I wanted to get a picture, but I knew a picture wouldn’t do it justice because tonight was all about a feeling. It was simple. It was perfect, really. Katelyn (KG) and I went to Sarmiento Park to find the best choripan truck and discuss our recently traded playlists. We found the choripan and a park bench to keep warm for the next several hours as we delved into the depths of our music appreciation.
In KG I have found a fellow music nerd to geek out with on this journey. She had the genius idea for each of us to put together a playlist of one our favorite artists to share with the other. Sounds casual enough, but we took our listening duties equally as serious. Let’s just say we both brought notes. When she pulled out her notes on her phone, I knew I had found a kindred musical spirit. Someone who listens as intently and mines the lyrics like the pages of a good book like I do.
And just like reading a good book and itching to get your hands on anything the author has written, KG gifted me my latest case of writer fever in Ms. Sara Bareilles. She affectionately refers to her as Sara B and that is how and I will continue to do so. KG is the biggest Sara B fan I’ve ever met. And lord knows I can appreciate the fervor of her fandom (see any post I’ve written about U2). Pre KG, I had known Sara B at the shallow level of singles and Little Voice.
Honestly, when I first heard “Love Song” years ago I gave it the proverbial eye roll, it was a little too perky for my taste, like the Disney princess version of Ani DiFranco’s “Napoleon.” But then I heard “Gravity” I realized there was more depth to Sara B than at first listen. KG tooke me beyond Little Voice and made a lifelong fan out of me.
After repeated listens to my Sara B playlist, I realized that Sara B is a double threat: a gifted, poetic lyricist and a talented musician who calls the piano her muse. But perhaps what impressed me the most is her writing. Her magic trick is that when you look at her lyrics there are so many words to the song, but when you listen there is so much air for them to breathe.
I enjoyed listening to KG’s compilation just as much as I enjoyed putting together my Amos Lee playlist for her. I’ve been a fan of Amos since his self titled debut came out in 2005 and I have faithfully followed his catalog ever since. His music is like a cozy blanket for me, warm and comforting in its familiarity. I work to music every day and there are certain artists I gravitate to during the work day for their high listenability. Amos is one those artists.
I dare say that I take his work for granted. So I appreciated the exercise of pulling tracks together for a new listener. I was listening with a more discerning ear. I wanted to showcase his variety while also staying true to the spirit of his work.
I challenged myself to keep it tight and only pull one track from each of his albums. I almost succeeded: from his seven studio albums, there were only two albums that received two cuts: Amos Lee and Mission Bell. And that’s because “Windows Are Rolled Down” is such a pivotal track and in my opinion there isn’t a better closer than “Black River.”
Yet even more enjoyable than creating my Amos Lee capsule, was hearing KG’s feedback. Her comments were thoughtful and insightful. More than anything, I appreciated hearing his music through someone else’s ears.
I may not have gotten a picture to capture the evening, but I got something even better, the memory of sitting outside on a beautiful night, spending time with a friend, sharing our passion for music and connecting over some of our favorite artists. Tonight was a gift I was grateful to receive.
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