Saw Joe Bonamassa a week ago, he had Johnny A on to play… I was losing my freaking mind
Now there’s no love as true as the love that dies untold
—Rick Danko
Another version of the preceding post
For at least a century, the music has been captive to a cult of mediocre elitism that tries to manufacture self-esteem by clutching at empty formulas of intellectual superiority. Consider the other names in circulation: “art” music, “serious” music, “great” music, “good” music. Yes, the music can be great and serious, but greatness and seriousness are not its defining characteristics. It can also be stupid, vulgar, and insane. Composers are artists, not etiquette columnists; they have the right to express any emotion, any state of mind. They have been betrayed by well-meaning acolytes who believe that music should be marketed as a luxury good, one that replaces an inferior popular product. They guardians say, in effect, “The music you love is trash. Listen instead to out great, arty music.” They are making little headway with the unconverted because they have forgotten to define the music as something worth loving. Music is too personal a medium to support an absolute hierarchy of values. The best music is the music that persuades us that there is no other music in the world
—Alex Ross
I realize now more than ever that that moment of euphoria where you find your muscles tensed, your mouth open in a silent howl, and your vision lost… is what I live for, that one final note that releases the flood… your muscles slacken, your head droops, and all at once it exhausts and invigorates you… that one tipping note… and for then, that joy is all there is, what else matters in the face of such pure, untouched soul?
It just is a good day
Joe’s got a new album out… Great stuff
Rest in peace, only heard his work now… Sad really
