Alberta

Saw a show tonight.

The first guy said nothing, played electric guitar, keyboard, and used his laptop for electronic sounds. Pretty interesting, although the lighting (or lack thereof) in the room and the slow melodic tones didn't help my sleepiness.

The second was a four piece- cello, violin, two acoustics, electric, and keyboard. This was the one that hit home. One guy, who played keyboard and acoustic, was truly mesmerizing. Their music was played from deep inside them, as if playing their instruments were the only way for them to communicate. Most of their songs had no words, but occasionally they would break out into short choruses, and it was almost as if the music itself was compelling them to burst into song, as though the emotions they were generating required them to keep communicating and the only other way to do so since their hands were occupied with instruments was to use vocals. Their voices were an extension of the music played and the dynamics surrounding the climax of the song could easily bring you to tears. These people felt the music, not just because they were playing the instruments. They felt it because it was part of them and they had to respond. I haven't seen that kind of dedication and inspiration in a really, really long time.

If you've never heard Balmorhea, you should fix that, and soon.