WHY MUSIC MATTERS — 3 TAKES

Trip's View:

Passion Is No Ordinary Word

How long does passion for music last? While the dust gathers on Johnny’s Dance Band, Chicago, Wire Train and even recent passing fancies like The Slip and Starsailor, many albums and songs stay rooted in my consciousness. I recently played Ray Charles’ 1962 release Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music and was knocked out not only by the exquisite craft but also the exuberance and timelessness of the performances. I still play Every Picture Tells A Story, Heat Treatment and Late For The Sky at least once a month. The unbridled enthusiasm and passion I have for those records was formed during the “sweetheart years” – ages 13 to 25. I almost think it’s impossible for any music to ever mean as much to you as the music you discover and absorb during the “sweetheart years”.

So what’s the big deal? Who cares? Well I’ve always wondered whether the passion for music fades. And I think the answer is … it’s up to you. But a recent visit with my Uncle Denny (who, in a karmic ripoff of epic proportions, lost his sister in February, lost his wife of over 50 years shortly after that, and three days after that suffered a mini-stroke from which he’s currently recuperating in rehab), I found that passion not only lasts, but thrives into the “golden years”. My uncle had a boombox and cd case with about 30 cds (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Perry Como, Time-Life comps, Ray Conniff) that he was keeping company with. As our talk to turned to music, and his love of it, he didn’t seem like he had lost one bit of the passion he developed over sixty years ago. And that absolutely thrilled me. And that in turn led to his search (and now my life’s mission) to find a recording of “Almost in Your Arms (Love Theme from Houseboat)”, sung in the movie by Sophia Loren. He talked about that song the way I talk about Bruce Springsteen or The Hold Steady, like he knew the secret to hearing great music. And that secret is….

So keep the faith, music nerds, and remember – passion is no ordinary word.

And if you’ve got a copy of “Almost in Your Arms”, please contact me.


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Satch's view:

OK … it's Friday night, and I've shared about six pitchers of Stella Atrios with a few friends. Mostly, we spent the night talking about music. And, in this conversation, I was the elder statesman of the group. I spoke [at great length] about some of the great moments that I was lucky enough to be part of in the history of what will be remembered as the rock and roll era.

I saw The Faces perform live. And I will stand on Keef Richards’ coffee table in my cowboy boots and shout out the highest heavens that this band kicked the living shit out of every other band that was traveling the boards in the early 70's. To this day, every show that I have ever been part of [as a performer] has been to try to live up to the legacy that Woody, Mac, Kenny, Ronnie & The Mod had set the standard for. Last forever? Damn straight it'll last forever.

Then, later in that same decade, Bruce and the E Street Band exploded on to the Tower Theater stage in Philadelphia and I knew that my life was changed forever. From “10th Ave Freeze Out” to the almost uncomprehending story/song that was the cover of The Animals: “It's My Life” throughout “Pretty Flamingo” and “Spirits In The Night” - there will never be another night of music like the one I witnessed in Upper Darby as a 14 year old kid. Last forever … hell … these shows grow in importance, legend and folklore with each passing year.

Passion? I've watched Townshed, in musical ecstasy, smash his Les Paul, The Clash take over the Bond Theater like it was a pub in London, Joan Jett prove that three chords are all you really need, The David Johansen Group play like there was no reason to believe that tomorrow would ever show up, and Jason and The Scorchers play to an almost empty house [due to a wild snow storm, not lack of interest] like it was a sold out show at Madison Square Garden. Passion??? Why else would these folks give us everything that they had to give?

Every time that I've ever walked on stage I've carried the passion with me that I can not truly believe that anyone else on this planet shares the same vision of rock and roll that I do … and hell … since they do … it was my job to make sure that they got everything that was coming to them. And every time that I've ever seen a band like Reckless Kelly or The Hold Steady, I'm stunned that there are still true believers out there that are trying their damnedness to keep the flame alive.

But, more than anything else, I realize, that when you sit around with a few friends, sharing a few pitchers of your favorite beer, friends of all ages, talking with passion and love for music that was recorded not only forty years ago, but in some cases, forty days ago, that music will last forever, as long as there are folks with a passion to search out and find music that gives them a reason to get out of bed in the morning.

Will music last forever? Will the passion never end?

Yes.

Now go out tomorrow and buy two CDs that you SHOULD own:
One, a classic [Holy crap, take your pick, there are so many to choose from: Blood On The Tracks, Darkness On The Edge Of Town, Every Picture Tells A Story or London Calling. Or, two, take on chance on one of the many new bands that could really use your support: The Hold Steady, The Fratellis, M. Ward or … well … anyone … pick up a damn magazine … read some reviews … and just pick one!!!

Again, I say, will music last forever? Will the passion never end?

You bet your sweet ass it will!



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++



Kevin's View:


Music has the power to let human beings leave things unspoken. They just become understood. It defines countless moments of a life. It makes specific that which, without the music, becomes a faded recollection.

At this time, I refer you to Shrevie in Diner.

One thousand one. One thousand two. One thousand three.

Ok, if the reference didn’t take, do yourself a favor and rent the friggin’ thing. In the meantime:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083833/quotes

Anyone with older siblings has been influenced by their tastes in music. With my two older brothers, I was not so much influenced as I was swept up by a tidal wave of belief that music was — next to farting loudly at the most inappropriate time — the most important thing in the world.

Once they hit me with “Gasoline Alley”, “The Love You Save” and “I’m So Bored (With The USA)” (not to mention “Billy, Don’t Be A Hero”, “Heartbeat, It’s a Love Beat”, and “The Streak”) it was all over.

It’s the moments that make the music matter the most. Will I ever forget the 1st time I heard the opening guitar of “I Will Follow”? Or the first time I saw Scott play live? Or my first date with my wife? That was Steve Earle and the Dukes at The Ritz in NYC in 1988. He closed the deal for me with the greatest version of “I Love You Too Much” he’s ever played. Thank you, strangely balding national treasure.

Because of Trip and Scott, music matters to me. It probably would have anyway but it would not be such a trusted friend and traveling companion.

I had the Jackson 5 phase. The Neil Young phase (nod to Steve and Fins and Mrs. Fins: the night my mother passed away, Mrs. Fins let her 15-year-old son and his two best friends get blind drunk and warble “Helpless” into the wee hours.) The inevitable Doors phase. The fleeting Grateful Dead flirtation. The drug-happy sordid affair with Traffic. I got right with God and music in my U2, REM and Alarm phase.

Through sheer force of fanatical will, Trip and Scott recruited me into Springsteen nation. I am also a card-carrying borderline socialist Steve Earle nut. Finally, I am head-over-heels in love w/ the Paddies — Shane, Van, Sinead, Waterboys, Flogging Molly and the Dropkick Murphys. If there are uillean pipes, I’m easier than Paris Hilton on X.

Music comes down to moments. And emotion. And the need to share it. And discover it. Two months ago it was Lucero, the Format and The Hold Steady. Two days ago it was Arcade Fire. Can’t wait to see what May brings.

I’ll leave you with my favorite moment in the history of rock and roll. 1997 at Downtime in NYC. In one of the valleys of his adventurous, ongoing music career, Scott ordered the band off the stage. He then publicly, heartbreakingly contemplated his musical fate by killing the audience with the most emotionally fraught version of “Here Comes A Regular” I’ve ever heard.