You know, if you get all of your 'information' from the regular sources — meaning things like network television, newspapers (the ones that are still around), and the big websites (CNN, FoxNews, etc. etc.) — you get this picture of the world that makes it look like a kind of current events centrifugal force is blowing things apart. But hasn't the world been going to hell ever since we've had debates about heaven and hell? Of course it has.

Well, I'm here to say that there are tiny bits of good news, flying completely beneath the national radar, keeping the parts of us from pulling free of our human hub. It's true. Those little chunks of positive energy do their best to reverse the negativity. No matter how down I get, I still believe in the butterfly effect.

Sometimes, I get a sense that the good bits are working together, or maybe they have their own natural attraction. That makes sense. In any event, after my own long year of emotionally contorted weirdness, certain forces are doing their small part to put things right. The forces appear to be emanating from Asbury Park, New Jersey.

It all started with the Bruce Springsteen show that me and TheWife™ attended in Boston last month. Now that I've had some time to think about it, that show was indeed the best one I've ever been to. Things went over the top during the "request segment," during which they played the Ramones' "I Wanna Be Sedated" followed by the Asbury Park duo of "For You" and "Spirit In The Night." Let's call that "PositiveMojoBit #1."

And then there's tonight. Me and TheWife™ will be seeing Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes with a couple of dear old friends. I'm feeling very good about this because it has taken me decades to convince Tyler of the Southside Johnny thing. Well, he has recently checked out Better Days and has moved a bit closer to understanding. Tonight, he'll know for sure. To add to this evening's positive vibe, I found out that we have a mini-Asbury Park connection here as Ty's wife Meg used to work at at Mrs. Jay's Beer Garden (PositiveMojoBit #2). Hmmm, I wonder if she has any stories to tell....?

Article Author: Mark Saleski

Mark Saleski is a writer and music obsessive based out of the Monadnock region of New Hampshire. He is an editor and writer for Jazz.com. He also writes reviews for Blogcritics.org and produces the weekly feature The Friday Morning Listen. …

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