The "Tinklers" are Charles Brohawn and Chris Mason. At 4 PM on this Sunday they performed some of their classic songs and Chris read prose excerpts from "The Elements" recently published by Rupert Wondolowski and available at NORMLS book store (other works of theirs are also available at Normals- is it Normls?). They are also available on Amazon.
Approx. 50 people attended. The duo ended the set with a song everybody demands- "Cheesewolf, meanist kid in Junior High" (turns out at the end of the song that Cheesewolf- at least in Glee Club may not be so bad afterall).
But "He can even make you cry".
To me, it is the attitude and the poetry from the Tinklers that stands out, although their music is also impressive. The music is raw, but borders on the smooth in a way that suggests genius. The music brings to mind Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan and the New York Philharmonic! They each play electric guitars, but Charles often bangs on a home made drum and Chris plays the banjo and cigar box ukelele. Some of Charles' slide guitar work is as good as any that I have heard- be it from the AllMan Brothers or Johnny Winter, etc.- it also (you're gonna hear this word from me again) suggests genius. He plays around the edges of the melody- smudges it- in a very enticing way.
I do not use the word, genius, lightly. I think it has to do with the way the Tinklers give the impression of spontanaiety! It's not like they spend hours rehearsing or composing- and that's part of the genius.
Although the establishment music and poetry worlds would not pay for these guys- that IS exactly the point. They are too childlike and natural, too obvious, too bold-if they were a product they could be advertised like a skin lotion- "as natural as aloe and lamkin fat"- just listen to some of the lyrics:
"Thinking too much, I'm thinking too much, I think I'm thinking too much, I think I think I('m thinking too much"
or,
"Don't put your finger in the fan", or
Mom cooks inside,
Dad cooks outside"
Often the lyrics seem by kids and youth- BUT, as I said before- it's the attitude- an attitude that adults seem to have lost but desparately need to return to- an attitude that is not preachy but the ultimate in insightful! It may b pro environment, but maybe we, as adults (and the Tinklers are both adults) actually do think to much and ruin things in that way. The Tinklers don't ruin things, and there is a lot of humor in their work and playing that just plain makes them lovable! They are a combination of "Sesame Street" and Charles Bukowski- or, Dr. Seuss and Ezra Pound.
They remind me of how society does not, maybe CANNOT, recognize the truly special- therefore remind me of neglected and unrecognized greats like Emily Dickinson or Van Gogh. I buy everything they do and collect it because I think that in the 3000's? if we are still around? it will be hugely valuable. Of course I won't b around. But I would swear on these two, like Anne Tyler and Laura Lippman, as Baltimore icons.
Now- partly that forces them to keep going-for...they are still YOUNG!!!
They only SEEM childlike. The are actually an ELEMENTAL FORCE.
Take the line: "Trees like to rot in the forest". This is an immortal line, in my opinion!
also "Burping fungus people with flashlight heads"!
I had a hard time hearing words in some of the songs and can only suggest that Charles go to bongos or a softer drum set. The words are the best thing about the Tinklers- altho their music is magnificent in a deceptively simple way. I want to hear those words.
Another neglected genius, Marshall Reese, down from New York, preceded the Tinklers with his astounding videos- anti Bush, anti war, videos. You just gotta google and see this stuff- and hear the Tinklers- whenever it is possible.
In the end the Tinklers make great art because it delights!
from a fanatic fan
dave eberhardt (
mozela9@comcast.net) my site google david eberhardt then poetry and prose
