Early in 2010, my father, Nehemiah Potts, was diagnosed with a brain tumor that was as large as a tennis ball.  Thankfully, it was benign, but surgery was required  to remove it.  The surgery went well, but it was the recovery which proved to be most difficult for my father..  Prior to the surgery, the primary symptom of the tumor was an intermittent, but pronounced weakness in my father’s left leg that increased and started to migrate to his other leg as time went by.  Immediately after the surgery, he found himself unable to walk at all.  I touched on some of his trials in couched and guarded terms back in July 2010 when I wrote the post, “The Chief Can Fix Anything.”  In it, I talked about his career, his inquisitive mind, and his ability to repair virtually anything.  Fixing himself was another one of those challenges. 

Today, I’m proud to report that he beat that obstacle and he’s doing quite well thanks to the support and love of my mother, Brenda Potts, our family, and the incredible staff of Kettering Medical Center.  A little while ago they interviewed him and he provided a testimonial of his experience at Kettering which they posted on their site.  His testimonial is at the bottom of the page at the link. 

 Although my Dad’s health crisis is largely over, there are two other members of our immediate and extended family whom really need your kind thoughts and prayers as they battle their own debilitating illnesses.

Sorry to start your weekend on this bittersweet note, but hopefully with you pulling for them, some of the Chief’s mojo can rub off on them, too.

- JEP

One of the most frequently asked questions I’ve had for some time has been “When do you plan on publishing a WORLD OF HURT collection?”  For a while, my standard answer has been, “I think some time in 2011.”  However, the new answer has to be, “It’s up to you.”  I don’t have the money to self-publish, so like many artists, I’m turning to the website, Kickstarter.com, to generate the funds I need to publish a compilation of The Thrill-Seekers.  My intent has always been to publish a hardcover, but the unique size and landscape format of 13″ X 6.5″ that I want to showcase the original dimensions of the strips make it a little more expensive than a standard black and white comic.  That’s why I need your help.  Please spread the word far and wide to help make this publishing venture a reality. Hopefully, on the Kickstarter page you’ll find a nice set of incentives to at least pre-order your own book and get your friends to do the same.  If I’m successful by the fundraising deadline, I should have the books in hand by the time HeroesCon rolls around in early June.

I also hope you enjoy the WORLD OF HURT “trailer” I created for the Kickstarter site using some of my favorite moments from the strip and the remarkable theme song created by C.E. Garcia.  (Remember, the theme is available for sale exclusively on iTunes for the low, low price of 99 cents.)
As always thank you for your help and for supporting WORLD OF HURT.  You can find the Kickstarter link here.

- JEP

We love music here at WORLD OF HURT World Headquarters.  Especially soul music.  For this week’s blog, my wife, Noelle, was kind enough to provide a review of a concert we saw in Augusta, GA last week.  She (mostly) has good taste in music and I completely agree with her assessment of the concert.  Enjoy!

Let’s just get to the point on this one. Sharon Jones puts 99.9 percent of today’s young hip/hop and pop stars to shame.

At 53, the woman can dance for two hours, belt out soul song after soul song and never lose her breath. No AutoTune. No DJ. No “entourage” standing in the background to offer distractions while she catches her breath.

Sharon commands attention. The audience gives it. And they are rewarded for plunking down $20 to see the spectacle.

For those who don’t know about Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, let’s go to class. The band is made in the image of classic 1960s soul bands. Their sound is a lively mix of gospel, soul and funk. Jones is clearly the star of the show. But the Dap-Kings, which includes a three-piece brass section, two percussionists, a bassist, two guitars and two back-up singers, holds its own against Jones’ stage presence.

Last Saturday, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings put on one hell of a show in Augusta, Ga., which happens to be her hometown. James Brown’s influence was in the air. The Dap-Kings show opens like those of the Godfather of Soul. The band takes the stage and plays a couple of numbers to warm up their audience. The two backup singers got a chance to sing on center stage. Then, amidst the hype of the band leader, Binky Griptite, Jones emerges from the shadows. The energy doesn’t let up until the final note.

The band could not leave Augusta without paying homage James Brown. The encore that featured his music with Sharon Jones demonstrating some of Brown’s signature dance moves.

The audience was filled with Jones’ friends and families. Her’s is a classic Southern biography for African-Americans. Her family migrated to New York to escape the Jim Crow South and to find job opportunities up North. Before finding success with the Dap-Kings, Jones worked as a correctional officer at Rikers Island and sang at weddings. Last weekend, she clearly was happy to be home in Augusta. And we were happy to be there, too.

Other notes from the night….

The opening act was a pleasant surprise. The Howlies hail from Atlanta. These four white guys are a throwback to pop groups form the 1950s and 60s with their skinny ties, skinny jeans and narrow-cut suit jackets. And they can harmonize (Harmonize!). While their sound is old school rock-n-roll their lyrics reflect modern day sensibilities. The four-piece is lead by the drummer. I’m always impressed with someone who can keep the beat going with both arms and legs and sing and keep the rest of the band in check. I recommend you look for them in your area.

The concert was held in Augusta’s Imperial Theater, a charming venue that needs a little love. The theater was built in 1918 on Broad Street. Its ornate interior is beautiful in spite of the peeling paint. The seats are upholstered in red velvet. The neon marquee winks and blinks to passersby. I couldn’t think of a more appropriate venue to see Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings.

Finally, it’s rare for me to arrive anywhere early but somehow we got to Augusta with time to spare. While strolling on Augusta’s Broad Street we discovered Pyramid Records and Video, a hole-in-the-wall record store. It may be small but Pyramid is filled top-to-bottom with CDs, vinyl, movies and T-shirts. If you’re looking for the latest Arcade Fire release, you best keep walking. But if you’re in the mood to prowl for gospel, soul and rap gems, this is your place.

From the press release:

Ape Entertainment, in partnership with Ars Nova, is proud to announce the release of the original 48-page one-shot BLACK DYNAMITE: SLAVE ISLAND, inspired by the major motion picture BLACK DYNAMITE.

“Between the streets, Vietnam, and the C.I.A., Black Dynamite thought he had seen it all.  But nothing could have prepared him for his most dangerous mission yet!  In BLACK DYNAMITE: SLAVE ISLAND, the world’s greatest Blaxploitation sensation uses his fists of fury to shut down a secret island where The Man still plays by 1850s rules!”  SLAVE ISLAND is based on a story by Michael Jai White, Byron Minns and Scott Sanders. Written by Brian  Ash (The Boondocks), with inks by Jun LoFamia, the book is due in stores April 4, 2011.

BlackSuperHeroFan.com has posted eight preview pages. Although there are some funny sight gags (”Louise Jefferson Help Center & Free Clinic”), the tone of the Black Dynamite comic book seems a little more serious than the film which inspired it, closer to Three The Hard Way than Disco Godfather, so it should be interesting to see how the book unfolds.  I intend to find out, because I’ve already ordered my copy.  If you’re interested, you can do the same at the official Black Dynamite website.

- JEP