Music Therapy

So, to cut to the chase, I am not in a great mood today...but no need to get into the details. What I have noticed in my current state, however, is that music is one of the only things that can make me feel better. For some people, it's opera, for others it's hip-hop and yet for others, it is death metal. Everyone has some sort of music that acts as a panacea for any problem. My particular remedy really depends on my mood and today it came in the form of Elliott Smith's "Shooting Star." Unfortunately, my great friend Youtube has failed me and I can't find the song there but have no fear...I stole it from someone's imeem so here's the song

"Shooting Star" is one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs ever. The razor sharp instrumentation is disturbing and comforting at the same time. No matter what mood I am in, "Shooting Star" always seems to change my mindset. From his last album, From a Basement on a Hill, "Shooting Star" was one of the final songs that Smith recorded. When I first heard the song, the beginning especially drove me up the wall...I thought it was the worst thing ever but as I became more familiar with his music, I began to consider it to be one of his best pieces. By the time the drums come in, about 18 seconds into the song, you can't help but feel the music. Smith's Hendrix style guitar riffs in the intro augment the emotion of the already compelling song. While Smith is most notably recognized for his songwriting, in this song, the lyrics don't even matter that much to me. Don't get me wrong, "Shooting Star" is no exception to his natural gift for songwriting but the music is so powerful that it almost overpowers the words. The lyrics don't begin until one minute into the song, and by then I've already had a musical orgasm. I really don't have many words to describe the song with the merit it deserves but if you listen to it, you will instantly know.

By now, you have already probably listened to the song but I have some suggestions to listening. That's right, there is a certain way that it should be listened to:

If you download the song, which I hope that you do, I suggest listening to it with headphones on. It's a completely different experience. With headphones, the intro seems to move back and fourth between your ears, surrounding your brain with musical greatness. If you don't have headphones, and even with them, it is crucial that you listen to the sound as loud as possible.

Reef the Lost Cauze

Underground hip-hop extraordinaire, Reef the Lost Cauze sat down with me to speak about the effects of the city on his music. Yes, that's Cauze with a 'z' but don't let this spelling glitch fool you; Reef is one of the most intellectual rappers out there. Born and raised in Philadelphia, he has toured the world, spitting his unique rhymes, but still resides in South Philadelphia. Already four albums into the game, with a fifth to be released this year, there is no stopping this hip-hop monster.

What part of the city were you born in?
I was born and raised in West Philadelphia.

Me too- what part?
Oh, word! 60th and Landsdowne…we’re close by you. There was a period from like age eight or nine to twelve where I lived in State College, Pennsylvania…Near Penn State…up in the Boonies. It was a good education. And now I can maneuver between the urban and rural.


Would you say that who you are comes from a combination of living in Philly and State College?
I would say it’s a little bit of the two. I am coming from an urban environment to literally, there’s a corn field across the street and cows. And I’m the only minority up there. And it taught me a lot about racism and it also taught me a lot about self racism because I know a lot of African American people who live in that town…and it was very rare to see unity-those people were always very catty to each other. I never understood that mentality until I got older. It’s just that a lot of African Americans in situations like that- they’re so set on trying to fit in, that you have a whole lot of white washing. I mean I used to ride on a skateboard and be like “Dude,” but I came back to the city for high school and that dude died right away and it had to because otherwise, I wouldn’t survive. Those three or four years up here shaped me because I can sit down and have a conversation with a red neck and I can sit down and have a conversation with a dude from the hood because I lived around both of them. We’re not different, really- that’s the fucked up thing about it. We’re all poor, we all have guns, we don’t trust the government-it’s all the same. What you learn, is the color that counts the most is green- the money. That’s what separates people- the color of money. Poor folks are poor folks. When I lived up there, I was middle class and when I moved back to Philly, was middle class. Those people are just the same as me.

