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Friday night I finally got to hang out with Dave. Dave is the guy who got me started in blogging. He is now on a hiatus for undetermined amount of time. So..he and I try to occasionally get together..but we have been hit and miss the last couple of times. But not Friday night. We were headed out with his co-worker Lance and Lance’s childhood friend Brett.
We were going to see a band named the Ike Reilly Assassination at a place called the Comet. Honestly, I was in it for the ride. The music on Ike’s website sounded pretty good. I love to hear new music and am a fan of all types of music. You can find me listening to Country, Rap, Metal, Rock, Classic Rock, New Alternative, Gospel and Adult Contemporary in any given day. So, a band with some cool guys and beer sounded like a great Friday night.
Dave and Lance pick me up at the Bob Evans and we head down to pick up Brett. It is cold and I am in the back seat of a Mustang. Another story for another day. We get to Bretts place and decide to take his much roomier Chevy Cavalier (two door) over the tight spaced Stang. We head to North Side to the Comet. A great hole in the wall place full of bohemianesque young and old people. No cover charge and I wasnt carded. Do I look that old? Full of the birkenstock crowd. Thats what I woulda called em in college. Great bear selection, a Red Stripe and New River Pale Ale for me. Chips and Salsa and great tunes by Ike Reilly.
The music wasnt exactly what I am into. By and by for the most part I am into music that tells a story. I think that is why I gravitate towards Jimmy Buffett, Lyle Lovett, Joe Ely, Tom Cochrane and the like in my older years. They are storytellers. When I am in the mood for heavy stuff, then I turn to Metallica or rap where the artist is speaking from experience and using the hard edge of the lyrics and music to convey a situation, a feeling, a frustration or a celebration. This change in my music listening has really distanced my from Pop music as a rule.
Ike seemed to be singing not as a storyteller, but rather as an artist that was less interested in communicating with the crowd and more interested in expressing himself vocally in front of an audience. During one song that mocked country music he eluded to this thought. There are performers (country artists) that perform for the audience. Then there are artists (presumably Ike) that perform for themselves and others just enjoy it. I realized at that table, taking my last swig of New River and chasing it with a tortilla chip, that I fell in the former category of fan.

I listen to music as a form of escapism. There are others who appreciate an artists music as the art form that it is. Ike’s music didnt really take me away, didnt really entertain me, didnt really speak to me. But. But. However. It did speak to a majority of people there. That is the beauty of music. Is one better than the other. No I dont think so. But Ike’s nod that Country Music wasnt as good or valid as his left a bad taste in my mouth.
Now for praise for Ike. I found that the tune “Commie drives a Nova” had a real novelty feel for it. The guitar work on that song was entertaining. I found the drummer to be exceptional at his craft and his seemed to play to the audience and really was fun to watch and listen to. The nights capstone was not the music..but rather talking music and movies with three guys on a Friday night.
All in all. A great evening. Now where is that Multi Platinum, mass produced Country CD I am looking for?