Saluting Fleet Week in SF, the Steve Earle way:

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This weekend was the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Fest in SF, which is an annual free weekend of bluegrass, country and other music in Golden Gate Park.

This weekend happened to coincide with Navy Fleet Week, so when Steve played (once with his wife Allison Moorer, then with the Songwriter's Circle with Billy Bragg, Guy Clark and Verlon Thompson, and with his own Bluegrass Dukes), he reminded the crowd that if the Blue Angels were to fly over and interrupt the acoustic music, we should raise a one-finger salute. Which we did, of course, every time they flew over.

Other highlights were chatting with Steve after the Songwriters Circle; he liked my "Worst President Ever" shirt. Also in the Songwriters Circle Billy Bragg performed an updated version of Leadbelly's "Bourgeois Blues", rewritten as "Bush War Blues." Great song, search for the free MP3 online.

Overall it was a great weekend of music, though as this war drags on and on, it gets sadder every year --

Enjoy the pics:
http://beachdog.smugmug.com/gallery/1983050 /

[tridim]

1. Did you get to see any of the air races?

I really wanted to go, but I couldn't afford the trip.

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3. Nope. But they did fly over a few times...

and they did get the one-finger salute from many in the crowd, as Steve asked.

[insanerepubs]

5. Did they

..wave back?

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8. Uh, no.

But Steve of course, ever the conspiracy theorist, was sure they were trying to drown out the acoustic anti-war music.

[mike_c]

2. very nice pics!

Thanks!

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4. You're welcome!

Yep, that was a shameless bump of my own post.

I just know there are other Steve Earle fans on here who would like to see these shots, but it's busy here in GD today...

[meganmonkey]

6. Wow, thanks for the pix

I'm a big fan of Steve Earle and Billy Bragg - what a treat for you to see them together!

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7. It was amazing, indeed.

But unfortunately Steve and the Bluegrass Dukes played at almost the same time as Billy did his solo set on another stage. Not very good scheduling on their part, I'd say!

I've seen Steve a bunch of times, but this is the first time I've seen Billy Bragg live, he is amazing. Have you downloaded the free "Bush War Blues" yet? You can get it here: http://www.yeproc.com/news.php?articleId=2961

[insanerepubs]

9. The Rethugs

...have attacked your photo site..Nice photos by the way..looks like everyone was having a good time...

[BrotherBuzz]

10. Look at the the time stamps....

That's just one sad puppy hiding in his Mom's basement typing away while playing with himself. Multi-tasking!

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12. Ewwww.....

I deleted one stupid message but then left them because I think it's pretty funny.

I like the one that says "I bet this clown will be opening for the Dixie Chicks soon". LOL. I'm sure Steve would love that.

[BrotherBuzz]

16. The gems for the DUers that missed them

I'll scrub them if you want, but they are pretty funny and entertaining.


1. | made by: RobJohnson | on: Oct 09, 2006 9:54am PST
What a great family event, children were able to see the middle figner being used towards our Air Force!

2. | made by: Guest | on: Oct 09, 2006 9:36am PST
Wow, leftist shitbags in San Francisco giving the very people that keep them free the finger. Who would have thought that possible? *insert sarcastic eyeroll here*


3. | made by: LJS | on: Oct 09, 2006 9:35am PST
Hey DUer's....the camps are almost ready...better start packing..pack light...

4. | made by: Guest | on: Oct 09, 2006 9:28am PST
Yeah, you DUers are such independent thinkers. Get off the "fascist" meme, it's getting old. And at least you admit you're communists.

5. | made by: Guest | on: Oct 09, 2006 9:26am PST
Nice way to show your support for the troops! I have a feeling this clown will opening for the Dixie Chicks pretty soon!

6. | made by: Guest | on: Oct 09, 2006 9:24am PST
Too bad they were having fun and you weren't! If they're commies than you're a fascist who just follows along what Bush does.

7. | made by: Lib Nightmare | on: Oct 09, 2006 9:22am PST
Shooting the finger to the Blue Angels??? Ooooo...that really shows them doesn't it? Actually holding up that one finger merely highlights the sum title of your IQ.

8. | made by: Guest | on: Oct 09, 2006 9:14am PST
Too bad the Blue Angels didn't drop napalm on you communist fucks.

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17. Thank you, I wanted them saved

There was one just now where a guy quoted my last message on this thread and said we are "hiding behind Skinner's skirt" on DU and won't debate them here. Skinner, when did you start wearing skirts? Kilts? Minis?

I also suspect it's mostly one guy, and I'm going to turn off messaging on that gallery because it's just annoying and they clearly missed the point. But thanks for saving their idiocy for posterity. And hilarity.

[BrotherBuzz]

20. Study them closely....

all the signs and buzzwords are there that indicate this is just one lost soul from FR posing as a crowd of indignant citizens attacking your site, yet he couldn't spot his revealing flaws if his life depended on it. Oh, my observation that raised your Ewwww comment still stands! Bank on it.

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22. here's the best part...

I already deleted it, but the guy somehow worked "Clinton" and "blow jobs" into one of his comments. I forget what the connection was, but dontcha just love how they always manage to work that in? "Clinton got a blow job! So leave Bush alone!"

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11. LOL!

I just read those comments! Hilarious!

Regarding the comment about children seeing the middle finger, Steve did apologize for the bad language in his song "F the FCC" but also said, "Wouldn't you rather have your children learning to swear from me than from Dick Cheney?"

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14. I've been deleting their comments, because it's not a public forum

it's my website, so screw them.

But some are pretty funny. One guy suggested that when terrorists (Iraqis?) next attack us here, we could beat them to death with banjos!

[meganmonkey]

13. Thanks for the link

He recorded that track in a studio in my town!

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23. Did you listen yet?

It's a great song. He got a big cheer from the crowd. And had to do one verse twice because of the Blue Angels.

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15. Hey Freeps! Listen up!

I'm deleting most of your stupid comments from my photos website, because it's a private website not a public forum.

If you want to debate the value or patriotism of Steve Earle's middle finger, let's do it here. Bring it on.

[BIG Sean]

18. Well, I am not a "Freep"...but that lacked class

Give me a break. How lame is it to give the finger to airmen flying past at 400 mph. Wow

What a statement that crowd made eh?

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19. It was a symbolic gesture, it's the "finger"

It's always been and always will be a symbolic gesture.

I don't think anyone thought the airmen would see it or that it would stop the war.

It was just a symbolic gesture.

It means: FUCK YOU GEORGE BUSH and your fucking war.

I have a nephew who is probably going to have to work a convoy in Iraq and it sucks.

We could have just as easily flashed a peace sign but this war has dragged on too fucking long and too many people are dying.

I'm thinking that beating the terrorists to death with banjos would be a big improvement over anything Bush has done so far.

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21. one more thing...

[tishaLA]

24. Is that the glorious Emmylous I see?

*swoon*

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25. Yes, indeed, it is...

She came on and sang with Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. And I believe she showed up and played with Elvis Costello the night before.

She is gorgeous, isn't she?

My son was listening to a Bright Eyes song (Landlocked Blues) the other day and he asked, "Who is that woman singing backup?" I got to introduce him to Emmylou.