FOLDING UNDERWEAR AT MERVYNS

Hello Friends,

Stephie and I are on our way back from our two-person folk rock rampage, on the heels of a one-off full band gig in Norway near the Arctic Circle where among other things, like playing a great set for example, we enjoyed some whale meat, which I realize is a controversial meal in certain quarters.

Stephie and I had a ball rampaging through Ireland and Montenegro. We were actually a trio act, if you count the Roland 808 we dragged along.

This morning we had to head out at 5 AM to fly home. In the Balkans, hotels aren’t as common, so often you stay in an “apartment,” and ours was near the airport in Dubrovnik. The attractive gal that let us in the night before was there to see us out - except she’d changed into a Police uniform. When we got out the door in the wee hours of the morning she was standing there. Looking at me. In that uniform. I didn’t quite freak out, but I was on the verge. Hey, I guess its her day job.

Anyway, it’s great to be headed home. Hard to say goodbye though. We were totally charmed by Montenegro, the people, the place and the history. And we enjoyed a rare day off. After the SeaRock festival, after a home-cooked meal courtesy of the promoters mom, we found ourselves on a fishing boat with our host Ivan taking a tour of the secret spots. Hard to remember what all the worry was when you’re jumping off cliffs into the salty brine.

Kotor was pretty magical. For the most part it has remained unchanged - well, at least it hasn’t turned into one big McDonalds. There’s still some reminder of Yugoslavia’s Communist days. It’s more European than I ever remember Europe being. Although it was sweltering hot while we were there, you can cool off by jumping into the Adriatic sea at any hour. I did have to break my no-short-pants-on-the-bandstand rule but only for the soundcheck. Also of note, the gig itself was surrounded by a 1000 year wall. Not 1000 years standing. More like it took a thousand years to build. That gig takes the expression “Getting-all-midevil-on-yer-ass” to new levels.

So now I’m wedged into a middle seat headed home. Stephie got the window seat. The aisle seat is occupied by a very large man, natch. How does this always happen? In my own subtle way, I’m trying to not give up any ground on the arm rest. Dan Stuart once told me that as far as airline etiquette is concerned, middle seat losers are entitled to both armrests. I’m proceeding on that basis, but it’s hard to enforce.

ANYHOO: I’ve been surfing the in-flight entertainment system on the back of the seat in front of me on because my reading material got left behind when our erstwhile Tour Manager Tom dropped us off after our last gig in Kilkenny. Where, incidentally, we caught up with Mission Express Mascot John Murry alive and well. For some reason I never watch movies on planes. I generally prefer to read and spin down the internal hard drive when I can. But right now I’m watching “Broad City.” Have you seen it? One character has been arguing about Bed Bath and Beyond coupons for like 20 minutes, and now her BFF drops by and pulls a bag of weed out of her vagina. I’m hooked.

Personally, I’m a little banged up after a 10-day run. Can’t speak for Stephie. But she’s watching something and laughing out loud. She’s always been the strongest one in the group anyway. But really, it takes time to get over these tours. And by the time you finally wash one off there’s another one looming. Which brings me to my point. (Hey, I didn’t know I had one either!)

Banged up or not. At its worst, touring still beats folding underwear at Mervyns, right? I’ve said that so many times I believe it. Roly Salley taught me there really isn’t much of anything more beautiful than a kiwi fruit. Once when my 9 volt was running low he encouraged me to open a kiwi fruit. He said, “Cut it open. Admire it. Someone went through the trouble to bring that there and set it in that bowl. Pick it up. Check out the beauty of it. Dig the flesh. It’s green and studded with tiny black seeds. But the inside part is totally over the top psychedelic. Edible too. Even the seeds.”

Okay, I might have embellished his advice, but he had a point.

For the most part it’s all working out. “Don’t be denied,” wrote Neil. “Fight the power,” said Chuck D. “That’s life,” sang Frank. “Working hard or hardly working?” Now, who said that? It wasn’t me. In fact, if you ever hear me say that you have my permission to kick me in the nut sack, okay?

I can’t wait to get back in the USA. We’ve got a bunch of shows to announce. Some band shows. Some solo.

