Deficit of Wonder

Because we’re here. Roll the bones.

Everything is explained now. We live in an age when you say casually to somebody ‘What’s the story on that?’ and they can run to the computer and tell you within five seconds. That’s fine, but sometimes I’d just as soon continue wondering. We have a deficit of wonder right now.

~Tom Waits

Life allows us the opportunity for seemingly unlimited experiences. In some, we find no joy. Others bring us pleasure, but only in small doses. There are precious few that cause us to seek out those experiences again, changing our mood and capturing our imagination. Then, occasionally, life will grant us a connection that fills our soul and demands us to keep filling our soul over and over again, as if it is required for life.

For me, that inspiration is music. I am not a musician and do not aspire to be one, outside of strumming a few chords on my guitar. But I am passionate about music. If I can help those who make music to share it with the world, then the purpose of this blog will have been fulfilled. If even one person reads one of my blog entries and falls in love with a new band, then I have succeeded in my purpose.

I am lucky enough to live in Northern California, where a lot of great bands are making their way; they’re creating new music and sharing it with us on Bandcamp and Soundcloud, in small clubs and in downtown music festivals.

I attend a lot of shows. Some shows are in large venues, but those are few and far between. Others are in midsized venues with 1,000 – 2,000 of my closest friends. But most shows are in clubs only large enough to hold a few hundred. These shows, where the band sells its own merch before and after the show, where the band acts as their own roadies, and where, more often than not, there is no barrier between the fans and the stage, I feel most alive.

I I feel the need to share these bands and these experiences with those who are lucky enough to find this blog the same way I am lucky enough to find these bands. Some sharing will be in the form of pictures and stories about the concert (no reviews – every live show is a great show); some will hopefully be in the form of an interview. And some will simply be me saying, “DUDE! You shoulda been there!!”

But here’s the thing – I am NOT a music reviewer or critic. I am not going to waste your time or mine telling you about bands or albums or concerts I don’t like. I am not Pitchfork. I don’t ever want to be pretentious. That doesn’t help anyone. Instead, this site will be a celebration of the things that fill me with a sense of wonder. If you see a blog post, you can be sure it’s something I want to tell you all about because I loved it.

So strap in, get yourself ready, and know that I have years of concert images and archives. Some I will bring out to tell you a story. Other archives will be presented to show you what I have upcoming. Still others might just be because I want to tell you – this band or record or live show was amazing.

Bonus points for anyone who sang the header and sub-head. If you didn’t don’t feel like you have to Rush out and find the song.

Yeah. Bad dad jokes will happen too. Welcome to my blog.