
[Music] well a tucson como estan alright so I’m
well a tucson como estan alright so I’m
well a tucson como estan alright so I’m going to tell some stories and hopefully
going to tell some stories and hopefully
going to tell some stories and hopefully in the end they will intertwine to
in the end they will intertwine to
in the end they will intertwine to explain my understanding my appreciation
explain my understanding my appreciation
explain my understanding my appreciation my love for and hopefully my little
my love for and hopefully my little
my love for and hopefully my little contribution to this thing this magic
contribution to this thing this magic
contribution to this thing this magic thing the Tucson sound so I’ll begin
thing the Tucson sound so I’ll begin
thing the Tucson sound so I’ll begin with let’s speak of Tucson Tucson is an
with let’s speak of Tucson Tucson is an
with let’s speak of Tucson Tucson is an oasis in a very inhospitable desert yes
oasis in a very inhospitable desert yes
oasis in a very inhospitable desert yes it is it’s been a gathering place for
it is it’s been a gathering place for
it is it’s been a gathering place for peoples for millennia and we can’t even
peoples for millennia and we can’t even
peoples for millennia and we can’t even look back through the thousands of years
look back through the thousands of years
look back through the thousands of years and know their names but we can through
and know their names but we can through
and know their names but we can through the centuries and we find all of them
the centuries and we find all of them
the centuries and we find all of them and the penile and the Apache and then
and the penile and the Apache and then
and the penile and the Apache and then came the Spanish and then the Mexicans
came the Spanish and then the Mexicans
came the Spanish and then the Mexicans and then the Americans the Americans
and then the Americans the Americans
and then the Americans the Americans called it a union territory first and
called it a union territory first and
called it a union territory first and then it became a Confederate territory
then it became a Confederate territory
then it became a Confederate territory and then I went back to the Union
and then I went back to the Union
and then I went back to the Union Territory but finally on Valentine’s Day
Territory but finally on Valentine’s Day
Territory but finally on Valentine’s Day 1912
1912
1912 we got our statehood we became American
we got our statehood we became American
we got our statehood we became American and we being a part of the Union and we
and we being a part of the Union and we
and we being a part of the Union and we got the coolest flag of all the state 48
got the coolest flag of all the state 48
got the coolest flag of all the state 48 house the coolest flag it’s no
house the coolest flag it’s no
house the coolest flag it’s no coincidence no accident was gonna happen
coincidence no accident was gonna happen
coincidence no accident was gonna happen that way all the change in the different
that way all the change in the different
that way all the change in the different cultures that come and go to this place
cultures that come and go to this place
cultures that come and go to this place created to my mind a confluence of
created to my mind a confluence of
created to my mind a confluence of conflict and resolution that lasted for
conflict and resolution that lasted for
conflict and resolution that lasted for centuries or millennia but what was
centuries or millennia but what was
centuries or millennia but what was always constant was Tucson in this place
always constant was Tucson in this place
always constant was Tucson in this place people wanted to be here and so it does
people wanted to be here and so it does
people wanted to be here and so it does not have an identity crisis Tucson has
not have an identity crisis Tucson has
not have an identity crisis Tucson has deep roots where people come and they
deep roots where people come and they
deep roots where people come and they take care of people and they thrive and
take care of people and they thrive and
take care of people and they thrive and that conflict is in the past and now we
that conflict is in the past and now we
that conflict is in the past and now we have to saan and we have Tucson nests
have to saan and we have Tucson nests
have to saan and we have Tucson nests and its unique vibration and sonic
and its unique vibration and sonic
and its unique vibration and sonic celebration is like nothing I’ve
celebration is like nothing I’ve
celebration is like nothing I’ve encountered anywhere ever artists in
encountered anywhere ever artists in
encountered anywhere ever artists in general
is to try to escape things there are
is to try to escape things there are things they try to get away from
things they try to get away from
things they try to get away from especially little towns but in Tucson if
especially little towns but in Tucson if
especially little towns but in Tucson if you’ll note whatever the media is
you’ll note whatever the media is
you’ll note whatever the media is Toussaint artists sonic or otherwise
Toussaint artists sonic or otherwise
Toussaint artists sonic or otherwise always incorporate something about this
always incorporate something about this
always incorporate something about this place in their art proudly instead of
place in their art proudly instead of
place in their art proudly instead of saying I got to get away from
saying I got to get away from
saying I got to get away from Springfield or Minneapolis this is a
Springfield or Minneapolis this is a
Springfield or Minneapolis this is a place to be and not to flee which makes
place to be and not to flee which makes
place to be and not to flee which makes it incredibly unique now Who am I
it incredibly unique now Who am I
it incredibly unique now Who am I my name is Roger Klein I am a third
my name is Roger Klein I am a third
my name is Roger Klein I am a third generation Arizona I was born at st.
