Fertile Crescent

This is the weekly dispatch from Bizarro Studios North, where I have been writing and drawing the Monday through Saturday Bizarro comics since 2018. My partner and friend Dan Piraro created Bizarro in the late twentieth century and continues to do the Sunday comic from Rancho Bizarro in Mexico.

Wayno

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If I knew where the good songs come from, I'd go there more often.
Leonard Cohen

I'm not sure, but I'm almost positive that all music came from New Orleans.
Ernie K-Doe

Two favorite performers express their views on the origins of music, one metaphysical and one geographic. Each quote is fanciful in its way, and the sentiments reflect the individual speakers. Cohen was a spiritual craftsman; K-Doe an over-the-top jokester.

Cohen articulates the feeling that art arrives from an external place, seeking a willing vessel to manifest it. That's a rather mystical reframing of an artist's ability to find inspiration and recognize material that might be shaped into something. Ernie K-Doe always spoke in hyperbole, and certainly, for him, all music did come from New Orleans. He was fortunate enough to record many songs written by the legendary New Orleans musician, composer, and producer Allen Toussaint.

Music is a mysterious and necessary force, crucial to our well-being, wherever it comes from. I'm planning to bask in even more music than usual this weekend and encourage you to do the same.

I'll close this intro with a third quote, from my dear friend Tim W, whom I'm meeting for coffee this very morning:

Music improves the human condition.

Amen to that, Brother Tim.

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This week's pipe pic is another mystery, found on the web. All I can gather is that it was published by Currier & Ives in the late 19th century.

While we ponder its possible backstory, let us review the week's Bizarro comics.

Snow folk returned to the comic on Monday, with some unimpressive fortunetelling.

We occasionally nod to the 15th-century ruler of Wallachia. In previous Bizarro gags he's appeared as the Explainer, the Implier, and the Inhaler.

This appearance resulted in one of our infrequent vertical strip layouts.

The secret is to wait until after you've filed your return.

As a veteran second-guesser, I wish I had done this gag differently. If I were drawing it today, I'd cast a pair of smiling grandparent/tourist types in place of the hipster couple.

Our panel for Waterfowl Friday has a pleasant community vibe.

It's not exactly untrue.

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Beer Here!

Continuing our exploration of my work with East End Brewing Company, we present a label from 2006.

Ugly American was released again two years later, with an updated label.

This is a coincidental callback to New Orleans, as the medal the former President wears referred to a clumsy comment he made to his FEMA chief when visiting the area that was hit by Hurricane Katrina.

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Bonus Track

Ernie K-Doe: "Here Come the Girls"
Original release, Janus Records 45 (1971)

One of K-Doe's great records written and produced by Allen Toussaint.

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More Bizarro Stuff

Dan Piraro's Bizarro Blog
Dan's Sunday page, plus cartoon commentary and some thoughts on fairy stories and baloney

 Wayno's Bizarro Newsletter
A supplement to the blog, with a peek at an upcoming gag and a graphic image from my past

Peyote Cowboy

Dan "Diego" Piraro's epic, award-winning surreal Western graphic novel

 

Thank you for visiting. Please stop by again next week, and feel free to drop your current musical inspiration in the comments section.
 

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