The Peasants news page

Boston, MA: Good time at The Bone last night. Good crowd. LOUD! Like to do that one again. Thanks everyone for coming out. Special Thanks to Jack And Korte. Jack was dancing the whole fuckin time! To the big guys sorry I ran out of big shirts. Man, you just can't please everybody! Happy Holidayz, stay warm and we'll see you in January!

15 december 2008

Boston, MA: Massive Rock Show @ The Chickenbone in Framingham this Thursday. We got Charlie on the drums. We're sounding good! If you can make it, you won't be sorry. See Touring Page for details!!

If you haven't gotten those XMAS Gifts sorted by now, don't worry! Just give them all Peasant CDs and relax. Go to CDBaby.com!! Send 'em right to your house!!

In other news, we're working on another trip to Germany and Holland Fall 2009. Arno of SIDEKICK BOB is helping us!! Nils has stepped up to the plate, kicking German ass and taking names, clipboard in hand. Bill Close and I are sitting pretty in the States, watching Armageddon and looking for answers. Get back to you on that.

For the record, I don't believe in bailing out large Corporations just because they are large. If they are too large to fail, maybe they are just too large. Smaller Car companies are springing up in California that are making Electric cars people can afford. Give the money to them! Help them! And build the system to support them. Or better yet, put everyone to work building trains across the country and lose the cars!

Read article by Wall Street Business guy. Said all we have to do is TAX GAS like they do in Europe and the market will straighten itself out. People will drive less, they will drive smaller cars and the tax money will help pay to green the United States with better public transportation that everyone can use at a reasonable price.

It's not an easy solution but there are solutions. Keep watching! Keep hopeful! Change is on the way. President Obama is coming up! You could say he's got the whole world in his hands! Peace!

4 december 2008

Boston, MA: Just wanted to say THANKS to all the people who've been buying Peasant CDs!! Very honored and grateful to you! A thoughtful, inexpensive gift for that hard to please person. And easy. Just go to CDBaby.com. Less than 12 bucks!

I managed to book a bunch of shows around Boston for the winter and look forward to playing again! Been playing down at The Chickenbone in Framingham on Wednesdays too! Dave has a steady gig there. An open mike, like playing on the street.... but with guest singers... and HEAT. Come down. It's a good time.

What else? Writing some things, learning how to meditate... and playing alot of guitar. Listening to Richie Blackmore. I LOVE Deep Purple. You Tube is incredible. Since I bought a new Apple I've been glued to it, watching Purple Videos from 1970. InCREDible!! So.... if you're in Boston, come out and SEE US!!! If not, buy some discs and stay warm. Peace!!

5 november 2008

Boston, MA: TONIGHT History was made in the USA. We managed to elect the First African American to be President of the United States. He won by a LANDSLIDE. Millions of people, many who never voted before, came out to vote in this Election. Obama inspired Millions that they do matter in a country that has ignored poor people, minorities and pretty much anybody who isn't rich for the past Eight years. It was an Unprecedented NO THANKS to The Bush Administration and The Republican Party!! Good Riddance!!

And now the real work begins. Two Miserably incompetent, corrupt wars, a destroyed economy, Prison Camps all over the place, Torture Policies in place, Spying systems on US Citizens, Eroded Civil Rights, Tax Breaks to Millionaires while the Government is mired deeper and deeper into debt, Welfare for Corrupt Corporations while hardworking people are thrown out of their homes... the wreckage from this last Presidency is going to take many, many years to clean up. But thank god the first step has been taken. The world can sleep with real hope tonight.

Boston, MA: Golden Leaves Everywhere!! Fall in New England is Fuckin Glorious!! Saw The Neighborhoods at Church last night. Great show. Lotta local rock stars were there. Met up w/Ray of Beefy DC in town for a few days!! Looks good. Lost 90 lbs. God I miss my friends... who've all moved to Cali!! East Coast Billy Close was here last week. Was great to see him too!! Oh well!! People move. Reminds me of something someone told me.. why do you live in California??

January in New York/Boston it's 30 below zero and it's 72 degrees in California.

August in NY/Boston it's about 100 degrees and humid. In California, it's 72 degrees.

There's 600,000 interesting people to talk to in NY/Boston but it's 72 degrees in California. Whatever. Every place has it's good and bad.

And on the political front...Eight Years of Incompetence, Lies, Hate, Torture and War Against Women, Children and Poor People is about to come to an end... hopefully!! Obama is a darker version of JFK w/out the Sexism. He's a thoughtful, intelligent, moderate man and I wholeheartedly endorse him!!! Get out there and VOTE!!! Two days to go!! If he wins by a landslide, they can't steal it a third time. Don't get complacent!! Remember Florida in 2000 and Ohio in 2004. Get out there and VOTE!!!

Boston, MA: We played last night in Harvard Square probably for the last time in 2008. Temperature went down to the early 40s and there are less and less people out and willing to brave the cold. Still we had some great audiences. Highlights were when Jack from The Ethnics got up and did a trio of Zeppelin songs. Then we did a stack of Hendrix covers that was fun as hell. Ed plays well with us.

My fave thing to do is play music on the streets of Cambridge for people. I LOVE it!! To me, it is the ultimate Trip!! As it is now too cold, we will have to seek gigs in the clubs like everybody else. I hope you look for us in the usual places. The Abbey Lounge (if it doesn't close), O'Brien's Pub in Allston, The Middle East, The Paradise, Ralph's in Worcester.

