October 9 I was quite tired. It was my second day of putting in a solid 21 and a half hour work day for the school I work at. After coming home and trying to find a way to relax, I learned that the father of one of my former students from another school had finally pled guilty to strangling her with a telephone cord after he found her texting a boy. He was quite jealous, perhaps particularly since she was 12 weeks pregnant from his incestuous relationship with her. He took her body and tried to burn it in the furnace. Last night, I was resting my body, praying for Ana, praying a little for Letterman, remembering Ana's face, her Halloween costume she wore to school the Halloween before her death the day after Valentine's day. Ana, burned in the furnace of the building where he father was a superindent. I also was thinking of my students at my new school, their faces, their private stories they shared with me. Living in shelters, molestations of their innocence, their fights, their turtles, their puppies, having no food, not having a belt. What can I do? What can I do? How can I protecte them? Why is Mayor Bloomberg and the Chancellor of Ed.lying? Why are there so many who can't read or write? How can they get to high school and nobody told them anything? Why do I only have 10 text books? Why was Ana thrown in a furnace? I was almost asleep. When suddenly I heard that song, "Hope for the Hopeless" and it was the first song in many years... that turned me inside out. I once wrote to Natalie Merchant to try to interest her in helping my dear friend, Mumia Abu-Jamal, Philadelphia's "Voice of the Voiceless" who has been languishing on death row on a false conviction for 28 years. There was no response. I was disappointed, and then I forgot she existed. But this man and his band... helped me to not have nightmares, and to hear a masterpiece, and to go through another week after Columbus Day, of 2 1/2 to 3 or 4 hours of sleep and teach my kids history, not just what's in the books, along with how to write a sentence, how to think of the future, how to maybe have a future if they can dodge the gang bullets, the bad cops, the kids from the other schools, the mother's boyfriends, the junkies, the crackheads, the thieves who like them shiny l'il I Pods.
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Hi Brett. My name is Nina Vincent. I live in Muir Beach where you have been a few times. you played at our community center and at Wayne Heldts home one evening. My almost 5 year old daughter is absolutely in awe of you. We listen to the Mosaic Project CD regularly. Tiana is adopted from Guatemala and growing up in Marin she really feels her differences. She has "written" you a letter (picture/scibble), and is so longing to send it to you. i realize in this day and age paper to pen is not the way to go. Is there any way she can feel that she has made contact with you? she wears her mosaic necklace and calls it her Brett Dennen necklace. she can't wait to be old enough to go to the camp because of course she thinks you will be there singing. We adore you Brett. Thank you for what you do and who you are and for being such a powerful role model to my daughter. Blessings. Nina Vincent out here in muir beach
I saw you at Tampa last night as a birthday present. Your performance was phenomenal (the tickets were bought only because you were headlining.) . The only thing that could have made the night better was having a meaningful conversation with you. Today is my birthday and I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your music, and everything you stand for. I would like to write you a heartfelt letter, but in this sort of world, personal addresses are difficult to come by. Please keep on doing what you're doing. I will keep listening.
Sometimes things may be difficult or frustrating, I'm sure...But it's through those times we find we are able to achieve the most. I'm a firm believer that music can and does change the world, especially music such as yours. Next time you're in Florida come and jam with my friends ans I on jazz night!
So with that I must say that I hope our paths cross at a later date, and I wish you the best of luck touring with O.A.R.
Hey friend,
I was able to catch your concert last night as a first time listener and it was truly amazing. Your lyrics are kind and you have a big heart. Can't wait to check out another show. Hope all is well and safe travels through your many tour destinations.
