I went there with some friends to celebrate a birthday. It was my first visit to the dance club, and it left me with a good impression. Each day I realize there is so much great music out there that I have yet to hear.

And, when I do hear music that I love, I want to know it well. These things take time. My friend said she’d make me an Intro to Reggae Mix CD. I’m sure I’ll be sitting with it for a while.

I watched Punch-Drunk Love this evening. That was a great film. I loved this part:

“I didn’t do anything. I’m a nice man. I mind my own business. So you tell me ‘that’s that’ before I beat the hell from you. I have so much strength in me you have no idea. I have a love in my life. It makes me stronger than anything you can imagine. I would say ‘that’s that’, Mattress Man.”

It’s not funny. It’s really not. Humans are, but the movie isn’t. I wouldn’t like someone to tell me he wants to smash my face with a sledgehammer, but I get it. I do. The throwing of hammers in his life has corresponded with strong emotions. He feels strongly. He doesn’t want to hurt her.

Dancing is great… but I don’t want anyone to be all up ons. I don’t want strange men coming up behind me and pretending we have reached a level of intimacy that we never will reach. That’s why it was so nice to be with a group of people who had the same mindset. They came to dance and listen to the live reggae music. Not to be molested. And they protected me, when I needed it. I wish going out didn’t require protection, but it’s like that. And, music and dancing may be worth it to me right now.

I don’t want my music to create an environment that makes ladies fear coming out to see me play. There is nothing sexy or meaningless about my music. Not yet. We’ll see if it ever gets there.

It just goes where I go, I guess.

You may listen on that site, or download the interview. You may also subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.

Craig and I listened/watched the live broadast on http://www.ustream.tv/channel/somacow-media and we participated in the live chat on that page. It was a very singular experience in my life. I was slightly distracted from listening to the interview intently while it aired because I was reading and writing in the chat window, but, I was there for the real thing, and I knew that I could have a listen once it was available for podcast.

And, I did listen again this morning.

In other news: I’m really excited about the progress of my newest song, “Be Cool.” I’m starting to become more confident in my ability to communicate what I want my recorded songs to sound like. It takes time for a insecure, introverted person like me to make executive decisions, but I’m learning… and that’s my goal.

I hope to get more interviews and projects lined up to push me along. I do better when I have deadlines and appointments.

Craig and I recently helped our friend enhance a musical scene in his short film. That was fun and motivating. Being around other creatives is really helpful.

Also, I saw the Indigo Girls and Brandi Carlile perform last Saturday. It was really great. But, I believe folk music is best enjoyed with chair options. My favorite part was when Emily Saliers and Brandi Carlile performed their song “Let It Go,” and the story Brandi told about their experience writing it together. She helped put a voice to all of our thoughts. We were standing before the greatness of the Indigo Girls. The ladies who wrote the lyrics that spoke to our souls when we needed it most.

When I’m on stage, performing my very personal songs, there is a safe barrier between myself and the crowd–between the crowd and the subject matter. I think my medium of expression allows difficult messages to be conveyed and not realized in all their weight, or ugliness, or beauty, until a little after the charm of the music has faded.

In an interview, I can’t charm too much. If I’m asked directly about the meanings of my songs, I feel a responsibilty to be as honest as I was when I wrote them, but I realize there is no safe barrier. The people involved in the situations that prompted me to write will be even more exposed. I try to be respectful to them. But, I must also be respectful to my own memory and my part in that experience.

I will be sorry whether I do or don’t speak my mind.

So, hopefully people will look at my body of work, and the content of my character, before I am dismissed as a human being for calling out sad and painful emotions. They are in the past, and writing and performing these songs helped me move on and grow from them.

Craig and I were talking after the interview about how I haven’t been writing much here because I feel like not much news is happening regarding the progress of my musical career. But, it’s like that sometimes. And, I think I should just write here about things that are unrelated if I have no news. As long as I think they are thoughts that can be public. So, I’ll work on that.

Thanks for listening. The interview will air on Sunday February 28, 2010 at 5pm. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, as well. Just search for Local City Soundtrack in the iTunes store. You may also subscribe here: http://localcitysoundtrack.com/?feed=podcast

Pictures will also be found at the website: http://localcitysoundtrack.com

Check it out.