Culture Karma

Culture Karma have to re-center, have heart, and ask, ‘What can I add? What can I do?’” MUSIC (Continued from page 12) by Kyle Slavin What Glen can do, of course, is sing, to offer his deeply resonant tenor on songs that matter just as he has since first forming Toad as a teenager at San A local since 1996, Kyle has been a regular contributor to newspapers and magazines for over 15 years. Previously the Lead Story Writer for The American Gentleman Magazine and a Sportswriter for the News-Press, Kyle resides on Toro Canyon with his wife, three children, two parents, and four dogs. You can reach Marcos High, when such early songs as the mystical “Walk on the Ocean” transcended the typical angst of the era. It’s a tradition that leads straight through his solo singer-songwriter career and now, during the coronavirus him at kyle.slavin@gmail.com. crisis, to his three-nights-a-week Zoom shows (plus one on Sundays on Nature Versus Nurture StageIt) in which he gets to interact more directly with fans than perhaps he might even on the road. But even that, in the days after Floyd’s death, was offering more dilemmas. W hich came first, a town’s culture, or the people who inspired it? “The image from the Malcolm X movie that keeps coming into my head

Two-and-a-half lifetimes ago, in 2012, my newly-minted fiancée and is when the white girl stops him on the steps and says ‘I’m on your side. I I were wedged in a one-bedroom apartment on the Mesa, utterly broke believe in what you’re doing. What can I do to help.’ And Malcolm X says, and enthusiastically optimistic. Those fresh-faced, naïve versions of ourselves ‘Get out of my way.’ I don’t want to appropriate other people’s storytelling, would eat trail mix and drink wine on our utter lack of living room furniture, but I do want to bring attention to those voices because they will help us gaze out at the open ocean before us, and talk about the family and life we were understand why this is so important. This week there is debate in my head going to build. that I should just shut up and let voices that are heard less get heard more.

That, and whether or not that haphazard Jeep of ours was going to start the But people have also come to count on these nights.” next day... darned thing still gives me the shakes. So the second song on Monday night – for which Glen already announced

As we both were working double-duty on our ultimately unimportant and donations will go to the NAACP – is a stirring, passion-filled version of emotionally devastating jobs, we looked to the Santa Barbara community to proMarvin Gaye’s unfortunately still timely “What’s Going On”: “Mother, vide some much-needed cultural immersion and social escape. mother there’s too many of you crying / brother, brother, brother, there’s far

The Funk Zone was just a baby at that time as well, and Lord, did we nurture too many of you dying / You know we’ve got to find a way to bring some that child! lovin’ here today / Father, father, we don’t need to escalate / You see, war is

We would take the mile-and-a-half walk down Shoreline, past the Harbor and not the answer for only love can conquer hate… Picket lines and picket signs, West Beach, and there, in the haze of Pinot Noir and nonsense, we finally found don’t punish me with brutality / Talk to me, so you can see, oh, what’s going our people. on, what’s going on...”

We began to lean on the wineries, and from there Pierre Lafond’s State Street The chat box fills so fast it’s a challenge to read the messages as they scroll Bistro and Blush (both now defunct), and we began to understand the peaalongside a steady stream of hearts and thumbs-up icons. cock-tailed beauty of small business in this town – something that I didn’t quite “This is so lovely, I’m dancing in my kitchen and crying,” reads one, shargrasp when I grew up here. ing a sentiment seconded as another adds “(The songs) have extra weight tonight, and I can’t help but cry.”

It was just that they all had great authenticity and an appreciation for their recording them. I’ve also been digging deep, learning lots of covers.” work, which they were happy to share if you showed an interest. Joey Somerville Back on Facebook Live, Phillips – who lived in Montecito for the better part at Blush turned us on to their jackpot steak sauce that you could douse over anyof 25 years before recent relocations that have him now staying (and streamthing. Nick Morello at Corks and Crowns poured us his private label. Don Hull ing) in Mission Canyon – is offering up “Gather,” from his 2005 solo album at the Montecito Wine Bistro would ask us to taste possible menu additions and Winter Pays For Summer, and the verses pierce: “Let us be humbled tonight actually listened to feedback. Suzanne Fitzgerald at the SB Winery clued us in to / In these depths show us the light / Give us peace, lay down the mighty / cooking classes and pairings – she is the person I have to thank for my knowledge In these depths, show us the light, please / Oh God, I pray to thee / Don’t of how to properly juice a citrus... with a fork! want to die before we’re free / Dive down inside this sea / And maybe at

Those I mentioned nourished us and helped us bloom, back when we had the bottom I’ll find some key… Oh God, will you hear me cry / Don’t want nothing. Now, as a 38-year-old father of three, living in Toro Canyon with that to see another innocent die / Dive down inside these depths / Keep my faith same smoke-show wife, four dogs, three rabbits, a koi pond, and a guest house and hold my breath / The more we fight, the less it bends / Lay down your with two cranky elderly folks (who happened to conceive me) I think fondly arms, gather your friends / Strengthen your heart and this will end / Lay upon those days of growth in the culture nursery of Santa Barbara County. down your arms, gather your friends.”

