A train is roaring past our hotel room through the desert of Tucson. What a sound. This town is alive!

Here is an article about the singing black hole. The one I have been talking about on stage. The one that is in Bb. (I Love You and Buddha Too is in Bb. So is Sorry Signs On Cash Machines.) The article is incredibly scientific and hard for me to focus on but, for those of you that love science, here it is!!! 

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/universe/black_hole_sound.html

I just love the part about the Bb. Why B flat? Why do songs in B flat often open your heart? Hmmmm.....

Some people were asking about the verse I have been adding to “Buddha”.  Here it is:

When Prophets say they’ve heard the one and only Word and every Word is different God becomes an argument and we are left to choose a side or to refuse the whole thing in its humanness or learn from each with tolerance. 

All right, all right, all right I love you and Buddha too all right.

Someone gave me a copy of the book Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts and I am loving it. Just finished The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. Adam lent it to me. It won the Pulitzer last year. I really enjoyed it. Diaz’s voice is really refreshing and bright and the book begged to be read quickly.

I have been having a great time on the West coast. Such kind people coming out to the shows.  Thank you so much everyone! Now we are heading north and east. Three shows to go.

(This picture of me was taken by my friend Danny Modor last March in Patagonia, Chile.)

Love,
Mason
Tucson, Arizona
10/18/08

Check out this recent review from Glide Magazine’s ‘Hidden Track’....

“Mason Jennings and Animal Liberation Orchestra front man Zach Gill took to the stage last week at San Francisco’s legendary Fillmore Theater.”

Read the Review

Hey Everyone,

You can hear brand new recordings from all of your favorite Brushfire artists on This Warm December: A Brushfire Holiday Vol 1.

You can hear the whole album including music from every other artist on Brushfire by going to: 

http://www.ilike.com/artist/Jack+Johnson

The album hits stores on Tuesday (Nov. 11), and 25% of the profits are going to support musical education for children, so help support a good cause!

We made it to the West Coast!!! We have come through mountain blizzards, high plains rain, Montana cold and a bit of shitake to get here. And now, guess what, we are in Seattle and it is raining!!! I love it out here.

Here is a video clip Jonny showed me that I find super inspiring. It is Tom Waits and Bono reading a couple Charles Bukowski poems:

A: Us in Paul Bunyan’s hand

B: Me jumping a fence and heading for the Badlands

C: Me explaining why I am sitting beside an armada of Gatorade

Mason
11/6/08
Seattle, Washington
The New USA

My aunt has a good point. If you are planning on time traveling and are expecting to end up in the same spot, you are in for the shock of your life. With the earth spinning and orbiting you will end up plum ripe in Outer Space. (Unless you plan it like a genius. Which you probably would if you can time travel. I wonder how often the same spot on earth is in the same exact spot of the cosmos? Like how often is Chicago in the identical same part of the Universe? Is it ever even close?)

It is snowing today in Minnesota and I love it. I love it here.

I just read (and loved) Steve Martin’s book Born Standing Up. Once, when he was on the Tonight Show he began...."A lot of dogs watch TV but there’s really nothing on for them, so call your dog over and let him watch because I think you’re going to see him crack up for the first time.”

Just got Billy Collins’ new book of poems called Ballistics. If you haven’t heard of him before, or if you have and care to click on this link, here is a fun link of him reading a good one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56Iq3PbSWZY

Been loving the poems of Mary Oliver so much these Autumn days as well. She is so wonderful.

Soon, I will be heading West. Looking forward to seeing you all out there!

Love,
Mason
Majestic, Autumnal, Minnesota
10/25/08