 |
He is the humbugger helper, then, this harmonica howler, throwing an anti-Christmas party that nonetheless subscribes to charity. Besides the advocacy, it's the big fat greedy rest of Christmas our Rusty has no time for.
"Everywhere you turn, somebody's trying to make a buck," he says of the season. "Christmas is not only Dec. 25, it's Jan. 1, Feb. 1, March 1 and the rest of the year, trying to get out of the financial bite of Christmas. I love the fact of all the Christmas charities and bureaus around this time of year, but their timing has to do with something arbitrary. What's wrong with Christmas, to answer your question, is the kids who are excited to hear all these things their buddies are getting while these inner-city kids get dick.
"The money-grubbing stores, sucking the buck, the greed - what are these kids learning? I believe there are more people unhappy around Christmas than there are happy. As a blues guy, I like to take that weight off."
During his straight-ahead, mutant-reindeer-free blues performance tonight, there will be a 50-50 draw, half of the money going to the needier side of town, where the blues means more. The other half, of course, you could always win and flip to charity yourself.
"That's what Christmas is about, giving to people, not riding around in your $100,000 BMW showing off your $12,000 gold bracelet.
"Look,'' Reed continues, "I believe Edmonton is a city of great compassion, and there's something for everyone ... except for a party where they can go to during the Christmas season that has nothing to do with the trappings of Christmas.''
Mr. Reed, who was on the radio yesterday telling people to be careful what they say to me in an interview, because I'll quote them (damned straight), is honest about the show.
"It was just a marketing angle for the party, I admit that. I'm bottling and selling it. But we are trying to do some good here and let people get away from the mall music."
He says even the hall, at 9135 146 St., he rented needed a lot of work before it was up to his admirable standards.
"I went and checked it out and there were decorations everywhere. I've got to get there early and get rid of all those before anything."
But this all begged a bigger question. What exactly happened to Reed that made him so down on the superficial side of Christmas? A lot of us get tired of it, but with him it's a mission.
"Nothing," he says. "But I know there are people out there who will appreciate it."
Here's to the humbugger, then. The spiced eggnog's out, so let's raise a beer instead.