Music Matters
Texas singer Jimmy LaFave protests in a civilized way
Protest, and the many ways people voice their opposition, has become a largely regional phenomenon in recent American history. In San Francisco, young people grow their hair, take off their clothes and dance naked in public as a show of displeasure. In New York, a flip of "the bird" followed by a string of curses and crude gestures is the normal protocol for being pissed off.
Texas, however, has them all beat. In the Lone Star State when young men like Jimmy LaFave sense a collective loss of civic direction, they break out guitars, write therapeutic songs and then take to the road to dispense a bit of melodic perspective to the masses.
LaFave, however, is a native of Wills Point (about an hour east of Dallas) and apparently metaphor and symbolism didn't make it to that part of Van Zandt County. (Sidenote: How cool and appropriate is it that LaFave is from Van Zandt County?) On new album, Cimarron Manifesto, he very directly directly addresses the need for a return to a civilized society in which humanity gets a seat at the Personal Priority table that is too often occupied by greed and manipulation.
New song "This Land" is LaFave's equivalent of Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are A Changin'." Following a laundry lists of domestic wrongs and nightly news depressions, he finally declares, "I simply want my country back again."
Speaking of Dylan, Cimarron Manifesto also features LaFave covering Big Bob's "Not Dark Yet," as well as his interpretation of Donovan's "Catch The Wind."
It's a vital new chapter by LaFave who has been cranking out albums based on the American experience for over 30 years. And since his preferred method of protest will take place in the cozy Mucky Duck. It should be much effective than if the room was full of hairy, dancing, naked people.
Jimmy LaFave, 7:30 p.m. Friday, at McGonigel's Mucky Duck
Tickets $20
