(\'ok\)

living in a state of nature
related by one common characteristic
singular divided into several
isolated, unusual
the inside is still
abstaining
a static photograph, designed for taking
uttering no sound
free beyond normal
to be present
in any manner
meaning must
time to stay
part or whole
obligation, things to do
to stand, the wind at our backs
ACCEPT
to experience
a way with words
a certain place
all one is
mercy
look at that
have it
one that is
compassion
a blessing begged for
an act
divine
no way to protect oneself
from grace
a willingness
a short prayer:
(thanks for his regeneration
in his place, ease)
the givers giving thanks
to cause to flow
two musical tones
a second apart
one against an other
to and fro up and down
in order to mix
flourish
clasp hands
to cause
to move
to tremble
to free oneself
(I want to talk to you alone)
weaken
dance
hurry up
an ocean
a body
a diagram or graph
with laughter, rings of growth
a very brief period of time and depth
some breaking or parting
so as to be connected to form
the cross on which Jesus was crucified
merging, maintaining identity
the existence of a real
to what he already knew
the form, without forming

- JC

Oh Life...

Welcome, O Life
I go to encounter
for the millionth time
the reality of experience
and to forge
in the smithy
of my soul
the uncreated
conscience
of my race.

- James Joyce

Do It Anyway

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

- credited to Mother Teresa

Look Ma, I've been READING!!! :-)

Okay, bastards. You think you had me down? You think I haven't been reading? Well... HERE'S a bunch of books that I've finished in the past few months:

"The Path of the Mother" - I love Ammachi. This book got a little fruity at times, but the shining love and radiance of the Holy Mother Ammachi shone through. :-)



"Born Standing Up" - Steve Martin is simply awesome. Totally inspirational book that proves that HARD WORK and being completely devoted to your craft can really take you places that no man hath gone before.



"Diaboliad" - My love for Mikhail Bulgakov already knew no bounds, and now, if there WERE any bounds that I did not know about, they too have been obliterated, and I love him even more boundlessly than before.



"Mary Holmes: Paintings and Ideas" - This woman is one cool character. Great life, beautiful art, and really cool ideas. Holmes was also a big influence of the balloon twister Addi Somekh, who self-published the book.

"Strange Interlude" - A totally awesomely weird play by Eugene O'Neill. Ahead of its time, it deals with all sorts of psychological tomfoolery and some taboo abortion stuff thrown in. Good times.



AND THERE'S MORE! I'll be finished with this MUSIC PUBLISHING book in a couple hours, and of course there is that classic book of sci-fi and humor THE BIBLE that I'm reading, and I know I'm forgetting some stuff from the past few months. Must consult the stacks next to my bed, and in the bathroom, and by the couch, and at my boyfriend's house.

Another update, coming soon!

(Reprinted with my own permission from my manic One Book: One Week blog. Yeah. That's right.)

Evangenitals Keyword Roundup!

It's time for another awesome Evangenitals Keyword Roundup! These are the terms and phrases that SOMEHOW led people to the super-wonderful Evangenitals website, conveniently located at http://www.evangenitals.com

This week's highlights include:

The Obvious:
Evangenitals, The Evangenitals, Evangenitals.com, Evangenital, Evangentials, Evangentals, Evangenitals from LA, evangenitals band

The Personal:
ari desano (always #1!), kristy mcinnis (#2 this week. Tee hee!), "andrea baker" violin evangenitals (and fiddle!), "juli crockett" vegan (represent!), henry bermudez guitar (oh yes!), lisa dee singer (hell yes!)

The Genre-ous:
alternative country punk, country drunk band, alternative country music movement, cowpunk country, kazoo in punk jazz rock, hillbilly love letter, freak folk

The Not Us:
- 4 blond girls in vegas playing electric violins (we have one dirty blonde playing a real fiddle? and by dirty, i mean Andrea's hair color!)
- alternative band with geeky looking guitar player (i wouldn't call Henry geeky. wait, are they talking about me??)
- eric mcfadden trio diamonds to coal blogspot (Henry is a huge Eric McFadden fan, but he's not in this band)
- kimberly edwards springfield missouri (Kristy is from Missouri! Do you know Kimberly, Kristy?)
- professional orchestra near enterprise al (I was born in Enterprise, AL!)
- kit reborn sahra de kim de windering (I have no idea how this one relates??)

And then some specific stragglers, such as they mystifying:
"evangenitals as well" "he evangenitals" and "12345 cow"

Always interesting to see what folks are searching for...

Here's to hoping you all find what your heart's desire!

Much love,
Juli & the Evangenitals
www.evangenitals.com

Evangenitals NW Tour Diary Day 1

The Evangenitals recently went on our very first NW Tour! Our drummer, Kristy McInnis, captured the whole adventure on her awesome mini Flip camera and is editing daily video diaries for your viewing pleasure!

Enjoy Day One of our experience on the wild roads of the NW:

NW Tour Update: Day 1 - No Scat Please

Six Evangenitals and all our gear got stuffed into a Cruise America RV yesterday morning, and we set off on our Pacific Northwest Tour! Rain and high winds made the trip rather adventurous, and driving a giant RV into San Francisco (North Beach) was friggin' INSANE! Luckily Kristy and Feldman have nerves of steel and managed to not only get us safely to the venue (Grant & Green) for load in, but we even found STREET PARKING for the dang thing that cost us a grand total of $3. Woot!

Big love to our superfan Chester, who was the first person to show up and submitted a request for "Purple Rain", Jeremiah who shuttled the Evangenitals to and fro the RV, Roxie who's new original Rockabilly band "The Rumble Strippers" opened for us, and everyone that came out and made last night a special send-off for our NW Tour.

The most ridiculous, epic moment of the evening award goes to the "rap battle" that ensued when birthday boy Zach got up on stage and started beat-boxing. We then proceed to improv a "remix" of Quee-Queg over his beats. When he requested that the band lay back so he could scat, the game was on. Crockett busted out the rhymes, calling him out for hijacking the mic. "This motherfucker has hijacked the stage! The band's in a rage!"

The Evangenitals have a strict no scat policy. It's a hard limit.

Onward to Oregon! Today we have to confront rains, high winds, and SNOW in the RV. Pray for us. We're taking it slow and steady and will see you on the other side.

this is not a booty call...

Oh where have all my nighthawks gone? Where are you, artists of the wee hours, whose creative juices only start flowing when the crepuscule creeps in? Here I am, in the middle of the night, longing for dialogue. Here I am, once again, with that feeling I can't name, a concept that won't yield to definitions, an image that won't be described, an anxiety whose source I can't pinpoint. There are things to discuss, debates to be had, new manifestos to compose... yet all my loved ones and comrades are in bed, asleep, at work, engaged. The idea sits still with me, giving me the stink eye. Some nights you have to go it alone. Indeed.

Prayer (a damn good one)

Whatever happens. Whatever
*what is* is is what
I want. Only that. But that.

- Galway Kinnell

Proud to be an Evangenital

Hello beautiful soul.

As parts of our dear US and World populations seemingly spiral into a crazed muck of extremism, hatred, and fear... I realize that the act of being in an all-love, all-loving, good time gang called the EVANGENITALS becomes more and more of a passionate political statement.

We the Evangenitals have, I admit, gone over the possibility of changing our name to something more "mainstream" or less "challenging" a few times in the 7+ years we've been making our special brand of music. We've been called the "Best Band Name Ever" by quite a few reviewers, and the "Worst Band Name Ever" a few times, too. Our name alone has opened many doors, and closed some. It has certainly always gotten SOME reaction out of folks when they hear it, and folks tend to remember it.

In all these years I've yet to come up with another simple term, phrase, or slogan that covers the sentiment that is the seed and the guiding principle of our art and our action -- and that is, in short:

* An expansive, relentless love of everyone and everything, from the sublime to the profane.
* A joyous getting down with the all of it all, with no topic being too taboo.
* A fiercely beautiful, holy, and kick ass irreverence for Being.

(If you'd like to read a really extensive telling of our feelings about the band and the origin of the band name, you can do so here: http://ping.fm/7gQvU)

At the end of the day... We are the Evangenitals. I accept this and understand it more and more at every show we play, for every fan we meet, and with every heart we touch that feels its confirmation in our mission.

I feel blessed and honored to be in this world with you, at this time, and am commited to making it a fucking joy ride.

We are excited to be going into the studio this weekend to be recording more music with which to infect the hearts and minds of the people.

We are excited to be playing a show with THE MORMONS on November 13th, which shall surely raise a few eyebrows, as we're getting a write up in the Pasadena Weekly for that gig. :-)

We encourage and welcome you to do all you can to help spread the good news of the Evangenitals far and wide.

Let all the fearful, ignorant, poor souls not bathing in the light of love know that they can run but they can't hide. We will find them, and we will love them anyway... till their black hearts bleed sunshine. We are coming.

Much love, love, love,
Rev Juli Crockett & the Evangenitals
www.evangenitals.com

Please Support Kulak's Woodshed!

Hey folks. I wanted to share this plea from Kulak's Woodshed for support. Kulak's is an awesome, volunteer-run, grassroots venue in North Hollywood that hosts incredible original music and webcasts great shows on the internet.

You can check out videos of our appearance at Kulak's on YouTube, here:
http://ping.fm/YI4su

They are in need of audience, donations, and support of any kind... so please spread the word, catch a show, and contribute.