If you liked what you saw this summer, sign up on our email list!! And if you want to get in touch with us for any reason, just write directly to me at petecassani@yahoo.com

And a special thanks to Otti of Germany!! Appreciate your guestbook entry. We'll be in Germany Fall 2009. Send me your email and I'll put you on the list. VOTE FOR OBAMA!!! PEACE!!!!

Boston, MA: Harvard Square Last Night!! Played Almost 5 Hours!! Started around 7 pm. thinking we'd quit early when it got cold but people were out and listening so we went right up to Midnight!!! New guy Ed Arnold on the drums was excellent. Called him at 3 pm to play. By 7 pm he was behind the kit faking it as only a pro can. Flyered the crowd for Anti War Rally in Boston Commons today.

Got up and out early enough to do my 10 minutes of Glory opening the rally around 11 am. Gorgeous sunny day!! Tons of people. Lots of talented musicians. The Iraq Veterans Against The War were AMAZING!! Their speaker said It's time we pulled all the young people out of these two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The people who sent them don't give a shit about them. He said alot of things. He was pissed in a way that people who have never been to Iraq or Afghanistan are not. We can't be. We don't know the extent of the Bullshit going on. These guys know. They've been there. It was great to hear them. Must sleep.

Boston, MA: Harvard Square Last Night!! Great crowds despite temperature going down to 52 Degrees Fahrenheit!! Lots of people out. Many Friends of Bills. Special Guest Mark got up and sang Highway Star (Deep Purple). Spotted Jeff DaRosa (Dropkick Murphys/Peasants) and his beautiful wife for a brief moment. Good to be back in Boston doing what I love!

Will try again next weekend if it's not too cold be temps have been plummeting much like the Stock Market as soon as the sun goes down. We'll see. Peace! Obama! 2008!

Leeds, England: US Congress getting ready to transfer $700Billion from Taxpayers to Black Hole that is Wall Street. Propping up a dead body. Buy you some time till after XMAS when the shit really hits the fan. Peace!

Leeds, England: Back at my brother's place. USA continues to implode. Greedy bastards scrambling like rats from a sinking ship, begging for the gov't to bail them out of their own mess... Hypocrites! Free Market my ASS!!! This is called CORPORATE WELFARE. No money for health care, roads, schools, helping the poor and middle class but suddenly there is $70 Billion for corrupt, mismanaged Financial Institutions. What a load of shit! I say NO WAY!! You made your bed. Now SLEEP IN IT!!!

Saw Arno and Linda of Sidekick Bob in Pijnacker. Playing as a trio now. Sounded GREAT!!! Really tight. Lean and MEAN!! Arno cooked a huge dinner. Eric (The Driver) and Jorge (The Fat Roadie) showed up. Saw homeopath too!! Homeopathy originated in Germany. Very well developed there. Said might still be a chance to heal my old leg holistically. Gave me hope. Don't want to go thru another hip replacement. Sucked bad enough first time.

Hung out w/Nils in Recklinghausen, Germany. Love Germany! Rented a car and drove around. Great country for driving. You can go as fast as you possibly can on the Autobahn which for this car was about 110 mph (180 kph).

Met with a club owner in Recklinghausen and booked two shows for Fall 2009. Peasant Tour October 2009!! No Booking Agents! Gonna try to do the whole thing between ourselves and our friends. Very psyched to be coming back again.

20 september 2008

Troisdorf, Germany: Amazing!!! We are now witnessing one of the largest transfers of wealth in the United States from the poor to the rich. The US Gov't is about to take Billions of dollars away from the Taxes we pay ... for roads, for schools, for hospitals, for us basically... and give it to a bunch of greedy, selfish, conniving bankers, insurance companies and stock brokers. Can you fucking believe it??? And all the while saying it's for OUR OWN GOOD!!! I say let the bastards hang. Save the poor who are about to lose their homes due to these shysters and let all the insurance companies and banks and other businesses who don't know how to live in the real world slide on to the next one. Don't Let These Bastards Drag Us Down Any More!!! We've bought their loans, lost our houses, lost our health care, lost our schools and now they want to take whatever is left of our money.

I say NO to all of them, Republican AND Democrat, who want to give our tax money... what's left of it... to corrupt, incompetent, deregulated Corporations. What do YOU think? Maybe you should let your congressman and senator know. I know I will. Peace!!

Pijnacker, Holland: Finished working at the Real Estate Office and stepped over the Pond to visit my brother Andrew in Leeds, England. Hanging around with him and Abbey, getting the feel of being a parent. Endless days of feeding, walking, crying, sleeping, getting up, feeding, walking... if they weren't so cute the Human Race would've been over a long time ago.

Watching Capitalism Implode on the news here. Every day another bank, insurance company, stock thing goes down in flames. I guess our system is correcting itself. God please correct us from the Repugnant Republican Party and their deregulating, trickle down, let the market decide bullshit. If they really believe what they preach, they know they must go down with their ship and recieve not a penny of bailout money from the American taxpayer. As the millionaires lose millions it's tempting to gloat. Unfortunately, their greedy, corrupt business practices are going to hurt many virtuous, hardworking people who did nothing wrong. We're gonna need another Roosevelt to clean up this mess. I hope Obama is up to the task.

