A Column About Music

I didn't realize how amazing that was until the next song came on, which was Barbara Streisand or something. The sheer blandness was such a contrast to the Magic Band's rocking and rolling; I tried to convey my amazement to Miriam who seemed largely uninterested.

John "the Man" Roman entered the Bell a few moments later, and I tried to tell him. He seemed skeptical at best. Maybe I did imagine it. What sort of psychological problems would I have if I was having auditory hallucinations in fast food restaraunts?

There is a small town called Breezewood, Pennsylvania. It's located on the Pennsylvania turnpike, and it's one of those gross little cities that evolve because major roads intersect. Consisting primarily of fast food restaurants and hotels, Breezewood has all of the charm of a truck stop, but with more food options.

There is a Petro station in Breezewood that is worth stopping at for two reasons. The first reason is Taco Maker Express, a lesser known franchise competitor to Taco Bell. Pittsburgh (where I come from) lacks Taco Makers, so when in Breezewood this actually seems like a small treat to me. As far as fast food Mexican-American cuisine goes, Taco Maker Express kicks the Pepsi-owned ass of Taco Bell. It's definitely the best option in Breezewood, unless you really like Arby's.

However, the Petro gas station (and I imagine all Petro stations) offers a coffe mug for $3 or $4 that holds something like a gallon of coffee. It's so big that you have to grip it with both hands to avoid dropping it. The best part about this deal is that you can get a free refill with the mug at any Petro station across the country.

On a trip to Baltimore in late '98, a friend purchased said mug on the voyage out, and utilized the refill capabilities on the way home. He walked into the Petro, waved the mug at the cashier, who then nodded while saying "Go right ahead!" Eric helped himself to yet another volume of his lifetime supply of coffee.

We even joked about the extent to which the Petro mug was a lifetime investment--we imagined a scenario where a poor, travelling drifter found himself destitute and penniless in a strange city. Stumbling up to the Petro CEO's mansion, he knocks at the door. The butler answers, and initially perceiving our hero as another worthless beggar, begins to push him away. The drifter waves his Petro mug at the butler with his last ounce of strength, and the butler upon seeing the mug shouts "Oh! Why didn't you say so! Come on in!" and proceeds to fix up a cot or something for the drifter. "We'll see what we can do for you."

It's a likely scenario, and one that I have always attached particular significance to because of the concept of customer loyalty. When you purchase a record or CD, there should be some sort of friendship established between the entertainer (band or label) and the entertained (the consumer). What has Kranky or Drag City ever done for you?

I promised that I would write about music again, instead of fast food or coffee. So let's talk about music, and just how there isn't that much of it anymore. The last time I walked into a record store, it was practically empty. There were tumbleweeds blowing across the aisles and dust on the few records that were there.

Why aren't people making music anymore? It seems like just a few years ago there were hundreds of bands and labels releasing all sorts of different music. What happened? People just don't seem to be interested in playing or writing music anymore.

Go out, and start a band! Let the music flow out from you, and express yourselves. Make records! Our record stores depend on you.