Thanks,
Juli of the Evangenitals
www.evangenitals.com

**

Hi Everyone,

Time Warner turned off our Live Webcast last Friday but we got it back the next day. I'd like to thank the dozen or so people who made generous PayPal donations (in addition to what they already contribute) and helped make that happen. Now I have to hope that the Department of Water and Power doesn't turn off our electricity. Please read the following:

Woodshed audience attendance over the last few months has been very low and I've fallen nearly $9,000 behind in donations needed to pay the Woodshed bills. Yes, things are really desperate here. ATT turned off the Woodshed phone a few weeks ago (about $600 for the past 6 months) I owe Department of Water and Power (over $3,000 for the past few months). They've been working with me allowing me to make payments but I continue to fall behind. It's only a matter of time before they turn me off. The rent is four months ($4,000) behind.

Again, please let me remind you how thankful I am to those of you who have attended Woodshed shows this year, and for making those donations here and on-line. You made it possible for this wonderful community to get this far. I know it may seem unfair coming to you again after you've already given but we are all we have to turn to. If we pull together we can avoid repeated financial crashes.

I'm modeling the Woodshed after the PBS and Public Radio fundraising example of Monthly Sponsorship.

If you are able please help please join me in choosing to keep what you helped create. Please click here:
http://ping.fm/dmN05

Thank you for making a difference in helping to keep the Woodshed going.

Paul Kulak

We broadcast every show LIVE @ http://ping.fm/GODB7

We're located at 5230-1/2 Laurel Canyon Blvd, (just north of Magnolia) North Hollywood, CA 91607

We Are Music

"The organic matter that forms human beings generates a frequency that can be represented by a sound at approximately 42 octaves above middle C [...] vibrating at 570 trillion times a second."

Warren J Hamerman
21st Century Science & Technology
March-April 1989 issue

THAT'S A HIGH C!!!!!!!!!!! :-)

thank you

thank You God most for this amazing day:
for the leaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue true dream of sky;
and for everything which is natural which is infinite which is Yes....

- ee cummings

No Better Love

No better love than love with no object.
No more satisfying work
than work with no purpose.

If you could give up tricks and cleverness,
that would be the cleverest trick.

(Rumi)

Our Destiny: No More Bad Gigs

As musicians/healers, it is our destiny to conduct an inward search, and to document it with our music so that others may benefit. As they listen to the music coming through us, they too are inspired to look within. Light is being transmitted and received from soul to soul. Gradually, the planet moves from darkness to light. We as musicians must surrender to the ocean of our inner selves. We must descend deep into that ocean while the sludge of the ego floats on the surface. We let go of our egos and permit the music to come through us and do its work. We act as the instruments for that work.

If we can live in this realization, we will constantly have deep motivation for what is played, never getting stuck in the ungrateful consciousness of good gigs/bad gigs, out-of-tune pianos, low fees, ungracious audiences, and so on. Instead, our minds will be consumed with what a very great privilege it is to be the one selected to deliver the message to others. We will no longer be caught in the mundane world of good music/bad music ("am I playing well?") Instead, our hearts and minds will be focused on the task of remaining empty and alert to receiving this God-inspired information and translating it faithfully, without any coloration from us.

(excerpt from Effortless Mastery by Kenny Werner)

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Was just reminded of this, one of my favorite poems, by Sri Panchalam from the awesome band Smithfield Bargain. Enjoy:


Even after all this time,
the sun never says
to the earth,
"You owe me."
Look what happens
with a love like that -
it lights
the whole world.

(Hafiz, The Gift)

A Poem

(Abraham)

The first letter.
"A child, a union, a history
spread by contact,

(while in the act of
feeling the desire to scratch)
an illness in general,
is a case to be decided by a court.
{Cultured}
To die by degrees,
marching two by two
in a another dimension.

2X4

The sixth tone.
A tiny arachnid,
(often parasitic)
that is John,
the person or thing mentioned,
designating the one mentioned,
the tiny arachnid, is John.
He died that we might live.
Oh, that he were here!

In other words,
to search for
a self-governing, common, incorporated
town,
or any similar hole,
greasy people must,
in the time under Lincoln,
(a vest under his coat)
lower position or state, to lower
position in state.
(still the desire to scratch)

The story ended, ladies and gentlemen,
the president,
"the cow is a domestic animal, the
poor.
To injure by scraping;
to
tear to bits,
(also a sign of the infinitive)
fall to!

Produce an egg.
The tiny arachnid,
archaic, an urge,
marching two by two.
The assimilated form of,
"What's it matter?
The oval body laid by a female,
containing the germ of a new
individual.

That individual is John.

Our Deepest Fear

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

(A Return To Love - Marianne Williamson)

Nothing is Real

This world is a playground
where children pretend to have shops.

Sometimes when they wrestle,
it may look like sex,
but none of it is real.

They exchange imaginary money.
Night comes, and they go home tired
with nothing in their hands.

("Discipline" Rumi)

The Virtue Trap

Spirituality has often been misused as a route to an unloving solitude, a stance where we proclaim ourselves above our human nature. This spiritual superiority is really only one more form of denial. For an artist, virtue can be deadly. The urge toward respectability and maturity can be stultifying, even fatal.

(Julia Cameron, The Artist's Way)