Hey Friends —

You might notice that we’re sort of cleaning out the space here at the online annex of the metaphorical Ranch. The music is still available, here:

http://ranchersforpeace.bandcamp.com/

And if you’re trying to find out or can’t remember what we look like, the videos are here:

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

What we’re doing is, we’re pulling in our horns and taking time out to think.

It’s been two full years and more since we first went public with this version of Ranchers for Peace. Rancher Ray was just 15; Charles was younger too, but it was harder to tell. Since then we’ve played over a hundred shows, released two EPs and a couple memorable one-offs (including “Walkin’ Around Black,” which got national attention via Sing Out! magazine), and met more wonderful people than we have space to mention.  It’s been a blast, an education, and a humbling, gratifying experience. Our sincerest thanks to all who’ve helped us on our way.

Our commitment to this music has never been stronger, nor has our conviction that there’s a place for this kind of thing in the continuing conversation we *have* to be having — all of us — about our collective responsibilities for the creation of a future we might actually not mind inhabiting.  Meanwhile, the rich are getting unbelievably richer, the fracking of North America is only picking up speed, and it’s been formally established by several courts that Corporations are people, and that people in this country have a right to shoot anybody that scares them — as long as the person doing the shooting is white.

So, it’s not like we’re running out of things to sing about.

What we are running out of is ideas for how to extend our reach — widen our circle, amplify our voices.  We love being “locals” here on the Central Coast of California — what we need to figure out is how to be local in about 37 more places, from sea to shining sea, and over the water to the UK,  and beyond.  A project like ours needs to grow or it will die. We don’t mind preaching to the choir — as long as it’s big enough.

We’re asking for your help with this: you Friends of the Ranch are a diverse and intelligent lot, with a wide range of skills and experience. We hope to tap into this Collective Mind to shake loose some new ideas and new connections.  We wonder which of you has friends in this Time Zone (or any other) who might be interested in hosting us for a House Show — or connections at this or that radio station, online hoedown, March on Wall Street, etc. You get the idea: we want your ideas…

Let’s discuss: right here.

And thank you in advance for any and all energy you care to commit to this question: how shall the Ranch proceed? What’s to be the future of doing what we can to make giving a damn cool again? Comments, friends?

¡Gracias!