Boston, MA: Just got a call from friend who moved down from NYC to Nashville, TN to work for Country Music Television (CMT). He called to tell me At The Wedding is playing on one of their biggest shows down there in God's Country. The Show is MY BIG REDNECK WEDDING! Only in America folks. A sober and depressed street musician, a New York Jew in the TV Biz and a bunch of shitfaced Rednecks. That's what makes the mind numbing, drool inducing, commercial filling fodder before you!!! AWESOME!!!

Boston, MA: Beautiful playing in Harvard Square today. Did 2 pm - 6 pm spot. Tons of students, parents, little kids, more parents... lotta people out. Had a great day w/Andy Plaisted (drums) and Dave Lieb (bass). We played Friday night too and though it was way hot and hard to move around the frets we did ok. That's it for a few weeks as I'm off to Bloody Old England to visit me brother and his growing gaggle of kids. He lives in Leeds with wife Abbey. Looking forward to it. We'll try to be out in ROcktober, Mother Nature permitting.

Boston, MA: Last Day On The Job!! Moving Day for thousands of people here. Trucks, Furniture, Garbage, Traffic!! Almost DONE! Played in The Square Friday night. Another good one!! Justin on drums, Dave on bass as usual. Did TAXMAN, DAY TRIPPER, American Girl by Tom Petty and a few other things. Some old stuff, some new! Saw some friends of Bills, lotta kids, not too many psychos, no slappers! Got $50. fine for playing too loud. Couldn't be helped. Sometimes it's just impossible to play quieter than traffic. It's a skill that is hard to come by in Rock Music.

Out again this Friday night. Boston is all pumped up with College Kids again. Sleepy summer is over in this town. Will try for Sunday afternoon too if the weather holds which it should despite Hurricanes in Louisiana.

Boston, MA: Whew! Psycho Circus on the street this weekend!! Friday night we had a guy on PCP or SOMETHING Psychotic walking around punching and slapping people, breaking bottles and generally being a violent nuisance. Of course there were no cops around and nothing happened to this guy. He was last seen running down into the Harvard Square train station right after he punched a guy in the face who was just walking down the street. Crazy. It's not usually like this but sometimes it is.

Took us a Looooong time to warm up on this night. I got slapped in the middle of a song. Didn't see it coming. Was a little shocked but not hurt. Had to practice what I preached after that one. Then, after about 3 hours of trying too hard, thinking too much and getting slapped around, we had 30 minutes of absolute Nirvana-esque ROCK!

Went out again on Saturday. This time in front of Au Bonne Pain as Peter The Russian wanted to keep us out of the pit. OK! We play in YOUR Spot Peter! Whatever! Though we prefer the Arena-like Pit configuration, Au Bonne Pain is cool with it's patrons drinking coffee, playing chess and sitting comfortably.

Soon as we started, the Psycho Circus kicked in again. A toothless, homeless, filthy younger version of Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) babbled at us constantly, begging for attention. Another guy, completely shitfaced, sat down in front with an acoustic guitar screaming very bad requests and then singing them ... also very badly, until we started playing and drown him out.

After awhile Ian Anderson had to up the ante as he was not getting any attention. I saw him light his own hair on fire a few times. It wasn't as good after the first time. You can't do this trick more than once or twice. He took to following me around. Between him and the drunk folkie, I felt like Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. At one point Anderson tried to light MY hair on fire.

The last straw was Ian repeatedly and endlessly revealing his private parts to three girls sitting, listening to the band. A short time later two Cambridge Police showed up and the following ensued.

"What the **** are you doing? Get the *** out of here! If you come back here again you're spending the night in jail!" And that was the end of Ian "Proud of His Private Parts" Anderson.

Freak Show aside, we had a great night of playing. So much better than Friday. We clicked massively and were playing like a band that had been together for years, going from song to song. Sold a ton of CDs and made a bunch of friends. Also saw some old friends and people we've been playing to out there for years. In a nutshell, another night on the street. If the weather continues to be nice, we will be out this Friday!

Boston, MA: Thanks to all who came down to the pit last night. Was great to see all Bill's Friends coming around to hang and take in some rock and roll street style.

Had a bit of a dip in the Joy when a troubled, young drunk snapped, throwing bottles, stalking around and occasionally slapping people. Where's a cop when you need him? We were right next to Au Bon Pain, pastries and coffee galore, but no blue knight in sight. Eventually, however, the troubled man faded and by the final set of the night we were playing great.

Took me about three hours to warm up but once I did, it was like cutting butter. My dear old friend from High School bands, John Laguzzi, drove up from Long Island, New York to play with us. It was great. We hope to be out again tonight as the weather is brilliant. Peace!

Boston, MA: Rained out TWO FRIDAYS In A RoW!!! Sunday was beautiful with not a cloud in the sky so we grabbed King of Swing Andy Plaisted for drums and hit the pit. Was great time. Hope to go again this upcoming Friday. Weather supposed to be sunny. So Friday!

Boston, MA: Nothing to say 'cept We Will Be In The Square This Friday Night, August 8TH!! Unless it's absolutely pouring... then we might still go out but we'll be under the Bank across from Out Of Town News. Regardless, it's summertime, the street is the best time in town and that's where we'll be so come out and play!!