And particularly at this time, in this circumstance, I feel a moral responsibility to return the favor.

It is bizarre – it seems that we all have weathered a bull market on tragedy and that we hold close are part of us. They contribute heavily to our environment, disaster these last couple of years. and through their efforts to further the cultural ingenuity of Santa Barbara, they

And as we dive beneath the waves of yet another swell, I hope we remain in turn supply us with a portion of our identity. prepared for the local issues that existed – perhaps fermenting – since before our I know so many folks that consider their weekly date nights a romantic threemost recent hiatus underwater. some: them, their partner, and their favorite eatery. Simply scandalous!

The frailty of our small businesses, especially in this market, is an issue that Looking broadly at our current conditions, difficult though they may seem, I must remain at the forefront of our minds and actions, lest we wish to lose one of still find myself encouraged. the most appealing aspects of being a “Santa Barbarian.” To go back and talk to the 2012 versions of ourselves, looking out over that

There is no doubt that this most recent calamity will claim many of the local same ocean in that same makeshift living room, wine and trail mix, I would offer establishments that were left standing. It just breaks my heart. But the reason that we are already armed with everything we need. businesses will survive will be because of this connection to their community. No, not to simply survive, but to bond our connection more soundly with this Classic venues like Los Arroyos, Cava, Tre Lune, Shoreline Cafe, Joe’s Cafe, community, this culture, and these people who work hard to make Santa Barbara Jeannine’s Bakery, and Via Maestra have us as family, and family supports each so unique. other. Because, really, what is our culture worth if we are not doing our part to expe

So as we cocoon, self-distance and self-sanitize, perhaps we should include rience it? In truth, it is the only part of family that we get to pick out ourselves. self-observation in our code of ethics for our eventual rebirth. These businesses Or... did it pick us? •MJ 44 MONTECITO JOURNAL “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent.” – John Donne 4 – 11 June 2020

“A Change Is Gonna Come” follows, Phillips sharing his take on Sam Cooke’s anthem written after the legendary soul singer and his entourage We began to lean on the wineries… and began to understand were reportedly turned away from a whites-only motel in Louisiana in 1964. More than 55 years later, the words still ring as an urgent plea via the plainthe peacock-tailed beauty of small business in this town – tive sounds of Phillips’ voice and gently strummed guitar. Antara Hunter, fellow Santa Barbara singer-songwriter who years ago something that I didn’t quite grasp when I grew up here. moved back East, chimes in “Great song choices, Glen! Does my soul good. Thank you!”

“When I started doing the show, people started making all these requests,” Phillips told me earlier in the day. “It’s forced me to relearn songs that I might not have played in ten years, and some that I never played live since

Meanwhile, the donation total keeps soaring as Phillips sings, passing Glen Phillips $3,000 and still climbing quickly. (By trying to heal the end of the night, the total reaches more than $6,200 from small donaus and him through song tions from more than 220 people, the most yet for one of his Zoom events. Donations are also accepted during the playbacks available on Phillips’ Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ GlenPhillipsMusic. The total had just hit $7,000 even as this article went to press.)

“Why can’t musicians run the country?” asks a fan in the chat, then another admits “My soul needs this tonight.” Other comments quickly follow, taking note of a subtle change in Phillips’ typically upbeat demeanor: “I appreciate that you are somber tonight” and “(You’re) a calm, beautiful voice in a sea of insanity.”

Phillips pauses to offer an intro to the next song: “Don’t Need Anything” “I’m thankful for you, Glen,” writes Leslie Conner. “You are a light.” also from Winter Pays for Summer. “It’s funny, because it’s supposed to be how “Thank you for singing to us in isolation,” adds Lisa Bartels. I don’t have much but I don’t need much,” he tells the viewers watching on “I just want to keep hitting the heart button,” a third fan gushes. Facebook Live. “And I realized as I was looking through the lyrics how priviPhillips smiles and switches gears. leged the things are that I take for granted. In times like this, it’s good to remind “I should probably play something fun now. And maybe keep playing until those of us who are privileged just how privileged we are.” we get to $5K for the NAACP?”

