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GREY'S ANATOMY
One could easily add to Megan Grey's letter [Aug. 2:
]: "People in Santa Fe will run you over on their way to their meditation class." Its much-vaunted charm, we've found, is usually a euphemism for decrepitude. The news is sanitized, though the garbage can't be
collected. The rape rate, drug addiction and high-class con games are bad for tourism.
City Fathers all across the country seek to make their burgs different. The big difference is Santa Feans actually believe the publicity about themselves.
Savannah, Ga., (where we're from) was once cursed by a departing poet embittered by the poor reception of his weekly newspaper: "I leave you, Savannah, a curse that is far/The worst of all curses-to remain as you are!" Stuck in the year 1820, Savannah will never change.
Santa Fe's curse-what keeps all the dead medicine men laughing up their sleeves-is that it continues to change out of recognition. It has become everyone's Fanta Se. People think they are in heaven but they're all in separate dreams.
It's still better than most cities. And the food is great. Except for the tofu.
Donald and Teresa Yates
Santa Fe
BEST OF BACKLASH
You are my most trusted source for what's going on in the music scene, but giving Best of Santa Fe to Alex Maryol again [Cover story, July 26:
]…what were you thinking!!! C'mon man, I know the guy's fan base isn't that thick, and yeah I know that all the patrons of everyone's favorite Tia (Tia Sophia's, that is) are asked to vote for him (having being approached myself and asked to vote on the spot), but it's just not right. I'm not knocking the guy (I enjoy his music), and I think that the first time he got it was well deserved, but this is getting ridiculous. I'm an avid local music supporter, I frequent any venue where I can catch a good show and I know that there were other bands out there who deserved this honor. How about: 100 Year Flood, Amazing Larry, The Cherry Tempo, Sol Fire, The Soul Deacons, Kiss the Villain, Tony C'de Baca, Ken Valdez, One Down, Sapphire or Feels Like Sunday? All these bands are worthy. Also, you and I both know that Nosotros haven't been the same since Felipe left. Do the right thing man, spread the love around. I know that people aren't showing up in force to vote for these bands.
I have to ask also: Alex for best guitarist? Tony C'de Baca, Sam Quintana, Daniel Ward, Ryan McGarvey, Carlo Armendariz, all of these guys deserved it.
The thing is that you hurt these bands, who could use the positive press. That's the reason why no one ever makes it out of Santa Fe. If you only give love to one or two artists, then how can anybody else grow? Just think about it. You are probably the most well respected authority on the local music scene…spread the love around.
PS: Nice call on the album of the year. 100 Year Flood did a great job.
JE
Santa Fe
BAND STAND
I read your paper faithfully. I admit some of your articles are better than others, but I always appreciated the diversity of the articles, if not the quality. But this time you've really done it.
Really, Alex Maryol for best band (there went your diversity) and guitarist (there went your quality)? Have your journalists stop going to any place other than to hear Alex, or is the Reporter so lazy you just keep reprinting the same article year after year? Isn't a band comprised of other members past and present? Where is the mention of Willy McGee and John Curtis or is "rotating musicians" the new name for actual band members? So much for your theory on best band, looks like you actually need to be a band first. To my knowledge the current "rotating musicians" don't even play on the CD. What about all the other great bands in SF that don't rotate talent or musicians? Did you even take into consideration Jono Manson, Soul Deacons, Manzanares or all the other hardworking bands who make the SF nightlife? You're right about one thing though: Like the Yankees, you think it only takes one star hitter to win the game, when in reality, it's the "team," aka the band, who really are what allows the star to shine. I have nothing against Alex himself, but when giving out an award for best band, next time try and make your decision from outside the dining room of Tia Sophia's and look a little closer at the actual band, not the "lovableness" of the singer. What are we, in high school?
R Gonzales
Albuquerque
Editor's Note: The winners of SFR's annual Best of Santa Fe contest are chosen by readers in a month-long online voting survey; in addition to dozens of choices in our online survey, voters also have the option of nominating write-in candidates for all categories.
JOY AND PAIN
Imagine my joy when I saw in the Reporter that Seymour Hersh and Amy Goodman are coming to Santa Fe-a "Cultural Freedom Event," it is billed. Ah, how I love freedom!
I was prepared. I had already confronted the futility of standing in line-all the tickets would be sold out by the time the third long-suffering and footsore patron of the arts had produced his Visa Gold. So I was ready, bright and early the morning of Saturday, Aug. 5-online.
"Tickets on Sale at noon." My fingers, trembling slightly from the mental strain, hover above the keyboard. At last the moment arrives. Fiercely I pound the keys, and find I am in the running for an actual ticket-albeit on Row "R" a little distant for my 90-year-old ears, but nevertheless I tell myself, just to be in the bailiwick of these 21st century liberal heroes and their acolytes-it will be worth it.
"After five minutes and 24 seconds these tickets will be released." As my minutes tick away, my ancient (4-year-old) computer displays the implacable hourglass of time, and I wait for the "Required Fields," which I must fill in to appear. I know my time is running out.
Score! I have secured my tickets. I can't believe my good fortune, and my triumph over the seeming unfeeling computer-spirits which have come to rule my life.
But then reality intrudes. "You have incorrectly filled in your telephone number. You have left an unacceptable space. You must go back and redress this error."
I press the "back" button. To my horror, every field on the page has reverted to blankness. And the implacable hourglass of time tells me, "After 59 seconds, these tickets will be released."
Feverishly I type, faster than I have ever managed before in my life. Repeat, repeat, repeat-the addresses, my position on this beautiful green globe secured beyond a doubt. And the last field is plowed and sown.
"Your time is up. These tickets have been released," the computer tells me, after I press "continue."
Wearily, I return to the beginning page and with a flagging spirit flog my way through the required fields. But my computer tells me: "The ticketing system currently indicates that no seats are available for this performance."
Goodbye, Seymour. Too bad. But I have met many disappointments during my sojourn in the 20th century.
I see that Gore Vidal is coming to town in January. Undaunted, I am determined to make my existence felt. World, look out.
Maurice Weisberg, MD
Santa Fe
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