Boston, MA: We are in the DOG DAYS of Summer now. Business is slowing WAY down. Room to breath. Go for a swim at Walden Pond.

Playing on the street last weekend was such a blast. Can't wait to do it again. We'll definately be there these dates. Friday, August 15th, 22nd & 29th. Will try to get out there Aug 8th but not looking promising. Everyone's got gigs elsewhere though The Pit is really the best gig in town during the summer in Boston.

Played w/The Fighting Cocks last night at Dodge Street up in Salem Witch City!! Way fun. Very hot! Booze and Tattoos!!

A beautiful Burmese named Java died in the arms of Peasant Photographer Catherine Carter this past Thursday as I looked on. He was all black, smart, sensitive and very cute. And Sixteen Years Old!! Very sad to see him go. Rock On Java!! Say hello to Sidd for me!!! Black Cats Rock, Especially these two.

Cambridge, MA: Stellar First Night in the Square. Absolutely jammed. We were bookended between two very loud performers but it didn't matter cuz we had THE PIT and it's an Arena unto itself. Once you start playing in there, you can't hear anybody else.

Super hot young things dancing in the street to everything from Suzy Q to Brown Eyed Girl. Many old friends came out of the woodwork foremost among them Greg who used to manage Zoots down in the combat zone in the early 90s. The Peasants used to play there every month or so. No place like it. Hookers and Lawyers, punks and yuppies! Good to see Greg again!

Me housemate Justin Berthiaume on drums did quite well considering we've NEVER played with him... EVER. We did the whole night.. a shitload of covers and maybe 6-7 Peasant numbers. I felt as rusty as a World War Two Battleship but I always bounce back. We'll be down there again soon although not next weekend as The Fighting Cocks just got another gig Friday, August 1st at Dodge Street in Salem, MA. Will try for the following Friday or Saturday. Keep you posted. Peace...!

Boston, MA: Practiced w/The Fighting Cocks for the first time in MONTHS! We're playing THIS SATURDAY @ The Cantab Lounge, Downstairs, Midnight. Felt great to just play the guitar again. Been forever.

THIS FRIDAY, Myself, Dave Lieb and Justin (from The Chickenslacks) hope to hit Harvard Square from 8 to Midnight. If it doesn't rain. Been raining alot around here. Work is winding down. Client pace seems to be slowing down. Woo there goes the phone. Hey! someone else got it... anywho so good to play again. Looking forward to it. Blah, blah, blah.....

Boston, MA: Work, work, work, work, WORK, WORK, WORK, work... getting a little depressed. Trying to keep the focus on things. Feeling like a monkey on a wheel. All I do is work, sleep, go for a little swim and fall asleep. No social life. No rock and roll. Haven't seen the guitar much in recent months. Haven't been out on the street yet and it's already halfway thru July!!! In the Nineties today, yesterday, tomorrow. Am doing well at my job but definately getting burnt. Work, work, work, work..

Boston, MA: Saw Former Peasant Bassist Jeff DaRosa playing with The Dropkick Murphys Thursday Night!! He's the New Guy! The one playing the shit out of the Banjo, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar and whatever else they throw at him!!

First met Jeff when he was 15 years old. I needed a bass player for one of the many Peasant Van Tours around the US in the middle of the Summer 1998. Someone suggested this Kid who played a Killer Bass. Checked him out and sure enough he was amazing. Had to go over to his house and ask his mother if she would entrust her young son to me for a couple of weeks. She did and the rest is history. Jeff never looked back. Now playing w/The Dropkicks making good bank. Nice goin Jeff!!! Great to see you Rocking The Big Stage!!

As far as the Li'l Ol' Peasants are concerned, we are planning to hit the street for the first time this summer on Friday, July 25th! Keep you posted. Peace!!

Boston, USA: OK, already. So I haven't written anything. I've been WORKING!!! You know!! WORK!!! DAYJOB!!! In an OFFICE!!! You Know!! People Chasing Money... AND MONEY GETTING AWAY!!!

Went into the studio on Sunday to help out with a 10 song that Pete Soszynski (The Freeze) is doing. This is his first time recording his own stuff and it's pretty cool. Old School Punk Rock. Early 80s style. Very raw and very good. All the drums are Steve Hart and, except for a few of my solos, it's all Soszynski on Bass and Guitar.

Going down to Long Island for the big July 4th Weekend to see the Family. Still live on The Island. Beautiful Beaches, NYC, Lots of Traffic!!!

As for The Street, we've all been way too busy to think about it. Hardly see any of my fellow musician/housemates. Probably good. That means everyone is working and making a living but it's not very fun. If things slow down in July we will go out and play. See what happens. That's all I have. Back to work. Peace, Pot, Microdot!!!

Here are Thirty Five Reasons Why I Love Dennis Kucinich, the bravest man in American Politics Today!! He just presented this list of 35 charges for Impeachment of George W Bush. Check it out!

Here are the 35 articles of impeachment introduced by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) on June 9, 2008:

Creating a Secret Propaganda Campaign to Manufacture a False Case for War Against Iraq.

Falsely, Systematically, and with Criminal Intent Conflating the Attacks of September 11, 2001, With Misrepresentation of Iraq as a Security Threat as Part of Fraudulent Justification for a War of Aggression.

Misleading the American People and Members of Congress to Believe Iraq Possessed Weapons of Mass Destruction, to Manufacture a False Case for War.