generation Arizona I was born at st.
generation Arizona I was born at st. Mary’s Hospital about two miles from
Mary’s Hospital about two miles from
Mary’s Hospital about two miles from here in 1968 No
my great-grandfather was a doctor here
my great-grandfather was a doctor here my grandfather was a businessman around
my grandfather was a businessman around
my grandfather was a businessman around water water businesses my father is
water water businesses my father is
water water businesses my father is still a working Rancher on the family
still a working Rancher on the family
still a working Rancher on the family ranch not far from here in the between
ranch not far from here in the between
ranch not far from here in the between the Santa Rita Mountains and the
the Santa Rita Mountains and the
the Santa Rita Mountains and the whetstone Mountains old Scirocco Apache
whetstone Mountains old Scirocco Apache
whetstone Mountains old Scirocco Apache homeland what place we call the client
homeland what place we call the client
homeland what place we call the client ranch well I was born here and my
ranch well I was born here and my
ranch well I was born here and my parents were wild cats you have a alum
parents were wild cats you have a alum
parents were wild cats you have a alum [Music]
[Music]
[Music] you’re gonna kill me later when I tell
you’re gonna kill me later when I tell
you’re gonna kill me later when I tell you where I got my degree yeah paws for
you where I got my degree yeah paws for
you where I got my degree yeah paws for booze Rosie e booze I was quickly
booze Rosie e booze I was quickly
booze Rosie e booze I was quickly transplanted I don’t remember much of my
transplanted I don’t remember much of my
transplanted I don’t remember much of my early youth here in Tucson I was
early youth here in Tucson I was
early youth here in Tucson I was transplanted to the metropolis to
transplanted to the metropolis to
transplanted to the metropolis to Phoenix Arizona actually Tempe so my
Phoenix Arizona actually Tempe so my
Phoenix Arizona actually Tempe so my father can work in the feedlot so my
father can work in the feedlot so my
father can work in the feedlot so my mother could be a teacher but we had
mother could be a teacher but we had
mother could be a teacher but we had family here and we had family at the
family here and we had family at the
family here and we had family at the ranch and so Tucson was always central
ranch and so Tucson was always central
ranch and so Tucson was always central to those travels we would come out of
to those travels we would come out of
to those travels we would come out of Tempe to Tucson and my little brother
Tempe to Tucson and my little brother
Tempe to Tucson and my little brother and I would need new boots so we go to
and I would need new boots so we go to
and I would need new boots so we go to cow town or we need fishing gear and we
cow town or we need fishing gear and we
cow town or we need fishing gear and we go to yellow front or we know those
go to yellow front or we know those
go to yellow front or we know those tough skin jeans we go to Sears here and
tough skin jeans we go to Sears here and
tough skin jeans we go to Sears here and then we go up the hill and we help
then we go up the hill and we help
then we go up the hill and we help Grandma and Grandpa work on the ranch
Grandma and Grandpa work on the ranch
Grandma and Grandpa work on the ranch for weeks or sometimes months at a time
for weeks or sometimes months at a time
for weeks or sometimes months at a time depending anyway those memories are
depending anyway those memories are
depending anyway those memories are where my roots are where my heart my
where my roots are where my heart my
where my roots are where my heart my Sonoran heart is now I’m gonna
Sonoran heart is now I’m gonna
Sonoran heart is now I’m gonna fast-forward to college years where I
fast-forward to college years where I
fast-forward to college years where I was living in Tempe Arizona and
was living in Tempe Arizona and
was living in Tempe Arizona and I got my degree from Arizona State hold
I got my degree from Arizona State hold
I got my degree from Arizona State hold your fire
your fire
your fire I know I’m the one who has to live with
I know I’m the one who has to live with
I know I’m the one who has to live with it I was born here and I got my degree
it I was born here and I got my degree
it I was born here and I got my degree there believe me every day I wake up
there believe me every day I wake up
there believe me every day I wake up every day it has a lot of guys do in
every day it has a lot of guys do in
