You reading this in another part of the country or another part of the world? Thanks for stopping by today...

Gotta tell you. Man! This weekend in New York City was brutally hot. I hafta thank every single person who came out to "The Hill" to sit under a tree and hang out with me on Saturday. For me... it was just another great opportunity to make music with Dodger Bartlett before he leaves New York. I've never taken that for granted, but now that Dodger's makin' this move, I've really been savoring every song we get to share with you guys.

Hopefully, this heat is gonna break in the next day or so and we'll get back to the usual crowds and good times in Central Park.

"The Hill" in Central Park

Seriously, if you came out to Central Park this weekend, you either love music... or, you're crazy. But, thanks. (I hafta run out of town early today, but I'll be adding the names of the people who signed the email list later. I'll probably send out a welcome email tonight, okay?)

Man! I love making music!

And, y'know... we got cut short by the rain in Riverside Park on Sunday, but I'm really diggin' the "Storytellers" feel that the concerts there are taking. (I also loved sitting down while I played for a change!)

But, y'know... telling you guys about how some of my songs were written, and taking a run at cover tunes I've never played before... it's really very cool. Oh yeah, and... um... I'll defifnitely let you all know if the "Sunset Concert Series" is gonna continue of Friday nights. (I'm sure it will, at least through the end of August.)

So... what's new?

Well, I think by the end of this week, we'll be able to announce the launching of the VOICES TOGETHER website. Keep checking back for that, okay? My buddy, Dennis, is gonna oversee the construction of that site for us. There's a great web designer named Natalia who is putting the thing together. We just wanna get the site up as soon as possible so we'll be able to let you all know about the progress of this important effort.

What is the VOICES TOGETHER concert?

Y'know, I love this quote by Margaret Mead.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

Well, me and a small group of friends and colleagues are gonna try to make a difference in our own tiny way by putting on this concert in January. It's already a massive project and alot of work... kinda turning into a full-time job. But basically, it will be an intimate but extraordinary songwriters circle at the Hammerstein Ballroom, with some very special artists sharing their music for a vital cause... to get direct help to as many of the innocent civilians, the ordinary people in Iraq, who are being so badly hurt by the war. It will evening of music, laughter, some tears... but, most importantly, it will be a hall filled with good people who care about making a real difference in this world. It will be a room full of people who won't ignore the reality of this war, and who know that, while war is always abhorant and immoral, this war is especially so... and that civilians and children are NOT collateral damage. Somebody's got to take care of them.

It makes such an impression on me, when people who supported this war talk and talk and talk about the "vision" that was behind the prosecution of it, and yet can be so blind to the reality of it. I'm kinda sorry for them. They just don't seem to "get it". But, y'know, that's always that's between a person and their conscience.

It's like those little yellow ribbons you see on SUVs when you take a trip out to suburban America. These little yellow ribbons say, "We support our troops".

What does that even mean?

I mean, in a very real and practical sense? What exactly does that mean?

I read statements by people who support this war, and I hafta ask myself... how? I mean, besides words which are as hollow as George Bush's head, what are they doing?

When I pay attention to the reality of the civilians being killed and horribly wounded in this war, I hafta look in the mirror and ask myself, "Okay David. What are you going to do?"

Well, Dennis and a woman named Mimi Evans, found three groups who are doing heroic work getting real and direct help to the ordinary people of Iraq.

We're gonna be asking all of you to jump in and help us soon, too.

"It's just us."

. .

If you wanna get your heart around the spirit of the thing, here's a link to a recent update. Go ahead and click on this link for the update from July 27th. And, then come back and go ahead and click on this link, too.

Click here to get a general idea of what we're planning and why.

And, keep your eyes open for the VOICES TOGETHER website.

I gotta run.

Maybe I'll be back later today.

Thanks for everything.