Saturday, February 27, 2010

It’s all in the groove…

ben :: bleachers, bristol, ct :: january 31, 2010

My friend, Mikey, posted this entry about music and it got me thinking.

I can’t imagine my life without music. In any way, shape, or form. I really prefer live music and the indie scene (especially when I know the people in the bands (duh!)), but I’ll take whatever I can get my hands on.

...a perfect circle of acquaintances and friends… (R.E.M. - Perfect Circle)

I had a really odd conversation in the bar last night after instrument’s show. It left me feeling kind of hurt and confused, but then I talked to someone else who reminded me who the source was, to brush it off, and that I WAS welcome to hang out with them no matter what. It felt good to talk to him - we traded crazy family stories and bonded. Again. We don’t hang out a lot, but we seem to be starting to. Must be our mutual love of that non-sport. *grin*

...I remember hockey games played right here in my state… (The Zambonis - Bob Marley and the Hartford Whalers)

Maybe it seems odd that I travel all over creation to see instrument. Maybe it seems odd that I head to Hartford every time All Crazy’s in town. Maybe it’s even odder still that I want to road trip up to Albany to see Black Mountain Symphony again. I don’t really care what anyone thinks. It’s what makes me happy.

...and I don’t know why I am smiling, but I’ll have you know it feels so good… (Black Mountain Symphony - Winter Nights)

I spend a lot of time in my car. Too much. In fact, I’ve put more miles on the Forester in two years than I put on the Jetta I drove for five years. That’s a lot of driving. I mean, who puts close to 50,000 miles on a car in a little over two years? Yeah. But I wouldn’t change it for the world. Seeing these bands means everything to me.

...pedal to the floor, speeding down the highway… (All Crazy - Not Over)

The soundtrack to my life has always been R.E.M. and while I don’t see that changing any time soon, I am happy that I’m discovering new indie music and even branching out to commercial artists I would have written off earlier. I’m blaming mashups and iTunes. 99 cents for a song is just awesome, especially when I don’t want to commit to a whole album. Honestly, I can’t ever imagine wanting an entire Justin Timberlake album, but I am all about bringing “SexyBack” (and porchmonkey, but that’s completely different).

...I’ll let you whip me if I misbehave. It’s just that no one makes me feel this way… (Justin Timberlake - SexyBack)

I grew up surrounded by music. My dad liked Anne Murray, Fleetwood Mac, The Kingston Trio and Abba. When my mother got drunk, it was “The Battle of The Green Berets” on repeat. I had access to their 45s and LPs. I must have worn out a dozen albums - I was in a HUGE Beatles phase back then (before Manson forever ruined the White Album for me. *sigh*) and my mother had every.single. one. I had my own collection, of course - most of them Hall and Oates. I think I will always crush on Daryl Hall - no matter how old either of us gets. And don’t get me started on visiting my aunt. Her house was like winning the musical lottery. Mott the Hoople, Alice Cooper, Led Zeppelin, Frank Zappa, Bowie, the Stones, The Who and if they weren’t blasting an album, WCCC was always on in the background. I don’t know how many hours I spent in front of their stereo system, patiently recording the LPs on to cassettes. Even now, listening to the pop and hiss on my worn out copy of Led Zep 3…

... I get the tingles in a silly place. It starts in my toes, and I crinkle my nose… (Colbie Caillat - Bubbly)

There’s a lot of music that’s really important to me. Reminders of moments, of people, that I don’t want to forget. When I hear that particular song - or album - I’m right back in that moment. I can remember it crystal clear. Music can evoke emotions I thought I wasn’t capable of reliving. That I didn’t want to relive. I can say without a doubt, though, that the one album in my collection that I will never be able to part with is my copy of The Pogues’ “Rum Sodomy and the Lash”. Pelkey had given it to me because he thought I’d love it. I did. I think he only meant to loan it to me, but I never gave it back to him. (I’m such a terrible friend!) Whenever I listen to it, I can vividly picture him in the hallway of Belden, cake on his freshly shaven head, joking that he ruined Christmas. God, I miss him. He was one of the sweetest people I have ever crossed paths with.

...at the gravesite of Cuchulainn, we’ll kneel around and pray… (The Pogues - The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn)

If I had the choice of going blind or losing my hearing, I’d rather go blind. Not being able to hear music ever again would probably make me suicidal. It’s that important to me. I’ve learned a lot about myself through the music I listen to. It sounds funny, but it’s true, and I never want to give that up. (Yes, I’m completely aware of the irony that I’m ruining my hearing by going to live shows whenever I can. Shush, you!)

...but when I hear the music, all my troubles just fade away… (Poison - Let it Play)

Yet, I married my complete opposite when it comes to music. He’s not a huge music fan. I like to annoy him by playing “Name That Tune”. Normally, I can name a song, album and artist (and in some cases, the year) within the first few notes. He has a hard time recognizing Dylan, Pink Floyd and Zeppelin. I’ve noticed, though, that his iPod is slowly getting filled with some of my more favorite music. Some of my CDs have disappeared in his car, never to be seen again. I’m willing to cut him a certain amount of slack for not being as into music music as I am, since he gives me the freedom I need to go travel to show after show, but not too much. *grin* I mean, the man has trouble naming classic tunes and can’t tell one band from another! *sigh*

It’s a good thing he’s cute.

...I count your eyelashes secretly. With every one, whisper I love you… (R.E.M. - At My Most Beautiful)