So, maintenance just came to repair my oddly ‘jammed’ electrical outlet only to find a bunch of guitar picks inside…oops : ) Note to self: find new storage home for picks 🙂

Sitting on bench, waiting @Times Square for Downtown “A” train & and a guy walks by, puts his arm in the air & announces; “The incomparable Heidi Kole!” I look over & the guy smiling at me, adds, “Where’s your amp?” – not knowing him for the life of me, I answered kind of softly; “I’m actually just going downtown to the guitar store, so don’t have my amp” “Rock on Heidi Kole – we are the 99%!” he shouted as the train doors closed on his huge smile, his arm shot up in the air topped by his hand clenched in an occupy fist. This city’s eternally craaaazy : ) ♥

Nick Broad, Producer/Director of The Busking Project which I was filmed/interviewed for this past September – http://www.thebuskingproject.com snapped this rockin’ shot of him wearing his Subway Diaries “T” while filming in Santiago, Chile and standing next to a fab “Heidi Metal” sign!

He calls the picture “Heidi Power”  : )

"Heidi Power" from Nick Broad of "The Busking Project" shot in Santiago Chile

Yesterday Mayor Bloomberg (or ‘Emperor Bloomberg’ as we have aptly named him here in NYC) showed his true colours at a speech he gave at MIT. In the wake of my 6 years performing underground in the NYC Subways and a how he has brutally handled the peaceful members of the Occupy Movement here in New York – I believe the following quote from the speech below will clear up any questions you might have as to where his head is at…

Bloomberg: “I have my own army in the NYPD, which is the seventh biggest army in the world.”

http://www.politickerny.com/2011/11/30/mayor-bloomberg-i-have-my-own-army-11-30-11/

'Emperor' Bloomberg

Occupy Wall Street / We Are The 99%

Today Obama is town to raise money & although the NYPD considers me a serious threat to National Security when I’m singing in the subway, I’ll be singing anyway. It’s what I do, it’s who I am. It’s my job, my life, just like yours, Mr President, is running the country I making this a better, safer, more joyous America for us all…

On that note – if I had three minutes with The president I’d beg him to turn the course the country is on around before it’s too late. I’d remind him that countries have notoriously followed our lead and all we stand for; freedom, democracy, that ‘anything’s possible’ attitude America’s been built on, but all of what we stand for is fast being eroded.

I’d then show him the photos of what he allowed to go on in LA & Philadelphia last night, the same thing he’s allowed to happen here at our Occupy Camp here in New York on the 15th. I’d have a copy of the US Constitution in my hand and remind him of the Amendments that allow peaceful assembly and freedom of speech – both of which are being violated daily here in America

Photograph: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Image

Photograph: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Image

Photograph: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Image

Photograph: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Image

Photograph: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Image

I’d then beg him, with all my heart to use this $35,000 a plate dinner he’s hosting to raise the consciousness of those who will listen in an attempt to please not pass the bill that’s currently being voted on on the Senate Floor:

The United States Senate is set to vote this week on a bill that would categorize the entire USA as a “battlefield,” allowing law enforcement duties to be dished out by the American Military, who in turn could detain any US citizen as a war criminal — even coming into their own homes to issue arrests.

The National Defense Authorization Act regularly comes before Congress for changes and additions, but the latest provision, S. 1867, proves to be the most powerful one yet in raping constitutional freedoms from Americans. Move over, Patriot Act. Should S. 1867 pass, lawmakers could conjure the text to keep even regular citizens detained indefinitely by their own military.

https://rt.com/usa/news/senate-mccain-battlefield-graham-429/

I would beg him for sake of all of us and especially the children, future generations who deserve a chance to live in a free America, not to pass this bill – to block it with all the power he has.

In fact, I’d probably beg him to leave the fundraising  dinner & go and take care of this looming and imminent threat to our personal freedoms as human beings on planet earth.

Fundraising can wait – our lives cannot Mr President – your children’s lives cannot

Please help the 99% Mr President. We are your people, we are you, we are your children, we are your vote. Please help us be free & you will need no fundraising as we will be behind you – instinctively

That’s what I’d say if I had 3 minutes with The President – but I probably won’t, I’ll instead sing & run the very real risk of having way more than 3 minutes with the NYPD

If you have a few minutes – please contact your Senators & urge them to oppose these outrageous provisions. The time to do is is short but we can, as you’ve seen with the Occupy Movement now in 1000 cities, make a difference if we all speak up, in unison for what we want.

PS ~ And only 3 hrs after I wrote this blog the deal was sealed:

61 senators betrayed you today, they authorized the indefinite suspension of habeus corpus

http://wearechangetv.us/2011/11/61-senators-betrayed-you-today-they-authorized-the-indefinite-suspension-of-habeus-corpus/#axzz1fFfQwZlF

Peace,  Creativity & Freedom ~ Heidi Kole & The Subway Diaries

Dstripped Magazine http://www.dstrippedmagazine.com featuring review of my book, The Subway Diaries, will be in the Celebrity Swag Bag for The American Music Awards! Get your copy of the Magazine @ your local B&B, read the review & buy the book!

