tag:klipptones.com,2005:/blogs/blog?p=2Blog2023-10-16T07:55:23-07:00The Klipptonesfalsetag:klipptones.com,2005:Post/60643532015-12-30T16:00:00-08:002022-05-13T01:04:25-07:002015 in Review!<p><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: times, serif;">2015 was full of awesome and beautiful things! Here are the </span><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: times, serif;">highlights:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: times, serif;">We opened for our swing heroes Big Bad Voodoo Daddy! It was AMAZING!!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: times, serif;">We headlined our first college show. WOO HOO!!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: times, serif;">We played a ton of corporate events for everyone from Google to DemandBase, Blue Shield to Forgerock. Pretty fancy :)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: times, serif;">We opened SFO's New Terminal 3 Concourse and rocked SFO's "You are Hear" series. I have to admit, playing at an airport was pretty cool. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: times, serif;">We played the reception for Mark Cantor's "Giants of Jazz" series at the JCC. I worked 3 years for this gig!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: times, serif;">We began a new residency @ Le Colonial, "The Lounge Project". Not only have I always wanted to play this joint, but now I get to do it and play all kinds of crazy tunes. I describe it as Casablanca meets Prince.</span></li>
<li>
<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: times, serif;">We recorded an instrumental album, "</span><a style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: medium;" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/theklipptones" data-imported="1">Cool and Blue</a><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: times, serif;">"! It was about 100 degrees inside that studio, but the musicians are the ones who really brought the heat.</span>
</li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: times, serif;">In between all of this we did a ton of weddings, parties, swing dances and non-profit events. Memories that will stick with me: </span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: times, serif;">watching a groom cry tears of joy as his new wife and her friends performed a surprise dance while we played our hearts out;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: times, serif;">walking through the AIDs Memorial Grove the night before World AIDs Day, seeing the names of the departed, then playing a reception ending with a raucous "When the Saints Go Marching In" while the crowd danced, laughed, and cried tears of hope;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: times, serif;">setting up for the Big A** Swing Party on the top floor of the University Club before the dancers arrived and taking a slow dance with my wife to "La Vie en Rose" with no one but the San Francisco skyline as our witness.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: times, serif;">Running a band is a ton of work.</span><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: times, serif;"> But the gift of making and giving music is worth every late night, every weekend sacrificed, every hour of preparation. </span><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: times, serif;">We've already got so many exciting things planned for 2016. But before the year turns, I take this moment, right here, right now, to humbly thank the universe, my musicians, and every one of you who has loved us for a minute, a day, or a year. You don't just make this all possible, you make this beautiful. Much love to you and Happy New Year! xo Josh</span></p>The Klipptonestag:klipptones.com,2005:Post/60643522015-09-19T17:00:00-07:002022-05-29T20:36:41-07:00A Day in the Life<p>Hey lovers,</p>
<p>I haven't written in a while not because I don't think of you, but because life's been so darn busy. Between getting married, getting a new puppy, and gigging like a mad man, well, life is full - and full of beautiful, awesome things. So to bring you up to speed, here is a picture from my wedding, a picture of my new puppy (and her big sister), and a video I made of life as a Klipptone. Enjoy, and hope to see you on the dance floor soon. xo Josh</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/393801/e8ca52da77f64c6affa8f37e795892cd4151a5c4/original/josh-sara-reception.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjgweDY4MCJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="wedding reception" height="680" width="680" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/393801/049a1ca3c94c77e5ce947e10c49d64429ad4a0ef/original/billie-and-bunny.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6NjgweDkwNyJd.