I awoke this morning with this thought swimming through my head. It’s not my original thought and I don’t know who said it first, but it’s an appropriate one for this weekend. Here’s why.
Tomorrow night is the Grammy Awards — that annual celebration that has become unequal parts glitter, popular taste and, and to some extent anyway, excellence in the musical arts. I grew up watching the show, dreaming someday that I might own my own little golden gramophone. Hasn’t happened yet.
Generally, I find the show entertaining, if for no other reason than to witness the parade of winners and to hear and see what they have to say about the making of their art. Who do they thank? Who do they slam? Do they accept with tears or bravado? It’s interesting to see who gets nominated and who gets shunned, who gets a long-awaited and well-deserved award and who seemingly comes out of nowhere and takes the Grammy world by storm on any given night – like Norah Jones’ five awards for her first CD, “Come Away with Me,” in 2003 or Bonnie Raitt’s sweep in the early ‘90s with her career resurrecting album, “Nick of Time.” So the Grammys can be filled with great stories of both out-of-the-gate accomplishment and long-term perseverance and excellence.
But they can also make us scratch our head’s and say, “huh?” Okay, enough of the Grammys, because they are just part of my thoughts this morning.
The other part of my brain is fixated on the thought that tonight about 50 people will jam into my house to see the gifted and highly literate singer-songwriter Pierce Pettis ply his wares as part of the occasional house concert series that some friends and my wife and I established about three years ago. This is in many ways the other side of the coin as the Grammys, of course. Small crowd, lower tech, folding chairs and no stage lighting except for a couple of strategically placed lamps. But the experience for the audience will be extraordinary, for Pettis and the other talented musicians who have graced our stage over the past several years are at the tops of their games, some of the very best songwriters our world has to offer. They may not have the popular name recognition of Grammy Award winners, but their commitment to the excellence of their craft is the same if not greater than those well-known names. Think about it. Pierce just drove 11 hours through a snowstorm in Tennessee to arrive here to play for 50 or 60 people. He’ll play for a couple of hours, meet the people who love his music (or perhaps are hearing it for the first time), sell a few dozen CDs, go to sleep and then move on to the next town. I wonder how many of tomorrow night’s Grammy Award winners would be willing to do the same just in order to keep responding to the call – the vocation – to make music.
Here’s the point of all this, really. If you don’t like the culture, make your own…or help others make their own. Instead of paying $50 or $100 bucks to see a megastar at your local arena, support or create your own small venues that put the spotlight on the gifted but lesser-known artists who may never find their way (or want to find their way) to top 40 radio, MTV or the Grammy Awards.
If you really want to know what it takes to put on a house concert, you can read an article I wrote a few years ago for the online magazine, Mel Bay’s Guitar Sessions.
At our little concert series, High Valley House Concerts, we strive to present some of the very best and most talented artists who are writing, recording and touring the world and the country playing in small theatres, clubs and, as we like to say, “in the intimacy of a living room.”
These artists need and deserve our support, and they exist not only in the world of acoustic guitar-toting songwriters but also in the worlds of jazz, Americana, world and classical music, among other genres. Seek them out and give them a chance to shine.
Jill Stratton says
Hi Steve—thanks for sharing these reflections. One of the taglines for the Acoustic City Concert Series (which is on hiatus for now) is “You don’t need a backstage pass.” The idea that the music and the artists are so accessible because of the intimate setting appeals on many levels.
I have a very hard time attending a concert in a stadium setting and rarely do anymore (except for U2). I love the connection that the audience and the artists have in your living room or at a place like the Focal Point. Thank you for reminding us all to support live music and to honor those artists like Pierce who drive 11 hours in a snow storm to share their music! That certainly demonstrates passion and calling.
And thank you for organizing house concerts and sharing such amazing music with others, which also demonstrates passion and calling.
catholicbooktalk says
Steven,
I enjoyed your comments about making your own culture and Pierce Pettis, who is Pierce Pettis I asked myself. I am still grieving the lost of Harry Chapin, twenty nine years ago. I always have to be aware of the Holy Spirit. If I lived closer I would have crashed the party, so I did the next best. Sunday I visited two of my grandchildren in maine, my eight year old grand daughter hooked me up with I-tunes and I now own Great Big World by Pierce Pettis, I could hear Harry singing again. I listened to it for three hours from Maine back to Vermont. The Holy Spirit just doesn’t remind us how to help others but also how to take care of ourselves.
Thanks Steve
Peace
Bruce