Do you think that comes through in your music? The fact that you got a little bit of both worlds?
Absolutely. If you listen to my stuff, there’s a lot of references to pop culture and 80’s rock and cartoons and my sense of humor comes out. I was just allowed to be a kid when I lived up there so I think that shaped me musically because I always allow my imagination to run free. I feel like a lot of artists in Philly are so scared to step outside of that box of slangin and bangin because they didn’t have the opportunity to see the things that I saw. I was blessed. I had a two parent household. You know, different things- they just shape who you are. That’s why when people attack hip hop, it really pisses me off that they don’t understand that they’re attacking someone’s life when you say that they can’t talk about this when that’s all they saw. Otherwise they would have to lie. The flip side is that a lot of people glorify that shit.

What aspects of the city would you say contribute to your music ?
The violence, the feeling of desperation, all the negative things. But also the beauty of it- this is such a scrappy, fighting town…the never give up attitude. The fact that we’re the most loyal people- when you love someone., you ride with them till the end. So the loyalty, the architecture, the food, the sports, the women…did I say women? The colleges. You’re living in an urban city. It all touches you- it all affects you. The graffiti on the walls, the smell of the subway, the sound of the subway, the sound of a train coming to you. The city, as an organism, is alive, it’s breathing- it’s a living breathing thing. Wherever you live affects you. Me, Rhyming in a dimly lit school yard till two in the morning with my friends prepared me for battle on stages all over the world. Battling in those school yards was ten times more intense than the battles that happen now. I always go others places but I don’t know if I could live anywhere else. And I know, most people talk about getting out of Philly as quick as they possibly can but for me, I go to New York and I go to other places and I just can’t wait to get home. It’s my little city. It’s not as big as New York- but that’s a good thing. This is the only city where on one corner you have an Irish pub the other you got a Mexican place, the Brothers are chillin over here, the Italians are up the street. I mean, South Philly alone, I had so many different flavors of neighbors as far as their races and backgrounds. You get to pick from those experiences. Like tonight, if I want Italian, I can have Italian. If I wan Japanese, I can get that. If I want some steaks, If I want the soul food, it’s all around the corner from me. I love that about my city. We don’t really like each other. But I like that too. That shit is dope. The racism- I’ll be with one my white homies from the North East and one of his homies will be like ‘yeah that fuckin’ nigger..’ and it will roll off my back and the next day someone will be like ‘yeah, I smacked the shit out of a white boy.” We go back and fourth. Racism is such a part of our culture, people wear it on their sleeves. Like, if you go to an Eagles game, you’ll hear the most racist shit you ever heard in your life, and you’re sitting right next to the person saying it- that’s your friend for life- ya’ll drinkin.

How would you define hip hop?
Right now, the state of hip hop? I think it’s actually dope. I mean, a lot of people are like ‘yo hip hop’s dead, hip hop this, hip hop that,’ Last year, if you had asked me that question, I would have given you a whole rant about how hip hop is dead and how the MC’s that are out today- they ain’t shit- but then I realized, when I say that, I just look old. Cause I talk to some young boys about why they love “Superman” and if you think about it, it’s the same as “The Humpty Hump” for us. There were old heads looking at us like ‘that shits garbage.” Once you start downing what the kids are loving, you’re not a kid no more. And I’m not a kid no more. I am twenty- five about to be twenty-six and I know what good hip hop sounds like. But that’s my generations version of hip hop. The generation before us, KRS-One, was ten times better than Biggie. ‘I can’t listen to Biggie- He ain’t LL COOL J’ But you say that to people of our generation and they snap. You say that about Lil’ Wayne and you get ‘Lil Wayne ain’t better than Nas.” For me hip hop is great because I can still find the type of hip hop that I like and even though it ain’t on the radio, even though it ain’t on videos, I wouldn’t expect it- because those things have passed. Will it ever go back to the kind of hip hop that I like? I think so because it all goes in cycles but we’re in a different time right now, we’re in a different generation and these kids are saying ‘these are the songs that we like.” And yes, there’s not a lot of substance but I still listen to the stuff that I like so for me, hip hop is always gonna be dope cause no matter what, I can always pop in a CD from ’96. That’s hip hop- that’s gonna be there forever. I still listen to BB King or Led Zepplin and I’m like ‘damn…these dudes make great music.’ It’s not like I’m like ‘this isn’t what’s hot right now.’ Hip hop is the only musical form that does that. Led Zepplin would still sell out an arena. I just don’t understand. In hip hop, it’s like, the times have changed and if you don’t change with them, you’re irrelevant. The music that you made before the times changed, that was so powerful, that’s not enough to get you the respect and love forever. We don’t know how to evolve. So to me, hip hop will always be alive because I can always go back to the stuff that I dig. I don’ know what’s going on right now.

