Good morning! It's 9:12 and 39 degrees on this bleak Monday. If this day were a plate of food, it would've already been sent back to the kitchen. Thinking of the scene in Caddyshack, where the enraged chef comes out of the kitchen wielding a big knife. "Dog food?! I cho'you dog food!"
Music news. Remember muzak? The term may have faded into antiquity, but the idea is very much alive. Music you don't really listen to. If you're a jobbing musician, a good chunk of your gigs are going to be providing background music. These can either be enjoyable or miserable, depending on your proximity to the crowd.
There has always been background music of course, but it was formalized by Erik Satie, a French composer of the early 20th century. Satie called it musique D''ambulement. Walking-around music. He premiered a few such works, and would chide the people who stopped to listen. "No! Walk around! Go about your business!"
He underestimated the charm of his own music. Erik Satie- the father of muzak.
I've done a lot of those gigs over the years. At this point, they've gone out with the bathwater. The cacophony just wears you down. I've done so many of those that it throws me when people are actually listening!
This next weekend I go to a friend's house to help him with his home recording projects. I add guitar parts here and there. Lots of fun. And last week I visited someone else, and spent the afternoon playing tunes. So I'm getting some playing in these days, just not out anyplace. I'm playing in, as it were.. Coming to a living room near you.
And that's my news for now. Thanks as ever for stopping in and wading through it. Happy Monday to you! I know, that sounds weird. Anyway, I'm outa here. More later. 