FEB 2011 FRIENDS NOT FANS NEWSLETTER

Evan Greer's "Friends Not Fans” Newsletter
February, 2011

THIS MONTH’S CONTENTS:
1) Let it snow, cuz we’re going to Florida!
2) Egypt in rebellion!
3) Are we friends on facebook?
4) Tiny Fists Tour w/ Bonfire Madigan taking shape!
5) New album progress! Still time to pre-order!
6) Upcoming Shows and Tours

HOW TO FIND ME ON THE INTERNET:
Riot-Folk! Page: www.riotfolk.org/evan
My website: www.evangreer.org
Buy CDs! www.evangreer.org/products.html (using credit/debit with Google Checkout)
Buy CDs! www.cdbaby.com/evangreer (using CD Baby)
Donate for downloads: www.evangreer.org/blog.html
Facebook: www.facebook.com/evan.greer2
Myspace: www.myspace.com/evangreer

IMMEDIATE DESTINATIONS:
scroll to the bottom of this e-mail for more show details!!!
FEB 1 - MAR 5: still seeking dates in FLORIDA, GEORGIA, & ALABAMA
FEB 5: FT MYERS, FL
FEB 10: TBA in FL
FEB 11: ORLANDO, FL
FEB 12: GAINESVILLE, FL
FEB 13: LAKE COUNTY, FL
FEB 16: SARASOTA, FL
FEB 17: LAKE WORTH, FL
FEB 18: LAKE WORTH, FL
FEB 19: MIAMI, FL
FEB 20: need a show in Ft Lauderdale!
FEB 21: BOCA RATON, FL
FEB 22: ST. AUGUSTINE, FL
FEB 23: need a show!!!
FEB 24: PENSACOLA, FL
FEB 25: need a show in biloxi, mobile, etc.
FEB 26: need a show in montgomery, panama city, etc.
FEB 27: TALLAHASSEE, FL
MAR 2: ST. PETERSBURG, FL
MAR 3: TAMPA, FL
MAR 4: LAKELAND, FL
MAR 5: TAMPA, FL
MAR 25: WORCESTER, MA w/ spiritchild, X-Vandals
MAR 26: BOSTON, MA w/ spriritchild, X-Vandals, Taina Asili, BIAC
MAR 29: OMAHA, NE
MAR 31: HOLYOKE, MA
APR 1: BOSTON, MA
APR 2 - 10: MIDWEST TOUR w/ BORN IN A CENT
APR 13 - 21: NORTHWEST TOUR w/ DANA LYONS
APR 22 - 30: TINY FISTS TOUR w/ BONFIRE MADIGAN (west coast)

1) Let it snow, cuz we’re goin to Florida!

We haven’t had this much snow since I was a kid so there’s nothing left for a tranny folksinger to do but blame climate change and pull a mini-skirt on over your snow pants. I would be frantically packing for the Family Florida Tour right now, but yet ANOTHER northeast snowstorm decided to cancel our flight, so we’ve got a few more days to truly savor the Boston weather before we head South to the magical land of short sleeves and avocados the size of Saoirse’s head.

[saoirse with art’s avocado]

So far the hardest part of my masculine-toward-feminine gender transition has been figuring out how to dress femme in the winter and i just haven’t gotten the hang of it yet, which i think is why i tour Florida every February. I’ve done it by greyhound bus, bicycle, car, and some hitchhiking in the early days, but i’ve never done it with a 6 month old punk rocker like Saoirse, so i'm pretty excited. Unfortunately I’m still learning how to balance tour booking and being a parent so I haven’t been able to put enough time into this Florida trip and there are still several empty dates to fill! If you’re down in that area or know someone who is and can help out by setting up a lil living room show or hooking up a workshop at your college/high school/ etc. just give a ring and we can totally make something happen!

[bike tour photo]

here’s the dates i'm REALLY hoping to book right now:
FEB 23: VALDOSTA, GA or TALLAHASSEE, FL
FEB 25: MOBILE, AL or BILOXI, MS
FEB 26: MONTGOMERY, AL or PANAMA CITY, FL
MAR 1: anywhere in FLORIDA within a few hours of TAMPA

can you help out? you know what to do! just e-mail me back and we’ll get something set up.

