Witt's End

We as human’s ain’t logical. We just aren’t. And when it comes to picking equipment it becomes even more apparent. You might think cost, ergonomics, and efficiency would be the primary things we evaluate objects on. But that’s not always the case. Sometimes we’re illogical and that’s ok. We can pick objects for their aesthetics, familiarity, historicity, and nostalgia; all with good reason. I know I fall prey to illogical connections all the time.  For me I can see this in a few of the things I gravitate toward.  One, I like Telecasters  the most when it comes to electric guitar. Now that may not mean much to people who aren't gear heads but but a tele is literally a slab of wood with a cut out to reach the upper frets and some routing for pickups and controls. No contouring for ergonomics. It's all flat, with edges. It only has two pickups with a master tone and master volume control. The bridge only has three saddles that limit intonation.  But it's my favorite gui...

  If you’re a bari-bass there’s not a lot of pop, rock, or alt artists to latch onto. So that’s what made hearing The National for the first time a revelation.   There was a few country artists at that time (Josh Turner of course comes to mind), Shaggy, and theCrash Test Dummies. But for a guy emerging from the emo/pop-punk scene into the alt indie (read early hipster) there wasn't a lot to turn to.  I remember walking through a record store right after graduation. It was 2007.  There was an album, black and white photo, bold all caps print in white and yellow. It just caught my eye.  This unassuming purchase has been in my top 10 rotation ever since.  I fell in love. I had no idea what this album was going to be. It just hit me.  This is one of the few albums I still play through from almost start to finish ever time I start it. From the opening organ swell into the piano chords of Fake Empire all the way to slow guitar strum of Gospel I'm hooked ever...

 I’ve said before I love music. I love playing it and I love listening to it. I’m at the point where Im back at it. And I want to right about it. 

What makes a song enlightening or uplifting? What makes music "good or appropriate"? Especially between a division between secular and spiritual music? For worship? These are questions I've muddled over and over in my head for a lifetime.  Music has always had a hold on me. It's always been a help to me. Truly I think I often undersell how much I use music for emotional processing, intellectual development, contemplation, connection, and yes worship.  --- I remember sitting in a youth meeting. The conversation was about music. It was an attempt to define what was good, better, and best in music. And was bad music. It wasn't an artistic or technical critique. It was a moral one.  The discussion started about lyrical content. I think that was a natural progression. Curse words are bad. Sensual or sexual lyrics are bad. That the was the top of the docket for conversation. I get the reasoning behind it. Don't agree with it as much as I did as a teenager. But I get...

You notice how uncomfortable it feels for the rhythm in something to be off. Think about clapping on the beat at a concert. That feeling of growing irritation when a clap sounds off from others. Or when the beat starts racing ahead of itself, or of the pocket. That growing edge of discomfort. That feeling of losing control. It applies to our emotions, both when we’re slower than normal (depressed) or even faster (hypomanic/manic).   A lot of people talk about the negative effects of depression. How crippling it can be to slow down and at times shut down. But we don’t talk about how detrimental it can be to experience the opposite.  On the surface something hyper focus, lack of a need for sleep, the ability to notice multiple details at once, more energy, those sound like good things. But what if those things make you faster than society’s best? What if you can match the rhythm of others. What if you can’t match the natural rhythm of yourself? To be off kilter is dangerous. To ...

Music seems to be the thing I keep coming back too. It’s got a hold of me in ways I can’t explain. Every time I put pen to paper I hear something inside. These scribbling pens are just one piece of a puzzle. I need to make music. But that means collaboration to truly come to fruition. Because I can’t play what I hear inside without other people. There are notes in registers I can’t sing, there are instruments I can’t play. I’m a busy Dad, I’m a husband, I’m a worker, and a student. But five-ten minutes a night and more on weekends are becoming a solace. One that needs just a little piece of my devotion. And in time I gotta get past some nerves and share what’s coming out of me. Regardless of what I may think of it. I’ve shared some lyrics lately. Dusted off a bass. Taught my daughter her first chord.  It’s time to show her what I got. I’m ready to play. I’m ready to write. Who’s in? It’s the worst year for it. But I need this in my life. Do you? If you do I’m serious. Let’s do it. ...