I saw GOAT live in Portland several years ago. I am torn on them...in terms of performance...the gig was without a doubt a spectacle. The band were all wearing African style masks, pounding witchcraft and shamen sticks, female singers with feathery tribal headdresses and batik dresses in the front dancing in a ritualistic tribal way and the music had tribal rhythms, chants and manic percussion, but overlaid on top was an ultra cool 'Shaft' style psychedelic wah and tremolo drenched fuzz guitar. On the surface, I admit it was pretty damn cool.
Why am I torn then? The band are, or at least they were when I saw them, all white hailing from Sweden. Most/all in the audience were white and some in the audience were also wearing tribal inspired masks. It was, without a doubt, the most over the top and blatantly obvious/textbook example of cultural appropriation I have ever seen and it made me feel very odd witnessing it as an audience member.
Well that is disappointing. Sounds pretty annoying. And I've been checking up here and there to see when they tour again. I knew they were from Sweden.
I am a huge Mark Lanegan fan. Some of you may remember him from the 90s band, The Screaming Trees (they were always my favorite of the Seattle bands). However, in the mid-90s Lanegan started releasing some of his own solo stuff and it is incredible. Seen him live a handful of times and even had a drink with him after one gig. Amazingly, he looks quite moody and melancholic and somewhat intimidating, yet one-on-one he was super talkative and chill. Anyway, there are 4-5 Lanegan records that are absolutely essential, but here are a couple tasters to sink your teeth into.
I have no idea why, but it makes me feel good if I can introduce another person to music that they like. It's kind of weird, but it makes me happy.
I've been wanting to see Melody Gardot since I discovered her music. She doesn't tour much. I don't think she has any upcoming scheduled tour dates, but I might be wrong about that. I believe most of her prior concerts are in Europe. I don't feel very confident that the SE USA will be one of her priorities. LOL
I think her physical issues from her accident makes it hard for her to tour. She is still very sensitive to light and that is why you see her w/the shades on all the time. She also uses a cane.
I get my fix in a couple of ways. I listen to her--and many others--at night when I'm on this board. I have the music playing while I am reading or typing on here and then flip back to YouTube to watch parts of the performances.
I also created a Pandora station and named it Melody Gardot radio. That is how I discovered Caro and Skye, as well as many other interesting performers.
I'm rambling, but I really do love music and I'm happy that you are enjoying a new discovery.
No one will read all of that article, but it's pretty cool.
Our friend Clem often talks about the powers of music and introducing your children to music and all its wonders. This excerpt validates Mr. Clem's claims.
Quote:
And then a simple Google search reveals that not only does she have amazing talent, but she also has a jaw-dropping backstory. Seven years ago, at 19, she was hit by a car while on her bike and suffered devastating injuries, especially to her brain. After months of going through all the traditional therapies for the brain-injured and still being unable to read, still struggling to speak and walk, she was encouraged by her doctor to try playing music, since she'd played piano as a child and teenager. The reintroduction of music to her life affected a kind of miraculous awakening. Lying on her sickbed, she taught herself to play guitar, began to sing for the first time, and even started writing songs, which unbeknownst to her a friend posted on MySpace. It turned out she could sing like an angel, and her songs were good by any measure.
Naturally, the media flocked to her. The Times of London, The San Francisco Chronicle, Le Monde, The Korea Times, National Public Radio, The Sydney Morning Herald, The New York Times, and CBS Sunday Morning, to name a few, tell variations on the Only Music Can Heal Her story. I flocked to Gardot too, hopping a plane to Spain to interview this amazing singer, a walking example of the healing powers of music.
Musicophilia, the 2007 book by the neurologist Oliver Sacks, illustrates the ways in which music is a therapeutic boon. Aphasics, he writes, cannot locate words, but they're often able to sing the words to songs. A Parkinson's sufferer, unable to speak or move, can, when listening to music, actually get up and dance gracefully.
But the Melody Gardot case represents success on an entirely different scale. Music therapy didn't just allow this young woman to enjoy a relatively normal life after a traumatic injury—it brought out such a gift that she has actually become famous.
No one will read all of that article, but it's pretty cool.
I read it all and I enjoyed it a lot!