Who are some of your influences either musically or socially?
Musically, Big Daddy Kane, first and foremost, because he was like the ultimate. That dude could do tracks about the hood, about women, about just his personality. My mom was my biggest influence growing up- she guided me and showed me how to do things. I had my grandparents. I come from a really tight knit family. Community is what socially influences me cause these people shape me. If I didn’t have them, I would probably rhyme a little differently because I wouldn’t have had that education and guidance from them. A lot of dudes that rap today, they didn’t have the older people in the community to shape their world view but I was lucky enough to still be young enough to have that. I don’t think the generation after us has that. But I have old heads around me and the way they dress, and they way they speak- that influences me.


How does the Philadelphia audience compare to other audiences?
Anyone who has been performing in the city can tell you that when you go somewhere else it’s a different environment, different people. Usually when you do a show in Philly, you almost know who is going to be there. For the most part, it’s going to be friends a family, and the few supporters that you do have, and the people in the scene every Friday night- it doesn’t matter who is performing, they’ll be there anyway. It’s almost like, if you’re not doing shit outside of Philly…People from Philly don’t really respect you. So you almost have to advertise that you’re doing different things. When I go to New York, LA, down South, or Overseas, it’s a different experience for me because in the back of my mind it’s like ‘these are people who have never seen me.’ In Philly, I still give it my all but it’s a little more laid back because it’s my people in the audience. It gives me a boost to give people something they’ve never seen before. The negative is that Philly will show you love but you’re really really going to have to earn that shit. If you ain’t dope, you’re not gonna get any respect or love. Other places, give it up a little better. But the local rapper from LA will be more excited about playing a show in Philly just like the local rapper from Philly will be more excited about playing a show in LA.

Is there a primary message that you try to present in your music?
I’m weary of that word because there are so many who use the tag ‘rapper with a message.’ I make music that I love. My music is human music. It runs the gamut from me on some violent angry shit to, me on some emotional ‘I’m gonna cry’ shit ,to me on some romantic ‘I wanna love you’ shit. Real life is emotional. Real life is not ‘we need to change the world’ and real life is not just guns. I’m just trying to speak my heart.

What would you say is the demographic of your audience?
For the most part, my age group. I have a lot of thirteen and fourteen year old kids but that’s just because of the internet. My demographic definitely isn’t he street crowd. It’s the more conscious, backpack crowd- which I hate even saying because it’s not like there’s a difference between us but the media has done a good job painting that picture that there are two separate worlds and people fall right in line with that. But it bothers me because there’s music that I make that I hope can appeal to all sides but it’s a matter of people being so stubborn. I do a show with Little Brother and then I do a show with Freeway.

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
I just want to be making a living off of music. Taking care of my family and traveling. The dreams of the yacht and the mansion, it’s a beautiful dream but your world view of what you want, changes.


The Sound of Philadelphia

Trip to Mecca

This past spring, I headed out to Los Angeles, California for the first time. This was in fact my first time traveling further west than Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. The purpose of my trip was to visit a friend from high school and also to see all the hype of California...more specifically, Hollywood, LA, Beverly Hills, and Laguna Beach. Before departing for my six hour flight, I remembered to copy down the address of the Elliott Smith Memorial, which I knew was in LA.