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Billie and Bunny" height="907" width="680" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p></p><div class="video responsive"><div class="video-container"><iframe frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y3pZZITdxYI" width="420" allowfullscreen="" class="wrapped"></iframe></div></div>The Klipptonestag:klipptones.com,2005:Post/60643512015-05-29T17:00:00-07:002022-02-28T22:41:54-08:00Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, The Klipptones & You<p><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: times, serif;">When the email came in I was on a break between sets at a private club gig. An email address I didn’t recognize, from a Napa venue manager, asking if we wanted to open for Big Bad Voodoo Daddy on May 24. I had to read it three times. I showed it to Mayra to make sure it said what I thought it said. </span><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: times, serif;">My fast answer – HELL YEAH! I mean, I was much cooler than that…but not by much. A few exchanges later our info was forwarded to BBVD’s management for approval and all I could do was wait.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: times, serif;">The rest, they say, is history. But the experience of walking into the theater that Sunday afternoon, looking up on the stage to see these swing legends, feeling the aural overwhelm of their lush horn section as they sound checked through tune after tune with ease… Then a few hours later taking that stage ourselves to the loud applause of a full house. </span><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: times, serif;">The gig was like a roller coaster ride. Each song counted in like the feeling of slowly moving up to the crest, then the band came in and the ride was on, rushing, swooping, rolling in circles, my heart leaping while I prayed we’d stay on the tracks and finally pulling into that station exhilarated, victorious. My friends it was one hell of a rush.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: times, serif;">And as I reflect on it, I find myself wondering. How did that happen? How did they find us? Why did they ask us? And the truth is that everything lead to that moment. Every gig, every song, every player that played, every dancer that danced, every chart we prepped, every detail we honed, every person who came to be a part of it. It’s not one thing, it’s everything.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: times, serif;">So lovers, I thank you for being an integral part of this journey. Without you, we didn’t make it to that stage. Many of you made the trek to Napa, which was stunning and awesome. The rest of you were in my heart with every moment of every song, as you always are. I am so grateful and humbled to have the privilege of making music for you.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: times, serif;"><a href="/files/527769/klipptones-bbvd-opening-demo.mp3" data-imported="1">For a 5 minute sampler of our live opening set, click here!</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium; font-family: times, serif;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/393801/ac4a8b9f1ec6da3d0a893a0db6b54a0b4ecb1167/original/the-klipptones-bbvd-onstage.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MTUxOXg3MzIiXQ%3D%3D.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="732" width="1519" /></span></p>The Klipptonestag:klipptones.com,2005:Post/60643502015-04-18T17:00:00-07:002015-04-19T00:47:40-07:00Exciting Summer Swing News!!<p><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: medium;">Dear dancers,</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: medium;">We have some super exciting swing news to share with you.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: medium;">First, “Second Sunday Swing” at Neck of the Woods is going so well that, if we get good numbers in May, the venue wants us upstairs in June – on the BIG DANCE FLOOR! Whatever you’re doing dancers, it’s working. Keep it up, keep showing up and showing love, and let’s get you a floor where you can fly!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: medium;">Second, the Terrace Room has hired the Klipptones for a summer residency!! For one Friday a month, June - September, you can now swing around a gorgeous floor in a gorgeous venue with no cover. Check our schedule, mark your calendars, and lace up your dancing shoes for an incredibly fun summer ahead.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: medium;">So there you have it swing lovers. And now a love note to you from the Klipptones: We will never stop working for more places for you to dance. We will always do what we can to make dance floors accessible to everyone. And we will always play our hearts out for you. xo The Klipptones</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: medium;"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: medium;">PS. You spoke, we listened!! Starting in June, Second Sunday Swing will have a NEW TIME! 2:30-3p will be DJ'd music, band plays from 3-6. So you get more swing for your Sunday after Lindy in the Park!