Always peace and love,
Bradi
Hi Dear,
Hopefully this mail will find you in a perfect state of mind and good
healthy condition. I Miss Vivian personally find your profile at
(www.lovespeaks.org) and I decided to drop you few lines just to say
hi, I am looking for a long term relationship with someone who is kind
who understands the need to love and be loved. I want to have
communication with you. Please i want you to contact me through my private email address at:(michaelvivian48@yahoo.com). That will enable me show you my pictures and to tell you more about myself for you to know whom l am. Remember the distance, colour or age does not matter but love matters a lot in life.
hope to hear from you soon
Hey Brett, We are a non-profit organization in the Sacramento Area, love to talk to you about what we do and putting on a show in this area with you as a headliner. hit us up and let us know what you think
heya brett. i live in the sierra-nevada mountains in california and i seen you in reno, nevada in 08 & 09 :) you helped me feel more american by showing that diversity is a great thing and nationalism is wrong. and nothing doesn't last forever :] thanks. peace.
You are such a great man !
What you do to promote peace and make the world a better place to live is so wonderfull.
Thank you so much for all your work.
I am so looking forward to see you in concert in the UK in april
Good Day Brett,
I was up in the wee hours & came across Love Speaks. Couldn't go by without joining up.
I'd like to take the time to say thank you for being such an inspiration to your community & the world by sharing your talents. You have inspired many to be socially & ethically conscious in making a good prescence in this world and advacating for those communities that are not always able to represent themselves.
It all starts with baby steps and eventually makes an impressional foot print for the greater good.
Take care & keep up the great work because you are making a difference in this world.
Cheers for now & I'll catch you later on!!!!
At 6:56pm on February 15, 2009, Richard Hall said…
Vets Helping Vets Oakdale Ca.
At 12:43am on February 15, 2009, Richard Hall said…
Brett
We need you to come home to Oakdale,we miss you and we would like to put together a show here at home for Vets Helping Vets my way of giving back and helping these deserving Veterans any way we can,most of our programe is for those suffering from PTSD.
Your old Boyscout leader.
Richard,Cindy and Aubrey
Oakdale The West At Its Best
Not sure if you read these posts or not, but I don't know of any other way to contact you so I thought I'd give it a try. I'm the Indian dude you met at Clare and Don's in Falls Church, VA who gave you that informational card about the protest near the Capitol. A few things I wanted to say:
-- It was mighty cool of you to put up with us interrupting you after your meal. I appreciate you taking one of my cards, and even more, I appreciate how kind you were to us -- I don't think anybody else would have stuck around for a photograph given the scene we were creating with our camera malfunctions and whatnot -- THANK YOU, and my apologies for doing that to you!
-- I have to apologize for something else. The show you put on was fabulous -- my group and I enjoyed it SO MUCH and walked out of there with an incredible buzz from your music and your words. I got the impression that you may not have realized that that was the general atmosphere in the audience. I'm saying this because you had to "Shhhh" people at the end of the show (thank you for doing that, as irritating as it must have been for you). The reason for that is that some people just don't know how to contain themselves when there is alcohol available, as it is at the State Theater. That seems to happen at many shows that go on there and it's really annoying for the audience and the musicians. I apologize on behalf of those people that were talking it up during your encore -- please know that the rest of us were hanging onto every note and every word and thank you for it. BTW, I plan to e-mail State Theater management and suggest that they limit the amount of alcohol served, and to implement a recycling program while they are at it!
Thanks again, and I hope to see you in Virginia again!
just responding to your post about local nonprofits that need recognition-- I have a friend who is starting a nonprofit called Comfort Food, essentially its goal is to provide nourishing food to caregivers of the terminally ill. There's much more to what Comfort Food is, you can read about it here and this is their official website.
From a fellow musician, thanks for what you do, I'm glad your music has deeper a purpose than making money or mere entertainment.
Hey Brett, I was wondering if you could listen to a track for me, granted I can get it online. If you have the time could you shoot me a message? Preciate all that you do, and hopefully I'll see you in Louisville on down the road. Be well.
Brett, I saw you with John Mayer in July and have been hooked ever since. I think you're an amazing songwriter, as well as person and I think what you're doing with this organization is wonderful. Listening to your music makes me a better person.