Misleading the American People and Members of Congress to Believe Iraq Posed an Imminent Threat to the United States.

Creating a Secret Task Force to Develop Energy and Military Policies With Respect to Iraq and Other Countries

Misprision of a Felony, Misuse and Exposure of Classified Information And Obstruction of Justice in the Matter of Valerie Plame Wilson, Clandestine Agent of the Central Intelligence Agency

Reckless Misspending and Waste of U.S. Tax Dollars in Connection With Iraq and US Contractors

Illegal Detention: Detaining Indefinitely And Without Charge Persons Both U.S. Citizens and Foreign Captives

Torture: Secretly Authorizing, and Encouraging the Use of Torture Against Captives in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Other Places, as a Matter of Official Policy

Rendition: Kidnapping People and Taking Them Against Their Will to "Black Sites" Located in Other Nations, Including Nations Known to Practice Torture

Misleading Congress and the American People About Threats from Iran, and Supporting Terrorist Organizations Within Iran, With the Goal of Overthrowing the Iranian Government

Spying on American Citizens, Without a Court-Ordered Warrant, in Violation of the Law and the Fourth Amendment

Directing Telecommunications Companies to Create an Illegal and Unconstitutional Database of the Private Telephone Numbers and Emails of American Citizens

Failing to Comply with Congressional Subpoenas and Instructing Former Employees Not to Comply

Tampering with Free and Fair Elections, Corruption of the Administration of Justice

Katrina: Failure to Plan for the Predicted Disaster of Hurricane Katrina, Failure to Respond to a Civil Emergency

Misleading Congress and the American People, Systematically Undermining Efforts to Address Global Climate Change

Repeatedly Ignored and Failed to Respond to High Level Intelligence Warnings of Planned Terrorist Attacks in the US, Prior to 911.

Boston, MA: Spring finally here!! Gorgeous!! Working six days a week at RE Office. Five months of this game, the game of people chasing money and money getting away! Then I am FREE again!!!

Dropped a Marshall Combo Amp on my ring finger last week. Had to do a gig with it all blown up. Stoopid!!! The amp was undamaged! I took a little break from the guitar after that. I don't need any more physical problems. The hips are bad enough.

Looking forward to hitting the streets of Cambridge soon. Some day we might even practice. Hardly ever see any of the musicians I live with. We'll have to make a date or something.

As far as The Peasants, I'm letting it sit. I'm working too much to do anything else. Plan to go over to England and visit my brother and family in the Fall 2008. The Peasants have a chance to come back over to Germany/Holland on a tour March 2009. We will try to make it happen. Things are getting kind've crazy.

In the news, The US Economy continues to dive. Yesterday the gov't released figures that some 300,000 people were on Unemployment. That's alot of jobless Americans. Also we are definately in a Recession. We've been living on borrowed time for a LONG time here in the good ol' US of A and it's catching up to us. Bush's Eight Years of Stupidity and Endless War have put the nail in the coffin. Peace!!!

Boston, MA: Working like a dog in the Real Estate market of Boston again. Six months a year I toil so I can rock free of a day job. This real estate is getting way too serious. Very competitive. Still, I like it. Like the freedom.

The Fighting Cocks got together last night to practice. We have a gig Friday at Ralph's in Worcester. On the bill is Super 400, a killer trio from Albany and a band called Awesome something or other with Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth. We'll see...

Is there anyone out there in Boston who needs a place to live? If so, write to me at petecassani@yahoo.com. I'll hook you up.

Spring is here. Sun is blasting today. Supposed to go up into the 70s!! Trees are already sprouting. Won't be long now before The Peasants hit the street.

Jammed down at The Cantab Lounge last night with The Fighting Cocks again. Played with The Darlings and Angeline. Stellar bill. All bands delivered the goods to a packed house. Very exciting. Think we're changing the name of The Fighting Cocks to Loud Mouth Baby.

Am back at work in Real Estate. If you or anyone you know needs an apartment in Boston, I'm your man!!! Email me at petecassani@yahoo.com. Season is already crazy and it's only April. Last year it was going full bore by May/June. Shit economy has got everyone scrambling.

New England is slowly warming up. Excited to hit the streets of Cambridge soon. Looks like we'll have Dave Lieb on bass and whoever is available on drums. Sometimes it'll be Justin from The Chickenslacks. Sometimes it'll be Andy Plaisted. And then occasionally we may get Charlie ... when he's not too busy playing some heinous function in a tuxedo!!

Went back to the Day Job April Fools Day. If you've ever seen the movie Glengarry Glenross, that's my day job. Renting apartments at breakneck speed in a real estate office bouncing with freaks (me being one of them). This is the best non real job I've ever gotten. It's hard work but it's worth it. This year is going to be fast and furious with the economy all fucked up. We're already seeing some crazy shit in the market as a result of the unmentionable recession.

Today we heard 80,000 people lost their jobs, the Pentagon is asking for a few Billion more dollars for the Wars on Terror and George Bush wants to spend Billions on Missile Defenses in Europe cause he's afraid of Iran. I'm afraid of George Bush. If he's so afraid of Iran, why doesn't he pay for a Missile Defense System over his ranch in Crawford, Texas and go live there. I'm so tired of this moron.