I’m reminded of our talk six hours earlier when Phillips told me he has yet to “Make it $10,000,” a chatter suggests. write a song in response to the pandemic, let alone one about the current “Black Phillips plays “Rare Bird” from the 2013 Toad album New Constellations, and Lives Matter” protests all across America, and he’s aching. follows that with a version of Talk Talk’s “Life’s What You Make It,” ending with a wry smile. “It felt a little better when I was playing it earlier,” he admits, looking at the chat, then brightens when he sees that the donation total had topped $5,000. This era of bullying and intolerance at the highest level, “Thank you for your kindness, your goodness,” he says, looking directly into the camera. “We need lots of that right now, lots of understanding, and stretchnormalizing cruelty and insulting others, I don’t know how ing your boundaries.” He seems to get a jolt of energy when he arrives on the next song to share, to respond to that in a song. I’m having to remind myself to “Love Is Stronger Than Death” by The The. “In our lives we hunger for those we cannot touch / All the thoughts unutrespond in ways that are less political, and more universal, and tered & all the feelings unexpressed / Play upon our hearts like the mist upon then still ask myself the question if that’s too privileged a stance. our breath / But, awoken by grief, our spirits speak… / Here come the blue skies, here comes springtime / When the rivers run high & the tears run dry / When everything that dies shall rise… / Love Love Love is stronger than death.”

“I’m still digesting. I go fallow for long periods of time where I just need to he says, “All caps remind me of someone I don’t like to think of right now.” be with me and figure out what’s not reactive. There is so much to think about He chuckles. A Cat Stevens request also goes unanswered. “Yeah, there are so right now, and write about, and it keeps changing. The pandemic is such a huge many songs I need to learn.” Quickly though, he arrives at a fave by the female impact. And this era of bullying and intolerance at the highest level, giving us duo MaMuse that seems to sum up the sense of sadness, hope, and community. cues of how we are supposed to be acting in the world, normalizing cruelty “We shall be known by the company we keep / By the ones who circle round and insulting others. I don’t know how to respond to that in a song. Throw on to tend these fires / We shall be known by the ones who sow and reap / The institutionalized racism and it’s a big sandwich. I’m having to remind myself seeds of change, alive from deep within the earth / It is time now, it is time now to respond in ways that are less political, and more universal, and then still ask that we thrive / It is time we lead ourselves into the well / It is time now, and myself the question if that’s too privileged a stance.” what a time to be alive / In this Great Turning we shall learn to lead in love.”

The song starts, the notes on his acoustic guitar quieter than ever, the words Phillips sings the tune a cappella, harmonizing to his own tracked vocal using coming out almost as a prayer: “I’ve got gardens growing, got quiet days / a looper the second time through – a digital tool he’s also been employing in Clothes on my back, food on my plate / Got friends to help me if I call for them the online version of his community choir – and it’s so evocative that shivers / I don’t need anything that I don’t have … / I’ve got eyes to see this beautiful are sent down my spine. land / And feet to take me where I want to stand / If there’s work to be done The concert has come to a close, and, it turns out, it’s the last one for there’s these two strong hands / I don’t need anything that I don’t have.” this week, as Phillips announced at the beginning that he’s going dark on

The comments start flowing in the chat box almost immediately again. “This Wednesday (which is usually dedicated to having a single guest share the is my go-to attitude-check song,” one listener offers, seeming to affirm Phillips’ Zoom space, which Phillips calls “Song Pong,” or has visits from his now backchoice. Another notes, “Glen, you look so sad,” which someone else follows at-home daughter, Freya). The chat has been filled all hour long with messages with perhaps some healing advice: “Glen, feel proud of this great community of understanding but also admissions that they’ll miss the music and Phillips’ that you’ve created.” presence in their homes as people continue to shelter in place.

Next up is “Come Come Whoever You Are,” which was adapted from a poem “It’s been a lot of fun to sing so much, and to feel like it’s doing something by the Sufi mystic Rumi, which Phillips learned from a fellow song leader of for people, to have some purpose,” he told me. “It’s been incredibly hard on the a community choir – another of the non-commercial endeavors that has been country and a lot of people, and my experience has been much easier. So I’m soothing his soul. It’s the song that brought such a lump to my throat the first grateful that this idea is both doing good for other people and - because people time I heard it that I couldn’t get the words out of my mouth without choking. are so generous with the separate donation area for me on Venmo -- that I’m

“Come come whoever you are, wanderer, worshipper, lover of leaving,” miraculously able to pay my rent too.” Phillips sings, his eyes gently shut. “Come come whoever you are, this isn’t a Back on Facebook, the comments are also coming to a close. caravan of despair.” “Thank you for the peace amid the chaos tonight”, ““Hearing your voice

The chat buzzes immediately. always makes me feel better”, and “Thank you, Glen. You are a gift.” •MJ 4 – 11 June 2020 • The Voice of the Village • MONTECITO JOURNAL 45

Phillips then sees a request, in all caps, for the Toad song “Windmills.” But,