If you were to ask me what is most important to me, what makes me tick,
music would rank up there in the top three. I have always loved the sounds
of music (how very Julie Andrews of me, yeah I know). I think I first developed
my appreciation of music at military concerts my parents would take me
to at Cabin John Park in Potomac, MD back in the early 80's. I loved the
sounds of brass and drums of those bands. I also have very early memories
of going to Toys R' Us and trying to mimic the sounds over the store sound
system on a Fisher Price xylophone. Music has always been tied to emotion
for me. That is why I hold the value of music so dear. Regardless of how
I am feeling, someone was able to document their sounds and their emotion
to match mine. The sad part is that I have no music talent. Chorus in middle
school was mandatory and let's just say I was stuck with all the boys since
my voice was too deep. I absolutely appreciate and love music, however
I don't think I'll ever be able to make it. Tried some experimentation
in HS with friends and picked up a few chords on the guitar and could play
a typical 4/4 drum beat, but that's about it. Vocals sound like I'm strangling
a cow, however there are a handful of tracks, usually punk, that I can
get dead on. Too bad it's only a handful since the years of rock lyrics
and awesome song titles will be forever trapped in my head. I still think
I might be able to get away with playing tri-toms or quads and think that
would sound fucking awesome in a punk band.
Music has been such a big part of my life for so many years. When I was
real young, I was content with Top 40 radio, which was pretty piss poor
back in the 80's. Once I hit middle school the sounds of Zeppelin really
sprung my love for rock. I think I owned two-three Zeppelin shirts which
I would wear out relentlessly. Jimmy Page and John Bonham were rock gods
to me. Then I got into the Ramones, which started me on this completely
other quest which led to music that continues to move and empower me to
this day. In between got waves of UK Rock with PJ Harvey, Teenage Fanclub,
Ned's Atomic Dustbin, Eugenius, got heavily into Washington State music,
Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, local DC heroes Minor Threat,
Fugazi, Slant 6, Tuscadero, Jawbox, Velocity Girl, many more. Heavy period
of Black Flag, Rollins Band, Misfits, Danzig and contrasting Cure, Tori
Amos, Sarah Mc, Smashing Pumpkins. When I met my husband back in late 1995, he introduced me to a whole new world, ALL, Descendents, Sense Field, Slapshot, McRad, No Use For a Name, Mouthpiece, so many great bands. We discovered together the Pavers, Where Fear and Weapons Meet, Speak 714, lots of old hardcore bands reincarnate. These days I pretty much listen to all of the above
and not a whole hell of a lot more, except for Ben Folds. Ben Folds is
probably the artist that really invokes my muse. Listening to the Speed
Graphic EP right now. The beauty and humor in his music is some
of the greatest ear candy I have ever heard. The man is a true storyteller
and one of the most brillant musicians in the world.
My husband and I share love for live music and between us have seen over
500 shows. I am going to get a list together of all the bands we have seen
and post it. I don't want to forget those memories. Back in high school
I used to manage some of my friends bands. Usually this involved booking
shows, making flyers, copying and distro'ing demo's and carrying amps.
I have so many warm memories of being so proud of my friends as they evolved.
Even if I didn't love the music, and in some cases I really didn't, I respected
their ability to play music and their perservence. Around my sophomore
year I got involved in an awesome group Positive Force DC. Gained so much
exposure to life, activism and music from my experiences with them.
My most fond memory was working security, yeah all 125 pounds of me, at
a Fugazi show at the Sylvan Theatre (near the Washington Monument) in front
of thousands of people, including my brother and many friends. Got to sit
on Joe Lally's bass amp and just absorb the roaring show. Afterwards got
to hang out with Rat Sound, who are historic sound pioneers, especially
in the punk world. That day was one of the musical highlights of my life.
Just enormous. Other hugely fond memories, all Lollapalooza's, even though
I hated the crowds. Waiting outside WUST Radio Music Hall in DC hours early
for the one and only time I saw Ned's Atomic Dustbin. My friend Dora and
I got to sit with the lead singer, Jon, and just talk. After an awesome
show they let us back in and we spent about two hours talking to the Jon
and Floyd (their replacement guitarist) in the venue and on their tourbus.
Another good one, going to an ALL show in Philly and coming across a dazed
Bill Stevenson (drummer) on the streets in search of coffee. Invited us
back to the van and talked to him for a while before the show. Is one of
Mike's heroes and a damn good drummer, meant a lot to us. Spent the weekend
before 9/11 hanging out with the Pavers, Sense Field and McRad on this
little circuit tour in PA. Was one of the best weekends of recent memory.
The most recent was the Rollins Band tour of all Black Flag songs. To see
Ian MacKaye come on stage and sing backup's on Rise Above
was just fucking incredible. Seeing Keith and Henry sing those songs with
an awesome backup band made Black Flag as real and touchable as we could
have ever asked for. Was way too young to have appreciated them when they
were in existance, this was the next best thing. Wish we had gone to other
shows on that tour.
I do not take any of this for granted. I've been extremely lucky to have
gone to some of the shows I have and met many amazing people. Music will
always be a huge part of my life. I might not be able to make it, but the
day I stop appreciating it will be the day all the joy has been sucked
out of my body and I better be 6' under ground.