Month: May 2009

Finding new tunes to help the 21st century soul

Push a button and your ears can be filled with joy.

That button can be on a mouse, an iPod, a Discman, a CD player, a remote or even on the dashboard of a car.

The seconds go by slow and the anticipation grows as you wait for the new sound you are about to hear for the first time. You aren’t quite sure what to expect. Perhaps someone has told you about this new band/artist or maybe you like the look of the band name or of the musicians themselves.

The reason for listening to new music is different for everyone. But the thrill of hearing something you like for the first time is always memorable. It is this moment that you can recount to others about your first listen to something you love and how you reacted.

Retelling anecdotes of listening to favourite music is enjoyable, but nothing quite relives that moment like listening to the music itself. It has awoken something inside your soul and chosen you to be its fan. The music makes you move, sing, think, dream and wonder what else the artist has created.

Looking for music, both new and old has become a hobby I cherish. I procrastinate by surfing websites or amazon.com or even the iTunes store for new songs by unfamiliar musicians. Most artists have MySpace websites that offer samples of songs. Better yet, in their friends list there are links to other artists’ pages. Other websites like Pitchfork, The Hype Machine and the aptly named a new band a day all have news and song samples of new music. Computers have made it particularly easy to listen to as much as you want in a small space of time.

However computers aren’t the only means of getting new music. There is also, for you die hard music fans, the old fashioned way of going to entertainment stores or used record shops and exploring. One method my friends and I have tried is sporadically picking up an album by an artist we’ve never heard before. Sometimes it works, other times not. It is the excitement that comes with this that makes the experience worthwhile. There is always a music store to visit when you want to make new friends, but don’t feel like talking to anyone.

In an economic time like this, it is understandable that some people have to keep a close eye on their finances. A way to avoid spending a fortune and still have the aforementioned experience/enjoyment is to always keep your eyes wide and your ears wider. Look at similar artists on allmusic.com when viewing the profile of a band you like. Listen to what people you know are saying about a new band/artist. Pick up music related newspapers or magazines that feature new acts from around the world like Exclaim or Eye Weekly. There is more music than ever that is waiting out there for you.

But back to my ears being thirsty. Or was that my soul? To be honest it’s everything. The music can pick me up during a rough time and can sooth me during frantic moments. And can even tell somebody how I feel about them. Hearing new music that does one of those things is like taking a breath after swimming from deep water. Sometimes I can’t quite express the pleasure I get from hearing music that has this amount of impact. It can make me tear up just hearing a song that I know I will listen to a dozen times over and will find solace in. That’s the power music has. In some ways it provides a salvation and lets one know that as long as there is new music, there is hope.

NINJA show in Chula Vista

Seconds after singing the last words of the song ‘Hurt,’ Nine Inch Nails front man Trent Reznor said goodnight to the audience and led his band offstage to conclude the first two performances of the night.

Playing what seemed to be a short set of mostly new songs, NIN certainly warmed up the stage both physically, with the smoke machines, and metaphorically for the headliners. The night was certainly not over yet.

Jane’s Addiction, Nine Inch Nails and Street Sweeper Social Club played at the Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre in Chula Vista, California on May 16.

Nine Inch Nails perform at the Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre in Chula Vista, California
Nine Inch Nails perform at the Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre in Chula Vista, California

Located just a few miles north of the American Mexican border, the venue started to fill up as the sun set. For those who needed to be welcomed, ‘California Love’ by Dr. Dre and 2pac blasted through the speakers as the opening act took the stage.

Street Sweeper Social Club, with former Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello, performed an energetic set with a blend of alternative rock and MC style vocals. Morello’s guitar playing has lost none of its potency from the Rage days as he still looks, guitar held high above his waist, and sounds the same with classic screeching riffs. The band finished the half hour set with a cover of MC5’s ‘Kick out the jams.’

The Night now in full swing, concert goers admired the backdrop of the southern Californian mountains behind the stage as they waited for NIN to come on. Had you have closed your eyes absorbing the cool night air for too long and you would have missed the first song. The quartet went on stage and erupted through the speakers. So much so that after the first song, the PA system stopped working properly and only those seated in the lower bowl of the venue could hear anything. “I’ll rip the fucking speakers down if that happens again,” Reznor told the audience. “It’s not a nails’ show unless it’s loud.”

With the speakers fixed and as loud as ever, NIN ripped through material from their latest album. They did pause however between some songs to perform various piano/keyboard instrumentals. But after the momentary settle, NIN changed pace and again the place was rocking. If it wasn’t their sound that stimulated the crowd, the stage show had both fans and non fans wide eyed. A sign had been placed at the entrance of the venue warning those who have problems with strobe lighting. The organizers weren’t kidding. Each song brought upon different lighting effects that was matched perfectly with the sound, putting those in attendance in a trance like state.

During the set, the stage was flooded with smoke which Reznor would often disappear in and then remerge just in time to scream out the words to the song. It was all business for NIN as they hardly let any ears escape their guitars, bass, drums, piano/keyboard and synthesizers. They finished their set with ‘Hurt’ with the spotlight solely on Reznor and the crowd joining him for the chorus.

Naked girls from the 50s and a scene from the flick The River Wild were the intros on the screen for headliners Jane’s Addiction. Saluting their fellow Californians, lead singer Perry Ferrell revealed all members live nearby, Jane’s played a set of new and old favourites such as ‘Been Caught Stealing’ and ‘Jane says.’ Throughout each song, Ferrell danced across the stage while guitarist Dave Navarro, down on his knees, played nail biting solos to the crowd.

A change in tempo from the NIN set, but it was a change that worked. Jane’s played both harder and softer songs and pleased the audience with two encores. After the final lyric and riff from Navarro, all members paid tribute to the audience, especially Farrell who stayed on stage longer than the others. The thousands who came south from Mexico and north from San Diego and Los Angeles left satisfied knowing that they had witnessed a once in a lifetime event.