Today I would like to talk about the only thing I love more than going on hikes. Music. Music has played a huge role in who I have become. Growing up I didn't really listen to music. I heard what the other kids were listening to in the early years of grade school and I never really cared for it. So for quite a few years when people asked me, "What kind of music do you like?" I'd just say, "I don't listen to music." The problem wasn't that there was not any good music out there.. it was more the fact I hadn't been exposed to the right music. In sixth grade that All changed when my father fixed his record player. I put on Pink Floyd's "The Wall" and instantly fell in love. I had never heard music like that before. It opened up a door to all sorts of other musicians like The Doors, Led Zeppelin, etc. Then in high school, I felt sort of out of the cliques and started listening to Nirvana. The music and lyrics felt close to my feelings. As time went on I continued finding new music that I would fall in love with. Radiohead really changed my taste for the more experimental side of music. Then I reached a point where I basically said, "Ok. That's it... there's no more decent, recent music out there." And so I delved into the past. I started listening to Huddie (Leadbelly) Ledbetter, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Henry Hall and many others. Now I'm probably a bigger fan of music from the 20's - the 50's than I am of the more modern music. But lately I've been on a modern folk music kick. The Seedy Seeds are an amazing folk band that utilizes computer synths and drum machines along with banjo and acoustic guitar. They're truly revolutionary. As for more traditional Folk music of recent years, I have to say Haley Bonar is by far my favorite. Her songs tell countless stories and I never tire of hearing them. Today I had the pleasure of seeing her perform and talking with her for a minute afterwards. She's just a wonderful musician and amazing lyricist. I'm terribly saddened that she is moving out to the West Coast, but at least she will be back to perform a show in August.
I have all of her albums and today while I was at the performance I bought her vinyl of "Big Star" and she got all excited that I was buying the vinyl. It made me smile :) I also asked if she wouldn't mind signing it and she did. She told me how she keeps waiting for someone to come along and tell her they want her to sign really big over her face on the cover hahaha :P I can't wait for her next album and performance. I'm highly anticipating both.
If you don't know who Haley Bonar is, check out her website:
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