Continuous Peasant was formed by poet/keyboardist Chris Stroffolino (ex Silver Jews; ex-Rising Shotgun, etc) in 2001
and has since released two critically acclaimed full-length albums, Exile in Babyville (2003, Good Forks) and the newly released Intentional Grounding (2005, Good Forks). For more information about the band, merch, videos, MP3s, a discussion board, and a link to what the press has had to say, check us out at www.continuouspeasant.com or www.myspace.com/continuous peasant. It'd be great to hear from you.
Just coming our first large-scale North American (US and Canada, from Coast to Coast), we were greeted by the devastation that struck New Orleans, and felt absolutely helpless as we were unable to contact our friends. Soon that helplessness turned toward anger as word came out that had the federal government not allocated the tax dollars meant to rebuild the levee toward the war in Iraq, a war spuriously waged in the name of "homeland security." Furthermore, the mainstream media's coverage of the events tended to blame the victims and demonize the poor (mostly black, but also white) who were left behind in the "trenches" of the devastation. We knew we had to do something about it, and even though Clearchannel and various other organizations weild a great deal of control over the big media playlists, we were moved to write a song, and try to release it as soon as possible, in hopes to "raise consciousness" about not simply the natural disaster, but the failure of the US Government in protecting its people at home, especially when they are poor, a prtection that should be the first responsibility of a federal government, before fighting a war of dubious merit abroad. Because the other members of the band were not currently available, Chris Stroffolino assembled a group of musicians to record this quickly in Spetember of 2005, including Miriam Jacobson, who lends her beautiful voice to an alternate version of this song which may reach people who generally don't go for Stroffolino's rough "Dylanesque" voice. In addition to the two versions of this country/folk/rock song (featuring dobro and lap steel by Aaron Balano), this CD also includes a 60s-garage band sounding song (complete with Farfisa, and Fuzz guitar and the rhythm section of the Graves Brothers Deluxe) dedicated to the local SF band "The Angry Amputees"
for those who want a little more rock for their buck!
Proceeds to this album will be donated to help the citizens of New Orleans, who are now separated and dispersed throughout the country due to FEMA and Red Cross in their "rescue" attempts, help rebuild their community with dignity and that will help their voices be heard amid the large business interests already at work trying to "rebuild" the city in their image. For more information about the Vanguard Public Foundation People's Hurricane Relief Fund, click this link to www.vanguardsf.org
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