Rattling sabers, fighting Terror with Fear, Fear with Terror. I don't believe any of this shit. Does anybody? Weapons of Mass What?? Remember that? It's all so much BULLSHIT!!! Nobody ever asks these guys to be held accountable for these Billions of dollars. And you know who pays? We do. And you know who dies? Lots of brown skinned civilians. And you know who's going to retire Billionaires? Dick Cheney and George Bush... and leave a smoking, smoldering, broke, broken down, polluted, globally warming mess in their wake. Thanks you assholes! Who Voted For these Morons?? I'm goin to bed!

Finally got out to see Dennis Brennan last night, a guy I've been hearing about for years. He's a Boston Legend. Been playing around a long time and has a killer band. Sure enough I get down to the Lizard and the place is jammed!! On a Wednesday night!! One burning mother fucker on Slide guitar and Duke Levine playing Lead. Duke Levine is an incredible guitar player. Plus the rhythm section was great. Billy Beard on drums and some big guy on Bass with a beautiful high harmony whenever you need it. As if that was not enough, Peter Wolf showed up and sang a tune with them. Here is a you tube from a previous night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfPeTvPXojc

And we finally got some videos of The Peasants Unplugged at TT The Bear's from March 3rd. Dave on plastic keyboard, me on the Martin. Here is that!!!

http://www.youtube. com/user/ ThePeasants

We are looking forward to hitting the streets of Cambridge as early as weather allows. Will try for sometime in May if possible. Keep checking back! Peace!

Listening to the Experts talking about the War in Iraq just makes me laugh. I don't know why I listen to these morons. I guess so I can feel superior, so I can scream a big I TOLD YOU SO at the radio!!! They are just coming around to admitting that there were never any weapons of destruction in Iraq. The Experts finally confirming this. Kind've sad because they still keep talking about how we must stay in Iraq.

No ties to Al Queda were ever found. No weapons. No Great Conspiracy against the United States. Just people. Now alot of dead people. And a completely destroyed country. Both Iraq and the United States. Destroyed. As Iraqis die, the soul of the US dies with them. And the US economy too. What goes around, comes around.

If Saddam was the Butcher of Baghdad, what is the United States?? We've killed four times as many people as The Butcher in One Sixth the time. Seems we in the United States are WAY better at slaughtering Iraqis than Saddam ever was.

4 march 2008

Boston, MA: Dave and I played a short acoustic set of Peasant songs with Organ/Piano. Dave flew over the keys in a blitzkrieg of melody as I held down the rhythm. Arthur Freedman, a Boston Music Documentarian, videotaped the entire show at the request of Billy Ruane, another Boston Rock Institution, who was at the bar holding court and buying drinks all night.

The Swaggering Growlers swaggered and growled thru a set of Irish folk songs. We did our thing and Jason Bennett and The Resistance did a set of their stuff completely acoustic and though all bands played unplugged, there was no lack of power onstage.

We hope to do more of these acoustic, unplugged type shows in the future and are open to anyone who wants to book us. Today some huge primaries are being held that will hopefully decide the Democratic Nominee for President. Texas, Ohio and a few others are up for grabs. It's a balmy 60 degrees here in Boston. Spring is toying with us. It's been a long winter.

22 february 2008

Heavy snow is falling on Boston once again. No line between the ground and the sky. All just one big WHITE. Am working at nothing much at all these days.
Taking it real easy this winter. Start working again in April and will be on the street again this summer.

Doing a benefit show next weekend that helps families of children who are very sick. Some friends and I get together once a year and do this up in Saratoga, New York. We've known each other since college. Dragging Charlie out there with me. Always a good time.

Am doing another solo acoustic show with Dave on Keyboards next Monday, March 3rd at TT and The Bear's Place in Cambridge. We go on at 9 pm. Dave is gonna do the honky tonk keyboard thing plus some ORGAN so you don't want to miss it if you're in Boston.

Lastly, I'll be playing guitar with Sal Baglio's latest rock incarnation. Sal Baglio is a Boston Rock Institution and is most famous for his work with The Stompers. That show is Saturday, March 8th at The Cantab Lounge. Come on out and play if you can!!!

Obama slammed Hillary into the ground yesterday in all three primaries!!! He pulls ahead of her for the first time in this battle to head the Democrats. Hillary's hoping Texas and Ohio will save her but why? Texas isn't exactly a hotbed of liberalism and Ohio is Middle America, and they like Obama fine.

John McCain pretty much has the Republican Party wrapped up though they don't think he's psycho enough to be President. I dunno, a hundred more years in Iraq sounds pretty psycho but Bush will be a hard act to follow. Let's consider George W. Bush's accomplishments in only Seven Years:

1) Illegally invading Iraq based on lies and false information.
2) Putting Incompetent Republican Donors in charge of rebuilding Iraq.
3) Throwing Billions of Taxpayer Dollars down the Toilet in Contracts to rebuild Iraq, most of it disappearing with almost none of the work done.
4) Rolling back Civil Rights for Americans.
5) Spying on Americans.
6) Making Torture US Policy.
7) Setting up concentration camps in Cuba and Iraq and holding people without charges or access to lawyers.
8) Cutting funding for Veterans returning from war while cutting taxes for richest 1% of US Taxpayers.
9) Institutionalizing Rape of Employees at KBR.
10) Invading Afghanistan and then botching that too!! Heroin Production is the highest it's ever been in Afghanistan since US Invasion. Wait a minute! So now Heroin's cheaper!! Maybe this is one of the Success Stories of the Bush Years. A Legacy, even. I can see it now. George standing at the podium. "Yes, and during my time as President we've seen unprecedented growth in Heroin thruout the Afghan region, making junk affordable to all peoples, rich or poor, throughout the world but especially here at home in the United States." Thanks George. From the bottom of a syringe.