Personalized – Autograph special of book @ http://www.thesubwaydiaries.com

Dstripped Magazine available at your local B&N Store or online

I had a tough day today so I grabbed my guitar & headed under regardless of it being 9PM at night by the time I got to the platforms.

There was a Cuban vocalist singing Spanish love songs on the Uptown A,C,E so I sat on the bench & waited ’till he was done since he said he wasn’t going to be much more than 20 minutes more

I sat down next to a happy, round-faced  Hispanic woman named Tina with her shopping bags on her lap. One was a huge MACY’S bag and I asked her; “So, what did you get?” as I pointed to the bag.

“Oh” she said confidently, “I found it”

“You found what?” I said as I peered into surprisingly empty bag

“I found the bag and it made me smile because even though I didn’t have the money to go shopping, I feel like I’ve gone shopping just carrying it”

“Oh my God, that’s brilliant. It’s like virtual shopping!”  I said to her & she smiled back a very proud smile.

Sing of the times – I thought to myself … maybe we’ll all be taking a hint from Tina soon and doing all our shopping ‘virutally’ : )

We chatted some more & she told me she and her boyfriend had just broken up but, “I really love my freedom” she added “We have things in common & he is very well to do, but I love my freedom too.” she added, her round, jovial cheeks glowing.

The then reached into her purse for a pen and said “I have something for you” She pulled out a green pen and folded her prize Macey’s bag onto her lap. Then she proceeded to write as she spoke these words:“Ama hasta que Te duela y si te Duele, es un buena senal” ~ Mother Theresa (which, translated means, Love until it hurts & if it hurts it’s a good sign” ~ Mother Theresa

“Keep this” Tina said, “Keep it near you and you will remember it’s power”

Tina proceeded to buy a copy of “The Subway Diaries”, sharing more of her relationship woes and stayed for the first 1/2 hour of my time on the platform. After she left, sharing big hugs and kisses with me , her energy remained.

I continued to sing and to be quite honest, the love that started the night continued non stop through out the evening. Commuters donated, smiled, blew & gave kisses and shared hugs with me all night long. Many shared their stories of where they were from, where they were going and how the music had moved them this evening.

I share this night’s adventures with you guys out there in “The Subway Diaries” – Land because I am eternally beyond floored at what these trains give me daily, nightly, week after week, month after month. I want you to know. I never know where these ‘angel’s come from – I never know where they go afterward as I rarely see the ‘angels’ again. But I have no doubt now, after 6 yrs underground, that angels do exist.I know they exist & I hope you too may be inspired to listen for the angels as they talk to you. Because they will, if you listen closely : )

Love & Peace Heidi & The Subway Diaries

So, this past week I was visited all the way from the UK by the fabulous documentary film “The Busking Project” – it’s one of the most down to earth & real projects on busking that I’ve been involved with.

Of course the day we filmed it was 104 degrees underground & we all almost passed out – but we got it done in between the rushing “A” trains and stifling heat

• You can see a preview of whet they are doing at http://www.thebuskingproject.com or find them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Busking-Project/129125297129185

Then, directly after our shoot I had been asked to do an interview on the radio show Riding On The Rails which is a show by buskers, for buskers (and anyone of course who is curious about our world 🙂

• That interview you can actually hear right now – no waiting !  http://soundcloud.com/rotr/riding-on-the-rails-09-04-2011

Enjoy the interview & links !

Love & music Heidi Kole & The subway Diaries

The Lawrence Busker Festival in Lawrence KS rocked! It’s taken me a little bit to post some photos due to earthquakes and hurricanes passing over The Big Apple & taking up most of my energy

Anyway – we’re in a lull here, amidst the storms and so here ya go!

• The first day I flew into KS City and was driven straight to perform at the opening benefit concert for Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Lawrence.
• The next morning I did an early AM breakfast concert at the hotel I was staying in (omg – not my best time of day!)
• Later that day the movie I’m in, Busking The System had it’s first screening and I did the Q&A after which was superb fun
• I busked the streets of Lawrence – (my most favourite part!) met some fabulous people and absorbed festival energy while I sang, way into the night
• Next day we had another morning Q&A for Busking The System
• Followed by a stage show that went superbly & where many bought CDs
• Followed by a book signing/reading & concert of “The Subway Diaries”@ Signs Of Life , the bookstore hosting my book signing and reading at the Festival
• Finally I busked into the evening that, my last night in Lawrence – too the plane back the next day & collapsed for a blissful 14 hrs of sleep!

Lawrence KS, I would busk your city any day! Lookin’ forward to next year!

And finally an album of shot of the beautiful environment @ The Lawrence Busker Fest – soak it up!

http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.10150288641627295.347509.728737294

Love, Light & Music

Heidi & The Subway Diaries