Review: Written April 1 2003 by Paul Emerson Leicht.

In attendance: Me, Danny Kelly, Hogan Long,Peter Dizozza, Beau Johnson, Chris Lyle, Joel, Kevin and Girlfriend (didn't perform), Amy Hills, Mike Rocklin & Johnny "Conga", Joie Dead Blonde Girlfriend, Kimya Dawson, Dashan, Dibs, Jon Berger, Lenny Molotov, Randi Russo, Marilee, and others (to whom I was not introduced.)

Temperatures dropped dramatically and we all shivered our way into the backroom of Sidewalk (94 Ave.A, NYC) for the Antisocial, an open stage focused on political and topical song and spoken word. Danny set things up as we settled in and got warmer. Danny opened with Red, Black and Blue a song about the double standards of our society, laws and government. He continued with his new song My Declaration of Independence which is as lyrically fiery as the rest of his political stuff. He played it faster than the previous Monday and it was awesome.

The Antisocial has a unique sign-up system for an open stage, there isn't one. Lach and Danny explained at last week's opening of the weekly series that people can get up to perform at the time they are moved to do so, a friendly anarchy and it worked! No one seemed ready to get up when Danny was done so I leapt on stage. I was eager to play my new song You Can Stand Up which is about the way the war is being treated by the media and how it is distracting us from the theft of our civil liberties. I also played No Time which is my attempt at a rap with anti-Bush sentiments in it.

The sequence of songs after that blurs a bit because the music was so engrossing. Lenny and Randi both played wonderfully with 2 songs each. It was good to see them perform again having not seen either of them since New Year's Day at Danny's houseparty. Beau played some fun stuff as always wowing us with his smooth guitar technique while being as laid back as a toolshed. His song Overdog was a rather insightful look into the mindset of the elitists of this nation. His song lyrics tend to slide up on you and hit you in the back of the head moments later after utterance. Chris Lyle pulled his cherry red Squire out and played a couple of rocknroll songs for us with lyrics ranging from political to everyday.

Jon Berger egged on by Hogan Long, read a new poem they co-wrote about preferring molesting young kids (I think?) rather than going to war. Needless to say he revved up the energy level of the room a notch. Marilee played fantastic songs that I can't remember the titles of right now. She has a great style of playing and singing that makes you really listen to her. Kimya Dawson showed up briefly to listen and chat a bit. Amy Hills played her Warsongs #1 & #2 and was brilliant with both. She confessed that Warsong #3 is in the works and thee is actually a Warsong #0 technically if you count her song Serotonin Vultures. We will look forward to hearing more of these in the coming weeks.

Mike Rocklin and Johnny Conga (playing Conga drum no less) were the "Halftime" feature acts at 9:00 and they didn't disappoint. They ran through their standards like Tourist, Terrorist or Target and then proceeded to play some I haven't heard before. They rocked hard and loud and every single song was about the current situation in Iraq or about war or about the current administration or ones related to it.

Danny Kelly came back and played Peace with Beau Johnson playing lead and singing harmonies. Many of us sang background harmonies on the chorus as this song is just yummy stuff. Kevin and his girlfriend came but didn't play. Dashan came and played a new song he'd just written. Dibs came and played too. Joie played several songs more social than political but great all the same. Joel got up and played piano several different times and the second time asked for a guitarist to help him with a blues tune. No one else volunteered so I plugged in, sat on the edge of the stage and played along.

Chris convinced Mike and Johnny to get on stage with him to reprise one of his songs. As an experiment in spontaneous jams it was fascinating. Near the end of the evening I got up and played Johnny (which is my sarcastic "prowar" song) because it seemed appropriate. Danny came up again and played Masters of War by Bob Dylan.

I can't tell you how intriguing the format of this Antisocial political and topical hoot is. For one thing there is no one roll-calling names and you don't need to line up and get a number (as I stated earlier but it bears repeating). Its about cooperation and consensus which, Lach pointed out at the first Antisocial, is a principle of Quakerism*. I have enjoyed few open mics as much as these first two Antisocials, and I am looking forward to those to come, hoping I can have fresh songs for each new one.

People drifted in and settled down and there was a general feeling of friendliness even among those who were newbies to the Sidewalk Cafe. People were comfortable in getting up when they felt inspired and no one who came to play was turned away or failed to get on stage and give us their message. It was like being in the company of adults and I for one was honored to be among them. Also, interestingly, no one went downstairs for more than a few minutes at a time unlike the Antihoot where the downstairs is always filled with strummers and socializing.

Also of note was the fact that Bloomberg's Ban was in its first day of effect and no one smoked. Weird playing without the miasma of smoke though I must say I feel bad for those who have to go outside... I may write a song about that. It seems wrong that the one place you expect to be able to smoke for sure has had its smoking privileges revoked. Cmon Mikey what's up wid dat?

A word to the wise and the curious, there was absolutely no animosity or angst for those whose songs were of unpopular views. All comers were welcomed, though as Lach said in his inaugural speech for this hoot "Someone might have an answering song if the feeling arises." (Ok that's really a paraphrase so don't go asking him if he said those exact words.) As with any dialog opposition is welcome as long as it comes without animosity.

Danny who's back hurts him and who has been running himself ragged protesting this infernal war is my hero right now as he put together a show to remember. He should have been home resting but was happily helping us get our messages out and giving us a venue. And finally, thanks to Lach for making this possible.

Good food, drinks, music, politics, social commentary, no smoke, but good times.

* Note that Quakers have been in the vanguard of activist political and social thinking and action for the last 400 years.