Alot of the problems in contemporary society can be traced to the servile tradition of western liberal compromise, and one of central stations of failure within that tradition is the long list of Nazi officials who died natural deaths as free men after World War II. One of the more egregious examples of this in terms of ideological damage to the illusion of a free society is the Nazi jurist and political scientist Carl Schmitt. His philosophy of a total, shameless power grab through legal justification is currently electrifying the repulsive nerds responsible for trying to corral the melting, demented pervert running bloody skid marks all over the traditional norms of conduct for the American ruling class.
Schmitt’s theories can be dummied down to institutional capture and corrosion, essentially using the weak points of liberal democracy to take over the administrative departments of the state, and then using the authority of those compromised departments to rewrite the legal framework of power. It’s like the neoliberal tradition of tax breaks for the rich, only instead of capital, it’s an upward redistribution of power into an elite, authoritarian ruling core. It’s so effective and devastating that it is presently turning the mirage of liberal democracy into a fascist pyramid scheme eight decades after the end of the Third Reich. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
While we are all trying to absorb the monstrosity of two very public executions of American citizens by masked, state-sanctioned stormtroopers, we are also reaching a peak contamination level of toxic disinformation, as the administration’s officials are using the Israeli Defense Force’s preferred tactic of shooting first and accusing the victims of terrorism after. A warm homecoming for the imperial outpost atrocities of foreign policy.
Why am I bringing this up in a weekly live music column? Because, as is the case with many political observations I have made here in the past, this is another marker on the road to a world where the freedom to enjoy live music, art and community will not be guaranteed, or perhaps even allowed. Hell, this is actually a giant fucking glowing LED billboard of horror, an existential threat to every aspect of life as you know it. Do not count on voting your way out of this. Do not count on the sanctity of your human rights. The Constitution is just paper, and paper burns. Everything burns, in fact, unless living people work together to put that fire out.
Living people working together. That’s community. That’s cooperation and resistance. You take any of those four words out of that first sentence and communal resistance takes a knee on the way down to a painful, humiliating death. And who wants that? The future is too bright with stellar fusillades of gorgeous possibility. I titled this week’s column after the record I was listening to while writing it — one of my favorites — Vision Creation Newsun by the Japanese band Boredoms. That record reinvented music for me and underlined that there are truly no rules that bind other than the rusty shackles of tradition. We are human, we are amazing, we can do anything.
Be safe and do amazing things.
Thursday
Adam Moezinia is a versatile, Juilliard-trained jazz guitarist and bandleader from New York City who will be bringing his group The Folk Element Trio to the Arcata Playhouse tonight at 7 p.m. I watched some of the trio’s live performances on YouTube and found the music to be a fine mix of contemporary jazz and traditional blues and spiritual traditions played in a fashion that reflects the living energy of that magical city. Old is bridged to the new like dirty bricks spined with scaffolding and haute couture flashes in the grimy, sleepless subway arteries. I really liked it, and the guitar, bass and drum trio is an excellent format to really breathe and flow. Check it out for $20; you won’t regret it.
Friday and Saturday
I’m going to make a rare move here and lump the weekend nights together under the banner of the Arcata Rising Fundraiser shows at Humbrews from Friday through Sunday. We all know about the dreadful fire on the second day of 2026 that claimed the beloved half block from 10th and H streets to the alleyway, and this is a fine example of our local music community coming together to raise money for the folks who lost everything. There are too many acts to name, and complete information can be found elsewhere (see page TK), so I’ll merely express my gratitude to those involved. It is very clear, once again, that our greatest power is with the people in our community. As it was and ever shall be, amen.
Sunday
A slightly late birthday show for the late Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim, who would have been 99 years old last Sunday had he not died 31 years ago as of Dec. 8, an infamous calendar day for musicians that also saw the deaths of John Lennon and Dimebag Darrell — in different years, of course. Anyway, the Creative Sanctuary jazzbos have come together for a matinee celebration of the master’s songs, and at 4 p.m. you can join James Zeller, Danny Gaon, Ramsey Isaacs and Matthew Seno along with some special guests who will all, I am certain, do it quite right. Tickets are a sliding scale $15-$30, but if you are a little light at the moment, you will not be turned away for a lack of moolah.
Monday
Experimental Los Angeles band Ding Mao will be playing an all-ages gig tonight at 7 p.m. at the Siren’s Song Tavern for $5. The group has a loud and busy sound with a big vocal presence and treated elements coating the guitars and rhythm section. That’s the best I can do with what I’ve got but, if that sounds intriguing, you can fill in the blanks yourself.
Tuesday
It’s a good night to stay home and brush up on first aid and self-defense with your friends and loved ones. After all, midwinter is the perfect time to practice the essential arts of communal preservation. Don’t be caught unprepared by an icy storm.
Wednesday
Canadian/Californian Steve Poltz first came to widespread national attention 30 years ago when he collaborated with the singer Jewel on some of her mega-hits. He’s also known for his proto-indie rock band the Rugburns, who are still burning away onstage from time to time. However, tonight he’ll be doing a solo show for those of you who like the simplicity of an acoustic guitar, good songs and a campfire singalong atmosphere. You’ll have to imagine the woodsmoke, as tonight’s 7 p.m. gig is at Trinidad Town Hall, but you get the idea ($30).
Collin Yeo (he/him) is in the zone, trying to stay out of the Interzone.
This article appears in ‘Bigger Than All of Us’.