Wow!

Man!

The call went out just THIS WEEK! The "new" website was launched 2 days ago! And, already the "People on the Hill", you guys, are responding with such compassion, enthusiasm and generosity! It's blowing me away! Ha! Man!

It's just us!

I'm talking about the VOICES TOGETHER Concert!

Click on this logo to go to that new website... okay?

Thank You. Thank You. Thank You.

You wanna talk about grassroots!?

This is it, man! Ordinary people helping ordinary people! You are the best! When this thing gets off the ground, I will be grateful for every nickel that was sent in to help. But, I hafta tell you... the money that is coming in right now, from ordinary people... good-hearted people... so fast, in $25 donations, and $200 donations... and, $10 donations... and even a few $1,000 donations! It's blowing me away.

We have a long, long way to go. We really do. Hoping for an angel or two to step up with 5 or 10 thousand dollars or more... y'know, only someone who can afford it.

But... wow!

$10 means so much!

Thanks!

I'll tell you guys all about it on Saturday in Central Park!

Saturday in Central Park

Who knows how much we'll have in the Fractured Atlas 501(c)(3) account by Saturday. Right now, we have enough to do a really swell concert in, maybe, Merkin Hall. Hopefully, with your help by the end of the week, we'll have enough to do a really swell show at Town Hall. But, if we run into a few more angels sooner than later, we'll be able to do the gig we're dreaming of at The Hammerstein Ballroom. Then, we'll be able to raise some serious money and make a HUGE difference in the lives of so many people who really need help... NOW!

Anyway, listen... go to the VOICES TOGETHER website and have a look around. If you have ANY quetions, email us there. Dennis, Sue, Mimi, Beth, me... everybody is ready to talk to you about what you can do to help.

Why am I... a singer/songwriter, and my good friends and colleagues so fired up about this?

.

Here's why.

.

Despite the sanitized images we're seeing on the news, despite the glossy picture the Bush administration is trying to paint... it's a fucking war. And in this war, the massive brunt of the horrific casualties are being taken by the civilians... ordinary people like you and me. Mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, and children... the children.

What is this concert about? What is this concert gonna be? Another "celebrity-hoo-ha-where-dat-money-go" thing?

No.

It's gonna be a night of great music, smiles, laughs, some tears... but, it's gonna be a night where good-hearted people will have a chance to come together to raise as much money as possible to help some extraordinary people who are reaching out and helping the innocent civilians, especially the children, in Iraq who are being killed and horribly injured in the war. Yeah, the unspeakable suffering is being largely ignored by both our government and the American news media, but my friends and colleagues and I will not ignore it. You are welcomed to join us.

Y'see, if you help us now by donating tax deductible money to go to the production of the concert right now, then we will be able to say to people that ALL of the proceeds from every ticket they buy will go directly to people like Elissa Montanti and her one-woman Global Medical Relief Fund.

Go check out her website, and see the miracles she's working in this world. It's amazing. There are some really remarkable people on this planet. When you help... you are counted among them in my book!

Y'know, to make it even easier... if you wanna donate something right this minute, you can go right to the Fractured Atlas account and select "VOICES TOGETHER CONCERT" in their drop down menu. (On Behalf Of) Just click on this link:

Donate at Fractured Atlas

Look... I'm not about politics. Ha! (Stop laughing!) I'm not.

I'm a singer/songwriter.

But, I'm an American folk/rock musician and I write what is on my mind and in my heart. These days, my mind is astounded by the lack of reason in this country, and my heart is heavy with the inhumanity of this war. The disconnect from reality that I see around me is surreal these days.

So, no I'm not shying away from the hits when it comes to speaking Truth to power, and putting the Truth in a song. (You should see some of the emails I get!) And, in the tradition of Guthrie and Seeger and Dylan and Baez and countless others... it kinda comes with the job description.

But, y'see, this concert is not about choosing sides. I'm not about choosing sides. I don't like to think of myself as having a side! (So, I'll keep many of my thoughts and feelings here in this website.) YOU can go to the Voices Together Website to find out how YOU an make a profound difference in this world, regardless of your politics, okay? People need help, and almost no one is helping them.

Anyway... okay... this week!

Music!

THIS IS THE LAST WEEK of the "Sunset Concert Series" in Hudson River Park... down on Pier 45 at the end of Christopher Street. So, this Friday night is gonna be one of the last times you're gonna get to hear Roger Bartlett and I make music together for a while. (Unless I can talk him into coming out to Central Park again before he leaves for good.) Y'see, he and his wife are leaving New York City. Man! It's tough losing a partner. But, I wish him all the happiness and success in the world down there in Vegas. He deserves it. He really does.

Me?

This time of year I tell everyone, "Don't look at the calendar. Look at the thermometer. My summer doesn't end until I say so. I'll be playing in Central Park until it ges too cold to play."

So, I'll be around for a while! And, then we'll have the December concert at Merkin Hall and VOICES TOGETHER at The Hammerstein Ballroom in January to look forward to over the winter.

See you out in the park this weekend.

Oh, yeah... and, in Riverside Park on Sunday.

Thanks for everything.

Really.

Thanks again.