Your prose is just wonderful, Jake. Probably one of my favorite posts you've made so far! I'm currently taking a 20th century French theater course, and reading what you had to say here about the arresting essence of "soft power" as an element of performance reminded me about something my professor said about how the transmission of culture through text is actually a really recent phenomenon, and actually a rather strange one if you take into account the much vaster expanse of time during which humans were essentially oral beings. So anyways, whether a live theater performance or a particularly haunting live music performance like the kind you reference in this post, perhaps one of the reasons that might explain why these things feel so damn special is that they connect us back to this essentially human tradition of oral cultural transmission that seems to be getting rarer and rarer by the day. So thanks for doing your part to help keep it alive <3
I love being able to connect with people in that spiritual level of attentiveness. In these shows, the songs will speak for themselves.
In a funny kind of way, this would remind me of those high school moments where the teacher would present something, but if that class was being too disruptive, the teacher will stop talking, and just stand there, usually with arms crossed, and just wait. Eventually, one kid notices and stops talking, and another would follow, eventually, the entire class goes quiet without the teacher having to say a single word. But of course instead of you doing it in a "negative" sort of way, you just proceed to do your thing and people are happy to stop on their own and listen :)
I also noticed the lack of capitalization, very clever with the theme of your post hehe
reading this transported me back to your show at mississippi studios in portland some weeks ago. the connection in the room between everyone was electric and it was lovely seeing a performer im all too familiar with poignantly perform some unknown songs and stories.
you explain that feeling of intimacy so well. it’s my favourite part of live music, it creates such a unique atmosphere. definitely felt it when i saw sb,d. also, the cover is so amazing! soul mining is one of my favourite albums of all time and it’s so great to hear another of my favourite artists cover it. thank you for sharing! :)
I'll always hold Something Wild close to me because of its balance between soft honesty and chaotic release. I've got my first show in London in 2 weeks and have been struggling to put together a setlist for me and the band. Soft, quiet songs are hard to justify unless they really move people, it's a gentle intensity you place upon the audience that I'm trying to gauge. I hope I get the right balance. Love
shows are so wild, and it's so nice to read about them from people who also love them.
a show I feel very similarly about was andy shauf at rock n roll hotel (rip) in DC. maybe 2017? the crowd was so quiet and I felt like my heart was going to explode. everything just kept landing so hard. he was also touring with two clarinet players and that felt so badass to me at the time (and still does).
this is such a beautiful cover!! also love this essay, I also went to drexel and it really made me nostalgic remembering all of the brilliant artists I saw throughout those 4 years in west philly. the first time I saw sbd live was actually at michael jordan house turned jj's diner (with harmony woods!!), to this day one of my favorite shows. crazy to now see you at UT!!
I feel like this month we deserve to pay for this. Seeing you all at the HMAC last Saturday and earlier in 2022 was an awakening for me. It made me realize that yeah I love a good rocking solo or people belting out lyrics but, your song, "Notes From A Brief Engagement" will always make me feel more than any aggressive song could. When I hear that song I am well... entranced. Holding on to every word, despite having heard each one spoken countless times. I think if the neon sign outside of the Boot and Saddle and I think about Philly. Each show that you've played this song at it was my highlight. Just now do I realize because of your writing that the allure of the song is the delivery.
Your reflections on performing, on sharing stories through song were especially meaningful for me, having just seen you in Seattle a handful of weeks ago.
Your performance and stage presence that night felt so intimate. You connected do deeply with the audience, singing so beautifully while sharing stories and gratitude.
It was such a memorable night and to now read your reflections on performing feels like an extra gift.
And thank you for including your cover of ‘This Is The Day’ I hope your day is a day full of contentedness for you xox
This is really nicely illustrated. I think we see so many things in society set in motion by a harsh, blatant and unforgiving power.
Soft power isn’t new, but it’s also not celebrated as it should be, maybe it’s starting to be, it is here anyway and that matters. But it is where you find warm and steady kindness, where unshaken love resides.
Thanks for sharing yourself if this way. Its unique and special to see behind the veil of songwriters who inspire you.
beautiful piece jake, i love the small moments of connection in music. smallness is such a beautiful thing. learning to slow down and finding power in that, as you discussed. thank you for sharing and being so human.
I’ve always loved rock music especially for its loudness and intensity as well as it’s catchy lyrics. As long as the lyrics weren’t complete gibberish I didn’t care for them. That is of course until recently when I began listening and connecting to artists through their stories they told through songs. I don’t know why but I’m fascinated by how you take such interest in “mundane” everyday events and I hope to take your inspiration to write my own music one day. Through the years I’ve picked up and dropped the guitar in attempts to become a guitarist, but finally I’ve been sticking to it (as well as the bass) to create something one day. :p
"an empty room, a room so empty you can hear it"
Your prose is just wonderful, Jake. Probably one of my favorite posts you've made so far! I'm currently taking a 20th century French theater course, and reading what you had to say here about the arresting essence of "soft power" as an element of performance reminded me about something my professor said about how the transmission of culture through text is actually a really recent phenomenon, and actually a rather strange one if you take into account the much vaster expanse of time during which humans were essentially oral beings. So anyways, whether a live theater performance or a particularly haunting live music performance like the kind you reference in this post, perhaps one of the reasons that might explain why these things feel so damn special is that they connect us back to this essentially human tradition of oral cultural transmission that seems to be getting rarer and rarer by the day. So thanks for doing your part to help keep it alive <3
This was an awesome read. Your reverence of the art is deep-breath inducing. You rang a quality bell for me this morning.
