After I dropped off my ballot today, I had this intense burdensome feeling of just – well, worry. But while at work, I threw on some music to help settle my thoughts and maybe even distract a little bit. And Spotify just had to have election day themed playlists. So I tried some out and decided there were a couple of songs that were perfect for an election day playlist!
And somewhere in between Under Pressure and Sittin’ on the Dock of the bay – I remembered that this world is not our own, that I serve a mighty God, and my heart and mind should be focused on the eternal and not wasted on fear and worry of the temporary.
No matter how you voted or how you feel about how you voted today, I have a feeling that some of these songs might offer some comfort, dare I say even some healing – But let’s take a vote! Write in the comments, your favorite election day theme song or pick from one of the following:
Sittin’ On The Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding
Under Pressure by Bowie and Queen
Waiting on the World to Change by John Mayer
What’s Going On? by Marvin Gaye
Hamilton (the entire album……..lol, I can’t help it.)
OK – lunch break over! Hope everyone has a great day!
In my first post, I shared that I went through a season of disconnect and that it was evident in my passion for music. I retreated into a land of acoustic covers, 90s music, and a place where there was a lot of Everclear and Weezer. I couldn’t connect to new music. So it was like I was trying this nostalgic route back to my love of music. But in reflection it was much more like a detour.
And then one day, I watched this show about a Broadway musical taking over the world with its innovative storytelling through hip hop. And the story was about our Founding Fathers, our revolution, our constitution….I love our constitution! I love hip hop! I love our founding fathers! . . .So I looked it up on Spotify to listen to as I plugged away at work.
And just to be clear, I have never been someone who listens to Broadway tunes or musicals outside of a theatre. I think it’s a little weird. It feels like you need the visual, right? But then Hamilton, blew my mind. (The video below is long, but worth it.)
It wasn’t just the songs, the lyrics – it was the heart of the revolution, the heart of men and women who truly loved our nation and the cause of freedom. Despite some differences on how to govern – there were common grounds about basic God-given freedoms and the love of our country. The choice of having minorities cast in the show is simply genius in making this story assessable to others who likely haven’t connected to the stories of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams or Hamilton for that matter. And I love how it shows how these figures were not free from struggle or scandal, and that they were also more than their historical narratives that we often reduce to a sentence or two; or worse an option on a multiple choice quiz. They were courageous, dynamic, and represented the best of us in their day -and in their leadership. Hamilton himself overcame so much to be a military leader, an influential writer, and politician – but he was also human and flawed. And for so many, he was just that guy who did something with the bank system and got shot by Aaron Burr. (And most of us only know that second fact because of a milk commercial.) Hamilton’s success has opened many eyes to seeing that history is full and rich of much more than these reduced narratives.
And through Hamilton – the musical, we’re invited to just get back to this place where we honor this amazing thing that happened – when men (and this led the ground work to eventually all men and women) not of royal blood establish their freedom, their equality against years of aristocracy, and this ground breaking new form of government changed everything – and the ‘world turned upside down.’
Confession time: I love the American Revolution. I’m nerdy. I love our Constitution. Our nation’s birth is my favorite time in all of U.S. History. The best underdog story every told. I maybe had forgotten that a little. In fact, I cried while listening to “Yorktown”, thinking about the men and women who led our Revolution because I felt a different kind of revolution happening in me. It started to feel connected to my identity as a history geek, connected to music again. But more than that, I was renewed in my desire to honor those who led, those who debated and fought endlessly over the writing of our Declaration, our Constitution, who died fighting whether in 1776 or just yesterday fighting in our own war torn world.
I listened to Hamilton every day. All day. For weeks. Ok… months. And found myself emotional at new songs and getting pumped about the election (this was during the primaries.)
I tried to engage back into politics during the primary. I even changed my party from independent because I was excited about one of the candidates. And then the world starting turning upside down, but in the worst way possible. And now it feels like the election is being held hostage, stolen from us. Tensions are high. Relationships are on the rocks. Civil discourse, with robust debates seem to be replaced with zinging tweets and distasteful memes (both sides guilty.)
Isn’t it sad that I think most people, regardless of political beliefs, deep down feel the same way too. Like on election day, many will vote for one of the two major candidates but feel a little dirty about it afterwards. Sidenote – friends: stop shaming people who vote for a third party or plan to write in. Your vote is your voice, and each of us has to look at ourselves in the mirror the next day. Some are enthused about their candidates and the mirror will not disturb them one bit. However, it seems most will be voting for who they believe will do the least harm and there are varying degress of how those folks come to terms with their choice . . . But what about the rest? Maybe others feel like the election is already lost, the ‘least harm’ isn’t clear and at least they can do the one thing by voting their conscience, the one thing with their voice.