I am a huge Elliott Smith fan. For those of you who don't know who Elliott was, you know nothing about music. Just Kidding- but seriously, you need to check him out because he was one of the most talented singer-songwriters who ever lived. More to come on Elliott's life and death (especially about what I believe to have been his MURDER - not suicide). But for now, I would like to recount my trip to Mecca.

Unfortunately, I was making my journey with only one other person who knew who Elliott was, and the rest of the group could not appreciate the importance of this trip. We finally arrived at the memorial around 8pm and it was a little dark and hard to see....BUT, I witnessed the greatness nonetheless. Another unfortunate part of my trip was that the memorial had been defaced not long before, and some of the original signatures and messages on the wall had to be erased. But finally arriving at the wall was amazing. I had planned to write one of my favorite Elliott quotes from Waltz #2. But when I arrived, I saw that " I'm never gonna know you now, but I'm gonna love you anyhow" had been written all over the memorial. While Smith did have fans across the world, he was mostly celebrated as an underground artist, despite his great success. But in Los Angeles, I was shocked to see an Elliott Smith billboard in the middle of the city, seven years after his death. I encourage you to do more research on the greatness that was Elliott Smith but in the meantime, I leave you with this music video that features Elliott's memorial. This is not an official music video, but one created by a fan in memory.

Memorial Address:
4334 Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, California
ps: the memorial is actually a lot smaller than it seems...a little disappointing, but still didn't ruin my journey to Mecca



Pictures of my trip to Mecca

Memorial

Billboard

"L.A./ Things I've never done/ Cars parked in the sun/ Living in the day/But last night i was about to throw it all away."
-- Elliott Smith

Dying to Live

In honor of Memorial Day, I was trying to find this video that I came across on youtube but had no luck. The video showed of the terrors of war, with Edgar Winter's "Dying to Live" as the background music. It was a fantastic video but I can't seem to find it anymore. But you guys should really check out the song. It's an amazing song, one of my favorites. There are a lot of versions out there, but I think Edgar Winter's is the best.


I don't love this video, but it has the song so here you go



have a good memorial day... and don't eat too much food.

Dr. Dog

Dr. Dog first caught my attention when I saw their bizarre flyer at World Cafe Live. Under their name, I saw the words, "Philadelphia's Own" and I decided to check out their music. Upon further investigation, I discovered that this five-piece collective was not only from Philadelphia, but that they were from my own hood in West Philadelphia!

So, who is Dr. Dog?

Dr. Dog is a psychedelic, pop-rock, band from from West Philadelphia. I know what you're thinking...did you say psychedelic and West Philadelphia in the same sentence? Yes, yes I did. Heavily influenced by 1960's pop bands, Dr. Dog has a truly unique sound for this age. After touYour Hands Say Yeah, Dr. Dogg, My Morning Jacket, Stephen Malkmus, Tapes 'n Tapes, Wakarusa, Ween, World Cafe Livering with My Morning Jacket and later with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Dr. Dog's fan base began to expand exponentially, earning them stage time at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in 2005 and 2007. This summer, Dr. Dog will travel to Kansas for the newly instated new, yet well established, Wakarusa Music Festival.




Riding high on the success of their four previous albums, Dr. Dog will release their fifth album, Fate, on July 22.