</span></p>The Klipptonestag:klipptones.com,2005:Post/60643492015-01-26T16:00:00-08:002022-05-20T04:20:50-07:00What I Learned at Auschwitz<p><span style="font-size: medium;">A few years ago my sister and I made a pilgrimage to the Polish villages where our Mom’s ancestors came from. I asked my sister – who lives in Europe – if we could also go to Auschwitz while we were there, and she made arrangements. My family isn’t Jewish, but I’ve always thought this to be a place of tremendous importance. Since that visit, I’ve only spoken to a few people about my experience. The reason is because it was overwhelming. I can still hardly talk about it without my heart falling to pieces. But on this day recalling the camp’s liberation, I’m going to try and put it out there, because it effected profound change.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Getting to Auschwitz required an overnight train. I tossed and turned all night, thinking about everything I’d ever read about this place, wondering how I would feel when I saw it. When we arrived, we were split into groups based on language, and given a tour guide. Our tour guide was a woman who grew up in the nearby Polish town of Oswiecim, which the Germans loosely translated into “Auschwitz”. Her family had been there before, during and since the time of the camp.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><span style="font-size: medium;">I’d never considered why the Germans chose this location. I came to learn that it was because this was a coal mining area, which meant there was easy access to railroads across Europe, which in turn meant that anyone they intended to terminate could quickly be transported in. This fact alone still makes my stomach turn.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Our tour guide started us off relatively gently, showing us the outside of barracks, the place where roll call was taken and offending prisoners were tortured, the row of birch trees planted by prisoners which now stand over 40 feet tall, the yard where prisoners or nearby townspeople who attempted to help were put against a wall and shot, the insides of barracks barely large enough to house 4 people which held over 15. It wasn’t until we reached the rooms containing the belongings of the dead that I lost it. The thousands upon thousands of childrens’ shoes. Confiscated suitcases and kosher cooking dishes piled to the ceiling. The massive room filled only of human hair. There are no words for the weight of this.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><span style="font-size: medium;">From the barracks, we walked the long dusty road down the railroad tracks to where over a million souls poured out of railroad cars and were waved right or left – to their death, or to live another day. We were shown the exploded remnants of the gas chambers, the ditches were children were tossed and burned, and we were informed that the chalky texture to the ground on which we walked was the result of millions of human bones buried in that place.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><span style="font-size: medium;">The horror was unfathomable. And I don’t write these things to relive it. I write them because they actually happened. And they didn’t happen all at once, or take anyone by surprise.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Every person who didn’t speak up, every person who stood by silently, every person who agreed explicitly or implicitly with an authority which said – these people are to blame for our woes, not us – was responsible for those horrific deaths.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Auschwitz is sacred ground. And as we remember its liberation, let’s also remember our responsibility – today – to protect <em>all</em> living beings from harm. All humans, all animals, all plants and trees. We are all profoundly connected to one another, we need each other to survive. We are all responsible for each other.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">I believe the best way to honor the lives and humanity lost at Auschwitz is to do everything in our power to heal our world today. So, if you pray, pray. If you meditate, meditate. If you write poetry, write a poem. Whatever you do to find your peace, take a minute of that time today and let out tremendous love into the universe. Then, step out into the world and do it for real, one interaction at a time, one brave act at a time, one gentle gesture at a time, until we understand that all ground is sacred, all beings are sacred, all life is sacred – life gone by, and life today. </span></p>The Klipptonestag:klipptones.com,2005:Post/60643482015-01-08T16:00:00-08:002015-01-15T14:38:37-08:00Why the Klipptones Are Looking for 5 Red Wigs<p><span style="font-size: medium;">2014 was a year of big changes and growth for the Klipptones.