Man, I love the first of the month.
I love being able to connect with people in that spiritual level of attentiveness. In these shows, the songs will speak for themselves.
In a funny kind of way, this would remind me of those high school moments where the teacher would present something, but if that class was being too disruptive, the teacher will stop talking, and just stand there, usually with arms crossed, and just wait. Eventually, one kid notices and stops talking, and another would follow, eventually, the entire class goes quiet without the teacher having to say a single word. But of course instead of you doing it in a "negative" sort of way, you just proceed to do your thing and people are happy to stop on their own and listen :)
I also noticed the lack of capitalization, very clever with the theme of your post hehe
reading this transported me back to your show at mississippi studios in portland some weeks ago. the connection in the room between everyone was electric and it was lovely seeing a performer im all too familiar with poignantly perform some unknown songs and stories.
much thankies~
you explain that feeling of intimacy so well. it’s my favourite part of live music, it creates such a unique atmosphere. definitely felt it when i saw sb,d. also, the cover is so amazing! soul mining is one of my favourite albums of all time and it’s so great to hear another of my favourite artists cover it. thank you for sharing! :)
I'll always hold Something Wild close to me because of its balance between soft honesty and chaotic release. I've got my first show in London in 2 weeks and have been struggling to put together a setlist for me and the band. Soft, quiet songs are hard to justify unless they really move people, it's a gentle intensity you place upon the audience that I'm trying to gauge. I hope I get the right balance. Love
shows are so wild, and it's so nice to read about them from people who also love them.
a show I feel very similarly about was andy shauf at rock n roll hotel (rip) in DC. maybe 2017? the crowd was so quiet and I felt like my heart was going to explode. everything just kept landing so hard. he was also touring with two clarinet players and that felt so badass to me at the time (and still does).
this is such a beautiful cover!! also love this essay, I also went to drexel and it really made me nostalgic remembering all of the brilliant artists I saw throughout those 4 years in west philly. the first time I saw sbd live was actually at michael jordan house turned jj's diner (with harmony woods!!), to this day one of my favorite shows. crazy to now see you at UT!!
I feel like this month we deserve to pay for this. Seeing you all at the HMAC last Saturday and earlier in 2022 was an awakening for me. It made me realize that yeah I love a good rocking solo or people belting out lyrics but, your song, "Notes From A Brief Engagement" will always make me feel more than any aggressive song could. When I hear that song I am well... entranced. Holding on to every word, despite having heard each one spoken countless times. I think if the neon sign outside of the Boot and Saddle and I think about Philly. Each show that you've played this song at it was my highlight. Just now do I realize because of your writing that the allure of the song is the delivery.
My favorite artist covering one of my favorite songs. Perfection.
hell yeah nicolas
Thank you for sharing this today.
Your reflections on performing, on sharing stories through song were especially meaningful for me, having just seen you in Seattle a handful of weeks ago.
Your performance and stage presence that night felt so intimate. You connected do deeply with the audience, singing so beautifully while sharing stories and gratitude.
It was such a memorable night and to now read your reflections on performing feels like an extra gift.
And thank you for including your cover of ‘This Is The Day’ I hope your day is a day full of contentedness for you xox
This is really nicely illustrated. I think we see so many things in society set in motion by a harsh, blatant and unforgiving power.
Soft power isn’t new, but it’s also not celebrated as it should be, maybe it’s starting to be, it is here anyway and that matters. But it is where you find warm and steady kindness, where unshaken love resides.
Thanks for sharing yourself if this way. Its unique and special to see behind the veil of songwriters who inspire you.
this is cool shit, mr. dog .
“what is more human than smallness?”
beautiful piece jake, i love the small moments of connection in music. smallness is such a beautiful thing. learning to slow down and finding power in that, as you discussed. thank you for sharing and being so human.
I’ve always loved rock music especially for its loudness and intensity as well as it’s catchy lyrics. As long as the lyrics weren’t complete gibberish I didn’t care for them. That is of course until recently when I began listening and connecting to artists through their stories they told through songs. I don’t know why but I’m fascinated by how you take such interest in “mundane” everyday events and I hope to take your inspiration to write my own music one day. Through the years I’ve picked up and dropped the guitar in attempts to become a guitarist, but finally I’ve been sticking to it (as well as the bass) to create something one day. :p
was great to meet you at the seattle show this essay put into words something i’ve felt about shows for a long time but could never quite get right