Well oiled machine

dumped from Jam for Freedom

I spoke with vengeful spirit, Dave Crow the other day about being dumped from J43dom line up and my disappointment. He replied thus. "John your (The band) under appreciated, you've got a well oiled machine, it's nuanced, not crass, funny and not obnoxious". He further went on to articulate the contradiction J43dom was exposing by treating us in this way. It just becomes another product in consumer culture, if Jam43dom are using us to sell their tickets/product and prioritise the money and the big(ger) names over nurturing a culture, they are doomed to replicate that which is supposedly being resisted. Dave's good at complex analysis, he also has the advantage distance from the impact, and the old ego sensitivities that hamper my ability to nimbly respond and assert the worth of our endeavour. That's why we need mates to talk to when things are troubling. I agree with everything Dave said, that much about the band I have confidence in, without I hope any pomposity. But the marketing the pushiness that seems to be required is my hidden disability.

Photo Adrian Barber

Applying to play at festivals is one of winters little jobs. One offers a pitch for a gig or two or three, one is getting tired of not getting paid. So at least a bit of diesel please. And we know how hard we work to "oil our machine" and get the nuance and humour marbled into our sonic attack. That is all very front-able on a stage, but doesn't always go well negotiating with the festival/venue bureaucracy, where your "just another band". Often that's the feel that comes across with these applications. But then rock n' roll is littered with legendary spiv/gangster managers to do the dirty work, whist we artistes "oil our machine". But in the digital brave new world of self publishing everything is way beyond the DIY nature of punk. You find yourself doing everything, so to some measure this is a game I'm late in learning to play. And doing everything is impossible.

That all said, what the band are about, though complex and "nuanced", is for a bit of respect and regard in human relations and activities and the peril of not upholding a wholesome ethic. And recognizing we can all be pricks, but we can endeavour not to be, that's the thing amongst many things.

So back to J43dom's dumping us. As Dave spoke those words I felt a second response possible. My first reply was a bit like being Jilted John, hurt, not seeing what was going on. So at risk of displeasing the J43dom curator I felt some feedback would be helpful for both of us. It's a small drama in the scheme of things but nevertheless it encapsulates what we're about ,both JPTB and J43dom (I assume). Or not? We'll see. Here is my second response.

Dear J43dom, on reflection my response to your message withdrawing The John Preston Tribute Band from the Jam For Freedom line up conveyed a modicum of disappointment and turned out a bit paranoid, thinking it maybe our doing. In the spirit of second thoughts I wish to offer a further more full response. This I feel is warranted because despite the complexities and stresses of running an event like J43dom, what I believe we must be about if we are simply not going to replicate the harmful system we are resisting, is to take care of each other, value and appreciate all efforts. And not to fall into hierarchies, where we perpetuate an ethic of utilitarianism and disposability.

Looking back over our communication you initially posited we "could be one of the headline acts on the Thursday or Sunday". When I confirmed our availability, you came back with "Thursday would be best". When it came down to it we were scheduled for 5PM Thursday, hardly a headline slot. I rationalised this despite our hot nuanced take on all things we have a relatively low profile as a band. And then we met only last week when we drove down to play a tiny festival in Suffolk. A few days later were we dumped off the roster with an "apologies for the inconvenience" and not even a name on the sign off. That's poor treatment

My sense is your event is snowballing with "names" joining the roster and we've got shoved off the edge. This does not convey a sense of regard, it looks more like carnage on the road to utopia. Not a good look. Our homies are disappointed and J43dom is tarnished in their estimation. I wish for that impression to be redeemed going forth. We will do a damn good job. I write this challenging feedback at the risk of not being asked again. but hell, aren't we "freedom lovers" supposed to "stand in our truth" and say it? So there you go.

J43dom I hope these words come in the spirit of discourse. I wish you well in the coming week and may this be the only tarnish in this years endeavour.

Regards John

I wonder if that bridge has been burned?

The Ferrel Horn Section Paul Littlechild, Carolyn Ash and Dave Crow Photo Adrian Barber