every day it has a lot of guys do in college or earlier than that I had a
college or earlier than that I had a
college or earlier than that I had a band in college as I was exploring the
band in college as I was exploring the
band in college as I was exploring the the wet the breath of the liberal arts
the wet the breath of the liberal arts
the wet the breath of the liberal arts and one summer my as I was working on my
and one summer my as I was working on my
and one summer my as I was working on my degree my friends and I who were in a
degree my friends and I who were in a
degree my friends and I who were in a band decided that we would go to Taipei
band decided that we would go to Taipei
band decided that we would go to Taipei Taiwan and teach English and take our
Taiwan and teach English and take our
Taiwan and teach English and take our music over there our original music over
music over there our original music over
music over there our original music over there and dominate that Island in the
there and dominate that Island in the
there and dominate that Island in the club scene as we were getting ignored in
club scene as we were getting ignored in
club scene as we were getting ignored in Tempe so we did so and I got I got what
Tempe so we did so and I got I got what
Tempe so we did so and I got I got what was then a courier flight and I had $300
was then a courier flight and I had $300
was then a courier flight and I had $300 a no-return ticket and my guitar and my
a no-return ticket and my guitar and my
a no-return ticket and my guitar and my friends and we had battery powered amps
friends and we had battery powered amps
friends and we had battery powered amps and sure enough we took our original
and sure enough we took our original
and sure enough we took our original music and some other pseudo punk rock
music and some other pseudo punk rock
music and some other pseudo punk rock stuff from the Ramones and camper van
stuff from the Ramones and camper van
stuff from the Ramones and camper van Beethoven and They Might Be Giants and a
Beethoven and They Might Be Giants and a
Beethoven and They Might Be Giants and a newly emerging band called Nirvana and
newly emerging band called Nirvana and
newly emerging band called Nirvana and we went in the subways and we played
we went in the subways and we played
we went in the subways and we played this pure punk rock awesomeness and
this pure punk rock awesomeness and
this pure punk rock awesomeness and people scorned us and sneered and passed
people scorned us and sneered and passed
people scorned us and sneered and passed by shook their heads and of the part I
by shook their heads and of the part I
by shook their heads and of the part I forgot to tell you is when we arrived
forgot to tell you is when we arrived
forgot to tell you is when we arrived and we started soliciting for clubs or
and we started soliciting for clubs or
and we started soliciting for clubs or gigs of the clubs it was illegal like oh
gigs of the clubs it was illegal like oh
gigs of the clubs it was illegal like oh we can’t do that we American bands can’t
we can’t do that we American bands can’t
we can’t do that we American bands can’t work here or you guys don’t have the
work here or you guys don’t have the
work here or you guys don’t have the right pieces so we took it to the
right pieces so we took it to the
right pieces so we took it to the subways that failed really miserably and
subways that failed really miserably and
subways that failed really miserably and a Danish friends a friend of ours at the
a Danish friends a friend of ours at the
a Danish friends a friend of ours at the hostel said here’s what you got to do
hostel said here’s what you got to do
hostel said here’s what you got to do for 10 years sad songs have been
for 10 years sad songs have been
for 10 years sad songs have been outlawed here in Taiwan by the Republic
outlawed here in Taiwan by the Republic
outlawed here in Taiwan by the Republic of China government they considered
of China government they considered
of China government they considered themselves essentially at war with China
themselves essentially at war with China
themselves essentially at war with China and as a matter of fact air raid drills
and as a matter of fact air raid drills
and as a matter of fact air raid drills were going on while I was over there so
were going on while I was over there so
were going on while I was over there so they just lifted a band on sad songs sad
they just lifted a band on sad songs sad
they just lifted a band on sad songs sad songs could not be listened to in
songs could not be listened to in
