The past few weeks have once again reminded us of the fragility of life with the loss of 2 wonderful people, Tim Russert and George Carlin. Both of these people brought such a breath of life to their ‘trades.’ As has been the case for so many people, Tim was like a friend, a colleague, the neighbor next door…a man we could all relate to and with whom we felt so comfortable and George…with all his irreverence in tow….reminded us that nothing was sacred in humor (or life) and unless we could laugh at ourselves and our inconsistencies and contradictions, we were doomed. Above all, they were truly ‘humans’ among men and a model for what we would like to see in all of us!
I recently received an email from a couple guys who have been on the music scene for about 40 years now….Rex and Neal of Aztec Two Step fame. They, like Tim, George and us were lucky enough to grow up Baby Boomers through the 60’s and 70’s and now face the reality and consequences of our former youth……..age and death! I thought I would share that email with you since their words ring so true.
If you don’t know who Rex and Neal are……shame on you! :o) Here’s a sampling of their art:



Take a look as well at their summer schedule……if they happen to be anywhere near you……take them in for sure…it’ll be like welcoming them into your living room!
Aztec Two-Step E-News
Missives, Musings & Malapropos….
First a malaprop compliments of the king himself, Yogi Berra. “It ain’t over till it’s over.” Sadly, it is over now for Tim Russert and George Carlin. When I turned the BIG SIX OH! in September 07, several people kindly suggested that 60 was now the new 30. OK! I liked that. But after thinking about it, I eventually came up with the best Carlin-esq line I could muster. “No,” said I, “60 is how old my grandparents were……just before they kicked the bucket!” It’s reality now. We boomers ain’t babies no more. In fact, we’re dropping like flies. Oh well. C’est la vie. Que sera. Or, as our good buddy Dave Sleight likes to say, “A happy Woody Guthrie on ya!”(So long, it’s been good to know you.) And boy, was it ever good to know Tim Russert and George Carlin. TR was the real deal. An advocate for working class, taxpaying Americans who vote and who are trying to hang on and earn a fair and decent living in this country. These were the roots from which he sprang. No pol itics. No punditry. Just straight forward and often tough questions aimed at the accountability of those wielding the most power; most often in Washington. Plus, how could you not like a guy who was a diehard Buffalo Bills fan.
My earliest recollection of GC was his hippie dippy weatherman skit, probably on the Smothers Brothers show back in the mid-sixties. Even at 71, he never seemed to lose his kid-like innocence and enthusiasm for life, for our quirky American language, and for the everyday world we live in: large issues or small. Our counterculture hero’s jokes usually targeted misplaced shame, religious hypocrisy and linguistic quirks. Here are just a few of his chestnuts gleaned from the Hartford Courant:
“Why do we drive on parkways and park on driveways?”
“I’m completely in favor of separation of church and state. These institutions completely screw us up on their own, so both of them together is certain death.”
“The word bipartisan usually means that some larger-than-usual deception is being carried out.”
“One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.”
“Why do they lock gas station bathrooms? Are they afraid someone will clean them?”
“Whose cruel idea was it for the word ‘lisp’ to have an ’s’ in it?”
“Why is there an expiration date on sour cream?”
“If the No. 2 pencil is the most popular, why is it still No. 2?”
“One nice thing about egoists, they don’t talk about other people.”
“When you’re born you get a ticket to the freak show. When you’re born in America, you get a front row seat.”
“The most unfair thing about life is the way it ends. I mean, life is tough. It takes up a lot of your time and what do you get at the end of it? A Death! What’s that, a bonus? I think the life cycle is all backward. You should die first and get it out of the way. Then you live in an old-age home; you get kicked out when you become too young then you get a gold watch and go to work. You work forty years until you’re young enough to enjoy your retirement. You do drugs, alcohol; you party; then you get ready for high school. You go to grade school; you become a kid; you play; you have no responsibilities. You become a little baby; you go back into the womb where you spend your last nine months floating… and you finish it off with an orgasm!”
What more can one say except thank you for tuning in this month and Happy Birthday America!
Peace (and love) if you want it,
Rex & Neal
P.S. In deference to Dan Fogelberg’s brilliance and my commitment to listen to more of his musical canon since his sad departure, I am in total awe of To The Morning. “And maybe there are seasons, and maybe they change, and maybe to love is not so strange…”
SUMMER SPECIALS
Days of Horses
$10
Buy CD
“Fans of the duo’s harmony-driven tunes and easygoing acoustic guitar riffs will recognize their
James Taylor-meets-Simon & Garfunkel sound. What’s new is the mood. This album sits back on its haunches as Rex Fowler and Neal Shulman look back wistfully at American pop culture and their own ride through it.” Boston Globe
PLUMS
$ 10
buy CD
LIVE at TCAN
35th Anniversary Concert DVD
$ 15
Buy DVD
UPCOMING SUMMER SHOWS
Sat July 5, 2008 Manchester, CT - Rex’s Kids’ Show!
Fri July 11, 2008 The Center for Arts in Natick, MA
Sat July 12, 2008 Levitt Pavilion, CT
Sun July 13, 2008 Maplewoodstock, NJ
Fri July 18, 2008 Stone Mountain Arts Center, ME
Sat July 19, 2008 Huntington Arts Council, NY
Sun July 20, 2008 Private Party, CT - Rex solo!
Wed July 23, 2008 Stephen Talkhouse, NY
Sat July 26, 2008 Private Party, PA
Thu July 31, 2008 Monroe Twp, NJ
Sat August 2, 2008 Private Party, NJ
Sun August 3, 2008 Monty’s Room House Concert, NY - Rex Solo!
Wed August 6, 2008 Lake George Arts Project, NY
Fri August 8, 2008 Guthrie Center, MA
Sat August 9, 2008 Caffe Lena, NY
Sat August 16, 2008 ArcStock, NY
Fri August 22, 2008 Ridgefield Playhouse, CT w/ Hal Ketchum!
Sat September 6, 2008 Mitchell Farm Music Festival, CT
Sat September 13, 2008 Crossroads Coffeehouse, MA
Sun September 14, 2008 Mansfield on the Green Festival, CT
Please log on to http://www.aztectwostep.com/tours.htm for all the details.
Don’t forget our Set List Request link http://aztectwo-step.blogspot.com if you’re coming to a show. Also, please book a private party http://www.aztectwostep.com/privparty.htm. Remember, we simply can’t do it without you. Thanks!
Contact Info
To contact Aztec Two-Step just click on the addresses below. Replying to this email does not insure that they will recieve your comments.
rex@aztectwostep.com
neal@aztectwostep.com
Booking & Press
bobbi@aztectwostep.com
July 1st, 2008 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment