Confessions of a Fanboy

Last night’s BSCA went far better than the week before it. A good time was had by all. The mighty Sterfish joined us to re-cap the Grammys. An excellent panel of Dawn Olsen, Mark Saleski, A.L. Harper, and El Bicho joined me to discuss our favorite love songs (as well as some we violently hate). It was a hell of a lot of fun.

The best part, for me, happened in the chatroom after the show had ended. Aaron McMullan, or The Duke as he’ll forever be known to me, listened to the program and stuck around for some yakking about this and that when I mentioned Mark Lanegan’s “Bombed” and Bubblegum again. It somehow got his attention and I sent him the track to sample. He flipped. He found it every bit as amazing as I do, so I sent him a few more tracks from Bubblegum.

Not to be outdone, Duke asked me if I’d heard Richard Hawley. I told him the name sounded familiar but I didn’t know the work. Turns out Hawley collaborated with Jarvis Cocker on his solo record as well as some work with Pulp. Would you believe I listened to three Pulp records yesterday? Duke flung a few tracks my way and my jaw dropped.

The first song I heard is called “Roll River Roll,” from Hawley’s most recent record Lady’s Bridge. I didn’t wait for the song to end to commence Fanboy gushing. “They don’t make records like this anymore,” I typed. Duke agreed. We both marveled at Hawley’s glorious croon. The gorgeous piano melody and jazz-like flourishes, backed by a beautiful orchestral arrangement had me seeing, hearing, and feeling that rolling river.

That was all the encouragement Duke needed. He fired a few more of his favorite Hawley tracks my way. I responded by sending a few more Lanegans to him.

The next tracks had titles like “The Sea Calls,” “Just Like The Rain,” and Can You Hear The Rain Love.” The allusions to water in the titles are descriptive of the music. You feel like you’re floating on top of the music as you’re simultaneously immersed in it. Itwashes over you, bathing you in liquid light. Hawley’s beautiful croon swims through rivulets of liquid guitars, gently strummed and plucked.

I doubt Duke stared too much at my chud-like features on the web cam, but if he had I think he’d have recognized the expression. He told me he’d gone through a six month period where Hawley was about all he listened to. I understand that kind of obsession and it was written all over my face. Duke, meanwhile, was finding himself more and more drawn to the Lanegan tracks from Bubblegum and Field Songs. I can only think of a small handful of better ways to spend an evening, and most of those aren’t legal.

It was another reminder of why I do this; Fanboy and BSCA. It’s all about sharing music and sharing my love of music and having it come back to me. Last night, I sat in front of my computer in a trance as I absorbed incredible music recommended by a friend. I also got to share an artist I’ve loved for well over 10 years with someone who was moved by it in kind. This is what it’s all about and I’m once again energized.

I’ll soon find out if TWTWIM liked her Valentine’s Day gifts because I’ve just added a few CDs to my wishlist.

Thanks, Duke.

Filed under: Tags: Musical Musings and Random Ramblings