by Mick Rhodes | editor@claremont-courier.com

There was a time when the topics flowed like wine, and the laughs came easy. But that well has apparently run dry. The topics are still flowing, but the laughs are hard to come by.

Top of mind matters have since January 20 all been, well, pretty dry.

While whining to wife Lisa this week about not being able to find anything funny to write about, she reminded me, “Nothing is very funny right now.” She was right. Sure, I could poke fun of Elon Musk’s failed attempt to purchase a Wisconsin Supreme Court justice. That was pretty funny/satisfying. The clownishly dangerous ineptitude of those who brought us Signal Gate was decidedly not funny, but the subsequent absolute refusal for anyone involved to accept an iota of responsibility sure was.

How to laugh in the face of all this upside down-ness?

What’s the deal with airline food? Am I right?!?

Oh God, this is not going well …

It’s just a tough time to laugh. I’m hoping to recharge over the next two weeks, when Lisa and I will be motoring around England and Wales. We have the first week mapped out and the second wide open. This kind of unplanned wandering has served us well elsewhere, and I’m hoping to return with something fun or funny to report. Based on my previous overseas foibles, that should be a guarantee.

We are the music makers

Claremont Lewis Museum of Art has a wonderful new exhibit opening this Saturday, “Sound Formations: Artist, Musician, Instrument Maker,” showcasing the work of some of our regional instrument makers.

David Dart’s Lady Steel, a bowlback steel guitar, is part of Claremont Lewis Museum of Art’s “Sound Formations: Artist, Musician, Instrument Maker.” Photo/by David Dart

A free and open to the public opening reception takes place during Art Walk, from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, April 5 that will feature still more local talent, music by Elizabeth Hangan with Phillip Charles, Glenn Richardson, and Cougar Estrada.

I sure wish I was able to be there. I hope you will.

A cajon drum by Michael Kotzen and Kirk Delman, made with purpleheart, yellowheart, birch, maple, and ebony woods, is part of Claremont Lewis Museum of Art’s “Sound Formations: Artist, Musician, Instrument Maker,” opening Saturday, April 5. Photo/by CJ Jilek

“Claremont has made a significant impact on the music world and this exhibition also recognizes the important contributions of resident musicians and important landmarks, including the Folk Music Center, established by Charles and Dorothy Chase in 1958, and the Golden Ring music café which opened in 1965,” read a CLMA news release. “For many years, Claremont’s live music culture thrived, largely due to the annual Folk Festival and the numerous live music venues in the area.”

The exhibit will be up through July 13, 2025.

The CLMA show also includes a free concert on its lawn from 4-9 p.m. Saturday, May 3, with a lineup TBA.

“’Sound Formations LIVE’ will offer the rare opportunity to experience these works of art through the talents of local musicians and instrument-makers,” read the CLMA release. “Join us for this family-friendly free music event with pizza and craft beers available for purchase.”

Sounds like fun. See ya there.

The museum’s news release acknowledges the unfortunate reality that Claremont’s once thriving  live original music scene is a thing of the past. Thankfully the Folk Music Center is still bringing world class artists to town, as are the Claremont Colleges. A few restaurants, including Magnolia Bistro, offer up regular acoustic performances, primarily cover artists, and Upland’s Ophelia’s Jump occasionally books live music. But most other live original music venues in town are long gone. Claremont’s once loud, adventurous, and eclectic original music scene is on life support. Usually when I write about Claremont’s music scene I get emails from annoyed readers telling me I failed to mention a venue still booking live original music in the city. I hope to get a few of those this time too.

Remove, Reverse, Reclaim

Activists Indivisible Claremont and Friends of Sabeel North America are leading the local edition of a national day of action from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the corner of Indian Hill and Foothill boulevards.

The protest aims to “advocate to remove corrupt politicians from office, reverse the damage that’s already been caused, and reclaim our democracy,” according to a news release. It’s a tall order, but one must start somewhere I suppose. It continues: “We need all of our elected officials to follow the agreed upon rules of our democracy. The people must demand they uphold the Constitution and end executive overreach by upholding the system of checks and balances. If not, we need to show the power of ‘the many’ and remind them that they work for us, the people, not just the 1%.”

Feeling down? Protesting is always a great way to assuage the dread.

If you’d like more info, go to mobilize.us/mobilize/event and search “remove, reverse, reclaim.”

Bon voyage

Here’s to hoping the crazy is less persistent for all of you over the next two weeks. I’ll check in with you April 25, untanned, but rested and ready.