I will also make a claim about the importance of art education (visual and performing) and art therapy. Not only do the arts help with critical thinking and problem solving, but they allow for abstract and "out of the box" thought as well as visual, expressive & creative communication. Studies show that students who take at least one art class at a higher level (HS or even at college) do much better across the board than their peers who don't take any art. Students who take art throughout school often perform significantly better in all testing statistics. Sadly, however, we continue to strip funding from the arts, which pushes art education into the private sector or at museums where people have to pay, which makes it harder for lower income demographics to access forcing it to be a middle/upper class education privilege.
I'm impressed that you took the time to read that article. It was fairly long.
I also totally agree w/your comments about the benefits of art and that it is a damn shame to not utilize them enough in our public schools.
We should perhaps start a thread on this someday. I like a balance of regular academics, the arts, and physical education. I had a student who was born in China and her explanation of the school day amazed me. It seemed so extreme, but the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. It may also help why Chinese culture looks at education so differently than American culture does. It's not "we have to go to school today." Rather, we get to go to school today."
Btw--------I wish I had the funds to start a school. It would set our current educational practices on it's collective ear.
Last edited by Versatile Dog; 01/12/1902:01 PM. Reason: Another comment
I too have had students from China and they have told me that the difference between US and UK art education is: in China they learn the technical skills REALLY, REALLY well. For example, how to draw or paint something that looks realistic. However, (and this is in their words), there is a "lack of creativity in how it is taught". In the US and UK art also focuses on skills, but it pushes thinking outside of the box and being creative with your expression and your voice. We all know art is subjective and some folks will prefer art that looks realistic because it showcases something they can't do. However, for myself, I have always preferred the arts that evoke an emotion and make me think. That, in my opinion, is where honesty, creativity and soul comes into play.
This may also explain why the US and Europe still lead when it comes to creativity in computer/digital technology and, currently, robotics & engineering (although Asia is/have quickly catching/caught up with us on the latter).
PS: when I say "art" I am referring to all of the arts: visual, music, theatre, dance, literary etc.
Sadly, however, we continue to strip funding from the arts, which pushes art education into the private sector or at museums where people have to pay, which makes it harder for lower income demographics to access forcing it to be a middle/upper class education privilege.
I'm a one-man crusade against that.
I am a product of America's last great truly Socialist policy experiment of the late 50/early 60's. When I was 9 years old, I received my first cello- a 1/2-size plywood mass-produced little abomination with an aluminum "Kay" badge on the tailpiece. My folks could rent that li'l box for- get this- 10 dollars per school year.
We were a one-income family. Dad was a beat cop at the time. Money was tight. I've mentioned before that I had a paying job at the age of 7: Three Aces Moving. My Pops, my Great Uncle Oliver ('Uncle Babe') and myself hauled pianos and organs sold by a local music store on Saturdays. Just so happens that one of the salespersons was a cellist in the local community orchestra. Bruce Sims. When I turned 10 and showed some dedication, he agreed to give me private lessons. 2.50/hr (He had other students whom he charged more for).
Fast-Forward. Bruce retired when I was 12, and handed me off to another teacher, who left after 9 months, and handed me of to another teacher. And another. By the time I was 14, I'd had 4 different teachers. My progress was starting to suffer from all the inconsistency. (Sound familiar, Browns fans?)
We were told about this teacher at BGSU, 1:15 away. Momz drove me there for my audition. Yes, audition. Peter Howard didn't take just any student. If you didn't make his cut, he'd refer you to his wife Mary, who would get you in shape for lessons with Peter.
Dude's credentials were impeccable. Taught at Oberlin Conservatory, played first desk in the Cleveland Orch, had a soloist's career in Europe, the whole nine. I must have played for an hour and a half for that dude. When it was over, he agreed to teach me. When Momz asked him his hourly fee, our jaws dropped. He was charging what Lawyers did. Momz cut the check, thanked him for his time, and explained that we were folks of very modest means, and have learned to make do with the best we could afford. She then asked him if he could refer us to some other teachers who might charge less. Pete said no.
What he did next changed the trajectory of my life. He told my Mom: "Pay me what you can. It's more important for your son to get a quality education than it is for me to get rich from teaching. Besides, some doctor's talentless kid will come along wanting lessons, and I'll just charge them double." He then slashed his fee IN HALF.
I studied with Peter for 5 uninterrupted years, which upped my game from promising youngster to young competitive adult. Without him, I spend 30 years at the local refinery (a great job, but not a career in music, you know?)
