3 Chords & the Truth: Russia . . . go #@&! yourself

The other day, a Russian warship demanded the surrender of a tiny Ukrainian outpost on a small island off the coast of Odessa. Or else. 

The radio response of the 13 soldiers stationed there? “Russian warship, go f*** yourself.” Those were the last known words of the soldiers before the shelling began and their lives ended.

We live in a chaotic world, and malefactors abound. Fascism and tyranny are ascendant, particularly in the United States, which has many Vladimir Putin wannabes. Thus, those last words of the Ukrainian martyrs are, today, a rallying cry for those of us who love freedom, seek decency and hate authoritarianism. 

AND THAT'S where we are, both mentally and emotionally, this week on 3 Chords & the Truth.

Vladimir Putin, go f*** yourself. Donald Trump, go f*** yourself. Tucker Carlson, go f*** yourself. American Nazis, go f*** yourself. MAGA nation, go f*** yourself.

Here in Nebraska . . . Gov. Pete Ricketts, go f*** yourself. Gubernatorial candidates Charles Herbster and Jim Pillen, race-baiting fascists both, go f*** yourselves. No retreat, no surrender. 

Like Russian missiles slamming into apartment buildings in Kyiv, such American fascists represent high explosives aimed square at American civil society. At our very soul. That these charlatans call themselves "Christian" makes the offense all the more grievous. 

The brave defenders of Ukraine, outgunned though they are, show us all how to respond to tyrants and their evil doings. We fight. That's the underlying spirit of the Big Show this week. It, really, is the underlying spirit every week.

It's just that we do what we can . . . with music. Good music. A diversity of music. And we all know what the fascists think about diversity. 

Well, they can go f*** themselves. 

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Aloha.

3 Chords & the Truth: America on the hoof

You know how your parents told you that if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all? 

Today's subject on 3 Chords & the Truth is American corporate capitalism.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHERWISE, we have a lot of great music on the show today -- which is typical for the Big Show. 

I think you'll like it.

That pretty much covers everything, so you can get to listening now.

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Aloha.

3 Chords & the Truth: Mahvelous

You have your normal, baseline self. Then you have yourself on 3 Chords & the Truth.

See the difference? To the world, the humdrum world, you seem a bit off-kilter -- a blur, perhaps. But to you . . . you look mahvelous. You feel mahvelous. You are mahvelous. 

Crucially, the music is mahvelous. It doesn't matter if you can't spell marvelous. That's because you, on the Big Show, are mahvelous. And the world just can't keep up. 

MAHVELOUS. 

That is the world of 3 Chords & the Truth. 

It's the world of infinite variety, great music you can't hear just anywhere . . . and a host celebrating yet another day he's not in the federal penal system. What's more mahvelous than that? 

I'll wait while you decide. It shouldn't take long. 

Now go listen to the show. It's . . . well, you know. 

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Aloha.

3 Chords & the Truth: Legitimate musical discourse

Classic form. Classic sound. Now, pass me some heavy weaponry and a couple of clips. 

We're gonna have us some legitimate musical discourse. 

NOTE: We have ways of making you like this episode of 3 Chords & the Truth.

Uhhhh . . . we're all patriots here, right? 

As usual, the musical mix here on the Big Show runs from soup to nuts. and there is a high degree of confidence that you will love the program this week. Right? 

I said . . . riiiight? Excellent.

See, discourse is good. 

Yeah, it's a great show. The best show. You wouldn't believe how good the show is this week. 

It is some serious musical discourse. Or else. 

As a matter of fact, I have a peaceful, easy feeling about the whole shootin' match. 

NOTE: No Mike Pences were hanged during the course of the Big Show. 

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Aloha. 

3 Chords & the Truth: The long and shorts of it

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhh . . . yeah.

I've been known to not wear pants -- and for all you know, I'm not wearing pants now -- but you don't need to see that. This is why some of us are in radio. 

Well, this is another edition of 3 Chords & the Truth, and it's as good as usual.

And, as per the norm, the river of sound runs broad and deep. I guess that's one reason why it's called the Big Show. After all, we have more than 30,000 songs to pick from, and the music library grows by the week.

