It’s been a while since eTown has hit the road for a taping far away from our solar-powered musical clubhouse – eTown Hall. In some ways we’ve grown accustomed over the last couple of years to having everything right where we need it. It’s pretty cool to have a facility that will afford the production staff full control over every tiny aspect that goes into an eTown taping. So why would we pack up a bunch of gear and do a taping somewhere else? CALIFORNIA!
For this week’s broadcast/podcast, eTown’s crack commando crew packed up a few guitars, some audio gear, and several cameras and hopped a plane to California for a special eTown ‘On The Road’ taping in Anaheim, as part of the Natural Products Expo West conference. Our musical guests this week are Ziggy Marley, along with Aimee Mann and Ted Leo’s new musical project – The Both. We also have a couple of great interview guests on board to discuss a very important issue in today’s food economy – labeling GMO’s in our food. We’ve prepared a 10-minute mini-documentary about the trip that offers a behind-the-scenes look at the Natural Products Expo, our relationship with the conference, and what went into creating this week’s episode. We hope you will take a few minutes to watch it below, and let us know what you think. This week’s show is equal parts great music, and important conversation. How do you feel about your right to know what is in your food? To me, it seems like a no brainer.
While we stayed just over the fence from Disney, I never got a real solid peak into the “small world” of Disneyland. However, on the plane out to California, I was amazed at how clear the sky was between Denver and Los Angeles. Looking out the window of the plane, I had a clear, bird’s eye view of all of the landscape between here and there. It is in moments like this that I find myself thinking just how small and precious our little world is. We really all are in this thing together, whether we like that fact or not. With so many distractions happening around us, and non-stop digital communication, it is so easy to get distracted from the things that matter.
We have some serious obstacles to tackle as a civilization. California’s water problems are scary to think about. The wrath that GMOs are taking on our water tables and soil through the use of Roundup is no joke. Bringing these things up is not meant to depress you. It is meant to get us all talking about what really is important. It makes me proud to be able to work for a show that tries to do that on a weekly basis. Music brings people together, and once we are all together, why not talk about ways we can make the world a better place to live? Hopefully eTown brings you some glimmer of hope on a weekly basis. We always try to aim in that direction.
Thanks for listening. Tune in, podcast, stream, and be sure to check the mini-documentary below.
– Zack