Downloading Music

I've been in classes before where this is a topic of discussion. I go to school for communications, so it comes up in discussions. What blows my mind is that people even buy recorded music to begin with. I enjoy music, I consider myself an well-rounded listener. I enjoy real music, not rap, not beat-generated pop grooves, not anything that isn't traditional music. I hate the industry today. I hate how prevalent electronic instruments have become. It sucks. It shows no talent, and has no value. It doesn't do what music is supposed to do.

Which brings me to the point of downloading music. I don't listen to studio albums of bands, because it doesn't emulate what the band actually sounds like, or how they play. It's fabricated. It's not authentic. So what I do is download random live shows of Archive.org. A band's true sound is their live sound, the sound they make when they're all present and playing at the same time; not what they can put on a record. If people actually liked music, they would listen to their favorite bands live and go to see them perform. That's what it's all about, you know. It's primal, for people to actually go and see the band play first-hand. That's why I like jam bands. They're great musicians and they love nothing more than to play for an audience.

That's what music is. The industry has changed, and people have allowed for the meaning of good music to change. Anyone who listens to top 40 or pop/rock/rap radio has no idea what they're missing out on. They don't listen to real music.

Furthur Review

Fans went wild when they found out that Phil and Bobby were putting together a band to do more shows. Furthur has played a few already, and has four more scheduled for the month of November. I recently spoke with a friend who went to see them. He said it was unbelievable. The lineup is sick, John Kadlecik of the Dark Star Orchestra in play of Jerry Garcia on lead guitar and vocals, original Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Phil Lesh, Ratdog's Jeff Chimenti and Jay Lane, and the Duo's Joe Russo. I recently downloaded a show off Archive.org that took place at the Fox Theatre in Oakland, CA. It is absolutely astonishing how closely Kadlecik's guitar playing resembles Jerry's. Even his singing has characteristics of Jerry's in the late 80's, through early 90's. There's speculation about a spring tour. I strongly believe that there will be one. After seeing them at Rothbury Festival in Michigan last summer, I could see in the way they danced and the energy they showed that they're very much content in what they do. At this point, I think as long as they are able to, they will play. At least Bobby will.