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">On a grand scale, we finished a nearly yearlong residency at the Palace, and started a new one at a swanky private joint in downtown San Francisco. It’s got gorgeous views, bad-ass cocktails, and now some of the best live music in town. (By the way, we have a guest list so email me if you ever want to get fancy with us).</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">The band had some personnel changes, most noticeably our lady singer became a gorgeous redhead and we band dudes learned how quickly this turns heads. So we’re currently searching for 5 killer red wigs, if anyone has any leads…</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">And speaking of band dudes, we all experienced our own bits of personal growth. Sax player Jesse Levit, aka the voice of Christian Slater, took up the melodica and practices it after each marathon he runs. Or so I’m told. Bass player Eric 'the' Vogler set a new land speed record for solving the Rubik’s cube. Guitarist Bob “Chuck Berry” Brumbeloe attended his family’s 150<sup style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">th</sup> reunion (and asked me to clarify that he hasn’t been to all of those). Drummer Claudio “hip hop” Rochat-Felix moved to the Bay Area from NYC by way of Seattle and managed to find the seediest rehearsal studio space in town. (And there are some pretty seedy ones, my friends.) And lady singer Mayra Swatt endured the band’s many experiments with her nicknames including “Ginja Ninja” and “Big Red”. So far, she likes it best when we end our gigs with The Spaniel’s classic, “Goodnight, Swattheart, Goodnight.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">And me, well I herded this crazy band of cats everywhere from Union Square to the Fillmore Jazz Fest, up to Marin and Sonoma, out to Livermore and Danville. We put together tons of new tunes and charts which make me swoon. And that’s weird, because I’m the lead singer. But through all the chaos, we laughed, partied, argued a little, then hugged it out, and made incredibly beautiful music together, full of love for the art and each other. What a privilege and gift.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">There are few things I love more than my band, and I thank you for loving them too. Here’s to a new year of music, dancing, and squeezing the juice out of every moment that is this crazy, wonderful ride called life. xo Josh</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>PS - HOW COULD I ALMOST FORGET!!</strong> We're starting an exciting new swing event called "Second Sunday Swing" which is - you guessed it - the second Sunday of the month!! </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Neck of the Woods (the old Rockit Room) is opening its doors to swing dancers - that's you! </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Sundays 2/8, 3/8 and 4/12, 2-5pm</span>. NO COVER</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> and a band who loves you - that's us! So when you're done at LITP, walk on over to Neck of the Woods and keep your dancing feet moving like the weekend you thought couldn't get any better. </span><em style="font-size: medium;">And then it did</em><span style="font-size: medium;">. Neck of the Woods is located at 406 Clement Street, between 5th and 6th Ave. COME DANCE WITH US!!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">1/15/15 UPDATE: We couldn't find the wigs so Mayra just lent us her hair. What do you think...a bunch of knockouts...right?! <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/393801/1e6a29c20308362932c372402d6882ffa0866e49/original/bob-hair.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjQ0OHgzMjY0Il0%3D.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="3264" width="2448" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/393801/f41520c598fe1f82fcf66acc77c2a1e91bac0082/original/eric-hair.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6OTYweDEyODAiXQ%3D%3D.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="1280" width="960" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/393801/0e21a4ac99523c37fb92471fc92a5a98ebb456f6/original/jesse-hair.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjQ0OHgzMjY0Il0%3D.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="3264" width="2448" /></span></p>The Klipptonestag:klipptones.com,2005:Post/60643472014-11-14T16:00:00-08:002022-05-29T11:35:45-07:00What My Band Thinks of Me<p>I recently wrote a blog about why I have the best band in the world. At a recent rehearsal/recording session, my sax player Jesse returned the favor. Here's the story:</p>
<p>We needed to do a holiday tune demo, so I hauled the band into Lennon Rehearsal Studios one Sunday morning, set up a microphone into the board for each player, and for the next 2 hours recorded every lovely sound. That afternoon I reviewed all the audio to whittle down our takes into a short demo. While listening through the 120 minutes plus of stuff, I came across a moment when Jesse - our sax player - leaned down into his mic and said "Josh is such a nice guy", which made me laugh cry so hard I decided to make a little song out of it. Short and sweet, here it is:</p>
