Wednesday, April 12, 2006

A Musical Interlude

Watched this last night, or at least most of it.

And am ready to watch it again.

I'm a little too young to have been intimately familiar with The Band during my youth, and now, because of this film, I'm sorry for that and therefore can feel a full-on obsession starting up. I want to know MORE, and right now, thankssomuchforasking.

Because, hello? These guys rocked! Yes, I know, they were hooked up with Mr. Bob Dylan for a period of time, for which I must forgive them, but golly day, y'all, the SONGS! "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," "Up on Cripple Creek," "I Shall Be Released," "The Shape I'm In," etc etc etc. The songs, and the singers, and their guests, make this a fine, fine film....

In all honesty, I could have done without many of the other artists and performers who took part (I'm looking at you, Mr. Neil Diamond), except that, well, Neil Young did a pretty fine job with his tune and Joni Mitchell was there running along like she does and Dr. John looked sweet in his pink bowtie and Muddy Waters was in full-on yowl and smoke form and Eric Clapton's nose in profile is something to behold. Almost all of it was delicious to hear AND see.

It's a crying shame that they just don't make music like that anymore.

Or do they?

I subscribe to a magazine called Americana Rhythm, a "local" paper that focuses on American music in the Shenadoah Valley and surrounding areas, and I think they're onto something. The mag is filled to bursting with all kinds of musicians and interviews and show dates and festival announcements, and I'm sure that in there somewhere there must be a band like The Band, who are waiting for their moment to arrive. Amidst all the bluegrass and folk, there must be some group of people who are bursting at the seams with music that defies description, who can toss out melodies with gravelly voices and change up singers at a moment's notice to suit the song and who can switch from drums to mandolin or from fretless bass to standup bass if they need to and pour out earnest passion into the mic and crowd.

And, watch out, because when I find them, they're mine. I will learn all the words to their songs and pretend to sing backup with them while I'm driving to work and buy their CDs and tickets to their shows and take my kids to see them. I will immerse myself, like I did when I first heard Little Feat and Nancy Griffiths and Joni Mitchell.

It will be wonderful to discover something new.

==========================

I'm not terribly picky about music, but prefer and gravitate to Southern Rock and jazz when I want a lift. Even classical music, which once was my LIFE, is a little irritating unless I can find time to listen to a whole piece. But hey, put on some David Bromberg or Lynrd Skynyrd or Wynton Marsalis or David Grisman or Charlie Parker or Grateful Dead and I'm pretty darned happy about life.

You can forget hip-hop - I tried it and it didn't resonate with me. You can forget top 40, because I'm not 14 anymore. You can forget heavy metal, unless it's been a really frustrating day. You can forget emo, because I have enough angst in my life. Industrial = small doses are OK. Punk = fine for when I'm high-energy. Disco = not anymore. 80's = when I'm nostalgic, and only for three songs.

I'll listen to almost anything for a little while, but only a few things for a lotta while.

Which prompts me to ask - what kind of music really gets YOU going, and why?

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

First, I gotta know...what three songs?

Chelle said...

Elvis Costello. Anytime. Anywhere.

Punk/Ska when I want to rock out. 80's for nostalgia though I love the Go-Gos anytime. Billie Holiday and Coltrane when I want to be reflective. Big Band when I want to be cheesy and light.

It's been a while since I've rocked out to Skynard but I recently down loaded the Rossington Band song Take Me Back.

Awesome Post.

Anonymous said...

WN - just about any ol' three songs EXCEPT "Take my breath away" because I heard that shit waaaaaay too much while working as a bartender in the Holiday Inn Lounge.

Little Red Corevette, Take on me, and Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic would hold my attention.

MMM3 - I love me some Elvic C too. Also the ska.

Anonymous said...

Interesting three...hmmm. I could never pick three favorite ANYTHINGS. I'll have it narrowed down and then I'm all "oh, yeah! forgot about THAT one!" I like everything. About the only thing I can't stomach is hardcore rap and soft rock. Also hate -- with the white hot intensity of a thousand suns no less -- Celine Dion and Mariah Carey. Love classical. Love my southern rock. Like most country (though not all). Jayhawks, SonVolt, Wilco, Jimmy Buffett, umm, most modern rock (White Stripes)...

I think I'll stop now. I know this is way more than you wanted to hear...

rennratt said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
rennratt said...

It depends on my mood. One day, it's Jason Mraz, then Kid Rock, then the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, They Might Be Giants, Not drowning, waving. On other days, it could be Relient K, The Pogues, The Dead Milkmen, a rush into Trans Siberian Orchestra (I like 'em year round, thanks) - and a jump right into James Blunt, Daniel Powter...and Def Leppard.

Sometimes, for Kicks and Giggles, a little Rod Mckuen...and on and on.

I guess you could call me musically moody...

For the record, I loathe Mariah, Whitney, Celine, Brittney, etc.

rennratt said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
rennratt said...

Sorry. Blogger keeps double posting my comments. [I deleted them to prevent annoying Tiff, our beloved host].

Chelle said...

My question is what happened with classical music? Where you a concert musician?

Chelle said...

Were you a concert musician? ( I hate it when I am thinking one thing and my brain types another. )

Anonymous said...

So, Celine and Mariah and Britney and those chicks are all out of the party play list when we all get together. :> Yay!!!!

The tough part will be sifting through what sounds like a LOT of good music with which I'm not familiar. Ren - you spin discs for the first hour, the WordNerd can take over, then MMM3.

Oh, and yes, I was a concert musician (unpaid, academic symphonies and such) up through the time I was 26. French horn player. Gave it up for the most part when I fell in love and moved to Florida and took up fishing. Am looking to shine up the ax and take another turn around the block once I dig it out of storage.

Anonymous said...

ah, i'm so sorry, i'm so behind...i need to get my priorities straight and get to this here blog more often...tiff actually saved my sanity as fellow musicians....remember tiff? concert orchestra bus trip....us wind players have to stick together-
now, about those top 3 tunes...my italian best friend and i are constantly competing on who can make the best compilation cd...and our current challenge is the best of the 80's...i'm almost ready for my attempt: Some joe jackson, talking heads, minutemen, red hot chili peppers, a bowie, a who, police, cars, bananarama, bangles, blondie, b52s, squeeze, aha, gang of four, turning japanese, pop music,...

I want to work for Ktel when i grow up.