Occupy This...

I've never been one for politics. Ever since I was little, I struggled with what "side" to be on. The problem is that I can see pros and cons in just about everything. For years I've tried to educate myself and pick a side. But what goes through my mind when I'm reading something is this is just one piece of the puzzle, and it's fashioned in a way to promote that point of view. That goes for all sides.

So when the whole Occupy Wall Street movement started, I knew my brain would be in for some major confusion. Corporate Greed is evil. There's a crap load of corruption going on all over the place, that much I'm sure of. But I just don't know that protesting helps anything. What is the purpose? To raise awareness, to bring the matter into the hands and minds of people, fine I get that. But what EXACTLY is supposed to change? Are corporate execs suddenly going to say, yep you're right, I make too much money. You have have a million of my 5 million salary. Are banks and credit card companies going to lower their bogus fees? No.

Here's my biggest issue with trying to pick a side. All any story being told out there is one person's account. As you're hearing the story, watching the video, you're seeing it the way they want you to see it. When I turned on the news this morning and saw the reports about the eviction of Occupy Wall Street, I immediately felt it was something that was bound to happen. They reported there were talks of protesters preventing the Stock Exchange from opening, blocking the bridges, trains, etc. So the police stepped in. Then i went over to Twitter and read a different point of view. The term "Media Blackout" was used frequently. This meaning things happened in the wee hours of the morning but the media was prevented from reporting what was really going down. So eventually the come to an agreed upon version of the "story", and report that. According to the other side, the cops trying to clear the park in the middle of the night on some stealth mission, does sound a little sketchy to me. Reports of unnecessary force abound on Twitter as well. Surely that is not right, but again, who is to say what really happens? Are some protestors going out of bounds? Are they provoking police? I'm pretty sure there is a lot of protocol that goes into any sort of police activity. Rarely do I think a cop would just start beating on a protestor. I have to believe that a lot of stuff happens before it gets to the point of force. But that's when the iPhones start rolling. Don't get me wrong, I certainly do believe there are cops out there who are hot heads and take the law into their own hands. But again, there is no way to EVER know this unless you are there to witness an event first hand. Everything and anything you see as told by someone else will never give you the truth. And that is my biggest issue. You have to be judge and jury on every facet of a situation. This is where I struggle, because my conscience and the distorted facts are always at odds.

I wish I knew how to really make change because I know things have to. But protesting is not the way. There needs to be an overall change of ideals in this country, and THAT is the only way things will start to even out. I have no idea how to make that happen though, so for now I will just stay in the middle, go to my corporate greed job, and enjoy the finer things in life.

Brandi Carlile is Light

Brandi Carlile is more than just a talented woman with catchy, heartfelt songs. She seems to have a certain energy that flows out of her, a good energy that comes through in her twinkling eyes and infectious smile while she sings. You can tell she is not merely singing a song, but feeling it, expressing it with her whole essence. But the energy is also there when she speaks, which makes me believe she is one of those rare types who have found a perfect balance between inner self and outer interactions. Only those who are that completely genuine can have this sort of energy floating around them.

A lot can be said about fanatical admiration for artists. I know there are some that will read this and think what I've written above is over the top, spiritual nonsense, or just plain silly. But I also know others will get exactly what I mean. For those who don't, I urge you to keep in mind your own feelings. Deep inside of you, there is bound to be something that moves you, gets to your core on every level, inspires you. It may be another music artist that you feel this way about, or perhaps another form of art or interest. If not, I encourage you to find that place inside, because I believe it is truly the essence of who we are and to tap into that source, can lead to a world of new discoveries.

So how did I finally hear about Brandi Carlile? Well, as often is the case with me, it's been a long time in the making. I have had friends mention her to me over the years, but didn't follow through. Sometime in the late summer, I became vaguely aware about her new album's release, called "Give Up The Ghost". Still I wasn't paying attention. Until one day I was on a music buying binge, I downloaded the CD. I was already expecting to like it, as I know my friends have similar tastes in music. But I was not at all prepared for the surge of raw emotions that Brandi puts forth in her music, and even less prepared for the ways it would affect me.

Her voice effortlessly ranges between country, folk, blues, and all out raspy rock, many times in the same song. But it's not just the talent, it's the intensity and passion that emanates from her that give the songs life. After months of listening to the cds and watching youtube clips, last night I finally got to experience all of this live. To say that I was blown away would be an understatement. Everything from the small auditorium, the crisp clear sound system, the amazingly talented band members, and the lighting effects during the show, made it beyond what I had expected.

The show started with a solo cello instrumental intro, leading to Brandi & company coming out front and center stage to perform "Oh Dear" with perfectly blended harmonies. The rest of the show was a mix of songs from Brandi's three albums, some stripped down acoustic, others loud, twangy and rockin'. As I'd seen in other clips, she did the completely unplugged version of "Dying Day", no mics at all, stood at the foot of the stage and let it rip. It was much quieter than it comes across on the videos, which shows how much space is out there and how much it takes to fill a room with sound. Maybe a little ironically later on as part of the encore, the twins Tim and Phil Hanseroth did a haunting cover of "Sounds of Silence". Some other covers were "The Times They are A'Changing", "You Belong to Me", and "Jackson" which led into a rousing, out of the seats foot stomping "Folsom Prison Blues".

Another aspect that impressed me was the lighting effects during the show. The stage colors changed from variations of blues, red, green and orange, with some more vibrant magenta and bright white lights at times. Each color perfectly matched the tone set by the songs, reaching that place where sights and sounds meet to create this feeling of completeness where your senses are working together.

Brandi also has a charming personality with her audience. Last night she joked about the crowd being so polite and quiet between songs but then someone would yell up a random comment. Of course that provoked the behavior to continue through the night, but it was all good natured and hilarious each time. You just can't help but like the girl. I'd say not only her smile is infectious, but so is her whole persona.

To my friends who have been telling me about Brandi Carlile, I thank you. It may have taken me a while, but I have finally "seen the light".