ENTER THE WANDERER

Hey Folks,

BREAKING NEWS: As you’ve no doubt heard, the 20th annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival will be virtual this year, on October 3. So what does virtual mean? Some kind of Zoom concert?

Not by a longshot!

We’re talking a 3-hour movie, with new and familiar faces including me, playing their hearts out on location in cities around the country. There will also be archival footage galore, and interviews, and much, much more celebrating Warren Hellman‘s gift to the city.

And let me be the first to start a rumor that throughout this extravaganza, WHO WILL POP UP WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT HIM BUT THE WANDERER! The capital letters are because The Wanderer will be…you guessed it…none other than me.

Think a cross between Judy Garland and Anthony Bourdain - back when he was still alive. And you the viewer will know what it feels like to be that farm girl from Kansas who gets swept up in a tornado.

Join me as I encounter all manner of Scarecrows, Tin Men, Wicked and Good Witches in the empty confines of Golden Gate Park. I kid you not.

So just to be clear: Hardly Strictly, the annual free of charge festival that draws 750,000 music lovers from all over creation to San Francisco over three days on six stages is coming to the electronic device of your choosing (including facebook Live) on October 3.

Think of my role as the cab driver who never shuts up. Who knows the architect behind every building, even if he has to make it up.

They say the music is gone. But is it? (Spoiler alert: I. Don’t. Think. So.) Plus we will straighten out where the word “Hardly“ came from and how it opened the festival up to loud and proud performers such as Buckethead, The Drive By Truckers and oh… about 500 others(!)

Plus – you’ll get to see me and Tre Burt perform in an empty meadow.

And we’ll show many sides of Warren Hellman. The Man Himself, who had a magic checkbook that cut through bureaucratic red tape like a hot knife through butter.

Visit https://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com for news and updates.

ONCE MORE: if you haven’t checked in on my Trip In The Country radio show, you’re missing out. 2 hours of COVID free jams. Every Friday at 2 PM PST with me your host hand picking records. http://gimmecountry.com Today we have special guest Jon Langford from The Mekons talking about some of his favorite records.

IN OTHER MERCH NEWS: Fleet Wood made these handmade LTTF bandannas. Fleet Wood is a cool place in the heart of the Tenderloin that doubles as an art gallery and a boutique. Nico there does the screen printing on-site. The bandannas turned out cool and honestly, any opportunity I can find to promote an independently owned business in the Tenderloin is great for me. And come to think great for the neighborhood. And great for the city too. San Francisco real estate has never been less friendly. So if you can, support this little business.

Here’s the direct link where you can purchase the bandana, which is now live: https://www.theconnextion.com/chuckprophet/index.cfm?ProdAutoID=14640

If you want to buy something in my store like the new record? It helps. We’ve got a lot of great stuff in our online store if you haven’t checked it out lately. Go here: http://www.chuckprophet.com/shop

Onwards,

-Chuck

HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER

Folks,

I have a few things I want to share with you. First off, you can still pre-order The Land That Time Forgot here: https://ffm.to/landtimeforgot

In other news? We continue to be in a holding pattern. I still pick up the guitar most days and see where my fingers take me. But, as far as really getting out there? Who knows?

In fact, I was talking to James today. And James asked me if there were any songs he needed to brush up on for when we get back out there. And what I think it’ll look like when we do. And I thought about it for a second and I said…

[I have this new software that turns conversations into a legal transcript, so check it out…]

CP: Have you ever seen High Plains Drifter?

James: Ah, maybe…

CP: Well, I’ve been watching a lot of movies these days. So, you’ve never seen High Plains Drifter?

James: I’ve seen movies. Go on…

[And I went on.]

CP: Well, Clint Eastwood rides into this mining town. And Clint’s character doesn’t have a name. He’s only known as the Stranger. Now within minutes of riding into town, the Stranger takes on an entire gang of tough guys and gives them a serious beat down. The cowering townspeople watch it from behind curtains and under buildings. The Stranger is clearly a bad ass. About this time, the town learns that a psychotic outlaw has been sprung from jail and is headed their way to seek revenge. They talk the Stranger into acting as protection. The Stranger agrees, but he has his price. He demands complete authority over the town. The Stranger has his own governing style or whatever you want to call it. First, he appoints a dwarf, Mordecai, as Sheriff. (Mordecai is a big name from the Bible, by the way. In a movie, you can never go wrong using a name from the Bible.) Then the Stranger takes the entire hotel for himself. And he manages to climb into bed with both the town bad girl, Callie, and the hotel manager’s wife, Sarah. You still there?

James: Kind of. Half listening. But my breakfast is getting cold. Does he take a bath?

CP: Who?

James: The Stranger. Don’t they always take a bath and smoke a cigar in the bath, grinning?

CP: Yeah, sure. But this is the important part, the money shot. The Stranger has a big bucket of red paint, and he’s meandering down Main Street calmly repainting the town while Mordecai, in his Sheriff’s badge, looks on approvingly. Yep, this crazy son of a bitch is PAINTING THE ENTIRE TOWN RED. And with the last bit of paint in the bucket he fashions a sign that reads: HELL.

James: This sounds a lot like the news these days.

CP: I’m getting there, I’m getting there. When the gang of black hats rolls into town, the first thing they see is that sign: HELL. And anyone who’s ever seen Clint Eastwood squint is thinking, “Huh, this is going to be good.” So, to answer your question, that’s it. We’ll approach every gig like that. Just like that. Roll into town. Turn it upside down. Take over the nicest hotel and paint the town red. So, bring a change of clothes. It could get messy.

James: Ready when you are. And unlike you, I’ve actually painted houses. I guess I’ll just put this oatmeal in the microwave. What do you think, about 2 minutes at power level 5?

***END OF TRANSCRIPT***

Meanwhile folks, I’ve got a radio show. And it’s a great hang. It’s all interactive. People from all over the globe come and hang out and mouth off in the chat. It’s on http://www.GimmeCountry every Friday at 2pm (PST)

Sure it’s Country music, but we take it places. Other countries. Places like Italy and Jamaica and Canada too! And the Americas. North America… South America… If ya like 50s and 60s, 70s MXR Phaser country, yodeling cowgirls, honky-tonkers, Georgia swampers, rockabilly cats and kittens, this is the place. And it seems like the more out there it gets, the more people dig it. Plus it’s fun turning people on to music. I love radio. And I love interjecting my thoughts about these great records and the people who make them.

Meet me in a hurry behind the barn! And be sure to hit “subscribe” on the GimmeCountry app so you can get a reminder when the show starts.

If you like this newsletter, forward it to a pal. If you want to buy something in my store? Better yet. It helps. Somehow it all comes together, even without a GoFundMe page. We have our ways. In fact, in MY day, when we needed to get some money together, we went door to door and hassled people, made them feel sorry for us, talked them into buying cookies or magazine subscriptions. Sometimes we might throw a car wash or whatever. All this to say that we’ve got a lot of great stuff in our online store if you haven’t checked it out lately.

Go here: http://www.chuckprophet.com/shop

Onwards,

-Chuck