“loves to have record player going or any music at 15 months.
attempts to dance to it and complains when music stops.”
(from my baby book on my ‘rhythm and music’ page, first expression of rhythm)
today, on my birthday, many eons later, not much has changed.
—
“life is like dancing. If we have a big floor, many people will dance.
some will get angry when the rhythm changes. but life is changing all the time.”
-don miguel ruiz
the university musical society
knew all the right words to get me ramped up about the season.
—
“music is the shorthand of emotion.”
– leo tolstoy
50+ years as a band
los lobos
came to town
blocked off the street
set up
for a free concert
on a sunny afternoon
first time for my grandson
everyone
loving
their unique brand
of rock, blues, country, and rhythm and blues
from the first chord
there was dancing in the street.
—
“music is a moral law.
it gives soul to the universe,
wings to the mind,
flight to the imagination,
and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.”
-plato
what a lovely experience – attending a taping of singer-songwriter Devon Gilfillian performing at *The Leon Loft, featuring soulful songs from his new album Love You Anyway , a bit of Marvin Gaye, and some of his other favorite originals, all while chatting with local radio’s Rob Reinhart in between songs. a portion of the session aired live on ann arbor’s 107one and will air later, in its entirety, on Rob’s Acoustic Café show. this was an intimate setting, 75 seats, perfect acoustics, all close to the stage, tickets won on-air or by invite only, an eclectic mix of music lovers. meeting up outside, then moving in to share this space and time on a weekday afternoon.
—
“art is how we decorate space; music is how we decorate time.”
-jean-michel basquiat
—
*At Leon, we mix art with audio, design with technology, and business with bohemia. We’re a group of artists, designers, engineers, and craftsmen who are dedicated to producing the finest quality bench made American audio. For over 20 years, we’ve been meticulously handcrafting a full palette of custom speakers and technology concealment solutions that bring sound + style to any space. Leon products are available world-wide, exclusively at high-end audio/video retailers. And because music is our first love, we have a dedicated performance space, the Leon Loft, at our headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In this intimate, live performance venue, we’ve had the privilege of welcoming some of today’s biggest recording artists for a live recording of Acoustic Cafe with Rob Reinhart. For more information about the Leon Loft, visit leonloft.com
(not me, and i don’t have a dog, but how i imagine many passengers react (inside) to my car singing)
—
during my weekday commutes
i spend my time
listening to books, radio, podcasts
and
singing along to a wide range of music
with mixed reviews.
—
“music doesn’t get in. music is already in. music simply uncovers what is there, makes you feel emotions that you didn’t necessarily know you had inside you, and runs around waking them all up. a rebirth of sorts.”
-matt haig, how to stop time
—
photo credit: google images
pandora cued up a classic ccr song for me on the way home
windows down sun shining warm spring air
thinking of this quote that i just love:
“We were ready to rock out and we waited and waited and finally it was our turn … there were a half million people asleep. These people were out. It was sort of like a painting of a Dante scene, just bodies from hell, all intertwined and asleep, covered with mud. And this is the moment I will never forget as long as I live: A quarter mile away in the darkness, on the other edge of this bowl, there was some guy flicking his Bic, and in the night I hear, “Don’t worry about it, John. We’re with you.” I played the rest of the show for that guy.
—John Fogerty recalling Creedence Clearwater Revival’s 3:30 a.m. start time at Woodstock.”
-hank bordowitz, bad moon rising: the unofficial history of credence clearwater revival
repost below from 5 years ago, now the 40th anniversary of this film
—
35 years ago ‘flashdance’ was released
and it emerged again recently
in honor of international dance day
i loved this movie
had the shoes, the ripped up sweatshirt, the perm
though my dancing style
was a bit different
from this welder by day/dancer by night
and i didn’t live in a cool loft
or have an eccentric dog
or ride my bike to work
or look at all alike
but other than that
we were like sisters.
—
Take your passion and make it happen! #InternationalDanceDay
—
“let us read and let us dance –
two amusements that will never do any harm to the world. “
-voltaire
—
image credit: paramount pictures, jennifer beals
jabbowoceez and adele
each big acts
in their own way
a split ticket for us
something for everyone
both amazing talents.
“i love playing in vegas because you’ve got people from all over the world, and you’re already accepted.
it’s kind of a great mixture of people that come out to the shows, and that makes it fun.”
-tom green
The scientific power of live music
We’re all familiar with the sense of wonder and joy we experience when we hear a song or piece of music we love, but there’s something even more magical about hearing that song performed live. Although many artists offered streamed performances online during the pandemic, these didn’t quite leave us with the same enchanted feelings as concerts. So what makes live music different? Columbia associate music professor, Mariusz Kozak explains why live music is so powerful.
Live music allows us to experience what philosopher Alfred Schütz called a “mutual tuning in” This term refers to the phenomenon where we experience the passage of time and emotions with others. This is part of the reason humans need social interaction to thrive. When we attend a concert, we’re experiencing the tone of the music—fast, slow, happy, sad—with others around us. This creates a sense of intimacy with the crowd around us. This is also why babies who are bounced in time to music with an adult display more altruism towards that person.
This pleasurable effect gained from synchronizing with those around us is what makes live music and dance so powerful. Although most people probably relate to this feeling when remembering their favorite concert, this feeling is not limited to conventional music. It can also be experienced through collective visual synchronization. In the deaf community, facial gestures and movements are to convey emotions in music performance. The collective interpretation of the emotions behind these facial gestures also promotes a sense of unity.
The Blackfeet in North America use the same word to refer to music, dance, and ceremony, indicating the essential role of gathering to fully appreciate the benefits of music. Close friends can even experience this synchronization when walking or talking together.
Experiencing music in the presence of others cultivates a feeling of unity and empathy within us which exceeds anything we could experience by ourselves. As we head back to in-person concerts and relish this feeling once again, know that the true power of the music you’re hearing might not come from the artist, but in fact your fellow concert goers.
—
“There is a high that comes from live shows,
a collective energy in a large group of people all gathered for one reason.
The beat slices through the melodies and then drops;
the crowd bounces and undulates like ripples of water.”
—
credits: the conversation, beth daly, Columbia University Mariusz Kozak
I didn't have my glasses on.... 