By Bryan West
Did you know there is still cleanup and re-construction work in New Orleans?
In 2005 Hurricane Katrina struck the city with fury; the chaos humbled a nation and highlighted the corruption of state and federal government. Poor, primarily black, communities were left to die. The media’s investigation of how the disaster was handled (before and after the hurricane) made it very clear that racism and classism were very much alive in America. Continue reading
By Bryan West
For those of you who do not know, my day job is supervising a trail crew with the American Conservation Experience. I travel around to different national parks, and other government lands, doing trail construction and maintenance. This means that I spend about 200 days per year in a tent. I have developed quite a morning routine in my nomadic travels.
I wake up each day at about 4:50am and make myself some coffee in my tent. Before I go to bed each night, I line out my arsenal of coffee paraphernalia, like a heroin addict with his needles, tubes, etc. I make sure I’ve got my French press, water bottle, jet boil stove and, of course, my fair trade organic hipster coffee. When the digital rooster in my alarm clock crows, I roll over, still in my sleeping bag and spark up my stove. When the coffee is ready, I sit up in my sleeping bag like a paraplegic caterpillar. I sip my coffee, read some comics, write, or simply listen to some music. Continue reading
By Bryan West
In 2009 my friend, Mr. Jon Jennings, decided to launch a record label and concert promotion organization. I say “organization” because there is very little money to be made in the local music scene. If you break even after a show, it’s a damn good night.
Starting a label or a band is a ton of work, and it must be done out of love; love for music, creativity, and, most importantly, the people. Quote Your Pulse has always felt to me like an organization of creative people who simply want to share their creations. Continue reading
Quote Your Pulse 