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The Chris Chandler Show

  • The Muse and Whirled Retort 2025

    The Chris chandler and Paul Benoit Show

    THE MUSE AND WHIRLED RETORT

    The Chris Chandler and Paul Benoit Show

    Cottage Grove Or July 31, 2025

    August 01, 2025

    Eugene, OR

    Hey Everybody,

    August is upon us and it’s that time again. Time for your Monthly Muse letter.

    We are keeping it on the road with shows (tonight) in Eugene tomorrow Portland, Sunday Florence Tuesday Salem Wednesday Olympia then up to Bellingham, Canada and Alaska. Here we are at last nights show in Cottage Grove, OR.

    *******

    Listen, trying to keep it on the road and pay a band, and Austin rent on a storytellers salary is well… tough to say the least. If you would like to help support this act you can do so.

    PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/baldchandler

    Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/thechrischandlershow

    To be a continuing supporter via

    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheChrisChandlerShow

    Our new album is out. You can get it here:

    https://celticartstudio.com/product/this-is-not-you-cd-chris-chandler-paul-benoit/

    Here is the opening track of the album:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pwt420wN_88

    *******
    Enough Enough of the crasss commercial announcements!!!
    ******
    And now it is time for your
    M.U.S.E. .A.N.D. .W.H.I.R.L.E.D. .R.E.T.O.R.T.

    Today,
    I built my first sandcastle,
    at the top of the tide line.
    It is magnificent.
    ~
    Small ships passing us by as we place
    small clam shells atop
    each turret, and
    draping them in seaweed.
    ~
    Long
    transparent
    gelatinous seabulbs
    crown the highest spires,
    and form spirals
    winding down her spires
    into her inner courtyard
    like a memory.
    ~
    Her sandy keep sits high,
    looking down upon the drawbridge
    surrounded by an empty moat.
    ~
    As the tide comes in,
    tiny waves
    flow into her channels,
    begins to circle her with water.
    ~
    A small child,
    compelled by this beauty,
    runs out to ocean's edge,
    bringing back
    buckets of water,
    to pour into the carved canals,
    drawing the seawater in,
    priming the
    pump like a siphon.
    ~
    Her name is June,
    it is late July.
    ~
    Soon the moat is full.
    And the castle is standing proud in the setting sun.
    Feathered flags unfurled.
    ~
    I sit back in my plastic beach chair throne,
    crack a champagne of beers,
    and overlook my kingdom.
    ~
    Yet the tide cares not for my reign.
    ~
    My kingdom is under siege.
    ~
    The rampart begins to crumble.
    ~
    The drawbridge
    floats away,
    and resumes its former life
    as a piece of driftwood.
    ~
    Walls fade away
    - patiently moulded with Tupperware pots
    and a small child's spade -
    begin to collapse.
    ~
    Reclaimed.
    ~
    The persistent tide
    now pushes against the walls of the keep.
    While a soft stew of salty seaweeds,
    fringes the advancing front.
    ~
    We cry at its impermenance ...
    ~
    For we do not know....
    ~
    Yet still...
    one by one,
    her grand pillars are lost
    planted with flags of feathers,
    They timber back into the weedy
    brine.
    ~
    Reclaimed!
    ~
    Then, at last,
    the final tower tips.
    ~
    Yet, somehow one last proud
    feather
    stands erect...
    ~
    ...clinging defiant
    ...against the sea,
    ...until it too
    is engulfed and floats
    away.
    ~
    Reclaimed.
    ~
    Yesterday is gone.
    Tomorrow we will never see.
    Leaving us only today...
    ~
    and the sea...
    ...and the sand...
    ...and the tide...
    ...and her eternal devotion...
    ...to the pull of the moon...
    ...and the look of wonder...
    ~
    ...in a small child's eyes...
    ...named June
    ...in late July.
    ~
    H.E.R.E.S. .D.A. .D.A.T.E.S.

    August

    1 Friday 8PM
    The Chris Chandler and Paul Benoit Show returnsHybrid Cafe
    941 W 3rd Ave
    ticket link:
    https://www.simpletix.com/e/chris-chandler-paul-benoit-tickets-225815
    Eugene, OR

    2 Saturday 6:30PM
    House Concert in PortlandHome of Dean and Abby Boudouris
    DM me for the address. Or email dean@technw.netPortland, OR

    3 Sunday 6:30PM
    A Fundraiser for KXCRThe UU Church
    87738 US-101
    Florence, OR

    5 Tuesday. 4:30PM
    House concert and Pot Luckoak gardens
    DM Me for the address

    Salem, OR

    Potluck optional

    6 Wednesday
    House Concert
    At the home of Michelle Peterson
    DM me for the address

    Olympia, WA
    Doors at 6:30 show at 7;00

    8 Friday
    TENTATIVETBA
    Vancouver, BC

    9 Saturday
    Fun house concert on Salt Spring IslandRSVP for location info
    email me at baldchandler@yahoo.com for location info or Jenn Christianson agent99@hotmail.com

    Salt Spring Island, BC
    Canada

    10 Sunday 7PM
    Victoria Folk Music Society PresentsThe Norway House
    1110 Hillside Ave.

    Victoria, BC

    13 Wednesday 6:30PM
    House Concert in BellinghamThe Home of Caryn Simmons
    DM me for the address

    Bellingham, WA

    16 Saturday 7PM
    HOUSE CONCERTat the home of Tom Begich and Sarah Sledge
    TEXT ME FOR UPDATES 240-476-4976
    ANCHORAGE, AK

    17 Sunday
    House Concert at the home of Sara Perman and Jonny Newman
    Text me for Details 240-476-4976
    Girdwood, AK

    19 Tuesday
    HOUSE CONCERTAt The Home of Schawna Thoma and Michael Powell
    Text me for details 240-476-4976
    ANCHORAGE AREA, AK

    SETTINGS FOR THIS NEWSLETTER:

    CRIS CHANDLER'S MONTHLY NEWS LETTER AUGUST, 2025

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