50 shows, 50 states, 50 days
May 15, 2003 7:20 AM Subscribe
Folk singer Adam Brodsky is planning to tour 50 states in 50 days, nonstop, striving for that American dream of a listing in the Guinness World Records. Anyone wanna lend the guy a couch to crash on?
The District of Columbia: Taxation Without Folk Songs
posted by mookieproof at 8:00 AM on May 15, 2003
posted by mookieproof at 8:00 AM on May 15, 2003
Been done by George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers.
posted by The Michael The at 8:02 AM on May 15, 2003
posted by The Michael The at 8:02 AM on May 15, 2003
I guess he's trying for the "solo performer" record.
posted by timothompson at 8:20 AM on May 15, 2003
posted by timothompson at 8:20 AM on May 15, 2003
I saw Brodsky in concert last month and, while he had some funny songs - notably his "directions to my house" song - "turn left (or right? I can't recall) at the old flattened cat" and his "Because we were Jews" song (helps to be Jewish to appreciate this one, maybe, but I - goy- laughed pretty loud).
He also had a few songs which I found somewhat questionable or offensive, such as one song of his which I dubbed the "We throw our trash out back because we're rednecks" song, and also his "cut at trial lawyers" song which he prefaces by telling a gratuitous rehash of the "scalded by McDonalds coffee" case. If he had bothered to research this one, he would have discovered that there have been quite a few (dozens, I think) cases of people rather badly burned by McDonalds coffee due to McD's practice (now changed, I think) of keeping their brew just barely under the boiling point. McDs's refused to take action until that "ridiculous" settlement in the scalding case, if memory serves. And now they have little warnings on their coffee cups. Danger! Hot!
I thought it was strange too - the "trash" song seemed to be tailored to liberal, enviro-sensibilities while the "ridiculous coffee scalding" (try dumping 16 ounces of sub-boiling liquid in YOUR lap and see what happens!) song seemed to be aimed at conservatives -- since I saw him in a liberal (Unitarian!) venue, I guessed that his roster of songs was too slim to tailor to different audiences. But then again, the lawyer/coffee scalding case song went over well with the Unitarians too.
Brodsky, however, had no songs about cigarette companies or the gutted pension funds of elderly Americans now working at Wal-Mart.
The "dumb trashy redneck" song irritated me because I felt that it was a cheap cut at a favorite whipping boy of urban and suburban elites - "rednecks". And I thought it more than a bit ignorant: my next door neighbor throws some metal and wood scrap in his back yard, and I have a wood pile rotting into the ground out back in my little acre. Hardly toxic waste though. I collect "junk" too. Waste disturbs me for many reasons, one of which is that the alternative in my area is incineration - which burns up perfectly usuable goods (like rainforest lumber from Borneo turned into furniture then incinerated - sad) and sends a toxic plume containing (among other things) mercury which then lazily wafts down on my head as I sit on my deck.....and I suspect that many, if not most of the "trashy rednecks" ridiculed in Brodsky's song might be more sensitized, immersed, and knowledgeable about the natural world than most Americans, and many probably make the same toxic/non-toxic distinction which my neighbor and I do.
The heaviest post comumer waste stream comes out of suburban and urban areas, and most SUV drivers live in the 'burbs. People drive cheaper, smaller vehicles in the sticks - rusty 80's little Nissan pickups, for example, or F150's and smaller Chevy trucks or Subaru 4WD's. Real country" sensibilities are practical - West Virginians can't afford Ford Escursions and would think them absurd in any case.
But I bet a lot of liberal trial lawyers drive SUV's.
By the way, I also liked Brodsky's "Goat Man" song (the lyrics if not the actual music).
A mixed bag, this guy.
posted by troutfishing at 8:39 AM on May 15, 2003
He also had a few songs which I found somewhat questionable or offensive, such as one song of his which I dubbed the "We throw our trash out back because we're rednecks" song, and also his "cut at trial lawyers" song which he prefaces by telling a gratuitous rehash of the "scalded by McDonalds coffee" case. If he had bothered to research this one, he would have discovered that there have been quite a few (dozens, I think) cases of people rather badly burned by McDonalds coffee due to McD's practice (now changed, I think) of keeping their brew just barely under the boiling point. McDs's refused to take action until that "ridiculous" settlement in the scalding case, if memory serves. And now they have little warnings on their coffee cups. Danger! Hot!
I thought it was strange too - the "trash" song seemed to be tailored to liberal, enviro-sensibilities while the "ridiculous coffee scalding" (try dumping 16 ounces of sub-boiling liquid in YOUR lap and see what happens!) song seemed to be aimed at conservatives -- since I saw him in a liberal (Unitarian!) venue, I guessed that his roster of songs was too slim to tailor to different audiences. But then again, the lawyer/coffee scalding case song went over well with the Unitarians too.
Brodsky, however, had no songs about cigarette companies or the gutted pension funds of elderly Americans now working at Wal-Mart.
The "dumb trashy redneck" song irritated me because I felt that it was a cheap cut at a favorite whipping boy of urban and suburban elites - "rednecks". And I thought it more than a bit ignorant: my next door neighbor throws some metal and wood scrap in his back yard, and I have a wood pile rotting into the ground out back in my little acre. Hardly toxic waste though. I collect "junk" too. Waste disturbs me for many reasons, one of which is that the alternative in my area is incineration - which burns up perfectly usuable goods (like rainforest lumber from Borneo turned into furniture then incinerated - sad) and sends a toxic plume containing (among other things) mercury which then lazily wafts down on my head as I sit on my deck.....and I suspect that many, if not most of the "trashy rednecks" ridiculed in Brodsky's song might be more sensitized, immersed, and knowledgeable about the natural world than most Americans, and many probably make the same toxic/non-toxic distinction which my neighbor and I do.
