THIS MONTH'S CONTENTS:
1) Greetings and best wishes for 2012!
2) Follow me on Twitter!
3) Donate support the Anne Feeney labor history project!
4) Buy My Electric Guitar!
5) Booking for 2012 - 2013! Bring me to your town!
6) New Songs & Videos!
7) Upcoming Shows (full details)
HOW TO FIND ME ON THE INTERNET:
E-Mail: evangreer@gmail.com
Website: www.evangreer.org
Collective: www.riotfolk.org
Twitter: www.twitter.com/evan_greer
Facebook: www.facebook.com/evan.greer2
Myspace: www.myspace.com/evangreer
Buy CDs / Download from Bandcamp: evangreer.bandcamp.com
Buy CDs From CD Baby: www.cdbaby.com/evangreer
YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/evangreer1
IMMEDIATE DESTINATIONS in 2012!
JAN 9: North Andover, MA
JAN 20: need a show between NYC and Kalamazoo!
JAN 21: Kalamazoo, MI w/ BACK TO THE ROOTS
JAN 22: need a show between Kalamazoo and NYC!
JAN 27: Lawrence, MA @ Peoples Music Network!
JAN 28: Lawrence, MA @ People's Music Network!
JAN 29: Lawrence, MA @ People's Music Network!
FEB 1: Boston, MA w/ The Discotays
FEB 2 - FEB 24: living with Anne Feeney in Pittsburgh helping with writing & research
Late FEB - early MAR: Lightning Fast Tour of FLORIDA!
MAR 22: Phoenix, AZ
MAR 24: Boston, MA
APRIL 2012: NOW BOOKING TINY FISTS TOUR w/ BONFIRE MADIGAN
SUMMER 2012: NOW BOOKING A HUGE TOUR OF EUROPE!
1) Greetings and best wishes for 2012!
Holy wow it's 2012! How did that happen so fast? I swear life has been such a whirlwind the past few months hardly even know where to start with an update. My partner, Erin Ryan, and I finally moved back into Jamaica Plain after spending over a year working hard to purchase a small first-time-homebuyer subsidized apartment in a lovely little neighborhood of Boston. It was a quite the bumpy road and epic adventure but we finally got approved and moved in! You know the economy is really F***'d up when they'll give mortgages to folksingers, eh?
Traditionally, sassy folk musicians make their January newsletters chock full of Top 10 lists and witty remembrance of the previous year. I'm really bad at stuff like that, so I think I'll just skip it and talk some politics.
I don't know about you, but I'm excited for 2012! For the first time in a while it feels like things are starting to move and shake. The melting pot is simmering and I'm hoping that warm spring weather brings it to a BOIL. Let's face it, people have had ENOUGH. When you breathe a sigh of relief because Mitt Romney is the LEAST terrifying republican candidate (which isn't saying much because he's pretty terrifying,) you know things are pretty bad. Meanwhile, President Obama who ran his campaign on the promise that he would close Guantanamo signs a bill allowing for indefinite detention of US Citizens? Makes me think of a rhyme:
don't just occupy wall street
don't just vote
don't just give up
don't just have hope
don't just complain
that the system's broke
don't just react
rise up! revolt!
There's been a lot of interesting activity happening this past year. Occupy Oakland's general strike and the West Coast Port Shutdown stand out as actions with truly revolutionary potential, but we have a long way to go to see the same victories as the Arab Spring. Meanwhile, I'm constantly impressed by the radicalizing of the disparate hacker group Anonymous, who have done some pretty fantastic things like leaking documents from Police Departments around the country. When police and other agents of the state and capitalism have been surveilling, harassing, and attacking activists and dissidents for years it's nice to see them get a taste of their own medicine
This DIY music video of my new song, "Their Days are Numbered" pretty much sums up my hopes and dreams for 2012! I'll see you all at the #SpringOffensive, right?
Please share, tweet, steal, modify, and circulate this video! Make your own music about liberation! We need many voices in the struggle.
2) Follow me on Twitter @evan_greer!
Did you catch how I used a little #hashtag there at the end of that last section? Yup! It's true, I've joined the 21st century and signed up for a Twitter account. I still really don't get how to USE a hashtag properly but i do post lots of interesting stuff there all day long from last minute shows to news articles to photos and videos and more. I also re-tweet a lot of important info on various struggles for justice and liberation and will keep you posted on what's happening around the world!
CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER
Or go to www.twitter.com/evan_greer
And if that's not enough tweeting for you, the Riot-Folk! Collective now has an official Twitter account to? Follow @riot_folk for updates on not just my music but also Ryan Harvey, Adhamh Roland, Brenna Sahatjian, Mark Gunnery, Shannon Murray, Tom Frampton, Ethan Miller, and Kate Boverman!
3) Donate to Support the Anne Feeney Labor History Project!
Okay, so I know I'm always asking for donations for this or that, but that's what solidarity economy is all about! This project is really worth supporting. If you read my newsletter with any regularity I'm sure you're already familiar with the wonderful and legendary labor singer, Anne Feeney, one of my dearest friends and most important mentors. Anne taught me pretty much everything I know about being a touring musician and has been an unstoppable musical force on the side of working people for over 40 years.
As most of you know, Anne has been battling cancer, which has prompted her to get going on some projects she's been putting off for a long time, including researching and writing about her Grandfather, who was an organizer with the United Mineworkers of America, writing some of her own memoirs, conducting video interviews, and archiving the massive amount of labor history material that she has collected in over 40 years of traveling, agitating, organizing, and singing for radical and progressive movements.
Anne is a living labor legend. She was the first woman ever to be a president of an American Federation of Musicians local and her radical feminist politics led to controversy, threats, and having her break-lines cut. She's been arrested on the front lines, her guitar was played by Martin Luther King Jr's right hand man, and wherever oppression has reared it's ugly head Anne Feeney has been there to stand in it's way with a hellraising song or hilarious story. Her hit song, "Have You Been to Jail for Justice," was recorded by Peter, Paul, and Mary, and has been sung by activists in police wagons and jail cells for decades.
I'm going to be spending most of the months of February and March in Pittsburgh with Anne interning with her and helping her wade through the massive amount of work at hand researching and writing both her own memoirs and about her Grandfather and the labor movement. We'll also be conducting video interviews with her about her life, experiences, and work, as well as about current topics like the #Occupy movement, LGBTQ liberation, and more.
We are trying to raise $6,000 to cover our family's expenses while I am in Pittsburgh working with Anne. I won't be touring during this time, which means that our family will have no additional income. We are relying on the movement and those who feel these stories should be told to make this project possible and allow me to be in Pittsburgh helping Anne during this month. Please consider making a donation of any size, every little bit will help push us towards our goal!
If you donate more than $50 I'll send you a rare unreleased CD-R of Anne and I performing together in Philadelphia on May Day 2010! Please put "Anne Feeney" in the note on PayPal! If you'd prefer to send a check or money order, go for it:
You can send them to Anne's address made out to her or to me:
Anne Feeney
2240 Milligan Ave
Pittsburgh, PA
15218
Here's a little video from me and Anne's last tour together:
4) Buy My Electric Guitar!
As part of this fund raising effort, I am selling my beautiful electric guitar! It's a 1980s Fender American Stratocaster in brilliant red. The guitar plays great and it's in mint condition, just one little nick on the back that really just adds some character. I've played it out just a few times in some of my short-lived punk rock side projects, but for the most part it's lived in it's cushy, red velvet lined hard case, which is also included! It plays so smoothly and the pickup sounds really hot.
It's a guitar I love, I just don't play plugged-in often enough to justify having such a nice electric guitar, so I want to see it go to the home of a true rocker, and raise some money for the Anne Feeney internship project at the same time!
I'm not a genius at pricing guitars but it looks like many similar guitars are selling on eBay for between $800 - $1,200. I'd like to get a donation somewhere in this range for the guitar, so contact me with an offer! Let me know if you're interested in seeing some more pictures too!
