In the late 50s and early 60s, popular music was far more stratified than it is now. The categories were rigid and there was very little crossover between genres. Indeed, as the new decade dawned (1960), each faction grew more firmly entrenched. Before the cultural revolution of the mid ‘60s, Jazz, R&B, Blues, pop, Rock […]
Finally, the secret of BOOSH-CLUM-TOONK can be revealed to the world. From ancient tablets discovered in the mountains of Aku-Fludonia comes the little-known art of killing [or at least humiliating…] your enemies through the proper application of BOOSH-CLUM-TOONK. One must be in harmony with all of one’s bodily fluids in order to even THINK about […]
The annual “summer break” is in full swing in Europe. Most Americans have no clue what this entails. The ‘Summer break’ is the extended annual holiday period during July and August when schools close, and much of the workforce takes an extended vacation. Every single worker in the European Union is guaranteed four weeks of […]
Americans have never been known for their sense of humor. They are way too prudish, unhip; authoritarian. And most are simply too dumb to “get” the joke. Concepts like satire and parody are difficult for the average American to grasp. A lot of people consider anything which is personally offensive to their minimal, childlike tastes […]
Historically, the will to embrace free expression has gone hand in hand with progressive politics. When I was growing up, public figures who tested the boundaries of indecency and free speech were invariably counter-culture heroes. Throughout recorded time, humor, art, music and literature were understood to be inherently uplifting and liberating, because they were True […]
The Sixties were a time of great upheaval in America. The decade saw a revolution in fashion, art, and moral attitudes. The biggest revolution by far, though, took place in popular music. Before 1964, pop music in the USA still replicated the style of the previous decade [a notable exception to this rule are The […]
Where is Bill Hicks when you need him? Oh, well – Jimmy Kimmel will have to do. Humor, sarcasm and outright mockery are effective ways to deal with dictators, especially those as loathsome and corrupt as the amateurs who currently run our country. Tyrants despise humor, and their sense of humor rarely rises above the […]
Tearing down and setting up. That’s the worst thing about playing drums in a classic rock band. Especially at my age. Tearing them down, packing them in the van; taking them out of the van; setting them up; tearing them down again, cramming them in the van and hauling them back again. Doing all of […]
I’m having politics fatigue. I haven’t exactly run out of evidence to support my position, but there is a particular stumbling block I keep running into when I try to reach across the proverbial aisle to have one of those “difficult conversations” with Trumpanzees such as my asshole brother. I don’t understand why I have […]
America’s public school system has been a failure because of a successful 30-year GOP effort to de-fund the system in favor of private and charter schools. The purpose of this policy was always to destroy the learning environment of the students, and extinguish the average child’s innate desire to explore and learn. This indoctrination – […]
Jason Darensburg's Blog-o-rama 