Adam N. Rosenberg adam@the-adam.com 2018 April 2 Walkstreet Management: Martha Hertzberg marthaherztberg@gmail.com 1-310-399-5001 Agent: Craig Newman Craig@apa-agency.com 1-310-888-4200 Dear Martha and Craig, I'm still annoyed and disappointed with my experience 2018 March 23 at the Mesa Arts Center with Peter and Paul of Peter-Paul-and-Mary fame. I went to hear wonderful music that I grew up with and instead was subjected to a vindictive political diatribe that infected every part of the program. I've been to Peter, Paul and Mary concerts before. There was always a folk-music-crowd undertone against war, injustice, hunger, and stuff like that. The change from a general love-and-peace message to pointed hate toward political views shared by half the audience is something new and disappointing to me. I'm sure these two old men feel strongly about their issues as they did in younger days. So did Joan Baez, Judy Collins, and Arlo Guthrie whose post-election concerts were wonderfully free of this inappropriate behavior. When it became clear to these two gentlemen that their audience was not sympathetic, Paul said, "Why on earth did you come to this concert?" my answer was, "For the music!" I realize that sometimes you book an act that delivers something less than or different from expectations. I've waited enough time not to respond out of anger. Several days later I still feel cheated out of my memories and I feel it's important that these performers get the message that they failed to deliver what was promised. ================================================================ From Martha Hertzberg: Thank you for your email. I appreciate you sharing your perspective. I know that Noel Paul is planning on emailing you directly regarding the comment you mentioned in your email that came directly from him. In response to your concerns regarding the political commentary Peter and Noel shared during the show, I would offer the following thoughts. In the 1960's they lost they entire southern audience because they marched with black people during the Civil Rights demonstrations. And, many fans did not like them talking about equal rights from the stage. They also spoke out against the Vietnam War. Peter wrote an anti-war song at the height of the war called The Great Mandala. It was very political, just as Noel's song "El Salvador" was years later regarding US policy in Central America. These songs were sung from the stage along with humorous songs, children's songs, love songs, songs of hope and songs of despair, rousing traditional work songs, etc. Political songs were part of the fabric of their concerts, part of the fabric of the folk music legacy. Being political is part of who PPM were and part of who Noel and Peter still are. I know Mary would be proud of them. Having said all the above, I want to convey to you the appreciation that Noel and Peter shared with me of your history of appreciation for their music. They are also grateful that you shared your sincere and honest feelings about their show. Even though they said that they feel compelled to continue to advocate for their social/political beliefs as part of their concerts, they respect your feelings and wish you well. I am sorry you were disappointed. If you like, Peter and Noel will refund the cost of your tickets. Please let me know. ================================================================ My proposed response that I did not send: Thank you so much for taking the time to appreciate my concerns about what was presented in Noel Paul's and Peter's concert in Mesa. I have no problem with entertainers having political views and even sharing them momentarily. Of course I'm comfortable with them singing songs from their collection that are political. Whatever we feel about today's politics, folk music can be, and should be, a source of joy. I've been to a few Peter, Paul and Mary (PPM) concerts in the past and they were able to share that joy. Other folks singers including Joan Baez, Judy Collins, and Arlo Guthrie also shared that joy even after the Trump election. They neither betrayed their political views nor contaminated their shows with the kind of vitriol and hate I experienced this time. Let's look at their politics for a moment. Pete Seeger sang and raised money for communist Josef Stalin and socialist Adolf Hitler with the same political goals and spirit I saw in this concert. I can go into details if you're interested, but there are more connections than liberals would like to think between then and now and it was clear much of the audience felt the same disturbance. Can you understand why some of us want less of that in our concert? I came the for music that brought joy to my heart then and now. ================================================================ From Noel Paul: i received a copy of your email to martha hertzberg, our manager and wanted to add my apologies to her response. i'm so sorry if any of my off-the-cuff political comments at the mesa concert offended. historically, the nature of a pp&m concert has often assumed an intimacy that - as you've pointed out - might be inappropriate for someone who is familiar with our music, but not necessarily with the on-stage political positions of the trio. honestly, it would be helpful to me personally (and perhaps other future concert goers) if you might find the time to share those references you found specifically 'pointed hate toward political views'. i can imagine that my parody of UNFORGETTABLE/IMPEACHABLE might qualify, but were there other - perhaps spoken - moments that made you feel uncomfortable? in appreciation for any attention you might give this, my personal email address is below. noel paul ================================================================ My actual response to Noel Paul and Martha Hertzberg: First, thank you for taking the time to write back about this. Second, I feel awkward and terrible confronting one of my childhood legends. People who produce wonderful music are heroes in my book and I grew up (and am still growing up) with PPM folk music. It wasn't just one or two songs that annoyed me in Mesa. It was almost every moment being a loud anti-Republican statement. This is in stark contrast to previous PPM concerts where there was always a tone of social conscience but not this vitriol and anger. Other folks singers including Joan Baez, Judy Collins, and Arlo Guthrie also shared that joy even after the Trump election. They neither betrayed their political views nor contaminated their shows with the kind of vitriol and hate I experienced this time. Your comment from the stage "Why on earth did you come to the concert?" makes it clear that you noticed that much, maybe most, of your audience wasn't happy with the tone. My answer was "For the music!" Heightening the social importance of peace over war, embracing over excluding, sharing over greed, and appreciating our differences can be done without politics in a way that two-hours of anti-Republican rhetoric cannot. I don't remember any mention of political parties in past PPM concerts. Look, your folk crowd stood for wonderful causes I have shared. We stood against both political parties against the Vietnam War and with Dr. King against George Wallace and the Democrats on civil rights. The spirit that moved Pete Seeger toward communism in Russia (Stalin) and socialism in Germany (Hitler) is still alive today in the liberal politicians you support. I respect our differences, I could delve deeply into them if you wanted me to, I don't ask you to change, but I want to enjoy the intense joy PPM brought to me and millions of others and the bigger spirit of caring without partisan politics. (I have your first five records in reel-to-reel format, too!) I don't want my money back, just that my own voice be heard. On another note, now that I'm actually writing to Noel Paul, I heard something recently that brought much of your joy back to me. On 2010 August 21 I heard a folk-music pair Misner and Smith who brought me much of the same flavor of joy I got from PPM. If you haven't heard them, then I recommend listening to their music. (I find myself wondering if you'll hear the same joy I hear from them.) Your warm, human quality is by no means forgotten or obsolete. ================================================================ From Noel Paul and his management: ( n o r e s p o n s e )