Kate's Point of View

I’ve been in need of a major attitude adjustment. I mean it. I’ve been pathetic and tired and aggressive and just basically reacting to everything and everyone around me in the manner of a Grade A Bitch. And who wants that.

I’ve given myself a talking to. You can imagine how that goes. And I’m not going to lie – I carried on this conversation aloud. Yep, like a crazy person. Here’s the thing though – I need joy. It’s as simple as that. That means dialing back the number of podcasts I subscribe to and upping my intake of music. I’ve been exploring the music snob tendencies that have been inside me for so long. I’ve been biting my tongue and keeping daily annoyances to myself, making the evenings about F-U-N. I’ve been meeting up with friends. I’m happy again. Finally.

Because I can’t truly act the part of a pretentious music jerk unless I preach about new music to you, here are some albums you should check out:

• Beautiful World by Take That
• Writer’s Block by Peter Bjorn and John
• These Streets by Paolo Nutini
• Memory Man by Aqualung
• Yours to Keep by Albert Hammond, Jr.
• Sky Blue it You by Wilco
• Amy Winehouse by Amy Winehouse
• NME Presents Essential Bands of 2006 – this will hook you up with 40 new artists you need to know
• Corinne Bailey Rae by Corinne Bailey Rae
• Nineteeneightees by Grant Lee Phillips
• Costello Music by the Fratellis
• Life in Cartoon Motion by Mika

So I was on the phone this evening, on my way to class, in which I am the professor, talking to my sister about the Justin Timberlake / Pink concert we are seeing in a few days. I said it was at the local arena and my sister started wondering if she had ever been there. I was all, “Um, yeah. That where we saw Beauty and the Beast On Ice.” This guy who was walking in front of my turned around, looked at my and shook his head.

Embarrassing.

I told my sister and we both agreed that the only good thing was he was not one of my students.

Until I walked into class and there he was. Smiling.

I am in the midst of trying to enrich my life through rock. Things are too busy right now and work and in personal commitments. I am trying to tread that fine line of being a good friend, beyoncé, employee, coworker, family-member, volunteer… Well frankly, it’s all become a little much and I am not being very good at any of them. Lately I’ve been relying a lot on my favorite support – Miller Light. But I have a girlish figure to think about and my reputation in the neighborhood. (What people must think when they see my recycling bin each week…) So for the week I have put a ban in alcohol. Except for Thursday. Thursday plays into the other half of my back-to-normalcy plan.

Over the course of my relationship with Wonder Boy, I have become more and more entranced by the power of music. Attending a good show is wonderful. Being lulled into a kind of trance while you stand in a sweaty crowd… well, it’s amazing. So while I am trying to brace myself from the lunacy that is charging at me at about 100 mph, I am trying to soothe my soul with music.

A few weeks ago I saw Guster and more recently Pete Yorn. On Thursday I am seeing Justin Timberlake and Pink and this weekend I am seeing the Hold Steady. (I know one show stands out and probably makes me so much less cool in your eyes but seriously, if you are thinking that, then you need to get over yourself.) I have at least there concerts I am looking forward to in the next month or so.

With some loud music bouncing off my eardrums and sweat pouring down my stomach, I will find that perfection that only music can bring.

You know the sensation. The wait in a long line eyeing those around you and verifying that how you are dressed is appropriate for the venue, taking in new fashion trends and generally being catty about the impracticality of hipster kids and their outfits. You enter the room and claim your space, a space with ample room for moving your arms and feet without being singed by any nearby cigarettes. One of your friends goes to get drinks, balancing a many as she or he can carry in one trip to minimize waiting in line at the bar. You drink. You wait.

The room gets more and more crowded and maybe you see people you know. Maybe you see famous people from bands. Whatever you see, you do not give up your spot. You guard your spot like a mother lion guards her offspring in the wild. It’s your territory and you cannot give it up.

As the space fills, the temperature rises and you feel yourself sweat. First it’s some moisture in your pits, but soon you feel wetness on your forehead and upper lip. Before you know it, even your shins are sweaty. But still you stay.

You stay for the first thump of your sternum, the feeling of the bass line reverberating through your body, helping you keep beat before your ears even register the music. You stay for the sly grin as the lead singer steps onto stage – with one friendly look, the whole meaning of an album changes.

Good rock is worth traveling for.