Hi folks, to start this off I should introduce myself - I'm soon to be 29 years old and living in northern Sweden.
I started out on trumpet in fourth grade, and kept at it for a long time even though I didn't get any good, nor did I like it very much. It was a bummer that I didn't get to decide myself what kind of music to play. So when I picked up the guitar (at home, tought myself) when I was around 16 it was a new world opening up. Suddenly I was writing songs, and playing in band. Got into skateboard punk rock and hardcore for a long time (1995-1998 roughly). A few years I was erally into emo (about 1998-2001). I also got into singer-songwriters, as well as older punk rock (Ramones (still love them), Clash, Iggy and the Stooges, Black Flag and so on). One particular singer-songwriter I liked was Damien Jurado, and I remember reading an interview with him where he talked about 'Anthology of American Folk Music' and how that anthology had changed his life. Damien had kind of a folk touch to his music, and I really liked that. So I started looking around, and that's how I got hooked on american folk music. Later on when I saw the dvd 'Down from the mountain' and specifically watching Mr Compton stepping up to the mic and taking a break on the tune 'Shove that hog's foot further in the bed' with John Hartford I knew that was what I wanted to do. That sound got burnt into my mind. I had already picked up the mandolin (saw a guy in church playing one, got interested, borrowed one for a while and was later given an old flat top mandolin from a relative of my wife), but hadn't really done much with it except playing two finger chords. Since then I'm still listening to all kinds of music, but bluegrass did get a special grip on me, and later on old-time and country blues (delta blues too). I guess I'm all over the place musically, but American roots music (if you pardon the expression) is my passion, both for listening and playing. I really like the raw emotion of folk music, in that way I think it is similar to punk rock. I also listen some to swedish and scandinavian folk music, which has a different vibe compared to american folk I think, more ancient and etherial if you will (is that a word?). I don't play any scandinavian folk music though, but maybe some day... I bought an open back banjo some months ago and have been playing around with that since then, but mandolin is still my passion. For me, I think music has always been a way to express identity and a search for my identity (or maybe rather what I would like others to think my identity). I really don't like to admit that, but looking in the rearview mirror I find it's true. Nowadays I don't think that's the case anymore, but who knows? The reason why I think that is because I'm almost a little ashamed of my 'nerdy' interest in folk music, sometimes people don't get what about this music that I like. Here in Sweden there is interest for American folk, but not that much. Pop and rock and electronic music rule the day of the younger people. It's just something about it that grips me, don't really know what it is. I feel like I'm a part of something bigger when I play an old-time fiddle tune on the mandolin, or when I listen to the Carter Family playing gospel songs. Also, music is an escape for me. And music speaks to me emotionally more than anything else. Like many people on here has already said. Ok that got long. Sorry. Rambler out. /Jonas On 6 Okt, 02:48, mistertaterbug <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > All, > It has been brought to my attention that maybe it would be interesting > to hear from everyone on the list regarding why there is music in > their lives, what was the inspiration in the beginning and what is it > now that drives the urge to continue? I mean, let's face it, taking up > an instrument is a life-long endeavor, so what is it about it that > makes that part of it not an issue, especially considering the human > desire for more immediate gratification? What is it about music in all > its genres and moods that you all find so irresistible that you have > spent so much of your lives pursuing it like an addiction? How do you > react when you hear good melodies(I see pictures personally)? Did/do > you have relatives that were/are musicians(this includes your kids)? > > I once read that when a large group of people join together for any > given event, there is a good chance that at least some of the people > in attendance are related, however distant. So, I guess that makes us > a family of sorts, however distant. Sure, it sounds far-fetched but I > believe there is some evidence to the truth of it all. That idea makes > it real to me, gives me something I can sink my teeth into that is far > more than fads or trends or awards or the rest of it. We are dealing > with a living, breathing thing that is kept alive by us because we are > in love with it, because when we love it, it loves us back. Okay, I'll > shut up before I get too long in the tongue. I want to hear you people > talk about how it effects you. > > Seriously folks, what drives your passion for this common interest we > have? > Tater --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Taterbugmando" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/taterbugmando?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
