I have spent many hours of exploration in uncharted waters in search of new bands and artists that I may have overlooked or missed. It's both easy and difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff. It's easy because most of the bands and artists are completely hideous; copiers, fakers, imitators, impersonaters and imposters. It's difficult because it's hard to draw the line. And a line has to be drawn. There are many different branches and twigs in the gothic country genre. If you're too emotionally invested in the issue, your judgment may be clouded. You want to find new music so badly, that there's an imminent risk that it will numb your senses. I have to lash myself to the mast so that I will not succumb to the lure of the Sirens. I have committed myself "to explore and promote gothic country, southern gothic, gothic americana, american gothic and dark americana and ...whatever". There are some nuggets, but there's many considerations. For example, should I go further into dark cabaret and buy albums with Thee Hobo Gobbelins? Why not, I already got Reverend Glasseye. And, why not go further into trashgrass and buy albums with Gallows Bound? Why not, I already got .357 String Band, Highlonesome and Filthy Still. And, why not go further into folk punk and buy albums with Dandelion Junk Queens? Why not, I already got Blackbird Raum. These questions can be extended to other branches and twigs like psychobilly, neofolk and steampunk etcetera. Should I go a step further? This could be a catalyst on a new path. I know what is going to happen. I will try to corner the market. I'm on the slippery slope.

Are you, by any chance, a bone collector? Then you know that bones needs to be stored. A charnel house is a vault or building where human skeletal remains are stored. They are often built near churches for depositing bones that are unearthed while digging graves. The term can also be used more generally as a description of a place filled with death and destruction. Ossuaries are chambers for storing human bones and commonly described as places founded to house skeletal remains when cemeteries were overcrowded and burial space was scarce. There is a slight difference between them. Charnel refers to a place where human remains are stored or buried, while an ossuary is a container or room specifically designed for the storage of bones. In charnel houses, bones are not just stacked upon each other. They are often arranged and/or decorated in an artistic way and have a deeper symbolic meaning. Most people think that presenting bones in this way is macabre. Charnel houses exists in many countries: Austria, Cambodia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Peru, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, and elsewhere. Death is omnipresent, no matter the people, eras, societies or cultures. How death is conceived is, on the other hand, different. Art has played an important role in portraying and interpreting death. Through art, people have manifested their beliefs and attitudes towards death. The concept of death in art has a deeper and symbolic meaning than death in ordinary life. If you like to study charnel houses then dead Dr. Paul Koudounaris book "The Empire of Death", which includes detailed photos and text about the remarkable memorials within the cultures that created them, as well as the mythology and folklore that developed around them. Macabre or not. What's not to like?

The Handsome Family have been around since Moses wore short pants. In fact, this year they celebrate 30 years as a band. 30 is an almost unimaginable figure in the genre, where the burn time of bands are low. Against this background, it's not strange that their production rate is slowing down. It's been seven years since their latest album, "Unseen" was released. And before that, it took four years to complete their ninth album, "Wilderness". May it be by serendipity or by coincidence, but they will release their eleventh studio album, "Hollow" later this year on classic black vinyl LP, CD, digitally and on cassette tape. It will be released on 9 September 2023. I have preordered a cd copy. Two singles from the forthcoming album have been released, "Joseph" and "Skunks". The former song has foreboding lyrics. "Smash the windows, lock the doors. Cover the mirrors. Call the dogs. Pull up the floorboards. Tap on the walls. Look into the eyes of that old porcelain doll, Come into the circle, Joseph. There’s no moon tonight…". The latter song is a jingle for an imaginary pest control service. In dusty home movies, Brett crawls in and out of nooks and crevices, inspecting the apparatus and searching for varmints. "Squirrels in the basement / Raccoons in the walls / Centipedes with stingers / Do not feed to dogs". The Handsome Family have managed to produce high quality albums throughout their career. Hopefully, the new album will be worth waiting for. Maybe, it will even stand out. Obviously, it could happen. 

