Some marriages are just meant to happen, are God-given even, and the coupling of the third No Kings Rally on Idaho’s State Capitol steps and the fourth day of Treefort Music Fest will linger in my memory for years to come.
Claiming a bridge between the two was Cameron McCloud and his Cure For Paranoia crew whose evident talent and consummate humor provided a remarkable relevancy to the morning’s events. The evening before Cure For Paranoia had dropped their latest verse “WTF (‘Where The Files At’)” during their Treefort Music Hall set and my head about popped off my body as my fist shot into the air. Then when Cameron announced that he was going to be performing at No Kings 3 but wasn't sure how he'd be accepted, I shouted out, "You'll be LOVED by thousands." "You think so?" he smiled. And I was right. Roughly 10,000 people chanted along with Cure For Paranoia: “Where the files at? Where the where the files at? Where the files at? Where the where the files at?” Not that I needed to say so, but I wish I could have confirmed to Cameron, "I told you so." From my vantage point near the podium on the capitol steps, nothing could have been more beautiful and jubilant than those thousands of protesters chanting along with Cure For Paranoia. I was happy for him, happy for me, and happy for the country. We have a new poet to speak to a multigenerational nation.
From that empowering rally I ambled to the press lounge to prepare for an interview with Gregory Rawlins while Michael made his way to Rhodes Skate Park located beneath the Connector freeway ramp to partake in Treefort’s free punk and metal offerings. He caught two amazing shows from Seattle's The Rat Utopia Experiment and SoCal's Mexican Slum Rat. Rats were all the rage for him Saturday afternoon. In this clip, T.R.U.E. performs "Worlds End Lane" from their 2025 LP “No Hit Wonders.”
Off to the Neurolux next, Michael caught Canadian femme goth-rockers Bonnie Trash opening their set with "Veil of Greed," from their 2025 album “Mourning You.”
Rivaling Richochet Rabbit, Michael then popped up at the Cyclops to catch the 10-member Portland-by-way-of-Nashville Family Worship Center who served up their brand of Southern-fried funkified Rock n' Soul, RIYL Leon Russell, Dr. John, etc. They knocked out "Reason to Live" from their 2020 EP "Sunday A.M."
Meanwhile, I was taking it easy drinking African ambers at Pengilly Saloon where Gregory Rawlins was singing his resinous tunes accompanied by Jeff Grammer on keyboards and Wayne Marvin Callahan on bass. Having had a pleasant conversation with him earlier in the day, it felt like genuine friendship to catch his set, a welcome respite from Treefort’s commotion. No ear plugs necessary!
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