<p><a href="/files/527767/josh-is-such-a-nice-guy.mp3" data-imported="1">Josh_Is_Such_a_Nice_Guy.mp3</a></p>
<p>Thanks Jesse :) And thanks to the band that made this super sweet holiday demo:</p>
<p><a href="/files/527768/klipptones-holiday-demo-2014.mp3" data-imported="1">Klipptones_Holiday_Demo_2014.mp3</a></p>The Klipptonestag:klipptones.com,2005:Post/60643462014-10-30T17:00:00-07:002014-10-31T12:02:54-07:00Why I Have the Best Band in the World<p><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: medium;">Because no matter where I drag them (bars all the way out in Livermore, parking lots next to Chevron stations in Millbrae, rickety boat houses in Point Reyes); no matter what I ask them to wear (kilts, piano key ties, Santa hats); no matter what music I throw on them (Ricky Martin, Elvis, Bruno Mars); no matter how hot the day or cold the night, my band always finds the bright side of the gig. Whether it’s the food trucks, the free beer, the pretty people, or the jackpot parking spot, my players find the sunshine and keep their sense of humor as close as they keep time. So to my guys (and our little band sister, Mayra) I dedicate this tune:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="/files/527766/sunny-side-of-the-street-mdc.mp3" data-imported="1">Sunny_Side_of_the_Street_MDC.mp3</a> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: medium;">My Klipptones: I love you. You make such beautiful music and, in turn, make this world a more beautiful place. How lucky I am to be your bandleader.</span></p>The Klipptonestag:klipptones.com,2005:Post/60643452014-10-24T17:00:00-07:002023-12-10T08:35:56-08:00The Morning After<p><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: medium;">The life of a musician is as sexy as it sounds. Here’s a little peek into the morning after a night of making beautiful music.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: times, serif;"></span><span style="font-family: times, serif;">Even though last night was the third of three consecutive nights playing, I didn’t sleep in. Instead, I woke up at 6:45am to drive out to Lake Merced to pick up a golf bag from a seller on Craigslist. Why? Because golf bags are a great way to carry stands and I’m tired of getting my fingers crunched. Oh, you meant why did I have to get up at 6:45am? Because the seller said he had to go to work and I needed to show up by 7:30am, and to call when I was close. So I did just that – rode all the way out to Lake Merced at the ass crack of day – only to get a text message from him saying “Sorry, not home” as I waited outside his apartment building. The worst part is that I also dragged my girlfriend and dogs along convincing my lady that we’d take a romantic early morning walk on the beach afterward. I can’t believe she puts up with me.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: times, serif;"></span><span style="font-family: times, serif;">We drove out to the ocean and, as we walked along I looked over at her, hat pulled down over her bed head, little dog tucked into her down vest, sweat pants billowing in the ocean breeze in front of a stormy looking sky and crashing Pacific waves. And all I could think was how much I am in love with her. She rubbed her eyes and looked at me, “Do you think there’s anywhere around here we could find some gluten free pancakes?”</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: times, serif;"></span><span style="font-family: times, serif;">Thirty minutes later we were back home, her on the couch snuggling with dog, me in the kitchen making pancakes, bacon and eggs. After we ate she drifted back to sleep, and I went back to work responding to an email asking for a band for a fundraiser, another for a birthday party, all while under the headphones, listening to music we recorded live a couple nights earlier. Here’s one of the tracks I broke out. <a href="/files/527765/sometimes-im-happy-klipptones.mp3" data-imported="1">Sometimes_Im_Happy_Klipptones.mp3</a></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: times, serif;"></span><span style="font-family: times, serif;">And that’s what it’s like the morning after a night of making beautiful music. xo Josh</span></span></p>The Klipptonestag:klipptones.com,2005:Post/60643442014-10-09T17:00:00-07:002023-12-10T08:57:52-08:00Say What You Mean to Say<p>Sometimes you're in a corner and you just gotta write your way out. So I did, and here's where I ended up. (A little rough around the edges but it won't make your ears bleed.)</p>