Know someone who really likes my music? This is the perfect gift for them!!!
E-mail: evangreer@gmail.com with questions!
Here's a few photos:
Shoot me an e-mail if you want to know more about the guitar or see some more photos! E-mail: evangreer@gmail.com
5) Booking for 2012-2013: Bring Me to Your Town!
The new year is here and I am hard at work booking workshops and concerts around the country as well as in Canada, Europe, and Latin America. I'd love to come to your town so get in touch if you have ANY ideas for people or venues that I should contact, local groups, college activist groups, cool teachers, progressive labor unions, etc. who i should connect with in your area!
Have you ever thought about setting up a show in your town, at your high school, college, in your church, at your youth center, cafe, etc. but were never really sure how to do it?
Shoot me an e-mail! I can walk you through the process of organizing and promoting a successful show in your living room or a myriad of other venues in your town! If we really do it right we can raise money for a local grassroots organization or other local cause while keeping me on the road spreading fiery social justice themed music and supporting organizing and activism with interactive workshops.
Contact me: evangreer@gmail.com and we can brainstorm some ideas for organizing an event in your area!
My new website has a WORKSHOP MENU section that lists the workshops I offer for different types of spaces like High Schools and Youth Centers, Colleges and Universities, Labor Unions, LGBTQ Centers, Community Organizations, and more!
Check it out: www.evangreer.org/workshops
As an independent queer artist who refuses to allow any record label to censor or direct what I do, I am 100% reliant on people like YOU who support my music and message to keep this whole show on the road. This is a grassroots effort from the get go and it's easy to get involved! Let's get in touch and brainstorm.
E-mail: evangreer@gmail.com with all booking ideas and questions! or just reply to this newsletter.
6) New Songs and Videos!
There are a bunch of new videos of me online, here are a few good ones, including some unreleased songs!
First here's a bunch of videos from a show I did at Occupy Boston in support of the Indigenous Solidarity and Outreach Working Group on Buy Nothing Day, 2011, just a few weeks before the eviction of protesters from Dewey Square.
Untitled Children's Song LIVE @ Occupy Boston on Buy Nothing Day
"Genocide" poem live @ Occupy Boston on Buy Nothing Day
"Countdown" Live @ Occupy Boston on Buy Nothing Day
And then here's a great video of me and Rick Burkheart (of Prince Myshkins fame) playing my "hit" song "I Want Something" at Occupy Wall Street in Liberty Square just a few weeks before the eviction there:
And another of us playing "!Ya Basta!" the same night. Check out Rick's crazy accordion solo!
And finally, here's a recent video of a rare moment where fellow riot-folk! collective member Ryan Harvey and I crossed paths on tour, this time at a benefit for Occupy Albany at the Albany Social Justice Center.
7) Upcoming Shows & Tours (full details)
JANUARY 9th: North Andover, MA
@ McVagly LGBTQ Youth Group
North Parish Unitarian Universalist Church
3 Great Pond Road, North Andover, MA.
6:30pm - 8:30pm. FREE!
Musical performance and workshop for youth ages 15 - 22.
JANUARY 20th: need a show between NYC and Kalamazoo!
E-mail: evangreer@gmail.com if you have any ideas for a last minute house show or cool event that we should plug in with!
I'll be touring with spiritchild of Mental Notes as our hip-hop / riot-folk project BACK TO THE ROOTS.
JANuary 21: Kalamazoo, MI w/ BACK TO THE ROOTS
@ Western Michigan University
Sponsored by the Kalamazoo Peace Center
Details TBA! Contact: benayer (at) gmail (dot) com for info!
JANUARY 27th: Lawrence, MA w/ BACK TO THE ROOTS
@ People's Music Network Winter Concert: "Singing for Our Lives"
100th Anniversary Celebration of the Bread & Roses Strike!
