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Blackout Tuesday. #TheShowMustBePaused

Blackout Tuesday. #TheShowMustBePaused

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TODAY, TUESDAY at 5:30 PDT, I had planned to continue with Part 2 of “The 60s.” In selecting the songs for this show, I realized how much of the pain and anguish of our present time was also being felt in those days, so I wanted to do some songs to help heal, and also to express some of the frustration that we’re all feeling.

But I just got word that most of the music industry, which I am a part of, will be participating in BLACKOUT TUESDAY, to show solidarity with the black community, and to make a statement against injustice, bigotry and racism.

The usual Tuesday show, just for this week, is rescheduled to WEDNESDAY, 5:30 PDT (8:30 EDT) at https://facebook.com/garystockdalemusic 

To be clear: The knee on the neck of George Floyd is the reason why Colin Kaepernick took a knee on the field. Those who want to sweep racial prejudice and unequal justice under the rug tried to frame Kaepernick’s actions as somehow an insult to America, and an affront to our troops. That was cynical political propaganda, and just plain wrong.

Colin was doing the right thing: protesting non-violently, in public, and harming no one.

But some weren’t OK with a black man making a silent statement against injustice because it momentarily interrupted their football game. Now the same people are complaining about protest marches and violence in the streets. Maybe if they tried to understand what Colin was trying to say, and took an honest look at the problem of inequality and violence in our justice system, it might not have come to this.

Blackout Tuesday is mostly a symbolic act. And pausing my little show will not directly help our African-American brothers and sisters who are suffering.

But, for me, it is my chance to take a knee on the field, and make it clear what I stand for.

#TheShowMustBePaused is an initiative created by Atlantic Records exec Jamila Thomas and Platoon’s Brianna Agyemang.

In the meantime, here are their recommendations:

  • If you have been impacted by the recent events, take a break – there is a lot going on and sometimes we all just need a minute. Take that minute.
  • Help the family of George Floyd HERE.
  • Fight for Breonna Taylor HERE.
  • Help the family of Ahmaud Arbery HERE.
  • Want to help protesters? Donate to one or more community bail funds HERE.
  • Visit Movement For Black Lives for additional ways you can help the cause.
  • Want to connect with leaders building grass roots campaigns? Click HERE.
  • Are you an ally and want to learn more? Here are some anti-racism resources.

In love and solidarity,

New Live Streaming Show THIS Tuesday And a New Song for Our Times

New Live Streaming Show THIS Tuesday And a New Song for Our Times

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NEW LIVE STREAMING SHOW THIS TUESDAY
And a NEW SONG FOR OUR TIMES

 

First, please go here and check out the NEW SONG for our times, Hunkered & Bunkered. More info about it below. https://youtu.be/wFspsiq73NY

THIS TUESDAY – 5pm Pacific Time (8pm in our poor beleaguered New York. Stay safe and healthy my friends) I will be doing another live concert.

This one is on EMMIE and HARRY’S, an online cabaret club, in collaboration with Opera On Tap NYC, created to 1) provide performance opportunities for artists, and 2) provide access to live performances for audiences, while 3) supporting social distancing mandates during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

All you need to do is go to
and request membership. They make it private to keep down the troll population.

EVERYONE who lists my name as a reference will be auto-approved. You’ll be asked to answer two quick membership questions: 1. Where you heard about the club, and 2. Your agreement to the rules (not being a jerk, basically). They do not send out Spam. But they do send out beautiful vocal performances.

 

NOW – about the song: I wrote it with Greg Prestopino, (I talked about it in the last blog) and the great MB Gordy plays drums. Please listen and SHARE IT WITH YOUR PEOPLE.

If you have ANY questions about how to get on the group or get to the show, PLEASE email me at garystockdale@gmail.com. Please stay safe and healthy out there. 

Love in the time of coronavirus,

GARY STOCKDALE CONCERT TUESDAY NIGHT STREAMING LIVE FROM HIS UNDERGROUND BUNKER*

GARY STOCKDALE CONCERT TUESDAY NIGHT STREAMING LIVE FROM HIS UNDERGROUND BUNKER*

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GARY STOCKDALE CONCERT TUESDAY NIGHT
STREAMING LIVE FROM HIS UNDERGROUND BUNKER*

*Actually, from my studio. My wife Dani will be womanning the camera, and my dog Sam may make a guest appearance if he agrees to work for kibbles.