If we ever get back. I want to do something fun. Remember when people used to meet you at your gate? No? Oh well. It happened once upon a time. I was going to suggest to Stephie that maybe we pay an Uber driver to honk his horn though the Broadway tunnel on the way home.

Here’s a dispatch from Ireland where we ran into our old team Mascot John Murry who’s been adopted by the good people of Kilkenny.

“We’re made it back to Kilkenny! And look at what the cat dragged in. [Post Killkenny group hug]

https://www.facebook.com/chuckprophetofficial/photos/a.397498590422.182449.10029785422/10152979281405423/?type=1&theater

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~IN THIS ISSUE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

* GIGSVILLE: “beats folding underwear at Mervyns”

* MERCHVILLE: “If you’re not busy being born, you’re busy buying”

* FACEBOOK: Like me!

* TWITTERVILLE: “Tweet-tweet-twiddle-dee-deet”

http://twitter.com/ChuckProphet/

——————————————————————————————————

GIGSVILLE: “6 billion people in the world and you want to be among

those who will never seen The Mission Express live?”

Show details: http://chuckprophet.com/gigs/

——————————————————————————————————

THURS JULY 30 SUMMER NIGHTS CONCERT SERIES, WINDSOR, CA CHUCK PROPHET & THE MISSION EXPRESS

SUN AUG 30 SUMMERSHADE FESTIVAL, ATLANTA, GA USA CHUCK PROPHET SOLO

THURS SEPT 3 HALIFAX URBAN FOLK FESTIVAL, HALIFAX, NS CANADA CHUCK PROPHET SOLO

FRI SEPT 4 HALIFAX URBAN FOLK FESTIVAL, HALIFAX, NS CANADA CHUCK PROPHET SOLO

SAT SEPT 5 HALIFAX URBAN FOLK FESTIVAL, HALIFAX, NS CANADA CHUCK PROPHET SOLO

SUN SEPT 6 HALIFAX URBAN FOLK FESTIVAL, HALIFAX, NS CANADA CHUCK PROPHET SOLO

WED SEPT 9 KIKI’S HOUSE OF RIGHTEOUS MUSIC, MADISON, WI USA CHUCK PROPHET SOLO

THURS SEPT 10 DAKOTA, MINNEAPOLIS, MN USA CHUCK PROPHET & THE MISSION EXPRESS

FRI SEPT 11 FITZGERALD’S, BERWYN, IL USA CHUCK PROPHET & THE MISSION EXPRESS

SAT SEPT 12 THE BLACK SWAMP ARTS FESTIVAL, BOWLING GREEN, OH CHUCK PROPHET & THE MISSION EXPRESS

SUN SEPT 13 THE BLACK SWAMP ARTS FESTIVAL, BOWLING GREEN, OH CHUCK PROPHET & THE MISSION EXPRESS

MON SEPT 14 BEACHLAND BALLROOM, CLEVELAND, OH USA CHUCK PROPHET & THE MISSION EXPRESS

WED SEPT 16 SOUTHGATE HOUSE REVIVAL, NEWPORT, KY CHUCK PROPHET SOLO

THURS SEPT 17 NATALIE’S, WORTHINGTON, OH USA CHUCK PROPHET SOLO

FRI SEPT 18 CLUB CAFE, PITTSBURGH, PA CHUCK PROPHET SOLO

SAT SEPT 19 HUNTINGTON HILLS HOUSE CONCERTS, ROCHESTER, NY USA CHUCK PROPHET SOLO

SUN SEPT 27 HOPMONK TAVERN NOVATO, NOVATO, CA CHUCK PROPHET SOLO

FRI OCT 2 MAKE OUT ROOM, SAN FRANCISCO, CA USA CHUCK PROPHET & THE MISSION EXPRESS

SAT OCT 3 MAKE OUT ROOM, SAN FRANCISCO, CA USA CHUCK PROPHET & THE MISSION EXPRESS

FRI OCT 9 DARYL’S HOUSE, PAWLING, NY USA CHUCK PROPHET SOLO

SAT OCT 10 THE PARLOR ROOM, NORTHAMPTON, MA CHUCK PROPHET SOLO

SUN OCT 11 CLUB PASSIM, CAMBRIDGE, MA USA CHUCK PROPHET SOLO

MON OCT 12 CITY WINERY, NYC, NY USA CHUCK PROPHET SOLO

WED OCT 14 HARRISBURG MIDTOWN ARTS CENTER, HARRISBURG, PA CHUCK PROPHET SOLO

THURS OCT 15 TIN ANGEL, PHILADELPHIA, PA CHUCK PROPHET SOLO

FRI OCT 16 NORTH SHORE POINT HOUSE CONCERTS, NORFOLK, VA CHUCK PROPHET SOLO

SAT OCT 17 PRIVATE, WASHINGTON, DC USA CHUCK PROPHET SOLO

WED OCT 21 PRIVATE, BROOKLYN, NY USA CHUCK PROPHET SOLO

FREE CONCERT CITY HALL JUNE 19th

FREE CONCERT CITY HALL JUNE 19th #SFCityHall100