Sounds like: Tapes'n Tapes, Ween, Stephen Malkmus
Favorite Song: Heart It Races

Lollapalooza

With headliners like Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, Rage Against the Machine, Kanye West and Gnarls Barkley, Lollapalooza 2008 is destined to be one of the best music festivals of the summer. From August 1st through the 3rd, 120 bands will rock seven stages in Grant Park, Chicago. Boasting mainstream and underground artists from genres as disparate as hip-hop and electronica, Lollapalooza has it all. Unlike many summer festivals, there are no campgrounds, but that doesn't stop the hordes of fans from coming each year. Given the urban location of the festival, there are tons of hotels in the area, allowing fans to check out the Windy City while enjoying some of the best acts of the summer. Although the early bird tickets are already sold out, you can still buy a three-day advance pass for $190. And even better, if you're still slightly prepubescent, vertically challenged and could pass for an 11-year-old, you can get in free.

John Mayer Summer Tour 2008

Fresh off the Mayercraft Carrier, still living off the success of Continuum, John Mayer is strapping up for his 2008 summer tour. Mayer will kick off the tour in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, upon returning to the States from his European tour. Continuum, which debuted in 2006, marked a huge change for Mayer. Abandoning his pop-rock sound for a more sophisticated blues album, reminiscent of the John Mayer Trio, John Mayer gained some fans while losing others. Thus, the audience demographic of the 2007 Continuum Tour was much different than his usual audience.

While it may seem strange to go on tour without releasing a new album, Mayer is taking advantage of the opportunity. To kick off the tour, Mayer is releasing "Where The Light Is," a live DVD, recorded in Los Angeles. In the DVD Mayer reflects "That's the thing about people knowing anything about you before you meet them-is that you have to work just to get people back to knowing nothing about you." While a lot of the music if familiar, the style is very different, as Mayer thrives off the energy of the crowd. Merging different stages in his artistic evolution "Where The Light Is"consists of an acoustic set, a trio set, and a band set.

As far as the tour set-list, Mayer has promised to do something similar. He will play his radio songs, then switch a blues set, and play a few covers. For this tour only, Mayer has an unprecedented idea for his encore. Dedicated to his fans and thriving of their response, he has decided to let them pick the encore for each show. Thus, the final song from night to night may differ. Also as a sign of loyalty to his fans, Mayer has decided to allow them to take pictures and videos in hopes that fans will post them to his website.



Although there will be very little new music on the 2008 Continuum Tour, Mayer promises to bring his fans a completely new experience.

James David Carter

I originally wrote this for another blog but because
I told you guys about JDC, I thought it would be
fitting here

What happens when old and new school collide? When Motown meets Columbia? Some say catastrophe but in the case of James David Carter, the answer is magic

Blue-eyed soul sweetheart, master of the piano and guitar, James David Carter is relatively new to the music scene. Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Carter recently relocated to the musical city of Atlanta, Georgia.

Blue-eyed soul sweetheart, master of the piano and guitar, James David Carter is relatively new to the music scene. Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Carter recently relocated to the musical city of Atlanta, Georgia.

His first EP, "To Be Continued," is beautifully colored with intimate stories of love and life lost and found. The piano and heart-wrenching emotion of "Lonely Long Enough"is reminiscent of the sounds of James Taylor and Joe Cocker. Switching things up, Carter turns to "I Can't Wait," a track sounding more like Jason Mraz with a touch of country. The variety of "To Be Continued" shows the genius and ability of Carter.

Truly in touch with himself, Carter explains, "I'm a simple person...I feel most comfortable in my skin when I'm able to use the gift I've been given. "His second EP, "Songs to God" is due to be released this summer. In the fall of 2008, Carter plans to begin work on his first full length album.

While he is not selling out arenas yet, perhaps that's a good thing. Using Myspace as his primary website, Carter joined the social networking avenue in late January 2008, and already has over 40,000 fans. Although singer-songwriters are common in the 21st century, Carter has a certain soulful flare that separates him from his counterparts. Fusing elements from all of his influences, James David Carter is a refreshing example of what happens when various worlds collide.

some music to keep you busy, while I keep myself lazy

It's only 2:44pm but it's been a long day already...but because I didn't write yesterday, I owe you something. So, here are some artists I have been listening to lately that I think you should check out. For now, all you get is links, but there will be artist profiles to follow

James David Carter
Melody Gardot
Jonathan Clay
Justin Nozuka
David Ford
Ben Arnold

That's all for now.

