Groovin'

I find that music today with quite a few exceptions (generalizing music is a horrid idea) is lacking. I grew up in a very open and exploratory family in terms of artistic values and tastes. Of course, many people in the western side of the United States are like this.

Case and point:


Being the open and groovy people we are I think that certain things can be jived with a little easier. "What is your point?" I can hear you screaming; it is this, a lacking of quality blues and jazz can be seen at the very least in my area of the country!

Egads, red Michigan...


To be fair I am being erroneous and quite rude to the good folks in this State that do what they can to influence real artistic music. As a matter of fact, the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra is quite close to my immediate area and plays quite often at my favorite brewery of all places. I really do implore you to check them out: www.grjo.com

So again I can almost hear you screaming with your arms in the air "Then what are you going on about?!" This, is what I am going on about (and as a bonus, she looks just like Manson, which is actually a crack against Gaga as Manson is actually is good):


Anyway, the point of what I am actually going on about is some of the real groovy jiving cool cats that are out there that I wish there were more of such as The Black Keys. Check them out on YouTube if you have no idea who they are. They are a blues/rock band that, well, simply put do rock. A link is provided: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdc1w8ypfVE

Sure other artists work hard and they might make some pretty peppy garbage but the value behind it and the way it really makes you feel inside is so different than the example above by The Black Keys. Did you ever have an emotional connection or response to "Hit Me Baby One More Time" or "Who Let The Dogs Out?" My guesses are no but have you ever heard the pain of some heavy lyrics and the wailing of a sorrowful jazz-guitar rift and just HAD to play the song again or really close your eyes and just groove?

That, my dear chums, is what I am on about. The soul, the spirit, the life of the music. "All he needs is love so he won't break" has much more of a consequential feeling than "My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard" whatever the hell that even means.

Then again, I'm probably wrong and music is subjective to the listener. Although, if I am wrong than be that as it may but I really beg for you to attend two festivals and tell me which had a more artistic and soulful impact: a jazz or blues festival or... well... I don't think there is a "bad taste" fest but you can probably get the picture by going to just one of their concerts to decide.