For true. 

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Aloha.

3 Chords & the Truth: That old feeling

The internet is out. Again. So, I'll be brief here on the cell connection.

This week's edition of 3 Chords & the Truth takes a musical journey spanning almost a century and covering the gamut of style and content. In other words, not that big a departure from what we do every week.

And, boy, is it good. 

WHICH, again, is no departure at all from the usual here on the Big Show.

For example, the program features . . . nah, I'm not going to tell you. That would just completely remove the mystery from your listening experience. 

And, after all, what's the fun if you really and truly know what's coming next? That's our trademark. 

Well, the missus informs me the Internet is back on. Bully for Cox, he says sarcastically. Now, I'd better wrap this up before the damn thing goes out. Again. 

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Aloha.

3 Chords & the Truth: Dial 'M' for music

Want music? Just dial "M." 

Dialing "M" will connect you with 3 Chords & the Truth and all the great music you want . . . . . . and need these days. These days. Boy, that's a loaded phrase, isn't it.

Thus, the need for all the best tunes we can get our ears on. 

As usual, you won't know what's coming next, but you'll be glad when it hits your speakers. That's kind of the nature of the Big Show. 

And that's da name of dat tune. 

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Aloha.

3 Chords & the Truth: 'Twas the night before COVID . . .

'Twas the night before omicron, and all through the house,

Not a body was sleeping, not even the mouse. . . .

That's because who's sleeping these days? On this, our second pandemic Christmas.

SUCH IS WHERE we find ourselves these days, and we're making do as best as we can . . . without ending up sick and quarantined, or sick and in the hospital, or sick and. . . . Well, you know.

Still, the show must go on, and for your listening enjoyment, your Mighty Favog presents the big 3 Chords & the Truth Christmas-music extravaganza -- 2 hours and 42 minutes of as much yuletide cheer as we can muster. Alas.

I would say more, but this year's sponsor for the Big Show blowout doesn't want me to step on the corporate message. And that, I must respect.

So I will take my literary leave -- allowing you to start your holiday listening -- with a simple message: Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night. See you in '22.

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Alo-ho-ho-ho-ha.

3 Chords & the Truth: Geeking out

Are you unpoopular? Do you pop out at parties, Poindexter?

Well, fret not -- 3 Chords & the Truth is here!

It will cure what ails you, because what ails you isn't an ailment. 

The ailment is all the Alpha Betas out there, who must be put in their place. Because Alpha Betas suck.

And while we're doing that on the Big Show this week, we'll also have the merriest, the wildest and the most happenin' holiday selections as part of the winning musical mix. It's another great program, and you're cordially invited to attend.

But not the Alpha Betas. Or the Omegas, for that matter.

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Aloha.

3 Chords & the Truth: No old ladies were harmed

Let's be clear: Despite what you may have been told, no old ladies actually have been harmed by listening to 3 Chords & the Truth. 

There may have been a close call or three since 2008, however. 

Just wanted to clear that up straight away. 

That said, we have another stellar program for you this week on the Big Show. Really. That's no bull. Honestly, it's good. 

And we have a surprise for you during the course of the festivities. No, I won't tell you what it is. Then it wouldn't be a surprise for you, now, would it?

I am authorized to reveal that we are officially kicking off the Christmas season on 3 Chords & the Truth this week. That is quite musically tasty, too.

I think that ticks off all the boxes on the ol' checklist, so my promotional work here is done. And, again, no old ladies were harmed -- or institutionalized -- because of this program. Really. 

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Aloha.

3 Chords & the Truth: Super!

Here I am, staring at a blank page on the computer. 

Well, crap. Now it's not blank anymore, because I just wrote about staring at a blank page on the computer. Which really doesn't merit a "Well, crap," because writing something on the computer screen was the point.

Right?

Of course, while writing this on the previously blank computer screen, I did totally manage not to mention 3 Chords & the Truth once. That's a fail. Then again, I just did mention the Big Show -- twice now in the same paragraph, so that's a win!

Right?

ON THE OTHER HAND, I did not mention any positive attributes of this week's show. Fail. Of which, there are many . . . positive attributes, not fails.

"Mention positive attributes." Check. 

"Mention good music from a wide variety of genres." Well, crap. 

Oh . . . and we have lots of good music this week, as usual, and it's typically eclectic. 

Check. Dodged a bullet there. 

Roger that, chief.

And look at that; the page ain't blank no more. Poor grammar notwithstanding. 

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Aloha.

3 Chords & the Truth: This 'n' that

I've been writing little descriptions to go with episodes of the Big Show for almost 14 years now.

And I think I'm officially to the homina homina homina stage of 3 Chords & the Truth literary development. Freeform . . . check. Good music . . . check. Eclectic . . . check. Yadda yadda yadda.

YET, I still need to say something about this week's show so you'll be inspired to give it a listen. Ain't that a kick in the head?

So, how about this?

This week, we'll cover Jesus, male prostitution, oral sex, drugs, mothers with the lust to f***, a victim of love, trouble, strange fruit and a banana republic where it snowed yesterday. Sparky, if that doesn't pique your interest, I got nothin'.

And that's all I have to say about that. 

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Aloha.

3 Chords & the Truth: So, where were we?

After a scheduled interruption for home-construction chaos and an unscheduled interruption for a sinus infection and panicked making sure it wasn't COVID, the 3 Chords & the Truth whatchamacallit is back.

So . . . where were we when we were interrupted?

Naw, I can't remember either. Crap. OK, let's just start here and go from there.

Actually, that's pretty much what we do every week on the Big Show. Umm hmm.

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Aloha.

3 Chords & the Truth: Still going

The world doesn't stop, and neither does the Big Show.

The latter is a good thing.

As to the former . . . well, at least you have 3 Chords & the Truth. And that's all I have to say about that.

Honestly, y'all. What the hell is there to say anymore? Just this: Listen to the Big Show. It's good.

Apart from that, I got nothin' these days. I will enter random characters here to full out the post: 

Wo;ijf;od oaifj;oiaefgj lmcklksfmo;wjf .ksvlnk,bfkjdf ';akf;ln lksrgfjhlkewfes;l. Urjo;jfij kfejhfkh ks oisejfeoii jfoijf pgkper qwihwo mlkjg ;osiefj ldldj oe aoiuoijc ldodnm kju d,dkd jdmdjdudb dhdiw ofod. Ejiehgieyn ieiufn q oefu wrejt fiur wihewojwpo -- iluherg kdfsisudh ayfd wkchs ruitivdij uaugd qwertyuiop. 

-- 30 --

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Aloha.

3 Chords & the Truth: Hanging in there

Hanging in there?

Yeah, I know. 

Maybe this week's edition of 3 Chords & the Truth will help.

And you had hoped that 2021 would be better than 2020. Perhaps it is, but the progress has been decidedly incremental. 

Now here's where I tell you about how good the Big Show is this go 'round, but I'm guessing you know that already if you're a regular listener. If you aren't . . . what the hell is wrong with you? 

Time to get with the program. Get it? The program! That's a funny, I tell ya'. A joke! 

Aw, forget it. 

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all.  Be there. Aloha.

3 Chords & the Truth: Words to the wise

Just a few things: 

Do listen to the Big Show. It's typically good this week.

Don't go around trying to "own" people on the Facebook, not during the show. I see you. You have better things to do -- at least when you should be listening to 3 Chords & the Truth.

Did I mention we have a really good show this week?

IF YOU'RE the kind who goes to school board meetings to scream about your "rights" when educators tell your kids to put on a damn mask and try not to be a Typhoid Billy or Susie . . . or avoid being infected by a Typhoid Billy or Susie, there's nothing for you here. Go away. And put on a damn mask.

It really is a good show this week. 

Everything sounds better on reel-to-reel audio tape. 

Audio tape is a description; Audiotape was a brand name.

The Big Show is still good. Really.

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Aloha.

3 Chords & the Truth: The other Prozac

I held out some vanishingly small hope last week that this week would be a little better.