Ropeadope Digital

For years people have been wondering what effect technology will have on the music industry. But it still seems like little has changed… for fans, anyway. We download music, occasionally buy CDs, and for the few dedicated music fans, vinyl is still widely available. But what has this switch to digital meant for the industry? While some musicians are waiting to see what happens, others, like Radiohead, have adapted to the change. Likewise, some record labels have embraced the digital world. Straight out of Philadelphia, Ropeadope Records has developed a way to keep up with the changes in technology. Simultaneously maintaining a clothing label, semi-traditional record label and digital label, all while continuing to sell vinyl, Ropeadope Records is at the top of its game.

If you haven't heard of Ropeadope before, you have certainly seen their stuff around. Marked by a small red and white flame across the sleeve, the Ropeadope t-shirt insignia is hard to miss. The infamous red patch has graced the sleeves of the shirts of many Philadelphia groups, like The Roots and the Disco Biscuits, to name a few. But recently, Ropeadope has been focusing on using this success to further their brand. Besides the classic Ropeadope tees, the Love Movement Series and the City Series, Ropeadope also makes the popular ReNew Orleans shirts, worn by celebrities such as Dave Matthews and The Roots' Black Thought.

Besides their contribution to the clothing industry, Ropeadope has made significant innovative contributions to the record industry. Although Ropeadope was always far from traditional, their decision to make a completely digital label was surely pioneering. While continuing to sell vinyl and CDs on a smaller scale, Ropeadope is focusing on the development of Ropeadope Digital. At its debut in 2007, the digital label consisted of only seven artists but has since grown to include 25 performers in genres ranging from electronica to hip-hop to jazz. While a few of the artists are local, some come from as far away as Iceland. The digital element of this label allows Ropeadope to routinely release new music on the first Tuesday of every month. Besides the obvious advantages of no manufacturing, shipping or returns, Ropeadope is especially unique in their contracting: all artists retain full ownership of their masters and the license is for a very short time period.

With their artists performing everywhere from Bonnaroo and All Good to World Café Live and the TLA, Ropeadope is working to stay ahead of its competition. True to their game, Ropeadope has recently started conducting musical experiments. The Philadelphia Experiment, the first of the series, consists of drummer and sometimes DJ ?uestlove, avant-garde pianist Uri Caine and jazz bassist Christian McBride. Followed by the Harlem and Detroit Experiments, these series continue to defy musical convention. While some industry professionals reject change, Ropeadope accepts it while maintaining its roots. It is impossible to predict what will become of the music industry but one thing is certain: no matter what obstacle technological innovation presents, Ropeadope Records will always, "Stand Strong"

Adonis Cross

I first came across Adonis Cross on Myspace about three or four years ago. At the time, he was practically begging fans to buy his cd's so that he could support himself. As the weeks progressed, the profit from his music was not enough and he soon began asking myspace friends if he could play in their garage or backyard, to prevent becoming homeless. I guess you could say he is the definition of a starving artist.

Cross' music is quite heartfelt. Mostly acoustic, his music is that of a singer-songwriter, fused with the emotional lyrics of the blues. At one point, Cross abandoned his musical career to pursue his career as a comedian. But to the happiness of his fans, he has once again returned to the music scene.

The lyrics of songs such as "Wizard of Flaws" and "Submission" are a true testament to honesty. Cross unfailingly releases his emotions through his words and melodies. Unfortunately, since the time I first came into contact with him, Adonis has produced very little new music. However, now that he is back on track, I can only hope that he will continue to pursue his dreams and keep making music that soothes the soul.