Now to people who are thinking they might not show up…STOP IT, snap out of it, SHOW UP. Even if you write a candidate in or scribble “None of the above”, studies will poor in on what people do this year! AND it will influence the next election. If you feel lost in this election and don’t even show up, history won’t know if you just didn’t care, were lazy, or checked out. At least a write in or 3rd party vote communicates something.
The sad reality for me is that in a year when my passions of music, history, politics were renewed and rediscovered – this election day will be a somber one for me.
Where is today’s Thomas Jefferson? Madison? Adams? Where are the George Washingtons? The leader, who never really wanted to be a President, but felt it was his duty. A President who showed restraint and discernment. (I always liked Washington’s years as President. His policy of neutrality, his willingness to hand over power and not run though he could have easily won.)
I pray that this election, this next President (and no matter the choice, its bound to be a bumpy four years), will inspire those of character, wisdom, discernment to rise up, lead. Please. History has it’s eyes on you – and our nation was built with the hands of people who simply were scrappy, resourceful, and felt that they couldn’t ignore the need. I pray that I can find the way that I can fulfill that duty too.
PS I’m really disappointed that my Hamilton blog took such a somber turn. What you need to know, is that it’s the most amazing, innovative, musical creation in my lifetime. (Pause…whoa….That feels like a big statement, but YEA. I’m going to stand by that.) I mean, have you ever listened to a hip-hop history album day in, day out for months and not get sick of it? I’m completely surprised by it too – but it’s brilliant, fun, funny, sad, powerful, moving. So if you haven’t listened – GO NOW. No, seriously, now. Don’t ‘wait for it’. (See…I ended on a pun. Cheer up!)
I just dropped my dad off at the airport. Guys, my dad is a really good dad. He has a way of resetting my attitude, inviting me into rest, and reminds me of the joy that can be experienced when you wake up before the sun. So this morning as I drove into work with a beautiful Arizona sunrise, my heart was open to a new day, and a song a good buddy of mine suggested came to mind.
My buddy knows I’m a sucker for whimsical group sing-a-longs. (And the xylophone…and the harmonies….and the bass line beat in the background.) He knew this would be a winner for those elements alone.
But more importantly, I love the lyrics. It’s an invitation to rest, an invitation to be present, an invitation to find peace. And looking at this morning sky and breathing in this cool morning air – I feel like my heavenly father was singing to me “leave what’s heavy, what’s heavy behind.”
Hi Friends! Here is a very quick post about an artist that I have been a fan of since 2003 or so. I consider myself an ambassador of his fan club; spreading the love of his music, and asking folks to just ‘trust me, you’re going to love it’ as I drag friends to his shows. And here we are again, anxiously awaiting his next tour. . .that’s right folks, you “better call Tyrone” cause he’s making the rounds again on his “Cover to Cover” Tour and coming out with an album this Friday!
The best way I can explain my love of Tyrone Wells is that his music is like comfort food. If I’m having a bad day, a good Tyrone Wells song is like that friend who knows just how to cheer you up or that meal that only your mom or grandma know how to make just right that snaps you out of your funk and brings you into the present. And yea, he ranges from having silly, fun songs that make you laugh to seriously moving songs like “More” (remember I’m a total sucker for strong vocals and crescendos). He’s also amazing at covers – putting his spin on great songs. And his mash-ups are notorious amongst my circle of friends who are fellow Tyrone fans. (I’ll stop here, because otherwise I’ll go down a never-ending rabbit hole of all the songs I love, but just trust me – he’s awesome.)
I’m going to add this too – he’s legitimately a really nice guy. I’ve met him several times (a perk of getting to first know him at small shows at Grand Canyon University and even at McClain’s (and his Live at McClain’s album is in my top ten albums….that’s coming with me to a deserted island, just saying)). One time, while in DC, I tried to convince him to have a free concert in front of good ol’ Abe. . .I think he thought I was crazy, but was never the less very gracious. And beyond some of the personal interactions I’ve had with him, you can just tell from his show that he’s a normal guy, who loves to perform, loves to make the audience laugh, and wants folks to leave his show feeling uplifted.
So here’s the deal. He’s going to be in Phoenix on October 21st. And he’s doing a lot of covers apparently, which is awesome. But hey Tyrone, if you’re reading this, throw me some love by doing my personal favorite “Wondering Where You Are”.