<p><a href="/files/527764/coming-home-to-me-2.mp3" data-imported="1">Coming_Home_to_Me_2.mp3</a></p>The Klipptonestag:klipptones.com,2005:Post/60643432014-08-16T17:00:00-07:002022-04-19T18:40:19-07:00Swingin' Blues<p>Lately I've been into swingable blues, sometimes of the dirty variety. Here are a few of my favorites, including one that the band can't seem to play with a straight face. </p>
<p><a href="/files/527761/then-the-lights-go-out.mp3" data-imported="1">Then_The_Lights_Go_Out.mp3</a></p>
<p><a href="/files/527762/one-scotch-one-bourbon-one-beer.mp3" data-imported="1">One_Scotch_One_Bourbon_One_Beer.mp3</a></p>
<p><a href="/files/527763/big-ten-inch.mp3" data-imported="1">Big_Ten_Inch.mp3</a></p>The Klipptonestag:klipptones.com,2005:Post/60643422014-05-31T17:00:00-07:002022-04-20T04:05:35-07:00No More Skirting the Issue<p><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: small;">Last week, Bruno Mars sent me over the edge. Prior to then I had no opinion of him other than I like some of his music. But a video clip from his May 28<sup>th</sup> concert in Oakland infuriated me. The overview:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: small;">To a looping bump and grind R&B groove, Bruno schools the male attendees on how to be a player, specifically, how to say “DAY-UM” at the ladies. He announces he’s going to invite one lucky lady onto the stage with him, then pompously paces back and forth scrutinizing women attendees like a personal harem before pointing at one and motioning her to come up. The woman declines. Bruno freaks. “Don’t you know we were at the Superbowl??” he screams. “I’m going to give you one more chance”, and again she declines. At this point, Bruno announces to the crowd of thousands he has something to say to her, and howls “FUCK YOU” into the microphone, thereby cementing into the brains of young men and women everywhere that any woman who didn’t feel like being sexually objectified deserves to be verbally abused.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: small;">It sent me over the edge.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: small;">I’ve watched as one of my co-vocalists was stalked, objectified and harassed. I’ve watched as another was groped. And now I see it happening all over again with Mayra, to the point where the band now has a signal: “Do you want to go over the set list?” which is code for “Do you need to get away from this guy?”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: small;">I can’t stay on the sidelines anymore. I can’t proclaim to be a feminist but keep my mouth shut when I see this shit going down all over the world, at the Oakland Coliseum, and on the stage right next to me. Progressive dudes have a responsibility to do more than just say we are feminists, we need to start acting like it.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: small;">There are many things I can’t control but a few that I can. As the Klipptones front man, I have visibility and therefore the ability to make a statement with what I wear. This Wednesday, I will perform wearing a skirt. Well, a utilikilt, to be exact. And my point is to make a visible reminder that someone wearing a skirt deserves equal respect, freedom from harassment, and to be able to say “no” and have that wish simply honored.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: small;">I asked my bandmates to join me, and explained why. They all said yes (except Bob, who sits on a stool all night and I can’t blame him). I don’t know how I got so lucky to be backed by guys as gutsy as they are talented.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: small;">Misogyny has no place in this world, and no place on the bandstand. Not with Bruno Mars, not with anyone. And until EVERY female singer, or woman in the audience, or young lady in a sorority house is respected, then NO man’s work is done. Certainly not mine. Our skirts this Wednesday are dedicated to every woman who deserves better.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: small;">Required reading for all men:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: small;"><a href="file://localhost/human-parts/a-gentlemens-guide-to-rape-culture-7fc86c50dc4c" data-imported="1">https://medium.com/human-parts/a-gentlemens-guide-to-rape-culture-7fc86c50dc4c</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: small;">PS – For precedent on Klipptones garb making a statement, recall our pink ties drawing attention to Breast Cancer Awareness, our green ties in support of Friends of the Urban Forest, or the polar bear hats we wore raising money for the Center for Biological Diversity.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: small;"></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: small;">UPDATE: We did it!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: small;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/393801/0840a43c157e6dc9b91432d180a4e41137366ff5/original/klipptones-kilts-edited.jpg/!!/b%3AWyJyZXNpemU6MjEzNXgyNjM4Il0%3D.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="2638" width="2135" /></span></p>The Klipptones