Favorite Songs: Submission, No Saint
Sounds Like: a black Elton John

Xponential 2008

This year's Xponential Festival is destined to be the best yet!
...for me anyway

Dave Barnes!
Need I say more?
For those of you who don't know, Dave Barnes is an incredibly talented singer-songwriter from Tennessee. Recently married, many of his songs are love ballads but he mixes it up with upbeat tunes about life in general. Despite his charm, Barnes boasts an equally male and female audience. An underground artist for most of his career, Barnes has recently shared some airtime on MTV's TRL and MTVU's The Freshman, with his release, "Until You." I have been trying to see Dave Barnes play for the past two years but because of his underground status, he never really made it to the east coast. The past year, he came to New York but for a 21+ show. While a fake ID seemed like a good idea, standing 4'10 and looking like a 15- year- old, I knew I could never pass. But FINALLY, I will have the chance to see Dave live. More to come about Dave Barnes in future blogs but I had to mention this.

So if Dave Barnes wasn't enough, Joan Osborne will also be at Xponential! Osborne is an incredibly talented songstress. I first came across Osborne in Standing in the Shadows of Motown (an excellent documentary). With her 2007 release, Breakfast in Bed,Osborne is certain to add a soulful mix to the otherwise rock-based Xponential.

Speaking of soul, Philadelphia based group, The Hustle will also appear at Xpoenential. I've seen these guys perform twice and they embody everything that Philadelphia is about. Musically and culturally diverse, The Hustle has a variety of influences that contribute to their unique sound. I can honestly say they are the only group like this in Philadelphia, and possibly even in the country. Fusing instruments as disparate as a turntable, keyboard, and saxophone, the sound of The Hustle is nearly indescribable. Led by a musically gifted MC, The Hustle is sure to rock Xponential.

If those three acts aren't convincing enough for you, the following will also perform at Xponential '08:
The Brakes
The Redwalls
Michel Franti & Spearhead
and Amos Lee

The Essentials:
Dates: July 10-13
Location: Wiggins Park, Camden Waterfront (Camden NJ- near the Aquarium/ Tweeter)
Cost: TBA on sale May 22 for non-XPNmembers
Lots of Green (not that kind of Green):


So yeah, come out! I went last year and it was a lot of fun...the food is good too
If you meet me there, you can join my quest to stalk meet Dave Barnes

Black Coffee, White Christmas

Sometimes it is a simple instance, a single frame in the reel of our lives that makes us look at the world differently. Often, the greatest moments in our lives occur by chance. My life changing revelation came to me one evening in the bitter winter of 2004. That night, I began to look at music differently, valuing its artistic qualities over the catchy phrases of the upbeat melodies.

It was another Saturday when Student Activities arranged for a concert on an open weekend at Boarding School. Most of my friends were off campus so I took the opportunity to relax and listen to my favorite music on repeat for the entire night. While I was rocking out to 'N sync's, "Pop" for what was probably the fourth time that night, my friend came over and asked me if I would go to the field house to see the Death of a Day Job Tour. The only concerts I had attended had been large-scale events, compete with fireworks, several costume changes, and at least a few thousand fans. Close-minded, I simply replied "No" and replaced her obnoxious pleas with my headphones, hoping that she would take the cue and leave. To my dismay, she did not budge, and finally convinced me to go to the concert on the condition that I would only stay for a maximum of thirty minutes.

When we arrived, we were greeted by an audience of eight people, three of whom were faculty children under the age of eight. Needless to say, I had low expectation for this concert and I wanted to go back to my room and listen to some more 'N sync. But judging by the big turn out, I decided it would be rude to leave so I sat down to listen, unprepared for my musical metamorphosis which was about to occur. When we first arrived at the concert Matt Hopper was performing his set which consisted of more jokes than music. It was clear that he had spent too much of his career playing the bar scene and perhaps even directly contributing to the income of the bar. When he finally left the stage, a rather mysterious artist introduced himself as Andrew Norsworthy. He seemed like the shy, friendly, introvert- the kind of person that you see reading Faulkner in the corner of a small coffee shop. However, when he opened his mouth, I knew that my predispositions had been wrong. He stood beneath red, blue, and green lighting on a threadbare stage singing not about "Sex and Candy," but rather about life and everyday experiences. That night, I reached that awe-inspiring moment when I felt like he was singing directly to me (which may have been the case, due to the small audience). His voice rang out with raw, unadorned, perfection. He sang of familiar situations and events, yet he expressed them in terms of poetic dreams.