If you quote Machiavelli you will place yourself in a difficult and exposed position. People will think that you are inspired of, or worse, practise the suggested techniques. Italian diplomat, author, philosopher and historian Niccolò Machiavelli wrote "The Prince" almost 500 years ago, which was first published in 1532. He mastered the subject matter. "It ought to be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things. Because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new. This coolness arises partly from fear of the opponents, who have the laws on their side, and partly from the incredulity of men, who do not readily believe in new things until they have had a long experience of them." The book is controversial and debated. It was written as an instruction guide for new princes and royals. Some argue that it only describes real politics. Others argue that it's a manual in the exercise of power, where the ends always justifies the means. Machiavelli acknowledged that goodness and virtue existed, but these cannot provide any guidelines for governance, at least not in politics. There are two main "Machiavellian" techniques, which are so effective that they have survived into our days. First, a prince, is wise to punish rebels against the realm fiercly even after they have surrendered; not primarly because they deserve that punishment, but rather because when they are seen to be so punished, it will deter others from undertaking similar actions, ultimately securing the stability. A modern example, when a new boss removes a critical subordinate manager to keep the other managers in line. Second, to use proxies and let them act on behalf of the prince for unpleasant deeds; these people whom the prince can later turn on and punish for performing those very deeds. The dirty work of politics should be done by others who later can be blamed for it. A modern example, when a boss keeps a proxy between himself and the problem. When problems arise the proxy can be sacrified like a pawn in a chess game. Contrary to popular belief, people will not suspect that the boss is operating in the shadows. The word "Machiavellian" has become a synonym for evilness. As with almost any bold claim, there are nuances. Things have changed since Machiavelli wrote his book, but not as much as you think. You just have to look for the signs. 

You should never try to recreate moments that have already passed. Why not? Because it was the moment that made it special. This rule of life is applicable to places, parties and sometimes people. And it's also true for concert experiences. In 1981, I experienced the best concert ever, read more here (opens in a new window). Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band. We who were there understood that we had experienced something out of the ordinary. Already then, I realized that this moment will never be recreated or surpassed. This was magical and I wanted to cherish this moment forever. I decided not to go to a concert with him again. Until now, that is. When I turned an important age last year, I got two tickets to the last of three concerts in Gothenburg. The concert was also a family gathering moment. Back in 1981, "The River" had just been released and was promoted by a tour. Today, no promotion is really needed. Nowadays, it's arena venues and film screens of gigantic proportions. However, something has probably been lost on the way. Bruce Springsteen is a mega-superstar with a solid fanbase and strong purchasing power. But, not exclusively. People with less purchasing power seems to prioritize this event over other things in their lives. Bruce Springsteen attracts all kinds of people: young and old, male and females, urban and rural and new and old fans. They all got their reasons and stories. 

According to the official statistics there were 65 158 people attending the last concert. Despite the fact that people were in good time and the entry control system was efficient, it took a while to fill up the arena. The weather was warm and sunny, and the atmosphere was friendly. I didn't know what to expect. To be honest, after "Born in the USA", I haven't cared much for his albums. In fact, a couple of years ago I struggled to put together a cd compilation of his later releases. My personal favorite is his first album "Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.", which is an underrated album that not many people know about. I'm a man of principles. My point of reference is the 1981 concert. The show is considered by many to be the best of all the European shows and is very well documented. And a bootleg favorite for old hard-core fans. It's hard not to compare the two concerts, but also unfair. After all, 42 years has passed. And it's rude to look a gift horse in the mouth. Oceans of time has passed since 1981. Death inevitable, time is ineluctable. People age differently. Bruce Springsteen is 73 years old and in great physical shape. Clarence Clemons and Danny Federici have passed away. Roy Bittan, Garry Tallent, Steven Van Zandt and Max Weinberg are very much alive. Nils Lofgren, in my world, is the new guy in the band. He joined the band in 1984. There are many supporting musicians on stage and on the payroll, predominantly on brass instruments and backing vocals. This creates a formidable wall of sound. 

The concert began with "Night" and ended with "I'll See You in My Dreams". You can check out the complete setlist here (opens in a new window). Bruce Springsteen & E Street Band played for three hours without any break. Impressive! Even more impressive is that Bruce Springsteen manages to turn the heat up a couple of notches with each song. The first show didn't get the best of reviews (warming up). The second show got slightly better reviews (getting there). The third and last show got top reviews (magic). Unlike the 1981 concert there were not a lot of interacting with the audience during the show. It was more like 1,2,3,4 and go. The tempo was furious with one song after another. In total, 28 songs and a strong emphasis on his fast and upbeat songs. Personally, I prefer his slower and more epic songs. I would have made some other choices. To leave out "Point Blank" and "The Ghost of Tom Joad" is incomprehensible. In addition, he could also have played some covers like "Fire", "This Land Is Your Land" or "War". The highlights on June 28th were "Prove It All Night", "Darkness On The Edge Of Town", "The River", "Backstreets", "Badlands" and "Because The Night". Especially, the latter was performed with a lot of power and passion. Bruce Springsteen works hard to let the audience get their money's worth. I think he succeded. People were very pleased when they left the arena. He even succeded to impress me, who are traumatized by the 1981 concert and not easy to please. Finally, I have heard some rumours that this was Bruce Springsteen's last tour. This doesn't seem to be very true. Bruce Springsteen leaved the concert with a greeting and a promise "We will be back".