Playing live music, live or even streaming, is much harder than most of you who can’t even form one cowboy chord, realize. But sometimes, to read all the hagiographic bullshit posted about artists that you probably don’t even own a fucking record by is really maddening (and hypocritical, too). Not going to make any comparisons between JimBaumerMe–who has only been working with any diligence at his lo-fi rock and roll craft for slightly less than three years–and let’s say Bruce Springsteen (faux populist), Bob Dylan (always been a fraud) and John Prine (who seems to be everyone’s favorite these days). I find that most people seem fixated on performers they’ll never meet or know. His death was a national story.Ĭontinue reading → Posted in Music | Tagged Bangor Daily News, Guided by Voices, Indie music, JimBaumerME, Mark Baumer, Mary Baumer, Singer-songwriters, Swearing at Motorists, T Rex Rock and Roll Church-Easter Sunday Edition He was reportedly wearing a high-visibility vest at the time he was struck and walking against traffic in accordance with safety guidelines. to raise awareness about climate change, and to raise funds for a friend’s environmental organization. He was struck by a car and killed in Florida while walking across the U.S. Mark Baumer was a writer and climate activist who died in January 2017 at age 33. Although he’d always wanted to, it wasn’t until his son’s death that he began to devote time to it. The artist wrote a few dozen songs, put out his first EP and networked his way to 45 gigs at pubs and other stages across New England.īut it wasn’t that long ago that Baumer, a writer, didn’t play music at all. JimBaumerMe, above the fold (Bangor Daily News, 12/28)īIDDEFORD, Maine - All things considered, it’s been a decent year for Jim Baumer.