"Black Coffee, White Christmas" is the song that still stands out in my memory as a true work of art. It is a song about a person who, after several years, returns to a place that he calls home but does not receive the same comforting welcome. He sings, "I'm lookin' for old neighbors but the neighborhood isn't the same; they don't know my name…I know every bus in this city, by the seatback graffiti, I could show you so much." Who has not had this feeling? I remember returning to my elementary school, knowing all of the teachers and all of the back routes to certain classes, but to my surprise there were several new students there who treated me as if I were a stranger in the place that I called home. "Black Coffee, White Christmas" painted the emotions that I felt but could find no way to express. The magic of Norsworthy's music is that it offers something to which everyone can relate. With the poetic lyrics of Springsteen, the beautiful acoustic tunes of Nick Drake, and a voice truly his own, Norsworthy possesses the natural ability to captivate his audience.

When Andrew finished playing, "Black Coffee, White Christmas," I walked over to the merchandise booth and immediately purchased his demo, titled, "Seatback Graffiti." After the concert, I downloaded the CD and proceeded to listen to it aloud for an entire week, much to the dismay of my roommate. I could tell that my addiction had taken its toll when I knew each word, riff, and chord progression within a matter of days. My roommate eventually began to sing along, "I could show you so much more." The Death of a Day Job Tour introduced to me a different genre of music and showed me that there was "so much more" than the music I listened to on the radio. Since then, my taste in music has changed drastically. Instead of listening to the radio, I turn on my iPod in the car. That night, I fell in love, not with Andrew, despite his Alaskan charm, but with music as an art form.

A good artist has the ability to make his audience believe that they can emulate his work. She takes her fans on a once in a lifetime journey to a euphoric destination that can never be reached again. Great music has that quality that makes it indescribable to any review columnist or music fanatic. It possess that magical spark that tugs at the sinews of our hearts, forcing us to release our inhibitions and let our emotions run wild. The Death of a Day Job concert certainly did not change the world, but it definitely changed the way I perceive the artistic elements in the world around me.

Music taste...

I love all music.
Music has the ability to speak to people in a way that no other art form can. It makes us feel as if we have done something or been somewhere before even though we know it is our first time. My music taste is very disparate.

I'm not going to lie..when I was younger, I loved the Spice Girls and 'Nsync- but that was all a part of growing up as a girl in the 90's. As I entered middle school, I realized it was no longer acceptable to be obsessed with 20-year-old men and I developed an appreciation for alternative rock, fascinated with bands such as Nirvana and Rage Against the Machine. In high school, I gained an interest in hip-hop, after purchasing Jay-Z's "The Black Album." During my Sophomore year, I attended an Andrew Norsworthy show that would forever change the way that I looked at music. I realized that music was more than a performance or a recording. Each performance induces an experience that can only be achieved once and that's the beauty of the art.

My college life in Philadelphia has taught me to embrace all music. Such a diverse city, Philadelphia has so much to offer, from electronica and hip-hop to folk-rock and the blues. I LOVE THE MUSIC OF THIS CITY! As I've matured, I've realized that my music taste has developed as well. However, I am not embarrassed by any of the music that I used to listen to because it was all a part of my journey toward self-discovery. I still listen to pop and hip-hop because they are so much a part of me. When I listen to some of my favorite songs, it brings back memories, in a way that only music can.

As you will see throughout my blog, I now listen to all sorts of music and have a true passion for writing about it.

Stay tuned and I will rock your world!