The heaviest post comumer waste stream comes out of suburban and urban areas, and most SUV drivers live in the 'burbs. People drive cheaper, smaller vehicles in the sticks - rusty 80's little Nissan pickups, for example, or F150's and smaller Chevy trucks or Subaru 4WD's. Real country" sensibilities are practical - West Virginians can't afford Ford Escursions and would think them absurd in any case.
But I bet a lot of liberal trial lawyers drive SUV's.
By the way, I also liked Brodsky's "Goat Man" song (the lyrics if not the actual music).
A mixed bag, this guy.
posted by troutfishing at 8:39 AM on May 15, 2003
Anyone wanna lend the guy a couch to crash on?
I would, but I live in Philly, so it probably wouldn't help. Good luck, Adam!
posted by soyjoy at 8:46 AM on May 15, 2003
I would, but I live in Philly, so it probably wouldn't help. Good luck, Adam!
posted by soyjoy at 8:46 AM on May 15, 2003
Day 49: still haven't figured out a way to drive to Hawaii. Am considering emotional breakdown.
posted by Hildago at 10:58 AM on May 15, 2003
posted by Hildago at 10:58 AM on May 15, 2003
hmmm...politically wrong from man who brought you "The girl i like is a diesel Dyke", UNBELIEVABLE!
posted by NGnerd at 3:13 PM on May 15, 2003
posted by NGnerd at 3:13 PM on May 15, 2003
Well I'll be dipped in shit (tying in the redneck part of the thread...), this guy was at my favorite watering hole's open mic night a couple weeks ago. I recognized the "Diesel Dyke" song.
The four songs he did (two songs in each of two mini-sets) were hilarious, though if I'd tried, I coulda been offended by some parts.
posted by notsnot at 5:19 PM on May 15, 2003
The four songs he did (two songs in each of two mini-sets) were hilarious, though if I'd tried, I coulda been offended by some parts.
posted by notsnot at 5:19 PM on May 15, 2003
His latest CD seems to be titled Hookers, Hicks, and Heebs. How insensitive could he possibly be?
posted by LeLiLo at 4:30 AM on May 16, 2003
posted by LeLiLo at 4:30 AM on May 16, 2003
A similar feat was accomplished by Lis Harvey when she did 50 states in 60 days (August through October 2002).
posted by hogweed at 7:44 AM on May 16, 2003
posted by hogweed at 7:44 AM on May 16, 2003
Adam is a friend of mine, and while he is incredibly offensive, he has a heart of gold. He's also a talented songwriter and an expert on the history of American folk music. The Philadelphia City Paper named him Best Folk Performer a couple of years ago. If you can't offer a couch, at least go out and see him play.
By the way, he's not only talented; he's also frighteningly prolific. I'm sure in his arsenal of thousands, he's got something about cigarette companies or the gutted pension funds of elderly Americans now working at Wal-Mart, troutfishing.
posted by iscatter at 8:07 AM on May 16, 2003
By the way, he's not only talented; he's also frighteningly prolific. I'm sure in his arsenal of thousands, he's got something about cigarette companies or the gutted pension funds of elderly Americans now working at Wal-Mart, troutfishing.
posted by iscatter at 8:07 AM on May 16, 2003
iscatter - if he did, he would have been an idiot to not play those songs in front of a crowd of Unitarians ready to lap up such thematic material.
I'm sure he's prolific and talented, but perhaps we curmudgeons of the world will protect him from his inclination towards the cheap shot and force him to work for his money.
...but he's welcome to pick trash with me anyday.
posted by troutfishing at 10:26 PM on May 17, 2003
I'm sure he's prolific and talented, but perhaps we curmudgeons of the world will protect him from his inclination towards the cheap shot and force him to work for his money.
...but he's welcome to pick trash with me anyday.
posted by troutfishing at 10:26 PM on May 17, 2003
troutfishing --
Are you sure you're thinking of the right Brodsky? Is it possible that you saw Chuck Brodsky singing 3rd Dead Cat?
Look for the 3rd dead cat
It's just past the 3rd dead cat
Just past the one that's especially flat
It's just past the 3rd dead cat
Sounds like you've got your Jews askew. Guess you'll have to pick trash alone.
posted by iscatter at 6:47 AM on May 22, 2003
Are you sure you're thinking of the right Brodsky? Is it possible that you saw Chuck Brodsky singing 3rd Dead Cat?
Look for the 3rd dead cat
It's just past the 3rd dead cat
Just past the one that's especially flat
It's just past the 3rd dead cat
Sounds like you've got your Jews askew. Guess you'll have to pick trash alone.
posted by iscatter at 6:47 AM on May 22, 2003
iscatter - Ohno! you're right...too many Brodskys....I guess I owe an apology to Adam (for my vituperations)...is he even related to Chuck?
posted by troutfishing at 8:56 PM on May 22, 2003
posted by troutfishing at 8:56 PM on May 22, 2003
« Older The State of the Union | Groom Tries To Keep Pimp Hand Strong With Dowry... Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by kozad at 7:59 AM on May 15, 2003