Brand new good old gospel

 

A special coterie of American musicians find themselves more popular overseas than right here in the good old U.S.A. I wouldn’t say that that holds for the Petersens, yet in the last three years or so their global popularity has skyrocketed.

It turns out that not only is Bluegrass a popular genre in many countries, but that this artfully American-casual group of Christian young people carries a strong magnetism. Witness their recent overseas tours of Europe and the Trans Taz region of New Zealand and Australia.

They are popular not only for their musical polish and marvelous vocals, but for their eclectic mix of grassed-up Country, Pop, Rock, Folk, Gospel — and whatever catches their fancy. As banjoist Ellen emphasizes, the band’s work should not be pigeon-holed as “Christian music,” which is a specific genre.

Ellen, with her strong emotive ability, was surely the right choice for lead vocalist on the band’s latest release, Goodness of the Lord, which is a new take on Psalm 27.

A combination of financial incentive and creative drive is leading musical director and songwriter Katie to incorporate more original song compositions in the band’s enormous repertoire. Katie, the fiddler, joined an Australian friend, Liv Legget, to pen the marvelous new gospel number that appears here for the first time.

The band, based in the heart of the fabled Ozarks region, is known for its highly integrated instrumental support. Backup comes from Katie, guitarist Matt, bassist Karen, dobroist Emmett Franz and mandolinist Julianne.

Watch out for Julianne. She likes Rock and Gospel (not only), and she’s the band’s other lyricist/composer.

+++++++++++++++

Petersens’ 2025 Europe and U.S. tour schedule

🇩🇪 GERMANY

Offenbach (Frankfurt). Sept 13 https://www.eventim-light.com/de/a/67...

Bochum (Essen/Dortmund). Sept 14 https://www.eventim.de/event/the-pete...

Seevetal (Hamburg). Sept 15 https://www.adticket.de/tickets-the-p...

Berlin. Sept 16 https://d2mberlin.de/veranstaltung/th...

🇩🇰 DENMARK

Kolding. Sept 18 https://liveoplev.unitedtickets.dk/ev...

Greve (Copenhagen) - Sept 19 https://portalen.dk/arrangementer/the...

Aarhus. Sept 20 https://billet.musik.dk/event/the-pet...

🇺🇸 UNITED STATES

Hot Springs, Ark. Apr 25 https://hotspringsvillage.thundertix.com/events/239349

Russia, Ohio. Aug 15 https://russiaschool.fantaztix.com

🇺🇸 BRANSON, MISSOURI

The group also performs at the Little Opry Theatre throughout the year, including Christmas shows through all November and December

https://petersenband.com/tickets

More on Branson:

https://issuu.com/thepetersens/docs/1...

Drug comic book updated

The Funny Stuff Funnies is an educational comic book for young people containing basic facts on alcohol and other chemicals. Paul Conant, author and cartoonist, has updated the e-booklet with a new section on mephedrone, along with a brief word on khat tea.

---

Mephedrone
Mephedrone is a stimulant which is, roughly, a cross between amphetamine and khat, which is a pick-me-up used widely in East Africa. Mephedrone is sometimes called Meow Meow, Drone or M-Cat.

The chem can give you a feel-good high, and act as a temporary social lubricant. Just keep in mind that those pleasant effects are associated with a wide swath of chems -- including alcohol -- that seduce many down the road to addiction.

Drone tends to mimic coke, amphetamines, MMDA and X, along with khat, which falls under the cathinones (discussed on the Legal but Iffy page).

Though research results are skimpy, you won't go wrong assuming the more you use at one go, or over time, the greater the risks of heart hassles or chem psychosis.

Comes in tabs and powder. May have been cut with horrifically dangerous fentanyl.

---

---

A word on khat

Khat is a tea used in East Africa as a pick-me-up. Its active ingredient is the natural form of cathinone, which, after drying in sunlight, isn't much of a problem. But concentrated cathinone is seen by narcos as a no-no because of its "potential for abuse." Not much research work has been done on this chem, but it is a truism that any chem that makes people feel good carries a potential for abuse.

FY7

The author of The Funny Stuff Funnies takes sole responsibility for the content of this e-booklet. This booklet has not been sponsored, either directly or indirectly, by any government or non-government organization or fellowship, such as AA or NA.

Go to NEXT page.

---

Find table of content for Funny Stuff Funnies at this link.

---

The Lunapic image editor contributed greatly to this booklet's pictorial enhancement. Other image editors used were Palette and Petalica.

Do your friends and your friends' kids a favor, and post one or more Funny Stuff links on social media.