TUESDAY 5pm Pacific Time
(New York, 8pm; Paris, 1am – ah, remember Paris?)
FACEBOOK LIVE on my page
https://www.facebook.com/garystockdalemusic/

I will be debuting a new song about our lives at this pandemic time. I wrote it with Greg Prestopino, who besides producing my record (his most impressive credit), he also wrote the hit Break My Stride, and sang the background vocals on Midnight At The Oasis.

The concert is free, but it would be cool if you would donate any amount you’d like to the Get Together Foundation. It’s a charity I’ve done concerts for (with The Tribe) and, among other things, is delivering hand-washing kits to homeless people. We desperately need to keep them safe as well, especially now, but maybe always.

Donation link: Get Together Foundation Donations

It would be great for us to see your names stream across the screen. I’ve seen a bunch of friends do these already, and it is really fun and a little dangerous. Which is fun.

The future, y’all.

Love and herd immunity,

OJAI, HOW ARE YOU?

OJAI, HOW ARE YOU?

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OJAI, HOW ARE YOU?
Long time no see. Happy 2020! I’ve got some cool shows coming up in the next few months, and I’d love to see more of all of you this year.
Last October I went once again to FAR-West, the Left Coast branch of the Folk Alliance. The last night I hung out and jammed with some wonderful musicians, including one Bernie Larsen. He had this cool understated style. I guess that comes from playing with greats such as David Lindley and El Rayo-X, Melissa Etheridge, Lucinda Williams, etc. He started the Ojai Underground Exchange. He is also a record producer and is a big part of the burgeoning music scene in beautiful Ojai, CA.
We started talking about my playing his great venue, but since this would be my first time there, we were thinking of a good match of another artist for a double-bill, and he thought of Brad Colerick (who pretty much owns the music scene in South Pasadena, by the way). So that’s the marquee, ladies and gentlemen:
at OJAI UNDERGROUND EXCHANGE
SAT. FEB. 29, 7:30pm 
Sounds like fun, doesn’t it?
My great musician friends Carl Sealove and Scotty Breadman will be playing with me, as well as Tim Fleming, who’s playing with Brad, and will come up and play some steel guitar for me. I plan to bring Bernie himself up to play as well.

Thoughts:

We are heading into a big political season. I think we all know the stakes in this election. Let’s make sure to keep the lines of communication open, people. There will be some who will shout you down, or throw insults at you (people often seem to be ruder in social media than they would be in a real-life conversation, while some are just as angry in person), but whenever we can, I think we should let them get all that out, and then simply keep trying to bring things back to a civilized conversation. It’s unlikely you’ll change minds, but each of us should at least try to ask pertinent questions of each other, and do our best to answer.
Hold on. It’s gonna be a bumpy ride.
Love,

For Your Consideration – Grammys® Children’s Music Category

For Your Consideration – Grammys® Children’s Music Category

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FOR GRAMMY® CONSIDERATION – CHILDREN’S MUSIC  
GARY PRODUCED A NEW RECORD! 
Earlier this year, I got the opportunity to produce an album called DITTO KIDDO by STEPHEN MICHAEL SCHWARTZ, a very cool artist who does music for children. It is presently being submitted for the 62nd Grammy® Awards! I hope you will give it a listen or grab yourself a copy for yourself, especially if you have young kids. And if you’re a music industry pro, please consider this great record. 
I got to know Stephen in my college days, and since then he has become one of the most respected and popular children’s music artists in the world. For this record, we wanted to use top-notch musicians, and show off Stephen’s excellent songwriting. There’s something for everyone on this record, and wouldn’t it be great if we won?
Here’s how to listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2mnPZ4t
The album has already been a top pick on Apple Music. Stephen just returned from a three-month tour of China, so the album is already gaining worldwide acclaim.
ABOUT THE ALBUM
DITTO KIDDO marks the fourth solo album by Stephen Michael Schwartz whose impressive body of work has spanned over thirty years in the children’s music world. Stephen is ranked by peers and parents alike as one of the premiere singer/songwriters in his genre and DITTO KIDDO underscores that point yet again.
He and producer, Gary Stockdale, have pulled together an impressive array of singers and musicians, including Grammy nominees and winners, Grant Geissman, MB Gordy and Jim “Kimo” West to bring DITTO KIDDO to life…and “life” is what Stephen writes about best. Always with a child’s perspective and a grownup’s sensibilities, this collection of nine original songs will have children saying “I love Stephen”, to which you will respond, “Ditto, Kiddo”.