mainstream

A couple months ago, Grant Lawrence from CBCR3 asked a question to listeners along the lines of "What do you think of your favourite artists having their tunes played on TV commercials, etc. Good or bad thing?"

My answer, which he read aloud, was along the lines of "I used to be a music snob keeping dear music treasures close to my heart for no one to steal from me. But as I grew older, I realized that the more people who pick up Joel Plaskett and put down the Britney Spears, the better." Last night, I felt myself eating my own words.

I've been a fan of Citizen Cope for about 5 years now. While finishing up my university in Halifax and before hopping on a plane for Australia, I used to listen to his music from KEXP.org. A rare diamond in the rough for me; at the time I was very, very obsessed with Radiohead and only Radiohead (and a little Wilco too). I would put him on and sway back and forth in my room while getting ready for the day ahead. You develop a personal relationship over time and that person/band becomes an intimate part of your life. It wasn't until almost 2 years ago when I first met Mike, that I had stumbled upon someone whom shared the same love of his music. From here, the three of you create memories that you keep hidden in the shadows.

It could have been the walk across the Burrard Bridge to the show, or the cold rain or the 1/2 joint we smoked - but I wasn't ready for what I saw at the Commodore Ballroom. Hordes and hordes of mini-skirts, gelled hair, popped collars, golden eyelids and an overwhelming scent of cologne. This is not what I expected.

Please don't let me share the memories with the popped collar guy, hitting on everything that walks while not paying attention to the show. Please don't let me share the memories with the bleached blonde, false-chested girl who is being held up by her friends.

I felt overwhelmed so after pushing back out of the crowd, Mike and I found a seat to allow our brains to digest what was going on. 'Were you expecting this?', 'No, I am really, really, really surprised.', 'Can we just sit here for a bit to let my brain and body equilibrate?', 'Yes.'

20 minutes later, I got the courage to stand up and head back into the crowd. This time we stuck near the back with people who seemed more 'real'. Singing aloud, dancing around (aka body twitching and twisting), all in it for the music, real peeps. I felt a lot better about the night's event, especially after he came out again to play Brother Lee.

I'm still not sure how I feel. Snobbish? Surprised? I would say 'taken aback' - it adequately describes my initial thoughts and also, the continued feeling throughout the remainder of the evening. ASIDE from all of the surface appearances, the show was fantastic. The songs were spot on and Clarence Greewood has the stage presence of some sort of hippie-God.

So Grant Lawrence, I think I am going to have to modify my previous sentiments: "I used to be a music snob and still have a bit of that in me. I want to keep the gems to myself, to my heart and not share it with collar-poppers & false women. That is meant for home and I accept that I will have to push/shove when I'm out in the general admission."

peas/xo