May 18 : "Just Keep On Living in the Moment" - O. Wake (Brooklyn)

New Music / Freshly Written and Recently Released

ADJUSTING ATTITUDES

Brooklyn band "O. Wake" did a great show at Arlene's Grocery last week. The band played a lot of work from their new album, "Unfamiliar State", which was released this past January. Lots of different emotions and styles in the album. They all showcase mastermind Ofer Shouval's versatility in both writing and performing.

One of the recurring elements in the album is a consciousness or awareness about people's emotional well-being.

In fact shortly after the beginning of the album we're already making a trip to the therapists' office(s). A very spirited visit for the first part of the song, but then the visit turns south during the second part of the track. Here is that trip to the therapist. The title is "Riper Than Ripe" and is the second track on the album. Some brilliant lyrics in this album. Listen for an interesting saxophone solo that starts to sneak in between 2:53 and 3:11 on the clock :::

After the lyrics have ended, the saxophone in the last part of the track seems to turn the feeling back to be more positive (are we now again being more spirited?), but it leaves us not being sure how it all turns out. Does "Riper Than Ripe" refer to the work at the office, the relationship with the therapists, or both?

"Unfamiliar State" can mean various things. It can mean some new and unexpected song structures as we listen. It can also mean taking ourselves out of our comfort zone of safe, repetitive and sometimes toxic life habits and finding ourselves confronted with versions for ourselves that have greater potentials.

Some of the characters in the album have relationship complications. Are we breaking up? This won't even be a relationship; not getting off the ground because I'm "Not Your Type".

Many of the story lines in the songs involve a person's deciding how to look at life, what attitude to hold, what feeling to feel. After being confronted with these, some of the outcomes are unclear. In some of the songs there seems to be a pull in both directions, so that the decision is not easy and the process could prove to be tenuous. These feelings are intensified by the song structures which can sometimes be surprising and choppy.

THE FINAL THOUGHT

The way the album is laid out seems to be all building up to the last track, "Just Keep On Living In the Moment". This song is very solid and definite in what it means and what it says. Gone are the tenuous feelings, mixed emotions, or volatile expressions that occurred in some earlier parts of the album. In fact it seems to be an antidote to what some of the characters in the previous stories were experiencing.

So experience it for yourself.... Take a seat. .... Clear you mind. ... And meditate on these words as you listen to the track below. ... This is the final track. "Just Keep On Living in the Moment" :::

Instead of caving in
Instead of feeling left out
Instead of waiting for
A minute more
To walk out the door

Instead of being lost
Instead of counting up the costs
Instead of waking up
Instead of showing off
Instead of breaking up

Instead of saying something you regret
Instead of wanting to forget
Instead of making it
Instead of faking it
Instead of being let down

Keep on living in the moment
Just keep on living in the moment
Just keep on living for the moment

Instead of giving up

O. Wake doesn't have any other shows coming up in the next few weeks, but here's a click to their Facebook page where you can keep an eye on what they're doing ::: O. Wake on Facebook (CLICK HERE).

(pics are from band's Facebook page. quotation of lyrics used with artist's permission)

May 08 : My Night Out May 2

The band stopped between two songs in the middle of the show to make an announcement. They said that they supported the student protests against the war in Gaza.

The audience responded with immediate cheers and applause. I felt buoyed that I was in a room with so many people feeling the same way I do. The band then talked for a couple minutes about the Gaza issue.

But then came the sobering moment as I thought about what will happen between now and November. I don't think Biden realizes the broad and deep level of discontent among those whose support he will need for reelection this Fall.

The band making these comments was Portland, ME, band "Weakened Friends", who were the openers at First Unitarian Church on Thursday night. Double kudos even triple kudos to them for making those statements.

I had gone to the venue to see Slothrust, whom I've seen a few times before and of course wanted to see again. But I started to have a bad night as soon as I arrived at the venue and found the place very crowded and tightly packed. I had gone there after working a day in NY so arrived at the venue late. I was stuck in the back and could see little more than the heads of the people on stage. I always like to be in front but with a little space to move around if I want. I hate being crowded off in the back and freaked out to myself and just felt like I had to get out of there. I wasn't enjoying the show.

But I did stay to hear at least the beginning of Slothrust ... then I quickly left in a huff.

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Slothrust (LA)

I've been listening to Slothrust for a long time. The band came out with an intriguing new album in October. The first track is "Pony". The album is unusual in that it winds up with a few other versions of that same song at its end. I'm having a problem embedding the music into my post, so here is the link to the album where you can listen to the whole thing. Check it out. ::: "I Promise" album (CLICK HERE). Slothrust has just finished off their big tour and doesn't have any other shows in the area soon. (pic above is from Slothrust's Bandcamp page)

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MAIN TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS ::: BRINGING CLARITY ::: I guess some main takeaways from that bad night are (1) I probably should not go to Philly shows on a day when I work in NY; I would be arriving late. (2) Probably cross off First Unitarian Church for future concerts. I had only been there once before; that event was comfortable and not overly-packed. But for future times, I now feel a little cautious about the venue. I wouldn't find out about crowds until I was actually there and then it would be too late. (3) I broke one of my main patterns on this night and that's that I have to like the music of the opener enough as if it were doing a standalone show.

I CAN'T LET GO; I CAN'T LET GO ::: Of course when I think about Slothrust, I always remember the great show they did at Glasslands in Brooklyn back on 5/29/14. I still am in mourning and pissed that Glasslands closed.

BUT WAIT THERE'S HOPE! I was so disappointed and felt so messed up that night, sure I'd have to get some type of therapy. Luckily that's coming in the next post soon!