Free Culture Tour Blog

Show at Singapore Arts College on March 22nd

After doing my Free Culture show at INSEAD in early February, Singapore bloggers Han and Preetam asked me if I'd be interested in doing the show for a Singapore audience. Han pulled together a great crew that included the folks behind tomorrow.sg, the 'blogfather' Mr. Brown, and Damien from LaSalle-SIA school of the arts (directions). The result is that I'll be doing a special show next Wednesday, March 22nd at LaSalle. If successful we may get to do another show in downtown Singapore as part of the release of the upcoming Premixed album. If you're interested, read more about the 2005 Free Culture Tour.

The Last Shows of Summer

nyc subway mix
Originally uploaded by activefree.

The summer has arrived and 2005 is shaping up to be a year of change for myself and perhaps many of you as well.

As I complete my full time job and begin packing up my life in Brooklyn, I'll be having two final "Free Culture" shows July 3rd and 21st at the Bowery Poetry Club (which you should come to). I'll also be creating some more music and media to be shared with you all before taking off for France in mid-August to attend INSEAD business school next year.

Sunday, July 3rd, 5 PM at the Bowery Poetry Club
308 Bowery (Bleecker-Houston, across from CBGB)
New York, NY ($6)
For all you sticking around for the holiday weekend, enjoy a late afternoon show on Sunday. Some folks will be going on the Liquid Sound Lounge Summer Boat Cruise later that night.

Thursday, July 21st, 8 PM at the Bowery Poetry Club
308 Bowery (Bleecker-Houston, across from CBGB)
New York, NY ($6)
This is a great Thursday night slot, probably the last NYC show before heading off to INSEAD business school in August. Come out and say goodbye.

Reality is being Remixed on CC Mixter

Looks like the remix project is officially under way, as there have already been five remixes of Language of My Reality at CC Mixter. I guess there is a need in that community for solid acapella recordings (Calling all Spoken Word artists, join CC Mixter to submit work).

One interesting thing about the remixes is how each person interpretted the tone of my piece, and how much liberty they took in cutting up and remixing the actual words. I think my favorite version of the full piece is the version by phusion, but I also like how Teru sampled some of the words without changing the direction of the meaning.

However, the most interesting piece is "Just Like Me" by Pat Chilla the Beat Gorilla, which cuts up words from my poem and actually changes the meaning. I mentioned in a review of the piece that people have been asking me what I'd do if someone re-edited my work to change the meaning, and I thanked him for giving me a real live example. He replied, "I actually had a small quibble with myself about that, mostly because your piece seemed to be introspective and I didn't want to seem disrespectful."

Not disrespectful at all. By choosing to engage in this new mixter space, I'm encouraging this kind of thing, which is cool. I also like that there seems to be an inherent respect among good musicians, and I appreciate those that try to keep the spirit of the work going. Let's keep building.

Conclusions in the Commonwealth

Temple workshop
Originally uploaded by activefree.

From my apartment on St. Felix St. in Brooklyn, it's amazing to report that the current phase of the tour has officially completed in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

This past weekend's workshop at Temple University and show at Ben's Underground at Franklin & Marshall college were almost as excellent as the weather, which officially began Spring here in the Northeast.

I think I may have arrived here in New York perfectly timed to have missed the more difficult end of Winter 2005. Anyway, I'm gonna be on a panel on Friday evening from 6:30-9:30 at the Chelsea Museum called Rhythm Science with Paul Miller / DJ Spooky and guests. (directions)

Back in New York... briefly

tunnel home
Originally uploaded by activefree.

Hi all. I'm writing a quick post from my apartment in Brooklyn, back today for 2 business school interviews and a show tonight at the kicko-off for the NYC Grassroots Media Conference. Then out to Philly tonight for a workshop at Temple tomorrow morning and a show tomorrow night at Frankin and Marshal college. Crazy end to an amazing four weeks on the road. Details on the shows here.

going through whitesburg kentucky

up over the mountain to jim's place
Originally uploaded by activefree.

I haven't posted in a while because I've been sick with a cough and was "off the grid" while I was in Whitesburgh, Kentucky. Without internet or cell phone access, I got a room at a Super 8 Motel, and woke up the next morning to visit the well known community media center, Appalshop, which is even better than I had imagined, one of the few constructive things to do in Whitesburgh.

