Your Custom Text Here
What do we leave behind? Everything. All we said and did, touched and felt, saw and heard. Our wake in our wake. Our record. Ian MacKaye (Fugazi, Minor Threat) has been recording for decades; authoring, observing, writing, screaming, and riding the record as it ever spins. We want that name back! Records. Why waste an idea that covers it all? Ian sets his straight, or not.
A look back — a peek, not a stare — is the rudiment of progress. If we acknowledge humanity, art, culture, history, sex, athletics, politics et al are all in motion, so it stands that we develop as we develop; a greatest (and less-so) hits of the times we contain. Angie Dickinson - iconic actress, and purveyor of all the great film “feels”- befriends time in pairs; in clarity and in ignorance. Her past teaches her present — a present that capitulates seamlessly to Now, knowing the best stories and legends go unprinted. She also still loves it when people call her “Pepper”. Oh, Angie, indeed.
Crying-wolf is all the rage; the danger being, lightening bugs have nothing in common with lightening. When strum and drang is our ring-tone, we need to revisit what deserves action and what deserves a cable cut. Strategist/Consultant/Teacher James Carville's historic pole position has enabled a career of avoiding cracks and deflecting crisis both for-and-of all five estates. He’s also student to and author of an inside vernacular that’s served both colleagues and causes well. There’s more to crisis than meets the ear; but, don’t panic, James will break it all down only to re-construct it by hour’s end.
You'll like this, it's pass/fail; or, rather, fail/pass. You either have this or you don't. You either are this or y'aren't. Yes, it can be transferred; but, it's best when encouraged or environments allow for it. You can't fake it, and it's far different than either intellect (though they couple well) or boredom (though this is easily mistaken.) You'll feel a certain "itch" at first then you'll need to set forth. Age is often both its confederate and its proof it's never too late. What is it? It's it. But do you have it? We think you already know. Singer/Writer/Painter Brandon Boyd of Incubus has it, ad absurdum et ad infinitum. …Curious?
There are limitless roads one many follow to pre-divine a culture - political, educational, infrastructural, even culinary. Amongst paths we've employed, one standard, hypnotic, vexing version is to simply open our eyes; particularly when we travel, specifically as lingual outsiders. Mercifully actor/creator Stephen Mangan tour-guides us through the triumphs and trapdoors of UK artistic content and what it's smallest forms - at the very least - intone about his nation and content gifts both given and received. Stephen's work, as his insight, crosses ponds effortlessly, including our favorite UK content confection "panel shows". Some artistic diplomacy has it's limits, however. Such are the benefits of home.
Our boldest actions lie in the eye of the beholder. Seldom do the doers of hazardous-deeds self identify - such is the case with risk and its takers. Let's prove our case to Serj Tankian (System of a Down) defier of stop signs he's blind to. Be it personal, political, cultural, artistic, vocational or the myriad forms of vocal, Serj moves forward; success or loss notwithstanding. His measure is always on his terms and we're thankful he knows no better. Perhaps ignorance is risk.
Arguably no word nor concept sounds more above inspection than Community. So, of course, let's go. Creator/Musician/Writer Jonathan Coulton has sought out, been part of, builds, and guides his very "own" Community. Sounds great. It is; but there are privileges that can lead to advantages and onward towards exclusions, as every donut has a hole. Groups and groupings are under siege and their diverse whereabouts scream out for dialogue; but fear not — Jonathan helps fill in this space by land and by sea.
Our most-requested subject/topic/tool/albatross present in everything we do, do all the time. Some humans readily concede this premise, others are sluggish studies. One artist who might prefer to be remembered as a collaborator-above-all is legendary band leader and member Johnny Marr. Professor Marr embodies as pure a study - and as reliable an authority - on working with others, as the history of art can conjure. His story IS history, and it's found him in groups, continually; working in service to a greater goal, remarkably. Architect of legendary, resonant chords - not the least of which have very little to do with sound itself - Johnny understands that transcendent ideas are found in groups; both in spite of, and often due to, their imperfections.
When sounds come together and form sound, the ear is intrigued. On-alert for no good reason other than its encounter with sonic perfection. Harmony is that perfection. Harmony is hermetic - lacking either panic or uncertainty - as there is usually safety in number. Neko Case knows her gangs and, as a practice, her harmonies. Not only a siren of modern myth and neo-story, Professor Case is proof of harmony's power to nourish and redeem; even if humans aren't always getting along. She authors her art en masse; and the environment remains (as do we), eternally grateful.
We've concluded that teaching is no more than exploring a series of opposites: Talking/Listening, Acting/Reacting, Planning/Improvising, Translating/Declaring, Progressing/Remaining, Global/Local, Inside/Outside, Human/Inhumane, Art/Science. Have we covered it all? Not a chance. So, let's ask Alexis Krauss, whose groundbreaking work as a teacher not only draw-drops her legions of (Sleigh Bells) fans and mountainsides of students past and present; but, inspires more answers than questions. As only great teacher can. Class is truly in session. Does everyone have a pencil?