In keeping with the general internet theme of exposing one’s life to faceless strangers, I thought maybe someone might like to read an email I just sent to my friend Kai, an American expat living in Amsterdam. This does a pretty good job of explaining what I am thinking about music right now, and makes me look somewhat clever. Maybe. Enjoy!
Kai-
Sorry that it has taken me sooooo long to reply to your email. I forgot about it for at least a month, and then I was just downright lazy. Anyway, I enjoyed reading it, (you really are a good writer) and I’m glad you are continuing to adjust to your place. Which implies that you have a choice. Which, hey, you don’t! So good on you!
Uh, I am writing this at 5AM on the first day of the Spring 2003 semester, my final semester at Lewis and Clark College. I just cannot sleep. I think it is from all the rockstar-lifestyle-activity I have partaken in these past couple weeks. I came home from break two weeks early so I would have time to chill, and in that time I have tried to go to as many shows as possibly possible. And, of course, where there are shows, there is alcohol. I have seen a couple shows at the Blackbird, one at Disjecta, and another at Berbati’s all very fun. This really is a fun town for live music. It’s strange to me that London had nothing in the way of a rock scene, and Portland’s is off the heez.
So you can tell that I have been digging the rock lately. I just got tired of how canned and static so much electronic music sounds. I started listening to the Pixies in London and I realized that I was craving the manic energy that comes with having real live performers banging away at their instruments.
I also realized, in London, that the electronic music scene is a little too Wallpaper*(tm) magazine when you get right up in front of it; All style and no substance (which is a little unfair to Wallpaper, but only a little). Of course, the same can be said of rock music, but at least it’s fun to see live! No offense to Brede but I can not sit still through laptop shows. This is why I cannot be a laptopologist, as per your suggestion.
So I have been digging the really manic spastic rock shit coming around right now. Bands like Deerhoof, Oneida, Point Line Plane, Old Time Relijun, etc are blowing me away. I really enjoy the physicality of this music, and the insane experimentalism. These bands get fuckin nuts, and what’s cool is that it seems to come out of an intense lust for life and a desire to just do something wild and loud, instead of coming from mopey downerism like, um, Radiohead, and a billion other indie rock bands. This is more where I am at in my life. I wanna get crazy and have a good time.
To that effect, I have started a quasi-band with my friend Steve Walsh. We are really just fucking around, but it’s cool to get out of my head and have another person to bounce ideas around with. Keeps things lighter and more fun. I am buying the old Pro-Tools 888 interface that Joe Waters used to use in his classes at LC for $300, and we will start tracking some songs into my computer. This way I can do my composition in realtime on real instruments (which I think lends itself to creativity better than writing on a computer), and still have my fun going crazy with the effects and digital sound editing. I’ll send you a CD when one exists.
London, eh? Good call. It’s a rad town, with lotsa lotsa shit going on (but no live scene, see above). As far as how to get a job in media, check out the BBC. They have loads of oportunities and they make very high quality content. I almost got an internship working for BBC Radio, but it ended up starting after I left.
Will you ever be returning to the Northwest of the USA? I’d like to kick “it” with you again. Alas, mayhaps tis not in the stars?
Oh yah, thanks a lot for the Christmas Card, that was really nice.
By the way, do you know if it would be really hard to get a job writing for the Mercury? That’d be way fun. I’d basically really like to write about music for someone, and I think the Mercury is a good place to do that. I’d also like to continue getting into shows for free after I graduate. Thoughts?
Anyway, if I don’t stop now, I may never stop so I’m gonna have to make a dive for the margins now. Take care, have fun, and GET SOME! SPRING BREAK 2003 WOOO HOO!
XOX
Matt
