Steve buys a Clarinet

OK..... So I kind of got a little impulsive, and bought a clarinet on ebay yesterday. It should be arriving next week... so I'm gonna find a music store and buy some reeds/instruction books this weekend. I saw the Arcade Fire this past week and was really motivated by what they did with just two people on brass/woodwind. Also.... I found Colin Stetson (The French Horn Player) to be pretty attractive. He lives in Greenpoint.

A small rant stemming from the concert:

I had a conversation last night with some friends about the licensing of music for film and television; I’ve always been opposed to the practice, but I realized that my position on the matter has grown all the more conservative (or maybe vehement) this past week as a result of seeing the Arcade Fire live in concert.

Towards the end of their set, the Arcade Fire played "Rebellion (Lies)" to an ecstatic crowd, and I defy anyone in attendance to claim that it wasn't a moment of pure transcendence. Win climbed into the crowd, standing atop the empty seats and surrounded by singing fans as they shouted "lies, lies" during the call and response chorus. Looking behind me into the 3,500+ crowd, all singing, and most with their arms raised high in the air, it was hard not to be moved by the unity and singularity of feeling expressed by this crowd of white 20-somethings from much further downtown (read Brooklyn). That feeling buzzed and hummed inside my stomach after the show ended and the crowd filed out of the concert hall and into the Washington Heights subway station; downtown-bound subway cars completely packed with the chatter of young adults enjoying the optimism and confidence that comes with such a communal experience. It was something special.

It has been widely reported that Paul Haggis had personally flown to Montreal to request the use of “Rebellion” for his now-canceled TV show THE BLACK DONNELLYS, only to be turned down by the licensing-weary septet. The ending sequence of the pilot episode was edited specifically for that song, and would have to drastically altered. As a filmmaker, I rejoiced in seeing the creator of Crash (read PILE OF SHIT) so thoroughly rebuffed and possibly humiliated (though I imagine it was actually a very polite/courteous refusal); but having now seen the song performed live… I am actually very proud of the band’s decision for reasons despite my disapproval of this hack-filmmaker.

When a song is used in a movie, it is a device - a shorthand to explain or express an emotion or story beat. It is an incredibly effective tool to be used at the filmmakers discretion… but it is just that…. A tool. The film uses the song to support the ideas being expressed in the film/TV show. This is not to be confused with music videos, which serve to support the song with appropriate visuals. I hope I don’t sound hyperbolic when I describe my experience of hearing “Rebellion” played live as something approaching “spiritual”. What I felt that night was true; and I will never listen to that song the same way again. It holds something special for me, and always will. And I'm guessing that any person who was in attendance that night will agree.

So… To get to the point… I don’t want people using that which is sacred to me to sell products, services, or even ideas. I don’t want to see the emotional impact of a song purchased by a film company so it can be used to extract a certain feeling out of me while I am watching their movie. Songs are important; they frame your emotional development as a human being, and they exist inside the listener, with an instant emotional recall that no other art form can rival. If an artist is financially stable and able to not license his music; I find it deeply offensive when he/she does so. Feel free to disagree.

I know, I know.... what does this have to do with my trip? Well.... It's the prelude; the "first act" where we learn a fun fact or 2 about a character and thus begin to identify with him.... And then during the Climax of the film/trip, one of these fun "random" facts will end up saving my life somehow. So pay close attention, because otherwise you'll get lost when I end up soothing a raging crowd of Skinheads/Velociraptors with my clarinet skills or opinions on the abuse of music. (Speaking of rote filmmaking.... I wasn't a fan of BLACK BOOK.... FYI)

I am selling my weight bench, weights, and TV this weekend. Also.... I am canceling my cable today so as to concentrate more on worthy pursuits.

73 Days to Departure!

- STEVE