As 2022 wraps I’ve got a lot of THOUGHTS – and 2023 looms with a lot of concerns, and little and big things that I’m freaking out about.
The “recovery” of 2022 often feels more like a strange combination of mindless revolt and capitulation than it does a genuine triumph over the depths of the pandemic, but through it all I’m consistently amazed by the sheer beauty of what I and ilyAIMY create together – the support of our friends and fans and what I get to be a part of through all the other organizations I help with and the battles I fight, and vice versa.
Institute of Musical Traditions and Focus Music and their struggles to keep quality high, ears open, people coming to see music – all while also struggling with the moral implications of community and the responsibility of programming music that isn’t just good to listen to, but that MEANS something. Sandy Spring Museum and their support of folk artists from all walks of Life in ways that open MY eyes to things like African American doll making and in-depth histories of Syria and Indonesian dance! I think I complain a lot about all these things that I’m involved with, but we’re doing good things… verging on great.
And then there’s my little Rob’s Open Mics. The VOM community mostly in the hands of Rowan Corbett this year, keeping a tiny community at least marginally saner and more connected than they would be otherwise… Jeni Porter and Little Market Café keeping the beauty of Live music and open mics running with me over the summer, and David E. Eisner taking up the reins in November, creating the truly wonderful School of Musical Traditions space… it’s brand new but warm and inviting, and it’s just hitting it’s stride.
I’m HUGELY thankful for all the things I get to be a part of, though they all sort of engender an internal struggle : am I teacher? an artist? a mentor? a gatekeeper? I think I’m finding a better balance, and a better comfort zone in the midst of all these roles, but it’s a battle, and I take none of it for granted.
I’m looking forward to being back on the road a bit next year – not just weekender trips, but weeks spent away from home. I miss the highways of America desperately. I miss the West. I miss new horizons and driving till the birds look different. I Love what I do. I miss what I did. Thank you to all that do it WITH me. Thank you to all that listen, and care, and make yourselves known to me and share their stories…
Just thank you.
(mayhaps it’s strange when I combine my more narrative Journal entries with the open mic Journal entries, but truly, they’re part of the Journey, so deal with it – below is the video and photos from the last Takoma Open Spark of the year – December 27th, 2022. We do this every Tuesday at the School of Musical Traditions at 7112 Willow Ave, Takoma Park, MD. Signup at 6, music at 7, moderately family-friendly, 2 songs / 10 minutes / 1 pun whichever’s shortest unless we’re feeling generous)
Tonight, we felt generous….
