Bread and Fish

So there was a fundraising event to help the displaced in my community, employing a volunteer workforce mainly composed of the displaced in my community with the promise of a free meal. I trust that those leading the whole endeavor had good intentions, and honestly, having something meaningful to do that day felt kinda fulfilling. Sure, it was hot and we had to get up early, but we set up the tents and the stage and the lights and carried heavy machinery in mostly good spirits. We got to meet folks in the music business, mostly the organizers and the members of the bands and crew that were performing.

Everyone was really nice and gracious, but something was bugging me.

Something usually is, but I swear I wasn't looking for it this time.

Beneath all the well-wishing and help and free lunch...well, yknow what they say about free lunch...

I couldn't help but feeling that there were those among the leaders who felt it necessary to teach us a lesson. Between the talk and the posturing, more than one person seemed to be insinuating that we needed this (or rather, I suppose, "they" needed this, for none of the folks there knew I was in my car at the time). They needed it to teach them that you have to work hard for your lunch, that to get what you need to survive, you gotta struggle and strive and push yourself.

"It's good for them to learn this," they propose. We all say so with such self-righteous condescension.

Except these weren't little kids. The volunteer workers that came in the shelter van were full grown men, some a little older than myself, some almost my grandfather's age. They had struggled and strived and pushed themselves to surive their whole lives, and it was somehow good for them to learn about that necessity? This was somehow all part of the program to help them?

I can understand and do support the idea of offering opportunities to help folks find purpose and do something meaningful. Teach a man to fish and all that jazz.

What I find reprehensible, however, is the idea of folks who are struggling daily just to get by being treated like they need to learn about the value of earning your bread by those who have had a baseline of support and guidance their whole lives (or at least in this moment had no reason to worry about where the next meal was going to come from).

It's those who grew up going to the finest schools where money was no issue when it came to the quality of education refusing to allow help to go to those who aren't able to even get the bare minimum of public education and then blaming them for their lack.

As I listen to the Republican congress defending the upper class with the guise it'll help the middle class and the Democratic congress defending the middle class with the guise it'll help everyone, I can't help but think that the majority of congress have spent most of their lives far from the bottom.

I don't care about the fiscal cliff, or any more of this indoctrination that banks must be bailed out while children go hungry. If you're so caught up with the idea that capitalist competition is the way to care for people, you've lost sight of what it is to be a caring human being.

That is, of course, if you were ever allowed the honor of being poor enough to know how to care.

New Single: Here's to Hope

After months of recording and re-recording and mixing and remixing and craziness...

I am wicked amped to announce the release of my new single:

Here's to Hope

Which is now available for download right...here. 

I'm starting this new project btw, where the proceeds from every single I release will go to a different charity. That way, even if you hate my music, you can help some folks out. 

All download proceeds of "Here's to Hope" go to support families in need in south eastern PA through The Bridge Compassionate Ministry Center

[from their website:] 
"The Bridge Compassionate Ministry Center: serves our neighbors in need by providing food, clothing, household goods, furniture, referrals, and encouragement. Open ever Tuesday evening, we serve 30-50 families a week and 500 different families from throughout the Avon Grove School District each year."


Thank you to anyone who has supported and encouraged me through these past six months. I'm gonna keep pressing on and pursuing this dream, and I encourage you to chase after your goals as well. You can make a difference. Happy 2013! 

"Here's to Hope" - Odist Abettor 
(Copyright 2013 Luke Schutz) 

Written by Luke Schutz 

Produced by Luke Schutz and Jacob Utting 

Engineered by Jacob Utting 

Mastered by Alex Crain 

Percussion- Luke Schutz and Jacob Utting 

Rhythm Guitar- Luke Schutz 

Lead Guitar- Christopher Murphy 

Bass- Jacob Utting 

Keys and Aux. Instrumentation- Jacob Utting