it comes to changing pronouns/references to the opposite sex. I feel like I do not need to get into why, but personally, I do not like to change the original lyrics no matter what. It feels weird and superficial to me. I love how in The White Stripes cover of Jolene, Jack White does not change the lyrics at all. Something about it seems cool. So, yeah. Why can’t a 21-year-old straight white guy feel like a natural woman? I claim discrimination :) This recording is from an Instagram live stream I did during COVID.