Sunday afternoon in Boston, MA. Snow on the ground. Sun blazing. Played two great shows this weekend. Great cuz they were well attended by the good people.

First time ever at Ralph's Diner in Worcester Friday night. We played second. I'm on guitar for The Fighting Cocks. Huge following out there in Worcester. Ralph's was packed for our set. Worcester NA came out for Jamey bigtime. And what a room!!! Ralph's is a rock n roll museum. Diner downstairs serving burgers basically. Club upstairs... serving ROCK!!! We played with some good young bands. Everyone was dressed to kill, Motley Crue style.

Saturday night Dave and I did our first Official Acoustic Peasant Show w/Keyboards at Right Turn Inc, Arlington, MASS. Thought the weather was bad and the venue unknown we pulled a numerous, attentive audience, raised a bunch of money for the cause and sold a STACK of CDs!!! Very kind audience. The piano was smoking. We did a bunch of the quieter stuff and the sound was ethereal. Thanks to everyone who came.

Dave (bass) and I (Pete/Guitar) are going to do a very rare acoustic show this SATURDAY NIGHT in ARLINGTON. Yup! We will play some of the prettier, quieter stuff we never play out. Dave is an exceptional piano player and so will be doing that. I will be playing a gorgeous Martin acoustic guitar I got back in September. We hope you can make it. Here are the details.

Show: Right Turn Inc., 299 Broadway, Arlington Center, MA.
More information: http://www.right-turn.org/
Date: Saturday, February 9, 2008.
Show Time: 9 pm.
Doors: 8 pm.

Also, today is the Primary. Make sure to VOTE!!! Dennis Kucinich is still on the ballot so I'm voting for him. He was and still is the ONLY Man who voted against The War in Iraq, The Patriot Act (cuz he read it) and Universal Health Care. Hillary and Obama stole his best punchlines. I'm voting for the Man, not his cheap imitations. I'm sure I'll be voting for one of them in November. The Primary is for Dennis Kucinich!!!! Rock On Dennis!!! PEACE!!!!

Millions of us watched that Stupor Bowl last night, even some French Peasant fans. What an Upset!!! The New York Giants, undisputed Underdogs, absolutely tore The Patriots apart. Well ran all over their quarterback anyway. It was as if The Patriots just lost their desire and were a completely different team against New York. They couldn't get their shit together and the Giants were just psyched.

So here we go again. Boston has yet another great reason to hate New York!!! I'm sitting here wearing my New York Mets T-shirt too!!! Yee Haa!!! Funny how much attention we Humans pay to games that have no real effect on our lives.

The real game is Government. Whether The Patriots or The Giants win the Super Bowl, it won't affect how much money you make or whether you can pay your rent/ mortgage, whether your kids can go to College or War. It means nothing if Italy or Venezuela win the World Cup. Yes, it's more interesting, more exciting, but it means nothing. And that's the way the Corporations and Banks like it. Keep watching that Idiot Box. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. Drink another beer and pay no attention. And while you're at it, don't bother voting either. I'm kidding, of course!!!

And as far as Government goes, wouldn't it be AMAZING for the United States to have a BLACK PRESIDENT?!?! And not just a Black guy but a guy who began organizing in Chicago Ghettos, not snorting coke in Corporate Boardrooms? A man who's political life began serving people instead of serving himself and his friends government handouts, tax breaks and contracts? Yea, I thought so. Vote for Barack. Remember, he was against the war on day one. Hillary, for all her smarts, was fooled by George Bush. Do you really want to vote for someone who was fooled by an Idiot? I didn't think so. Vote for Barack. Peace!!

1 february 2008

"It took a Clinton to clean up after the first Bush and I think it's probably gonna take another Clinton to clean up after this one," said Hillary Clinton in debate last night with Barack Obama on whether the USA needs another Clinton in the White House.

Watched debate on CNN. Both Hillary and Barack sounded good. Unless the Republicans rig the election again, or declare martial law, this election is for the Democrats to lose. Bush has done such an awful job as President that it will be very hard for a Republican to win again. They are having trouble raising money and a huge number of Republican Congressmen are retiring rather than run again in November. Americans are pissed and they blame Republicans with Bush, who destroyed the US politically, economically and spiritually with his never ending Wars.

Sunday is the Stupor Bowl. New York Versus Boston AGAIN!!! The rivalry that keeps going. Instead of The Yankees and The Red Sox it is going to be The Giants and The Patriots. I think The Patriots are gonna win but if they don't, there's gonna be a ton of angry people here in New England. New York has been spoiling it for Boston for decades.

Next Tuesday most of the United States will vote for either Barack or Hillary BUT it may still go all the way to August before one of them is chosen. As you can see, there is alot going on right now in the USA. I've been junking out with the politics every day. Can you tell?? PEACE!!!!