2) Egypt in Rebellion!
Sometimes it can be easy to feel like the world is just so f#&*@ed up that nothing we as a people could ever do would bring about the type of revolutionary change we need for true liberation from all oppression. When I’m feeling down like that, there’s nothing that cheers me up like a video of tens of thousands of armed police fleeing in fear from a crowd of protesters who no longer fear the regime that the police protect.

Check out this amazing video on You Tube of protestors taking the Qasr El Nile Bridge:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnQgaMOZLRc&feature=related

The stories and images that have been coming out of Egypt over the last week are some of the most inspiring acts of rebellion I’ve seen in a while, and the potential repercussions for a dramatic shift in the region’s politicis is heartening to say the least. Egypt has been second only to “Israel” in the amount of U.S. military funding it receives, and has been a staunch supporter of the continued colonization of Palestine, and other U.S. and European backed colonial projects in the Middle East. Now it seems this pillar of the empires is falling, and we can only hope that others will fall under its weight.

The mainstream media has of course towed the line they always duo when a tyrranical regime that has been backed by the U.S. begins to fall. We hear the talking heads in our govertnment call for “reform” and “democracy” but of course they always remind us that the most important thing is “security" and “stability.” I hear liberals on NPR condemn the violence on both sides” and i simply have to laugh and wonder if anyone on the ground in Egypt could possibly equate the oppressive violence of armed soldiers sworn to uphold a U.S. funded despot with the necessary violence of oppressed people fighting for their liberation?

After the recent uprising in Tunisia, a friend forwarded me the word sof Palestinian poet Tamim Al-Barghouti:

“The tyrant exists only in the imagination of his subjects; the master resides only in the perception of the slave. Attempts at defiance have been abundant in the recent history of the Arabs, many of them in Palestine, but unlike those, the Tunisian example was successful: it widened people's imagination, changed their perception, increased their self-confidence and showed them how fragile their tyrants are.”

Need some more upliftment? Watch this video about mass prison breaks in Egypt. Thousands of prisoners broke their way out of cells and were aided to freedom by family members and sympathizers. The video focuses on a Palestinian freedom fighter who has returned home tto Gaza after being held for 3 years as a political prisoner in Egyption prisons: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WR1zcYmaI8c

Feel that tingle in your spine? That’s the feeling that this could happen here. It could happen anywhere. The power is our’s if we take it.

3) Are we friends on facebook?
So in watching these recent uprisings i’ve started thinking more about this whole internet social networking thing. It’s easy to write it off as evil, i mean, it certainly wastes a lot of people's time playing farmville. some of my friends who are polformer political prisoners talk about how in the dayts of movements like the Black Liberation Army there were entire offices of police and Feds who’s sole purpose was to figure out their targets social networks: who’s friends with who, etc. Now they just have to look at your facebook,. so it's certainly made their job a lot easier.

On the flipside the viral and somewhat inherently anarchistic nature of the internet leads to some amazingly democratic potential, like a revolution that starts online and spreads to the streets.

In anty account, i can’;t help but ignore how useful of a tool facebook is for getting the word out about stuff. I don’t have a “fan” bpage on facebook, cuz you know how i feel about "fans,” but i do have a personal account where i post all kinds of stuff from photos to daily musings to political links to real-time updates about tours, shows, new songs, etc.

So! If we’re not friends on fb yet, we should be! Here’s how to find me:
www.facebook.com/evan.greer2

4) Tiny Fists Tour w/ Bonfire Madigan taking shape!
Just a lil note announcing the name for me and riot-grrrl cello mama punk star Bonfire Madigan’s 2011 West Coast Tour. It’s gonna be an amazing adventure with seriously cute babies, an arsenal of stringed instruments, and a whole lot of reusable diapers.

Posters and tour promo stuff coming soon, but get in touch NOW if you want to bring this epic show to your town! E-mail: evangreer@gmail.com for all booking questions.

[Natalle fist up]

Madigan’s baby, Natalle, is just one month younger than Saoirse! This tour will be so much fun. Rad queer parent solidaritty forever.

5) New album progress! Still time to pre-order!

Through unsecure methods like text message and facebook, my co-conspirators and i have been plot plotting to create a new album so full of musically revolutionary zeal that the hetero-patriarchy trembles at the mere mention of its yet-to-be-determined name.

More nefariously queer collaborators have been named, such as super-drummer Charlene Obernauer of feminist punk troupe Born In A Cent, d manty others are still requesting that their identities remain secret for the betterment of the plan.

A leaked document has revealed a list of songs that may or may not appear on the album in no particular order:

I’m Pretty
U-Lock Justice
Countdown
When the Last iPod Dies
Outside Lookin In (feat Majesty)
Gay Irish Rebel Song
What Friends Are For
Go Call FEMA
Which Side Are You On? (Palestine re-write)
Bella Ciao (feat Holly Brewer of HUMANWINE)
My Dying Day
Clean My Apartment
Confluence
The Spring
Taking Down the Tent
All That We Have Done (feat members of Broadcast Live)
Ballad of Tundra (remix)
Genocide

probably more. who knows!

I’m still asking for people to help make this project possible by PRE-ORDERING THE ALBUM now! When it comes out you’ll get TWO copies, signed with little love notes, plus a link to download a SUPER SPECIAL SECRET BONUS TRACK that only the pre-order people will have (at least for a while.) and some patches and whatever other cool stuff is laying around when i’m sending them out!

TO PRE-ORDER, just donate $20 - $30 either through my website: www.evangreer.org/blog.html or through my partner’s pay-pal account: erf@riseup.net

Then shoot me an e-mail: evangreer@gmail.com to let me know that your donation was for a pre-order! I’ll add your dname to a highly confidential list and you’ll get your albums in the mail AS SOON as it’s done, long before it hits the internet, etc.

I know that not everyone has $20 or $30 to pre-order, and of course just like all my other music this album will be available for ree download in its entirety on www.riotfolk.org

If you want to donate a smaller amount to support this project and keep free music available, you can do that too at www.evangreer.org/blog.html (with google check-out) or just by pay-paling any amount to erf@riseup.net

I SO greatly apprecaite your support, it makes everything possible.

6) Upcoming shows and tours!

Below are all the details that I currently have on my upcoming shows and tours!
Details are frequently updated at www.riotfolk.org/evan (click on shows)

FEB 4 - MAR 5: FAMILY FLORIDA TOUR

FEB 5: FORT, MYERS, FL
7pm @ Cool Hand Luc’s
2040 Collier Ave Suite B
All ages.

FEB 11: ORLANDO, FL
8pm @ Stardust Coffee & Video
1842 East Winter Park Road
All Ages. $5 - 10 sliding scale suggested donation.

FEB 12: GAINESVILLE, FL
V-FEST SHOW!
8pm @ The Civic Media Center
433 S Main Street. All ages.
$5 - 10 sliding scale donation.
With: Lizzy Pitch, The One’s To Blame, Gainesville Liberation Orchestra
Benefit for the CMC and local domestic violence response organizations.

FEB 13: LAKE COUNTY, FL
Venue and details TBA
Organized by Swamp Cabbage Booking

FEB 14 - 15: looking for shows in Florida

FEB 16: SARASOTA, FL
@ New College of Florida
4 Winds Cafe on Campus.
$5 - 15 sliding scale suggested donation.
More details TBA

FEB 17: LAKE WORTH, FL
7pm @ Night Heron Grassroots Activist Center
1307 Central Terrace. All Ages! $5 - 10 sliding scale.
With: Lizzy Pitch, Autumn Springs, Serafima, more TBA!

FEB 18: LAKE WORTH, FL
7pm @ Mother Earth Coffee
419 2nd Avenue North.
All ages, donations please!

FEB 19: MIAMI, FL
9pm @ Sweat Records
5505 Northeast 2nd Avenue.
All Ages. $5 - 15 sliding scale donation.
With: Raffa & Rainer, more TBA!

FEB 20: need a show in Ft. Lauderdale area!