songs could not be listened to in private or in public and so against with
private or in public and so against with
private or in public and so against with mic punk rock bile rising in my body I
mic punk rock bile rising in my body I
mic punk rock bile rising in my body I learned Beatles songs and then I learned
learned Beatles songs and then I learned
learned Beatles songs and then I learned John Denver songs and I learned Everly
John Denver songs and I learned Everly
John Denver songs and I learned Everly Brothers songs and Simon and Garfunkel
Brothers songs and Simon and Garfunkel
Brothers songs and Simon and Garfunkel and I took those songs and we went down
and I took those songs and we went down
and I took those songs and we went down into the subways and we shoved our way
into the subways and we shoved our way
into the subways and we shoved our way in between the cobra venom salesman and
in between the cobra venom salesman and
in between the cobra venom salesman and the fake Rolex person
the fake Rolex person
the fake Rolex person and we began to play and people stopped
and we began to play and people stopped
and we began to play and people stopped and they stood still and they sang these
and they stood still and they sang these
and they stood still and they sang these songs that weren’t in their native
songs that weren’t in their native
songs that weren’t in their native tongue verbatim and they cried and then
tongue verbatim and they cried and then
tongue verbatim and they cried and then they left and they brought us flowers
they left and they brought us flowers
they left and they brought us flowers and money and that was not lost on me
and money and that was not lost on me
and money and that was not lost on me the money the power of those masters
the money the power of those masters
the money the power of those masters those songs transcended everything and
those songs transcended everything and
those songs transcended everything and brought humans from different parts of
brought humans from different parts of
brought humans from different parts of the world together in a very real
the world together in a very real
the world together in a very real face-to-face way and I took that home to
face-to-face way and I took that home to
face-to-face way and I took that home to my band and my my college thing lasted a
my band and my my college thing lasted a
my band and my my college thing lasted a long time and the next thing so my band
long time and the next thing so my band
long time and the next thing so my band I started working on my songwriting in
I started working on my songwriting in
I started working on my songwriting in my bands working in the clubs and my
my bands working in the clubs and my
my bands working in the clubs and my songwriting hopefully was getting a
songwriting hopefully was getting a
songwriting hopefully was getting a little bit better and the next summer I
little bit better and the next summer I
little bit better and the next summer I applied for and got accepted to an
applied for and got accepted to an
applied for and got accepted to an ethnography program ethnography and
ethnography program ethnography and
ethnography program ethnography and Spanish immersion through the Department
Spanish immersion through the Department
Spanish immersion through the Department of Anthropology Arizona State University
of Anthropology Arizona State University
of Anthropology Arizona State University in Ensenada Mexico who’s not going to go
in Ensenada Mexico who’s not going to go
in Ensenada Mexico who’s not going to go to that so I knew nothing about
to that so I knew nothing about
to that so I knew nothing about ethnography but it turns out it’s a
ethnography but it turns out it’s a
ethnography but it turns out it’s a study of living cultures and as as I’m
study of living cultures and as as I’m
study of living cultures and as as I’m having to come up scrambled to come up
having to come up scrambled to come up
having to come up scrambled to come up with a topic my peers who were in the
with a topic my peers who were in the
with a topic my peers who were in the anthropology department had something
anthropology department had something
anthropology department had something respectable they had oh we’re going to
respectable they had oh we’re going to
respectable they had oh we’re going to explore the Mexican codification of the
explore the Mexican codification of the
explore the Mexican codification of the Dewey Decimal System in the library and
Dewey Decimal System in the library and
Dewey Decimal System in the library and then the next person was like oh I’m