20 january 2008

Watching the Politicians fighting it out during the Primaries. The American Gandhi, Dennis Kucinich, finally had to drop out of the race. He was being shut out of the debates and blacklisted from the Mass Media. With no money, it is impossible to fight the entire system of corrupt media in the US. Also the Sharks were circling for his seat back in Cleveland, OH while he was out fighting for us.

Dennis is the ONLY guy who was, is and always will be totally against the Invasion of Iraq. He is the ONLY guy who wants us all to have Health Care, not Health Insurance. Health insurance is a ripoff. Health Care is what we need. Dennis is the ONLY guy who keeps saying IMPEACH BUSH and CHENEY NOW!! Today he filed papers for IMPEACHMENT in the Congress.Yea Dennis!!! Am going to help Dennis win his seat in Congress for another two years. I like Congress a whole lot better with him in there fighting for us. God Bless him. I hope you feel the same. Pls donate here. http://www.kucinich.us/

Hillary and Barack are battling it out with Barack kicking much ass, winning South Carolina on Saturday and huge endorsements from The Kennedy Family. Looks like Barack might make it past Hillary. Inspirational speaker but firmly in the pocket of Health Insurance Co.s and not very strong against the War in Iraq. He voted, along with Hillary, to spend billions to fund it. That is not an anti war candidate. If you don't believe in it, you don't spend billions of dollars for it. Still, if he's the best we can get, I'll take it. At least he's black. Would be pretty cool to elect a Black President after the last eight year horror show.

Speaking of which, down to one last year with The Worst President in US History, George W. Bush. This Bush presided over the destruction of the middle class on his watch, giving massive tax breaks to the top 1 percent of the population and making everyone else much poorer. Gave away billions to corrupt Corporations, Halliburton, Blackwater, GE, you name it. Made Torture an American Institution. Unleashed massive greed on Wall Street which we, the people, are paying for with our blood, sweat and tears. Had a golden opportunity to galvanize and inspire after September 11, 2001 but blew it by telling us we should all just go shopping, spend money, don't worry, be happy. That was his fuckin message. Like I said, The Worst President in US History. Less than a year to go. Tonight was his last State of The Union Speech. I couldn't care less. Hard to find anyone who does. Good riddance. Please impeach him already, Dennis!!!

Had a blast playing guitar for The Fighting Cocks @ The Cantab Lounge last night. Saw some great stuff. Sal Baglio from The Stompers did a beautiful acoustic set as well as some other people. The Darlings were amazing. Female singer sounded like Loretta Lynn or Amy Lou Harris. Beautiful voice. A Right Turn Benefit. Good time.

Dennis Kucinich, the Congressman from Ohio, continues to get the shaft from the Mass Media here in the USA. He was banned from a Democratic Presidential Debate in Nevada AFTER he was INVITED. They changed the rules and disinvited him. NBC is owned by General Electric, one of the huge Corporations in the US that makes military equipment and literally makes a Killing on Wars, specifically in Iraq and Afghanistan. Kucinich, the only anti war candidate in the Democratic Party, is Enemy #1 to General Electric. The last thing they want is to for people to hear this incredible man. So I say FUCK GENERAL ELECTRIC. Watch Dennis for yourself right now. Here's a You Tube with Dennis Kucinich actually answering questions on CNN. Peace!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWymRNyHuoU

Pete Cassani from The Peasants will be joining The Fighting Cocks
on guitar THIS SATURDAY, January 19th @ The Cantab Lounge, 738 Mass Ave., Central Square, Cambridge. The Fighting Cocks includes an Allstar lineup of local rock legends: Jamey and Tom from the Original Cocks, Tony
Savarino on Guitar, Karl Biancucci on Bass and Pete. All proceeds to
go to Right Turn, Inc., a center to help artists recover from
alcoholism and drug addiction.

Here is the bill: The Fighting Cocks (12); The Darlings (11); Sal
Baglio (Stompers) (10); Bird Mancini (9); The Mr Curt Ensemble (8:30).

Cover is only $7. Come early and stay till the end. The Cantab is
right in the heart of Central Square. Easy access.

Happy New Year to everyone! Good to be home and chillin out in so many ways. Finally got a new photo up on the site from the Fall Tour. Hope you like it. Seems to capture the Spirit of Todd, Nils and I rocking in Germany, don't you think?

New Year's Resolutions: End the Occupation of Iraq, Impeach Cheney, Fire Bush, Repeal The Patriot Act and quit drinking coffee! Day 7 on the coffee thing. Still working on the other stuff.

Was great to play The Abbey Lounge Friday night w/The Dirty Truckers and a few other bands. Met The Flukes from Ohio. Very cool band. Hung out w/them Saturday. Soon to be called something else but great band out there burning up the road. Go Flukes!!!

Was disappointed to see Dennis Kucinich shut out of yet another Public Televised Debate on Saturday. I listened to it. Boring as hell. They NEED Dennis to make it interesting. He's the only guy who says anything... I guess that's why they can't have him on television. People will vote for him if they hear him. See for yourself.

Looks like The Peasants won't be back in Europe for another year. Already too late for September 2008. Germany is a popular place. Winter 2008? Keep you posted. Meanwhile, much Love and Respect to all the beautiful people in Holland, Germany, Austria, France and Switzerland!!! Cannot thank you enough. Hope to see you all again. Much Love, Respect and Peace in 2008.