The other place of interest was "Jim's place," which he calls Wiley's Last Resort and seems to be slowly becoming somewhat of an Oregon Country Fair for Eastern Kentucky.

Overall, my time in Eastern Kentucky was really interesting. A totally different place from New York, with beautiful countryside, good fiddle and banjo music, and an interesting mix of moral values and hillbilly partying.

A walk in Asheville with Negativland

colin and mark hosler from negativland
Originally uploaded by activefree.

During my two days in Asheville, I drove out and visited Mark Hosler of Negativland. It was the most beautiful weather of the tour, and we headed out for a walk up his winding road and had an interesting conversation. He had just come back from Iowa for an amazing conference on collage, and shared some about that, and I shared about my work.

It was interesting because even though he and Negativland has been doing work/play for almost 30 years, there's part of him that feels like there job is done. Back in the day, mashups were cutting edge, now they're mainstream, and it seems like part of what compels Negativland to make art is the legal and cultural edge. He even said that sometimes he doesn't really like Creative Commons because the licenses are somehow legalizing art in a way that takes some of the fun out of it.

It seems like everyone has their role to play. Lessig and Creative Commons are doing the legal, official thing, and Negativland and Downhill Battle and Illegal Art are doing their thing. We need both the cutting edge civil disobedience and the mainstream organizations in order to push forward. Walking and talking through the fresh air and sunshine of Asheville with this veteran building of free culture, I wondered about my own role, and what it would become.

In some ways, I've felt that this tour has been slightly underwhelming. For all the pre-tour hype, mostly I've been driving, showing up at places, doing my show, having a few conversations and getting some folks to sign my mailing list, and then moving on. With all the technical difficulties, like the lack of comments on this blog, I've been disappointed and questioning whether this is making a difference.

But maybe a few years from now, I'll look back on these five weeks in a different way. Maybe the relationships that I'm creating in towns like Jackson, MS and Nashville, TN will evolve to become important building blocks in the evolution of the free culture space. I have to remind myself that so many people have yet to even hear about these issues, and that I am paving new ground. Of course it's going to be hard, of course I'm going to get a little sick along the way, and feel a little down sometimes.

That's the cost of what it's going to take to create breakthrough's and make it to other side, where the software will work, the systems are in place, and the people will participate. Anyway, I may have just gotten a little cheesy, but it feels to good to write a little bit.

Belmont Copyright Society on the rise in Nashville

belmont copyright society council
Originally uploaded by activefree.

On Wednesday, I arrived in Nashville to beautiful sunny weather and friendly people. I was a little nervous to be doing my show for the traditionally conservative christian school of Belmont University, but also excited to be reaching out across traditional lines. The show was part of a required seminar series, so the auditorium was packed with several hundred students, my biggest show yet.

After I finished my show (along with unfortunate laptop difficulties), Dean Van Hook asked me a few questions about myself and my work. The two student questions at the end were really interesting. The first was from a skeptical student, which gave me a chance to dispel the Creative Commons vs. Copyright myth, which seems to be far too common. The second question asked if I thought that these issues were part of a larger social trend toward Do it Yourself efforts. She got us thinking about how all music used to be local, around a piano or campfire. I responded that yes, this is definitely part of a larger trend toware a more participatory culture.

The folks from the Belmont Copyright Society were not only really cool, but they also seemed to have a solid grasp on the issues and a pretty good profile on campus. I was also happy to see that the group included a politically diverse group of students, some of whom were skeptical about bringing me here, but happy with the result.

Having a drink after the show with everyone gave me the sense that they have an important role to play at this small college in the middle of one of the capital city's of the music industry. My only regret is that I haven't been able to see more of Nashville, as I've been fighting a cold over the last few days.

A sincere thanks to the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, all the folks at the Copyright Society, and the inspirational Michael Harrington (who I'll hopefully get to meet in the future), for a meaningful and fun time in Nashville. Keep up the good work.

Being Healthy on the Road

good greens and friendship
Originally uploaded by activefree.

So as I'm sitting on Mark Hosler's beautiful porch in the countryside east of Asheville, I'm beginning to feel rejuvinated from my few days of sickness, and I just wanted to say a few words. Advice to anyone travel along the US highway system: Subway is your friend. Much better option than the other fast foods (of course local eateries and local home cookin is even better).