then the next person was like oh I’m
then the next person was like oh I’m going to observe the a bakery family in
going to observe the a bakery family in
going to observe the a bakery family in Ensenada Mexico and then the further one
Ensenada Mexico and then the further one
Ensenada Mexico and then the further one was like oh I’m gonna codify pediatrics
was like oh I’m gonna codify pediatrics
was like oh I’m gonna codify pediatrics in Mexico and I was like it came to me
in Mexico and I was like it came to me
in Mexico and I was like it came to me and I was like studying mariachis I did
and I was like studying mariachis I did
and I was like studying mariachis I did it pissed my class classmates off so my
it pissed my class classmates off so my
it pissed my class classmates off so my workday would begin around 6:30 when I
workday would begin around 6:30 when I
workday would begin around 6:30 when I go to the malecon and I tried to glom on
go to the malecon and I tried to glom on
go to the malecon and I tried to glom on to mariachi groups who were working the
to mariachi groups who were working the
to mariachi groups who were working the tourist circuit and they were having
tourist circuit and they were having
tourist circuit and they were having nothing to do with me I was this white
nothing to do with me I was this white
nothing to do with me I was this white kid who spoke terrible Spanish with a
kid who spoke terrible Spanish with a
kid who spoke terrible Spanish with a with a clipboard and a tape recorder
with a clipboard and a tape recorder
with a clipboard and a tape recorder asking questions that they didn’t want
asking questions that they didn’t want
asking questions that they didn’t want to answer and they didn’t understand I
to answer and they didn’t understand I
to answer and they didn’t understand I broke the code with lots of cigarettes
broke the code with lots of cigarettes
broke the code with lots of cigarettes and beer and finally was adopted by one
and beer and finally was adopted by one
and beer and finally was adopted by one of these groups and I got to hang out
of these groups and I got to hang out
of these groups and I got to hang out with them and they opened up to me and
with them and they opened up to me and
with them and they opened up to me and they told me what
they told me what
they told me what la Cucaracha is about and they
la Cucaracha is about and they
la Cucaracha is about and they told me what cielito lindo means and
told me what cielito lindo means and
told me what cielito lindo means and where what la Jara is and who want on a
where what la Jara is and who want on a
where what la Jara is and who want on a matter you know all of these things and
matter you know all of these things and
matter you know all of these things and they were guarded because they were
they were guarded because they were
they were guarded because they were passionate and when they let me in I
passionate and when they let me in I
passionate and when they let me in I understand understood like this is a
understand understood like this is a
understand understood like this is a part of a whole nation a whole culture
part of a whole nation a whole culture
part of a whole nation a whole culture they’re so proud of this and I took that
they’re so proud of this and I took that
they’re so proud of this and I took that home and their imagery is amazing in the
home and their imagery is amazing in the
home and their imagery is amazing in the mariachi music by the way so last dekha
mariachi music by the way so last dekha
mariachi music by the way so last dekha what awesome their imagery and their
what awesome their imagery and their
what awesome their imagery and their passion and their unbridled use of any
passion and their unbridled use of any
passion and their unbridled use of any kind of expression like who else goes as
kind of expression like who else goes as
kind of expression like who else goes as a part of the song I can do a lot better
a part of the song I can do a lot better
a part of the song I can do a lot better than I do I should have oh I took that
than I do I should have oh I took that
than I do I should have oh I took that home and certain incorporated those
home and certain incorporated those
home and certain incorporated those spices and flavors and understanding in
spices and flavors and understanding in
spices and flavors and understanding in my music and then my band broke up and I
my music and then my band broke up and I
my music and then my band broke up and I formed another band and I took my
formed another band and I took my
formed another band and I took my experience from Taiwan and I took my
experience from Taiwan and I took my
experience from Taiwan and I took my experience from Mexico and I put them
experience from Mexico and I put them
experience from Mexico and I put them together like the resonance of the
together like the resonance of the
together like the resonance of the Masters and and the deep roots that the
Masters and and the deep roots that the
Masters and and the deep roots that the Mexican people had in their mariachi
Mexican people had in their mariachi
Mexican people had in their mariachi music and I tried to marry it and very
music and I tried to marry it and very
music and I tried to marry it and very clumsy way in a band called the
clumsy way in a band called the
clumsy way in a band called the refreshments and it thank you
refreshments and it thank you
refreshments and it thank you and I took that to the clubs while I was
and I took that to the clubs while I was
and I took that to the clubs while I was getting while I was sending out my
getting while I was sending out my
getting while I was sending out my application letters to to try to get
application letters to to try to get
application letters to to try to get into grad school in environmental
into grad school in environmental
into grad school in environmental psychology with an emphasis in
psychology with an emphasis in
psychology with an emphasis in experimental design which doesn’t seems
experimental design which doesn’t seems
experimental design which doesn’t seems like it doesn’t seem like my foot but is
like it doesn’t seem like my foot but is
like it doesn’t seem like my foot but is actually it did it did it this time but
actually it did it did it this time but
actually it did it did it this time but the band was picking up and as my
the band was picking up and as my
the band was picking up and as my applications letters went out I realized
applications letters went out I realized
applications letters went out I realized I don’t know if I want to get accepted
I don’t know if I want to get accepted
I don’t know if I want to get accepted and so one day they started coming back
and so one day they started coming back
and so one day they started coming back and I opened one from a California
and I opened one from a California
and I opened one from a California University and said congratulations you
University and said congratulations you
University and said congratulations you will have a seat in the fall with a
will have a seat in the fall with a
will have a seat in the fall with a stipend and a great tuition package and
stipend and a great tuition package and
stipend and a great tuition package and that gave me great pause as I’d fallen
that gave me great pause as I’d fallen
that gave me great pause as I’d fallen in love with music and exploring it and
in love with music and exploring it and
in love with music and exploring it and understanding where my roots were here
understanding where my roots were here
understanding where my roots were here and so that’s when I pivoted and I sent
and so that’s when I pivoted and I sent
and so that’s when I pivoted and I sent a no thank-you to that University and I
a no thank-you to that University and I
a no thank-you to that University and I took the step onto the path less travel
took the step onto the path less travel
took the step onto the path less travel than that has made all the difference so
than that has made all the difference so
than that has made all the difference so I’m a musician now an independent
I’m a musician now an independent
I’m a musician now an independent musician and lead a band called the
musician and lead a band called the
musician and lead a band called the peacemakers we’ll be playing here
peacemakers we’ll be playing here
peacemakers we’ll be playing here tonight after this if you would like to
tonight after this if you would like to
tonight after this if you would like to come out and they humbly submit that all
come out and they humbly submit that all
come out and they humbly submit that all these peregrinations and all these
these peregrinations and all these
these peregrinations and all these adventures start here in the Sonora
adventures start here in the Sonora
adventures start here in the Sonora desert in my heart and hopefully it
desert in my heart and hopefully it
desert in my heart and hopefully it becomes a part of this wonderful magic
becomes a part of this wonderful magic
becomes a part of this wonderful magic called a Tucson sound muchas gracias
called a Tucson sound muchas gracias
called a Tucson sound muchas gracias [Applause]
”
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