If you ever look at pictures of bands-especially small bands, or up-and-coming bands, or indie bands-they always have pictures of them at some "cute little antique shop" or "quaint little truck stop" where they found marvelous little things or ironic trucker hats or matching gorilla gloves that the whole band bought and then subsequently photographed themselves wearing. Or maybe a sign that says "Laundry-5 Cents." You know, something like any of that. But if I were in a band and we were traveling, I don't feel like I would buy any of these things. Not because they aren't cool or fun, but because I think I would spend my complete allowance on food. That's all I ever really buy. Food.
All that being said, there are probably a few reasons why I am not in a band-my impulse buying habits not being the largest of them. But neither is my lack of musical ability. I can write a song. I can write many songs. In fact, I have. And some of them are pretty damn good. I can play guitar. Not well, but better than a lot of people. And I have a sense for what chords sound good together, even if I can't get that wicked creative with the uniqueness. And I have recording equipment and access to the bare bones of it. And I even have people who are willing to play with me or record me and who I think are talented. So what is it? Well, for now, it's that I'm taking this trajectory towards being an English teacher in Korea. Not what I would have guessed for myself a year back, but I'm proud of the decision regardless, even if it's not what I expected. That's part of the fun of it, that it's so different from anything else I've done.
But back to why I'm not in a band...
I think I may have a hard time melding my sensibilities with others'. Jamming has always been something I've shied away from. And while I do that, I see musicians with far less talent and creativity form bands and book gigs. But good for them. Half the battle is just doing it, even if you're doing it with very little. So I hold no resentment. I almost said "...no jealousy," but that may not be entirely true.
I also have a hard time finishing a song. Starting one is easy. Then all the changes and lyrics and staying true to it and blah blah blah...I have more unfinished songs than you have cayenne recipes you want to try. I sometimes wonder "Should I just finish them all and not worry about it being 'perfect'?" I think the answer is a resounding "It depends!" On one hand, it does my song a disservice to finish it just for the sake of calling it finished. It may lose the potential it had. On the other hand, what good is potential if you sit on it forever and never use it because you're afraid of wasting it. Am I right, ladies? So yeah. Like Tyson once told me when I posed the question to him: "Well, yeah, if you can do it, finish 'em." Sounds easy enough, right? Just finish 'em.
Marco writes a song just about every hour. Dude has so many songs. And they're really fuckin' good too (I just found out my Nana reads my blog. Sorry about the swearing, Nana!). And sometimes I wonder where the hell he got the chops. I remember sitting in the basement trying to watch TV and he would be in his room learning a song. And playing the song over and over. And over and over. And over. I think I even yelled at him about it. And look at the dude now. But it's not his guitar playing that I think is the most impressive. Or his voice. Both of these are great, but it's his songwriting. The imagery and poetry he comes up with blows my mind. And I think "We grew up in the same house, with the same parents and same city with the same opportunities. Where the hell did he get this?" And then I think about the different upbringing we had. And the way we manifested our pain or joy or shyness or lack thereof. So it's not as "the same" as I sometimes think it is. And that's why he's such an amazing writer. 'Cause he's unique and different and and and and...
I haven't stopped listening to this Lake Street Dive album. I bought 3 of them, but I've listened to one over and over and over. I love it. I like the lyrics (though I have some notes) and the voices and the jazzy instrumentation. Their bassist is from Iowa City, so I wonder if I ever vomited in front of her near campus or asked her for a cigarette in The Deadwood. I'm assuming I've done both. I just wrote her an e-mail in typical fanboy fashion basically informing her that a) we're both from Iowa and b) I like her music. As anyone does, I always hope my letter will be the one that shines through.
"Dear Lucas, the glaring sincerity of your 30-word missive caught my attention and could not be ignored. I've been looking for someone with your honesty and beauty to save me from this sea of leaches in which I find myself. The road is a lonely place. Rescue me. Love, Bridget and the rest of the band and anyone else you've ever yearned for from afar, especially Scottie Pippen." It'll happen someday. With any luck, that letter is already waiting for me in my inbox. But I know it's not, because GMail refreshes automatically, and I'm sitting pretty at Zero New Messages.
With that, everyone, I leave you with your thoughts. Please consider doing something great today. Or if not today, then someday way down the road that you can't even see from here.
Oh, and vote. Heathens.
I care for most of you...
-LS^2
Some Musically Themed Pictures
F'nargling on the ivories after lugging Liberty's
piano. One of my favorite photos ever.
Barry & Marco.
Once again, involuntarily encouraging Darryl.
Lake Street Dive. Aren't they lovely?
Perros Grandes, Perros Pequeños.
Marco's outdoor workshop.
Neubauer's Dad's menagerie.