I've had the privilege of staying with a lot of people who've helped me out with food and a place to sleep. Last night was particularly amazing, as I slept in a school bus turned home by Jynx, the Asheville artist I mentioned yesterday. The other key to staying healthy is that I have been taking Vitamin C and a multivitamin, almost daily.

Other than that, I've benn laying off the drugs and alcohol, and trying to focus on food and sleep. So far, I've had just this one sickly cycle, which will hopefully be complete today.

off to asheville

multimedia truck by sean pace
Originally uploaded by activefree.

I'm sorry I haven't been able to write more (see the photos), but I had a music video shoot on Saturday, and got a little sick and had to take some time to recover. I'm feeling better now, and am about to drive off to Asheville, NC . One of the folks I'm gonna connect with there is this really interesting artist named Sean Pace, who drew me this drawing of his plans for an amazing multimedia mobile (he has a better name) that runs on bio fuel, and he thinks I may be the perfect person to ride it around. Maybe that will become the Free Culture Tour 2. Be well.

Duke Coffeehouse show was Awesome!

duke coffeehouse show
Originally uploaded by activefree.

I'm sitting in bed exhausted from a great day, and I wanted to make sure to write a few words before tomorrow. The show tonight at the Duke Coffeehouse was by far the best show, and I'm feel a similar sense of pride as I did after the New York show at the Bowery Poetry Club. The best part for me was leaving the stage and seeing almost everyone engage in conversation with each other for another 45 minutes. The buzz was exactly what I'm trying to cause.

Special thanks go out to my sister Erica who reached out to her people, connected me with Andy Kay and Lauren who secured the funding, and said that the show better be good cause her reputation was on the line. Thanks also to Dan Sellars of Dare Daniel, who flew down to NC from New York to film the show, and ended up helping out so much with the setup and also with my mental preparation and the new Tour Story element of the show. Thanks also to the love and support from folks like Sid, Kerry, Tassie, Neeve, and all of you others.

Lots of new photos, off to Durham

fire performers in athens
Originally uploaded by activefree.

Ever since my last post in Starkville, MS, I travelled through Montgomery, AL and had a great day with Ashley Day of the Southern Poverty Law Center, and then drove all the way Athens, GA. The last few days in Athens have been great, mostly seeing my good friend Cecilia Torres, and performing last night at a benefit for Common Ground Athens. Lots of new photos.

I don't have much time for details, as I need to get on the road to Durham, where I'll be picking up Dan Sellars, whose gonna be filming me over the next fews days for a possible documentary.

The only thing I'll say is that yesterday, I thought that I had lost my wallet for about 6 hours, which were not my most proud moments. Now I'm back on track and looking forward to my Duke show tomorrow night at 10pm after the basketball game.

free wifi in the south?

hot spot gas station
Originally uploaded by activefree.

In my two weeks on this tour, it's been interesting to notice if and where there is wireless internet access. Here's a quick summary, in addition to this amazing gas station in alabama that didn't have wifi.
1. SXSW/Austin - conference had free wifi, hotel had it in the lobby.
2. New Orleans - coffee shop in a cool neighborhood had free, Starbucks had pay, house had one computer online
3. Road through LA and MS - not much free wifi in the rural parts - the Comfort Inn there had one really slow PC online
4. Jackson, MS - didn't look for it. But in Starkville, I was at an apartment with free wifi from downstairs
5. Montgomery, AL - didn't look
6. Athens, GA - several coffee shops have free wifi

New Music tracks and a Remix

Before I left on tour, I did some recording with Dien Vo of Amplus Media. He finished new versions of Destination Non-Specific and Break Free, two of my older songs, and uploaded them to my ccmixter.org page. As you can see if you go there, an artist named veru already remixed Destination Non-Specific. Check it out.

Fill out a Fair Use Survey

The good folks at the Free Expression Policy Project (FEPP), part of the Brennan Center for Justice, are conducting a study to learn how well "fair use" - an important defense under U.S. copyright law - is working for artists of all kinds, including writers, filmmakers, "culture jammers" and other media producers. Fair use allows limited borrowing of copyright-protected works without permission, for purposes such as parody and commentary. Please help by going to the FEPP Web site and filling out their Fair Use Survey. Check out the intro