On July 29th we attended the annual JAM, an event for volunteers for Bread & Roses. I was proud to be given an award for 15 years of shows, which was very flattering. I certainly haven’t played every year, but apparently the years – and shows – have added up. They have one thing in common – walking into a room full of people who can’t, for various reasons, get out to see live music. You walk in, and basically say “yes, we’re total strangers, but here are some songs I brought for you”. It doesn’t matter if the room is filled with tension, anxiety, depression, or silence, music connects us during the time that we’re together. When it’s over, we’ve shared something real, and there is always a touch on the arm, a smile, a hug, questions, personal stories, and real warmth. I’ve always felt that it was time well spent, and honored to contribute. As my partner Paul put it: “These people do good work, and they do it in a dignified, low-key manner, letting the work speak for itself.”