7:30pm @ Lawrence High School Performing Arts Center
70-72 North Parish Road, Lawrence, MA 01843
General Admission: Sliding Scale $10-$25. Youth, Low Income: $5
Wheelchair Accessible. Purchase Tickets Online HERE
Contact Mary Kate Small (978) 474-0606
marykatespeace@yahoo.com for additional information
ANNE FEENEY, JON FROMER, BEV GRANT, TOM JURAVICH, REBEL VOICES, BREAD & ROSES, SUPNATER, LAWRENCE HIGH SCHOOL WOMEN'S CHORUS, and more!
JAN 28: Lawrence, MA @ People's Music Network!
Please come out for the People's Music Network winter gathering. This is a wonderful community of radical, free-spirited people who love using music for social change. On saturday, spiritchild and I will be hosting a workshop called BACK TO THE ROOTS about the social justice roots of hip-hop and folk music. There are many other fabulous workshops and a plenary session from Charlie King & Karen Brandow about the Bread & Roses Strike! Register at www.peoplesmusic.org
JAN 29: Lawrence, MA @ People's Music Network!
Details at www.peoplesmusic.org
FEB 1: Boston, MA w/ The Discotays
Details TBA! Probably a house show. Maybe at your house?
This is for a fabulous touring Navajo lo-fi dance-punk band who are pretty much the best people you'll ever meet!
FEBRUARY and MARCH, 2012:
Interning with Anne Feeney in Pittsburgh! Donate to support the Anne Feeney Labor History Project!
Late FEBRUARY - early MARCH: Lightning Fast Tour of FLORIDA!
I am now booking shows for a quick trip down to Florida in late February / Early March 2012. I'll be doing some shows with fabulous queer folk-rock duo Gorgeous Oranges from Orlando. Booking now in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Gainesville, Orlando, Tampa / St. Pete, Sarasota, Naples, Miami, and YOUR TOWN! E-mail me if you have any ideas: evangreer@gmail.com
MARCH 22nd: Phoenix, AZ
I'll be in Phoenix for a conference and want to play a show too! E-mail me with ideas: evangreer@gmail.com
MARCH 24th: Boston, MA
Boston University, details TBA!
APRIL 2012: TINY FISTS TOUR w/ BONFIRE MADIGAN
now booking dates on the WEST COAST with legendary riot-grrrrl cellist Bonfire Madigan of Kill Rockstars and K Records. please get in touch with any ideas! I'll have more details available for these shows soon, so stay tuned to www.evangreer.org or follow me on twitter or facebook to stay up to date!
Tentative schedule:
APRIL 6: Bellingham, WA
APRIL 7: Seattle, WA
APRIL 8: Seattle, WA
APRIL 9: Bellevue, WA
APRIL 11: Tacoma, WA
APRIL 12: Olympia, WA
APRIL 13: Portland, OR
APRIL 14: Portland, OR]
APRIL 15: TBA in OREGON
APRIL 17: Corvallis, OR
APRIL 18: Eugene, OR
APRIL 19: Ashland, OR
APRIL 20: Eureka, CA
APRIL 21: Arcata, CA
APRIL 22: Davis, CA
APRIL 24: Bay Area, CA
APRIL 25: Bay Area, CA
APRIL 26: San Fransisco, CA
APRIL 27: San Jose, CA
APRIL 28: Santa Cruz, CA
APRIL 29: Long Beach, CA
MAY 1: Los Angeles, CA
MAY 2: San Diego, CA
MAY 3: Tijuana, Mexico
May 4 - 6, 2012: Chicago, IL
@ Labor Notes Conference
June 22 - 24, 2012: Washington, DC
@ Great Labor Arts Exchange
July 2012 - September 2012: HUGE TOUR OF EUROPE!
I'm tentatively planning a big 2 month tour of Europe with Erin and baby Saoirse! Get in touch now if you'd like to see us over there and we can start setting something up!!!
I'm interested in booking shows ALL over Europe including but not limited to Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, France, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, and more. NEED lots of help in all these countries, e-mail evangreer@gmail.com with ideas!