_________________
To this day, I carry two teaching rates: my standard hourly fee (about the same as an attorney's billable hours) for those who can afford to pay, and "whatever you can afford" for those students who are like I was. I've taught for as little a $5.00... and those kids get the same quality ed that I give to the students whose parents pay the full rate.
I've actually sent poor kids from the inner city to music schools on talent scholarships they've won through intensive auditions and testing. It's a great feeling to see these kids come out of their shells, escape hood life, re-wire their brains, and become next generation's leaders. There is no other work like it.
My crusade: to put music in the hearts, hands, and minds of every child who wants it. I've already set up my estate to continue that legacy after I'm gone.
Art and music education is a nice, extra, bonus activity.
Everyone has heard of a starving artist sale. Has anyone ever heard of a starving electrician, engineer, or plumber sale? Take a few moments and think about that.
While it is true that most kids in music programs have better grades, it is also true that most kids in music programs ALREADY HAD better grades, that's why they had the available time to enter a music program.
Sure there are success stories. The much larger number of total failure stories are not nearly as interesting.
Right next to my City Hall, there is a large sculpture of what looks like a giant Flintstone's snow tire. A large stone circle, with a hole in the center, with grooves around the outside. SIX FIGURES of taxpayer dollars.
The best part is they have a retrospective of this artist's work displayed inside. There is a half circle, with a hole in the center and grooves around the outside, a three-quarter circle with a hole and grooves, a complete circle with a hole but no grooves, and a complete circle with grooves but no hole.
For several hundred thousand dollars, at least the citizens of my county got his most advanced work.
Meanwhile, kids in school did not have enough textbooks to go around, potholes in roads went unrepaired, new equipment for police and firefighters went unpurchased, a whole slew of needed and important services for citizens failed to materialize.
It never crossed my mind at the time, but I should have known better than to highlight the excerpt about how music helped Miss Gardot recover and the benefits music can provide to our society.
Perhaps, instead of a knee-jerk reaction regarding a pet obsession, you might engage is some comparative thought.
If every school system in the country bought fewer textbooks and more oboes, would our students be BETTER OFF, or WORSE?
As with many things, it's all a matter of "Compared to WHAT?"
One of the above is more important, and more necessary, than the other. There is not an unlimited supply of funds available to apply to everything everybody wants. Priorities must be defined.
That does not mean that art and music are not good things, or are not beneficial. There are, however, quite a number of things that are more beneficial, and more important.
Art and music education is a nice, extra, bonus activity.
Everyone has heard of a starving artist sale. Has anyone ever heard of a starving electrician, engineer, or plumber sale? Take a few moments and think about that.
While it is true that most kids in music programs have better grades, it is also true that most kids in music programs ALREADY HAD better grades, that's why they had the available time to enter a music program.
Sure there are success stories. The much larger number of total failure stories are not nearly as interesting.
Right next to my City Hall, there is a large sculpture of what looks like a giant Flintstone's snow tire. A large stone circle, with a hole in the center, with grooves around the outside. SIX FIGURES of taxpayer dollars.
The best part is they have a retrospective of this artist's work displayed inside. There is a half circle, with a hole in the center and grooves around the outside, a three-quarter circle with a hole and grooves, a complete circle with a hole but no grooves, and a complete circle with grooves but no hole.
For several hundred thousand dollars, at least the citizens of my county got his most advanced work.
Meanwhile, kids in school did not have enough textbooks to go around, potholes in roads went unrepaired, new equipment for police and firefighters went unpurchased, a whole slew of needed and important services for citizens failed to materialize.
But, hey, we have a big granite snow tire.
Yesterday I sat in the office of my studio with my buddy/co-creator of our art. We spent time looking over the plans for our public art piece were about to begin building. Our city will soon have a crazy piece of giant art in it because of the our collaborative efforts. If our art inspires even one kid to look at life differently, to think outside the box, to be creative in a world that needs creative thinkers, then our job is well done. I’ll gladly accept the public money and will apply every time a city wants to give out more. Why? Because art is more important to society than you’re giving credit for. Maybe your city chose poorly. Maybe you should sit on the board that chooses public art pieces so that your tastes can be accounted for. I leave it at that.
Actually an addendum: So you know. Our project requires a structural engineer, an electrician, and a certified welder to complete. So, see, the arts have a ripple effect. My guess is the team that’ll help us put this together will have never worked on something so outside the box. My guess is they’ll be enriched through the experience too. Art is cool that way.