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I saw you at Tampa last night as a birthday present. Your performance was phenomenal (the tickets were bought only because you were headlining.) . The only thing that could have made the night better was having a meaningful conversation with you. Today is my birthday and I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your music, and everything you stand for. I would like to write you a heartfelt letter, but in this sort of world, personal addresses are difficult to come by. Please keep on doing what you're doing. I will keep listening.
Sometimes things may be difficult or frustrating, I'm sure...But it's through those times we find we are able to achieve the most. I'm a firm believer that music can and does change the world, especially music such as yours. Next time you're in Florida come and jam with my friends ans I on jazz night!
So with that I must say that I hope our paths cross at a later date, and I wish you the best of luck touring with O.A.R.
Much Love,
Mikal
WOW tu musica es increiblemente geniaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaal!!!!
waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa :)
I love who you are and what you do.
And I'll be seeing you at Lincoln Park Zoo.
=) (that rhymed)
<3 Chelsea
I was able to catch your concert last night as a first time listener and it was truly amazing. Your lyrics are kind and you have a big heart. Can't wait to check out another show. Hope all is well and safe travels through your many tour destinations.
Always peace and love,
Bradi
Hopefully this mail will find you in a perfect state of mind and good
healthy condition. I Miss Vivian personally find your profile at
(www.lovespeaks.org) and I decided to drop you few lines just to say
hi, I am looking for a long term relationship with someone who is kind
who understands the need to love and be loved. I want to have
communication with you. Please i want you to contact me through my private email address at:(michaelvivian48@yahoo.com). That will enable me show you my pictures and to tell you more about myself for you to know whom l am. Remember the distance, colour or age does not matter but love matters a lot in life.
hope to hear from you soon
My Regards to you.
Vivian.
What you do to promote peace and make the world a better place to live is so wonderfull.
Thank you so much for all your work.
I am so looking forward to see you in concert in the UK in april
I was up in the wee hours & came across Love Speaks. Couldn't go by without joining up.
I'd like to take the time to say thank you for being such an inspiration to your community & the world by sharing your talents. You have inspired many to be socially & ethically conscious in making a good prescence in this world and advacating for those communities that are not always able to represent themselves.
It all starts with baby steps and eventually makes an impressional foot print for the greater good.
Take care & keep up the great work because you are making a difference in this world.
Cheers for now & I'll catch you later on!!!!
We need you to come home to Oakdale,we miss you and we would like to put together a show here at home for Vets Helping Vets my way of giving back and helping these deserving Veterans any way we can,most of our programe is for those suffering from PTSD.
Your old Boyscout leader.
Richard,Cindy and Aubrey
Oakdale The West At Its Best
Not sure if you read these posts or not, but I don't know of any other way to contact you so I thought I'd give it a try. I'm the Indian dude you met at Clare and Don's in Falls Church, VA who gave you that informational card about the protest near the Capitol. A few things I wanted to say:
-- It was mighty cool of you to put up with us interrupting you after your meal. I appreciate you taking one of my cards, and even more, I appreciate how kind you were to us -- I don't think anybody else would have stuck around for a photograph given the scene we were creating with our camera malfunctions and whatnot -- THANK YOU, and my apologies for doing that to you!
-- I have to apologize for something else. The show you put on was fabulous -- my group and I enjoyed it SO MUCH and walked out of there with an incredible buzz from your music and your words. I got the impression that you may not have realized that that was the general atmosphere in the audience. I'm saying this because you had to "Shhhh" people at the end of the show (thank you for doing that, as irritating as it must have been for you). The reason for that is that some people just don't know how to contain themselves when there is alcohol available, as it is at the State Theater. That seems to happen at many shows that go on there and it's really annoying for the audience and the musicians. I apologize on behalf of those people that were talking it up during your encore -- please know that the rest of us were hanging onto every note and every word and thank you for it. BTW, I plan to e-mail State Theater management and suggest that they limit the amount of alcohol served, and to implement a recycling program while they are at it!
Thanks again, and I hope to see you in Virginia again!
From a fellow musician, thanks for what you do, I'm glad your music has deeper a purpose than making money or mere entertainment.
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