By the nature of my profession and my schooling, the paths I creep are almost exclusively populated by other artists and musicians. It’s been that way for… Christ… 17 years… ever since I first stepped foot in an art school. These creatures are beautiful and individual, firey and fey and passionately, thoroughly alive… and used to being told about it.
I’m not saying we get sick of our compliments – it just means that sometimes we don’t believe them, especially from other artists and musicians. Somewhere along the line, a lot of that became far too political. It’s like a beautiful woman being told that she’s beautiful – can she take the compliment without feeling like there’s just a penis behind it?
I try to give compliments where they’re due. It’s easier with Heather in tow, because of course it’s less threatening (if you’re saying someone’s hot) and more convincing (when you’re telling someone they play great) perhaps because it’s always easier to take a compliment from a gorgeous woman…
In any case, this is about Loving other artists. I remember first encountering it with Will Schaff, though it was sort of a different thing. I felt like my opinion didn’t really matter at first… and then suddenly, when he invited me into I Love You And I Miss You – the original project, it was this huge glow! I remember playing the open mic at the New Deal Cafe, and liking Richard McMullins’ music, but I don’t know that he ever took my admiration seriously, simply because you HAVE to suck up to the guy who books the venue, right? And I WAS dating his daughter… soooo…
Sigh.
Let’s not even discuss trying to compliment Steve Key. Brushed off with a disbelieving glance cause you HAVE to suck up to the host of the Jammin Java open mic, right?
Sigh twice.
In any case, a friend of mine in Illinois was on the receiving end of a new song recently, and she sent me a glowing email about how she Loved being allowed into this kitchen recording session – she writes “Thank you, rob, for letting me hang in the kitchen with you today and hear you practice the new song….you have no idea, really, do you?”
I do have an idea, and it’s one of the things that I think is a shame about most of my fellow performers. They’ve lost that sense of wonder – and sometimes I’m afraid that I’m losing it too…
I’m one of the few “fanboys” left in my profession, I think. And as such, I think it’s sometimes hard for Brian Gundersdorf, or Steve Key, or Zoe Mulford, or whoever else, to take it seriously that I’m standing there thinking that they’re the best thing since really, really good sliced bread.
I ran across Zoe at the College Perk on my birthday, and she played me a tune off her new CD – something about keeping angels from the storm that was just stunning. A beautiful song, and the giddiness that came from being exposed to this sneak preview is hard to express.
In any case, Susan, I really DO get it. I really DO have some idea, because I sit in awe of my friends and peers, and I still can’t believe that they invite me into their confidences. Sitting in the studio with Audrey and listening to the perfect crystallizations of old, old songs – I’m in Love with the things these people do. And I send things to the people that I think can appreciate this sort of thing on the same level. The glow of a person in the presence of our product – that means more than any tip or good press or slurred bar room compliment. It’s close to the most important thing of all.