FEB 21: BOCA RATON, FL
house show, details TBA

FEB 22: ST. AUGUSTINE, FL
details TBA

FEB 23: need a show btw. St Augustine and Pensacola!

FEB 24: PENSACOLA, FL
@ University of West Florida
Sponsored by the Student Progressive Alliance
Details TBA!

FEB 25: need a show in Biloxi, MS or Mobile, AL or nearby

FEB 26: need a show in Montgomery, AL or Panama City, FL

FEB 27: TALLAHASSEE, FL
@ FRESH FEST
Food Not Bombs Show.
Details TBA. www.tallyfreshfest.com

FEB 28: NEED A SHOW IN FLORIDA

MAR 1: NEED A SHOW IN FLORIDA

MAR 2: ST. PETERSBURG, FL
7:30pm @ Cafe Bohemia
937 Central Ave. All Ages!
$5 - 15 sliding scale donation.
Sponsored by St Pete for Peace
With: Ngaire

MAR 3: TAMPA, FL
Details TBA! somthing at USF and something else at night!

MAR 4: LAKELAND, FL
details TBA

MAR 5: TAMPA, FL
Coalition of Immokalee Workers Actions!
Details TBA!

MAR 25: WORCESTER, MA
DETAILS TBA
With: X-Vandals, Taina Asili ty La Banda Rebelde, more!

MAR 26: BOSTON, MA
6pm @ Community Church of Boston
565 Boylston St, Copley Sq
With: X-Vandals, Taina Asili ty La Banda Rebelde, Born In A Cent, more!
$7 - 20 sliding scale donation. All ages! Dance party!

MAR 28: looking for a house-show or something in the Omaha area!

MAR 29: OMAHA, NE
12 noon @ University of Nebraska-Omaha
Sponsored by Gender & Sexual Orientation Agency
Details TBA!

MAR 31: HOLYOKE, MA
No Pity Event @ Smith College
details TBA!

APR 1: BOSTON, MA
Back to the Roots Tour with spiritchild!
Human Rights Week Event
@ Northeastern University
Sponsored by Project Nur and more!

APR 2 - 9: MIDWEST FULL BAND TOUR
w/ EVAN GREER & FRIENDS, BORN IN A CENT

APR 2: COLUMBUS, OH
Feminist Queer House Show
Details TBA! this will be awesome.

APR 3: NEED A SHOW IN OHIO

APR 4: OXFORD, OH
@ Miami University
Details TBA, tentative

APR 5: CINCINNATI, OH
@ Cincinnati University
Details TBA, tentative.

APR 6: ATHENS, OH
@ University of Ohio
Earth Month Event.
Details TBA! Sponsored by the Sierra Student Coalition.

APR 7: PITTSBURGH, PA
@ University of Pittsburgh
Details TBA! Sponsored by SDS.

APR 8: TBA in Pennsylvania

APR 9: NYC ANARCHIST BOOKFAIR

APR 10: need a show near NYC

APR 12 - 20: NORTHWEST TOUR w/ DANA LYONS

APR 13: BELLINGHAM, WA
@ Western Washington University
On campus location TBA
FREE and open to the public.
Sponsored by SIRC and more.

APR 14: TBA in Tacoma or Olympia

APR 15: TBA in Seattle

APR 16: PORTLAND, OR
@ Reed College
Details TBA

APR 17: EUGENE, OR
@ University of Oregon
Details TBA

APR 18: need a show in Corvallis or Ashland

APR 19: need a show in Arcata area
APR 21: need a show in Sacramento area

APR 22 - 30: TINY FISTS TOUR w/ BONFIRE MADIGAN

APR 22: BAY AREA, CA
DETAILS TBA!
With Adhamh Roland

APR 23: SAN JOSE, CA
STILL BOOKING!

APR 24: SANTA CRUZ, CA
STILL BOOKING!

APR 26: FRESNO, CA
STILL BOOKING!

APR 27: RIVERSIDE, CA
DETAILS TBA

APR 28: LOS ANGELES, CA
Details TBA!

APR 29: SAN DIEGO, CA
DETAILS TBA

APR 30: TIJUANA, MEXICO
DETAILS TBA!