"What are you protesting?" Johnny: "What have you got?" In a world of bloviating blowhards, disappearing DJs and cities drowned by budget crunchers, there's plenty, and Ludwig touches all the bases. With help from the likes of Clark Vreeland, Gina Forsyth and Rosie Rosato, Gangsta Folk reminds us there are still battles to fight and the six string remains the choice of weapons. But this fighter hasn't forgotten Goldman's first law: revolution should include dancing. Videos from this album can be viewed at youtube.com/LouieLudwig Tracks: Big Man: Dedicated to the most listened-to walrus on right-wing radio. Admire his headgear. Ain't Ridin': Bit of a rant about a certain class of American pinheads. One friend asked me if I wasn't worried I'd offend someone. Well, damn, I hope so! Clark Vreeland on drums and electrics, Beth Vreeland on bass. The Other Battle of New Orleans: I've yammered on about this subject a good bit, but it bears repeating: our city was not destroyed by a "natural disaster," but by decisions made far away, long before anyone had ever heard of Katrina. I've taken a bit of poetic license, but not much. A comprehensive timeline of the events preceding the flood can be found at Cooperative Research. (But you can't dance to it.) Rosie Rosato on percussion, Gina Forsyth on fiddle. Where Heartache Lives: We've all got a little Hank in us. Clark Vreeland, banjo and lead. Stranger on the Hill: A story song, chock full of the great, American folk song values like faithlessness, murder and comeuppance. One for the whole family. Clark Vreeland on lead. They Took the Radio: Little story about disappearing DJs. Yeah, I know Tom Petty said it better. But he didn't know the story of that DJ in Herndon. Liar's Ball: It's feeling so much like the 30s these days, I figured somebody ought to write like it. Water Tower Road: Likely you remember a "tiny, little town" something like this one. Clark Vreeland on bass, lead, mando and banjo. Two Blue Hearts: Almost every record, I try to include a song for Chris Isaac to cover. Hey, a guy can dream. . . Album copyright 2009 Louie Ludwig/zzi music