While wandering back to our Seattle hotel last Saturday night after hanging out with the Vapor Brothers crew, we were approached by an elderly gentleman. Armed with a mini-plastic water jug strapped around his neck the gentleman introduced himself. He was honest and gentle, as he explained that he lived in a tent nearby, didn't do drugs but had an occasional beer and that he was "ripe". He also stated that he writes a new song each day of the year and would like to perform a new reggae song for us. Now whether or not he was telling us the truth, he sure was right about smelling "ripe".
But it was late on a beautiful night and a we were having a good time, so why not stop for a minute and hear his song. He launched into a grooving beat on the bottom of his water jug and shortly after started to sing. The man had rhythm and a soulful voice that was full of life. I thought to myself as he sang his song that I should grab my camera and take a picture but I got so wrapped up in his music, I didn't want to do anything that would break the rhythm he had going. As I write this I really regret not getting a picture or better yet rolling some video on the camera as he performed.
The song was definitely not a reggae tune but it was one of the best new tunes I've heard in a long time. And better than 99% of the crap I had to suffer through as I finished out my last few years working for Sony BMG Music. This was music from the soul with some heart from a ripe, toothless, homeless guy. Not some over produced, underage beauty that couldn't write a song to save their life.
As we parted ways with the Seattle busker, we were all humming and strumming the rhythm that stuck in our heads. There is magic in the air at times and this was one of them.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment