I have eclectic musical tastes. I also defy many stereotypes regarding music. To look at me one would not guess I like Metal, Techno, Celtic, and Classical music. Among the music I like there is one broad category that seems to always get “shafted”. All forms of Metal seem to have this strange stigma associated with it, and there seems to be this view out there that the music isn't very good.

I'm no music expert, but I was classically trained on the violin, and played in an orchestra for a spell. One thing nearly all my favourite music has in common is an underlying complexity and intricacy. I like music that has a lot going on, I like layered music. Classical music has it, good Techno has it, and most of the Metal I have heard has it.

Will people ever get over the presentation of the music so they might enjoy the music itself?

I can almost hear my parents tell me “I told you so”. It's not too uncommon to have people regret giving up music lessons, I however am not one of them, and yet I still say I miss making music. I took violin lessons; I played some American folk/fiddle music and the majority of my work was all classical or baroque. There was a short time I was in an orchestra, but I preferred the solo pieces as they were more interesting and challenging to play. It will make my parents happy for me to say that I do not regret taking lessons, in fact I think it helped me. The calluses are gone, and I am more familiar with Greek than sheet music, but I am intimately familiar with music. I know tone, pitch, tempo, and scales, and this has, I think, helped me in my other musical adventures, and these are what I miss.

Over a decade ago I found a band that played some wonderfully dark music, shelved in a Christian bookstore (in the very small heavy metal section). At this point in history CDs were new and I was still buying tapes. That one tape has been listened to more times than I can count. I later transfered it to MiniDisc and continued to enjoy it. For three or four years I have been searching the Internet looking for a copy of the CD, to no avail. Last week I searched again, on a whim. and nearly squealed with delight.

Retroactive Records has digitally re-mastered and re-released (in a limited 1,000 unit edition) that disc and ChristianDiscs.com is selling Seventh Angel: Lament for the Weary. I ordered it on Wednesday, they shipped on Thursday, and thanks to our speedy postal service it was in my mail box yesterday. I already have it loaded into my iPod and have been attempting to rupture my eardrums in delight for this much awaited day.

Last night I got to see Chad Bault in concert. Chad is a good friend of mine, but good in a different sense. I have not seen Chad in nine months, previously I had to measure the time in years, and truthfully we have not spent great amounts of time growing our friendship. This is what makes my friendship with Chad a heartwarming thing, for despite these things Chad has always been warm, happy, and genuinely pleased to see me when I make my sporadic appearances. This is perhaps why I count it such a privilege to know Chad, and to be able to support his music; he is one of those friends who will always be a friend, despite the "dry spells" in the relationship. Good friends are hard to find, and good and faithful friends seem to be rarer than gold. Such friends help to restore my faith in humanity, help to curb my cynicism, and warm me up to being friendlier in general.

As I stood in the back and listened to the music I could not help but feel a warmth in my heart. I wish I could explain it better, but I'm still trying to grasp it myself. There is something moving about watching a friend whom you care for, doing what he (or she) dreams about. There is also something satisfying knowing you are doing something to support your friend, especially when you can do it "behind the scenes" yet have an effect. Beyond this I cannot explain or understand why I wanted to beam with pride and joy seeing Chad sing and play.

Tonight we (er, I) made our (I guess my) first purchase at the iTunes store. My wife and I really like (4 stars) the version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" Israel Kamakawiwo'ole did. So I took the plunge, and even though I didn't really feel like spending $0.99, I did anyway to see the look on my wife's face as I played the song. I'd feel much better about the iTunes store if I could afford to have fun with it, but for now $0.99 is all Apple will get out of me, at least until I manage to find full-time work.

I started playing Spike Jones yesterday, and carried it over into today. I grew up listening to records of his music, and I have always carried a fondness for his unique brand of music. As I grew up I began to watch more and more old "black and white" movies, and I started to hear some of the songs Spike Jones satirized. Now, as I listen to his odd music float around the room I want to watch a comfortable old movie, something which makes me think of a kinder and gentler world (even if it wasn't).

I love these calm moments where I can forget my present predicament.

Last night I finally made it to the concert of one of my good friends. It was a joy and a pleasure to see him again, and to listen to his music. I do not often listen to live music, and when I do I find myself thinking while listening, and enjoying the mood. Whilst I was pondering I noted a few things quite different about that concert and how I usually treat music, and how I perceive music is usually treated. I usually listen to music when I want to, and usually while doing something else. I'll listen to music while driving, or while working, or while doing some chores, but rarely will I listen to music and do nothing else but listen. In the case of concerts you have little else to do but listen, or chat with friends (but then you'd miss the performance). It was while listening to my friend, who is an Artist in the sense that he is passionate about his music, I began to realize we might have lost something special when we stopped using live performers for our events (or perhaps we have made them more special).

Now that we can have the same performance over and over again, and we can all share the same performance, there seems to be no need for live performances, except for special occasions. But what I marked about the concert (at a pizza joint) was the ability to listen to some good/mediocre music, and enjoy time with friends over some food and drink, and much conversation. I know coffee shops have been doing this for some time, but I'd love to see more restaurants employ this service, for it makes for a rather enjoyable evening. And I wonder what it feels like for a musician (artist) to share his works with people and to have a regular job at it. Can it be true that all musicians want to make it big, or are there some who merely want to share their skills with any who will listen, making enough to pay the rent? I actually enjoyed the music for the music, the time for reflection (hearing him play again brought back many happy memories of years long gone), and the atmosphere where people could enjoy a happy time. I think I'd like more of that in my life . . . perhaps this is why pubs were/are so popular in Europe.

My folks recently stayed in Portland and picked up a brochure of what was happening at OMSI, specifically what was happening at their Omnimax Theatre (We entertained the idea of celebrating my father's 50th at OMSI). They found out that Pulse, A Stomp Odyssey is playing! I cannot wait to see this! Being a hobbyist drummer this looks like a real treat, and worth whatever they charge!