Songs 4 Ukraine XX

“Dad, how do soldiers killing each other solve the world's problems?” - Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes

This week has been challenging as someone told me people were getting tired of hearing about Ukraine and maybe I should focus on something different at my concerts. To be honest I was a little stunned. “Isn’t that a bit like telling the folks who run Relay for Life to stop focusing on cancer at their events?” a friend asked when I told him.

What I wanted to say to the person who made the remark was, “Tell that to those who are being bombed on a daily basis; to the refugees fleeing with only the clothes on their backs to countries where they don’t speak the language; to the parents who have lost children.” They don’t have the luxury of looking away, and neither should we.

That said, I want to acknowledge the burnout, exhaustion, and raw emotions everyone is feeling and remind you that Songs 4 Ukraine is meant to be a refuge - a place to escape, relax, enjoy the company of friends, and hear music that reminds you of what is right in the world. It is meant to offer solace, comfort, and a tiny bit of grace.

It’s that tiny bit of grace I feel when Grace belts out “Sunday, Bloody Sunday,” Max adds his personal touch to “93 Million Miles” by Jason Mraz, and Rasp closes his sets with “Have a Little Faith.” It’s there in Frogg’s haunting question, “Are You Okay?” and in Denny’s celebratory rendition of Matisyahu’s “One Day.” And I am hoping that everyone, including the Ukrainains listening on the live stream, hear it in the words of empathy and encouragement being spoken by every musician at every show, every week. “We see you, we hear you, we’re thinking of you.”

This week’s concert featured two wonderful performances by Cylindrian Rutabaga and Raspbury Rearwin. Please take a little time to close your eyes, listen, and allow a little bit of grace to ease the ache in your heart and mind.

Copy right 2022 by Jena Ball. All Rights Reserved.