Apple pie is a good and wonderful thing which brings many people enjoyment and pleasure.
What percentage of the taxpayer-funded school lunch budget should be devoted to serving apple pie?
If occasionally serving apple pie for lunch meant there would be no supplemental breakfast program, which would you choose?
In case you are blissfully unaware, the decision on which of the two is MORE IMPORTANT than the other, has already been made for you. This choice is made by people who actually confront reality, rather than live in fantasy land.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
I wonder how the two of you feel that money was extracted from your wallets to pay for a statue of the Madonna and child made out of elephant poop?
Likely before Swish's time, but Vers certainly was involved. Somebody decided that you needed to pay for that. Not sure if it is still on display, or if it served a useful purpose as fertilizer.
Me, I'd rather buy schoolbooks, or feed hungry children. But, I guess "art" is more important to some folks.
It's OK, don't bother to think, evaluate, or make decisions. I understand.
Hey guys. Please don't respond to him. Hopefully he will go away and we can talk about music again. Again, it was my fault for mentioning the benefits of music. My apologies.
Trying to get back to the topic... So not as melodic, vocal forward and such as other offerings but it’s got a bit of a beat to it and is a sexy track. Plus it’s already Swish approved.
Growing up poor, her parents couldn't even afford to name her - now she just goes by "spoon lady". Her school was filled with textbooks but no musical instruments. Alas - her passion prevailed.
The rest of that Motet album is going to drop soon. They changed their lineup in the past couple of years. Added a great vocalist and a new keyboard player. The last album they put out, with the new line up, called Totem, is so so good. Look it up. I’m really looking forward to the rest of this new one. Not sure when the rest drops.
Hey guys. Please don't respond to him. Hopefully he will go away and we can talk about music again. Again, it was my fault for mentioning the benefits of music. My apologies.
No, it wasn't your fault. You brought up an excellent point about an artist and education and one that is worthy of discussion. If it were not for the art or artifacts left behind we would know nothing of so many cultures and civilizations. STEAM: (Science/Technology/Engineering/Arts/Mathematics) is essential education and the Arts play a significant role. The arts help in so many ways, they make a well rounded student and they also allow students to think critically and to problem solve. PortlandDawg highlighted it perfectly when talking about his massive sculptures (which I have had the pleasure to not only see first hand, but to do my small part in helping/supplying two more hands whenever I can). The amount of problem solving and abstract critical thinking (not to mention engineering, electrical work and geometry) needed to create his massive sculptures from a small doodle to the physical structure and the amount of unforeseen problems that present themselves along the way is creative & applied mathematics at its best. The finished piece they share may not speak STEAM, but PortlandDawg's audience receives aesthetic enjoyment in return for his and his partner's brain, muscle and creative powers that were painstakingly bled, sweated, cried, laughed, smoked, burned and absorbed into the metal or whatever materials they choose to create with.
I left this place for the entire football season as I had enough with the digital drama, pollution & petty arguments, which I don't need in my life. I decided to return and vowed to myself to stay out of the muck and move past those who choose to freely throw it. Please don't apologize Vers. As you rightly said...just ignore the philistines.
The term is STEM, there is no "A" in what we are expending a national effort towards promoting for, and teaching to, our children.
Not even to women and other oppressed minorities. S T E M.
Fascinating that much art promotes acknowledgment of shades of gray and the lack of absolutes in so many areas, yet its most rabid proponents seem near-totally unable to grasp that vitally important fact.
Continue discussing your free music and studying your free art. I'm gonna go get some apple pie. Actually, more likely some fresh bakery turnovers cause they're on sale. Not free, though.
Oh art isn’t free. You should see the check we’re cashing. Nor is it free as I spent thousands of dollars for art school and countless hours honing my skills. Nothing free about that. Enjoy your turnover. Baking is a creative endevour. An art in and of itself.
The term is STEM, there is no "A" in what we are expending a national effort towards promoting for, and teaching to, our children.
Not even to women and other oppressed minorities. S T E M.
Fascinating that much art promotes acknowledgment of shades of gray and the lack of absolutes in so many areas, yet its most rabid proponents seem near-totally unable to grasp that vitally important fact.
Hmmm...that's odd. I was just at a STEAM conference.
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He then slashed his fee IN HALF. 