Show Times:

Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers plus Guests - 6–6:45

McAllister Stage

Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express plus Guests – 6:45-7:30

Grove Stage

Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickets plus Guests – 7:30-8:10

McAllister Stage

Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express – 8-9:15

Grove Stage

Grove Stage is on Grove at Polk – right by Bill Graham Civic

Anything else? I’ve left out all the piercings, DJ set times, and light show at 9:15.

Folks, If you’re in San Francisco on June 19th (and come to think of it, even if you’re not), the Mission Express will be the House Band at a big bash for the 100th anniversary of City Hall - a big outdoor show in Civic Center Plaza in front of City Hall starting at 6 PM. For the price of free, people.

I was asked to reach out into the community and put a couple of sets of music together. To tap into San Francisco music history - and I dug deep with a sharp spade, even with my hands when necessary. Some “people” were busy, but others weren’t, and there will be a lot of talent on the stage. Maybe even a few ego collisions.

AND…Lavay Smith will be hosting a second jazz & blues stage featuring legends like Jules Broussard, Denise Perrier and Freddie Hughes. We’re totally chuffed (sorry, but I’m on the M1 typing this) to be backing original Flamin’ Groovie Roy Loney and original Beau Brummels vocalist Sal Valentino, along with many other well-knowns and lesser-knowns you’ll be happy to hear. We’ve got the Kingston Trio with original members. Kelley Stoltz singing Bobby Freeman’s “Do You Wanna Dance?” Amoray will be doing a tribute to underground disco icon Sylvester. Jorge Santana - original member and leader of Malo - will perform Mission District lowrider anthem “Sauvecito.”

We’ve also got Bill Kirchen from Commander Cody with the Red Meats, Mark Kozelek of Sun Kil Moon, Tim Bluhm from The Mother Hips, and Andy Cabic from Vetiver. I’m even starting a rumor that I’ll be singing “Willie Mays Is Up At A Bat”. There will be a tribute to 415 Records with Translator, Romeo Void and Mark Pistel from Consolidated. We’ll re-imagine Journey with a choir and re-imagine the Dead Kennedys with a classical string octet. And yes, Jello is singing “Let’s Lynch The Landlord.” Penelope is doing the Avengers anthem “American In Me.” That’s a lot to melt down. I’m not too handy with the bullet points but I hope this gives you some kind of idea.

Oh yeah, also on board as MC is Ben Fong-Torres. There also promises to be a courtyard of carnival chaos with circus performers, magicians, stilters (is that a word?), marching bands, contortionists and much more. After dark, the DJ’s will take over. Expect light wand acrobats, a burlesque revue and an over the top light show. Plus all manner of cabaret weirdness. 100 Years of San Francisco music. A lot to sink your gums into.

There are easily 27 different San Franciscos and they all overlap. It’s impossible to include everyone’s San Francisco but we’re gonna reach for it. Also, there are no corporate sponsors. The Hellman family and the Giants are footing the bill. But if any of those drones from the Twitter tower can peel themselves away from their computer screens and want to wander over? Well, it’s a free country, right? Hope to see you there.