I’m buying my tickets now, and I’m even considering the VIP package to get some extra Tyrone time. The Crescent Ballroom is awesome. Come get a Sonoran hot dog or tacos before the show! And if you’re not in the Phoenix area – check the schedule. Folks in DC, you know I love me some Jammin’ Java. Get on it quick though, cause I think he’s there this week!
And Tony Lucca, I see you boo. Ready to sing along to some “pretty things” with you too.
I was given the most wonderful gift last week. Tickets to see Local Natives.
A band that I have loved since the first moment I heard their unique sound. I compulsively show anyone their famous video to help spread their fandom. They have been featured multiple times on my birthday lists and on many a road trip. For my friends who know me well, you know that I’m a sucker for lots of percussion and big crescendos, strong emotive voices, and harmonies. And the local natives have all of it. (I’m also a sucker for slide guitars and banjos, but that’s another story.) What the Local Natives do with their sound, is like a key unlocking this primal desire to dance and sing with wild abandon whether you’re in your car, with friends or in sea of strangers with kindred spirits. And to be frank, they have been this elusive band that I have not been able to see live. There’s always a conflict in my schedule or they skip over Phoenix in their tour, etc. But not this time. NOT. THIS. TIME. And it was so much more than just scratching off a band from my “Must see live” bucket list; it was beautiful.
I’m about to get mushy and ramble, bear with me.
I have never been more proud of Phoenix than I was at this concert. After living in DC and getting exposed to amazing artists, venues, and constant shows; I was so disappointed when I moved back to Phoenix and the music scene paled in comparison. Phoenix has some big venues, but who wants to see their favorite band from nosebleed seats that cost $80? There wasn’t a 9:30 Club vibe with big names in intimate spaces and crowds that were ‘all in’ just for the music. Now, Phoenix, I know you’ve been working on this. Crescent Ballroom has seriously impressed me, Mesa Amphitheatre – you have my heart if the concert is any time other than May-September, and the Marquee for years has been bringing some pretty stellar bands. But I will tell you, when I heard this concert was at the Marquee, my expectation of its greatness went down 50%. You see the last time I went to the Marquee I saw Band of Horses (also on my bucket list) – and I did something that I never thought I would ever do.
I left early.
Not because of the band, but the sound was bad, the crowd was so rude, and …I hate the smell of pot at concerts. It makes me feel grimy and dirty. And it’s one thing if it’s outside and I can get away from the fumes, but the Marquee is inside. No escape. And I found that security was not doing anything about it and it just irked me. (Am I just getting old for having less patience? Probably. But I’m also a bit of a music purist who thinks those folks aren’t really there for the music (hello, music is my high) – and it just feels disrespectful to the band and to the music.) So I waited until they sang my top three favorites, and I left.
But last week, I walked in to a newly remodeled Marquee. Balcony seats, better lighting, more security, different vibe….and while I immediately thought “They’re trying to become the 9:30 club, I don’t know how I feel about that…” I quickly adjusted to “Hey….they’re trying to be like the 9:30 club! Good job Marquee!!! Yes, please and thank you!”
Check out the new look of the Marquee Theatre! Definitely need to try out the balcony seats next time.
Security pulled folks that were rude and disruptive early on. Sound was awesome. Marquee, you may have won me back.
But Phoenix, that’s not all. You see the DC music scene wasn’t just about venues, it was about crowds knowing how to love a band on stage too. And I was overwhelmed with delight at getting to witness the love shown to Local Natives at this concert.
The crowd was diverse. I stood next to these three guys, who I actually thought were security when they walked in because well, one looked like he just got out of prison, the other had the build of a football player, and they all were wearing black from head to toe. But when Local Natives started their set, they were singing from the top of their lungs, dancing hard, and at times, recording video with a look of admiration that was kidlike. I wanted to hug these guys.
A girl behind me informed those of us around her “I want to apologize now, I get a little crazy at concerts and I might bump some elbows by accident.” And a fellow concert goer (a girl btw) responded “Hey dude, bodies are bound to touch tonight.” A fantastically awkward moment. And man, was the girl not kidding about going a little crazy. Mostly I didn’t mind. At one point her dance moves included putting her hand on my shoulder to jump and spin . . .I could have been easily turned off by this, but when it happened was important, because when it happened they were playing the perfect song, so I simply shrugged and joined in on the dancing.
It was not a wild mosh pit though. And I keep thinking about how smart the Local Natives are in their sound and in their show. They have these soaring vocals that are easy to sing to, percussion that makes you want to move, but then their song choice…it was like waves crashing. Swelling slow and contemplative songs like “Airplanes” that they played without any drums and minimal light tricks in the set too.
This was followed by Colombia by the way. Airplanes a tribute a bandmember’s grandfather, Colombia, a bandmember’s mother who passed. They invited us into this communal grieving and reflection as hundreds of voices sang along “You gave, and gave, and gave, and gave. … every night I ask myself, Am I giving enough?” And you could see it on their faces, the band felt loved. And I felt proud.
If I were a better blogger, I would tell you all about their new songs. They’re good. And the crowd loved them and danced despite not being able to sing along to them to the same standard of their known songs (their new record literally released days before the show.) I will tell you, they are fun songs, great to dance to, and great played live.
But I just want to talk about the last song. An old song from Gorilla Manor that has never really been a favorite. I was a little surprised by this as their last choice. But they are so smart. It got us dancing and joining in with clapping and singing with all our might as we raised our hands to this beautiful light show that looked like a setting sun. In my last post, I shared that I’m coming out of a season of feeling disconnected and that I’m resolved to have more sunshine. And in this crowd of strangers, at a concert for a band that is not Christian, I started to cry because the lyrics of this song, this song that’s not even in the top five of my favorite songs from this band, were like words right from God to my heart:
The most beautiful colors chase the sun They wrap her trail in a taunting gesture That seems to sing out loud, “this is what you’re missing”
I’ll endure the night For the promise of light I want to lift my hands towards the sun Show me warmth And when I can feel with my sun hands I’ll promise not to lose her again And even if the morning never comes My hands are blessed to have touched the sun
God was giving me this gift of joy, through a generous friend buying me a ticket, through a band of millennials with man buns and likely very different intentions of how their music might be interpreted by someone like me, through a crowd of fans showing support to artists in the most genuine way, through the hand of a crazy girl behind me who invited me into her group of friends to jump and play and dance.
My voice was gone, my feet sore, but my heart was full.
But writing has been calling my name for years. And writing about music, beauty, and life is the best way I think I can share about how God shows his love to me – and maybe to you too.
So with that brief introduction to me, and what I hope this blog will be about, let me share a little bit about what has brought me to actually typing this, my first blog post.
For the last ten years, I have produced a playlist of music as way of celebrating my birthday and sharing my life through music with my very sweet friends and family. Most years, I created an elaborate album cover and explained my choice of each song in a long email to my fellow music loving friends. This was and is my joy. But it’s a lot of work and requires a lot of restraint having to pick the top 20-21 songs out of so many! It feels impossible most years to cut other well deserving songs.
I should mention that while I work as a paralegal for a Christian non-profit by day, I am also an associate counselor with a specialty in expressive art therapy, so this was therapy for me. Not always easy. In fact last year, I struggled to feel a connection to music because of a season of depression – and despite my best efforts, my fellow expressive art therapist friend called me after listening to the playlist to say “Whoa, you weren’t kidding that this year’s been a downer for you.” It’s good to have honest friends. Sometimes, making the list exposes me in a way that can be scary, but in the end really cathartic.
After last year’s sad playlist, I started to realize there was a lot of sadness that was holding me down and back. So I started working on that. And God drew closer and closer, starting with the smallest moments that eventually led me to reconnecting with my love of music and reminding me of who God made me. He made me to see his love in unique ways – the sunrise, the perfect song that comes up on shuffle when I’m hitting the moment of despair when under a deadline, and the moments of grief after hearing a loved one’s passed, as these beautiful creatures (my pups) God made me stewards of curled up next to me while I cried.
While others made new years resolutions doomed to last less than a month this year, I committed to God one thing for this year – to have a little more “sunshine” in my life. I died my hair blond as an outward symbol and reminder of this commitment. And I have been seeking joy, sunshine, and God’s love this year. And sharing my love of music, sharing my life through words – sparks joy for me.
So here I am. And I can’t hardly post my first blog without sharing at least one song from this year’s Birthday’s Mix. Here is The Avett Brothers’ “Ain’t No Man” – a song that came up in my Spotify playlist one afternoon when I could barely keep my eyes open after staring at the computer endlessly. This song was a shot of an energy, had me dancing at my cube and I played it over and over again to help me the project I was working on done. Best line for me “Got a whole lot of reasons to be mad, let’s not pick one.” Well, OK then Avett Brothers – I won’t.
Hi everyone! I’m excited to start this new adventure of blogging! I’ve secured the name and this site, but have a few posts in the works that are just not quite ready for public viewing. Stay tuned as I work on building my new blog!
– and until then enjoy this adorable picture of my Stella-girl watching over me while I sleep.
seven hooks and a line 