Apparently, that was because I'm an idiot. 

This week, we had a Category 4 hurricane in Louisiana, deadly monster floods in the Northeast from the former Cat 4 hurricane, the 'rona still running rampant and Texas being Texas -- this time with the most sinister abortion law ever devised by sinister people.

NOT THAT I'm all for abortion, I'm just against making life hell for women -- and everyone else -- by turning a bunch of Beckys into a surveilling, snitching Lone Star Stasi to sue everyone into the poorhouse as the gummint argues "It wadn't me what done it!" See Germany, East.

So it's in this continuing world of suck that we trepidatiously emerge from the 3 Chords & the Truth hidey hole to put another episode out there into a world of hurt.

Music -- it's the other Prozac.

And I prescribe a liberal dose of the Big Show as one way of helping yourself to get by the best way you can. I guess that pretty much sums things up and concludes what I have to say at this juncture.

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Aloha.

Home is where the hurt is

This one minute of television from Baton Rouge covers a lot of ground.

The clip, from WAFB's hurricane coverage, also hints -- like after Katrina -- at the wrenching decisions about rebuilding or abandonment that will need to be made after Ida, like they had to be made after Katrina . . . and weren't. The Gulf won't stop rising, South Louisiana won't stop sinking, and hurricanes won't stop getting nastier and more frequent.

The heart says "home." The cold, hard facts of life ask you what will happen first -- that "home" bankrupts you, and everybody else, or that "home" kills you, because you've made your stand on ground that can't be defended, and which you have a hard time even calling "ground" anymore.

Nothing -- nothing -- will break your heart like home. That covers the increasingly untenable forces of climate and geology, and it covers all the myriad reasons those of us who left home behind had for leaving home behind. Because there's only one "home." Even when you barely recognize it anymore, or when the things you recognize the most are the reasons you had to go.

AND FOR so many of us in so many "homes," the last few years have been an apocalypse -- in the Greek sense of the word. An unveiling.

My new favorite Brit saying is "It's the hope that kills you." (Sorry, Ted Lasso.) Well, these are the times that it's the home that kills you.

My dread is that all my sane, non-MAGA Nebraska family and friends are, in these times, learning a bitter, bitter lesson that I received decades ago in my homeland. Hope often can't fix home. And that just fucking kills you.

3 Chords & the Truth: Bad week, good show

So, I take a week off for our 38th wedding anniversary . . . and I come back to this?

It's been an awful, horrible, crappy week in these United States: COVID still raging, blockheads refusing to do anything to slow it down -- not even something as simple as wearing a stupid face mask -- our continuing bug-out from Afghanistan, punctuated by a horrific terrorist attack.

And an old acquaintance from high school (and present Facebook friend) died.

Then there's this monster hurricane getting ready to hit my home state, poor, woebegone Louisiana. 

Great week. Not. 

THAT LEAVES this episode of 3 Chords & the Truth  as the last chance for something to go right during this steaming, stinking pile of week.

I think the Big Show has, but I guess you're the final word on that, aren't you?

We persist, despite everything. 

In what's shaping up to be as bad a year as 2020, I suppose that's what counts as a victory. I pray that you're persisting, too. 

You do what you can do, and I'm doing what I can do. That's all anyone can ask. 

So, I think it's a fine show, and with luck, you will also. So here it is. Enjoy. 

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Aloha.

3 Chords & the Truth: It's classic

American insanity, like the classics, never goes out of style. 

So, when we have anti-masker anti-vaxxers screaming at -- and threatening -- doctors guilty only of wanting these morons not to get sick and die in the middle of a pandemic . . . well, the classic music you'll find on 3 Chords & the Truth matters all the more. 

I suppose you want to know why that is. 

It's like this: We all need a mental and emotional refuge when the stupidity and the tragedy and the suck . . . Just. Will. Not. End. There's only so much people can take, lots are reaching their limit, and you can't live in a world without beauty. 

You can't live without hope, either, and hope's shaky right now. So bring on the music. And the Big Show. And a bit of France, too.

Please. 

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Aloha.