Robots Need Love Too

Happy Friday all. Suggested tunes for the day?
The lovely, rough & soulful sounds of Dan Mangan.

It's nice to see a [nice] local boy doing so well - and he's only going to do better. His latest EP, Roboteering has granted him alocades from the most renound music critics, and his star just keeps rising. He always seems to be touring, so try to get out to see him if you can.


Listen here.

[photo credit]

One Fascinating Story

I received the following story via email this morning but I have to admit that I witness this type of ignorance every day.

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Washington DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes.

During that time approx. two-thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later: the violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the till and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes: A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again. 10 minutes: A 3 year-old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly, as the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced them to move on.

45 minutes: The musician played. Only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32.

1 hour: He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition. No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.

Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100. This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.

Related articles

• Listen to the Music - a social experiment that reminds us to stop and notice (samroblog.co.za)
• Violinist in the Metro (padiinstructorinfo.com)

Danny Malone

I think the spiritual pull of Austin, Texas is getting stronger and stronger by the minute. I have to go buy a couple of plane tickets. Is there anything amazing going on in late September? The Austin City Limits Music Festival is all I can find but I would love any advice as to what would be better entertainment for the end of the month. Moreover, I would absolutely love to see Danny Malone!

Danny Malone - In The Darkness (Hearya Live Session)

Gregory Alan Isakov

It seems the deeper you dig the better the music gets. That is definitely the case with coming across the amazing musings of Gregory Alan Isakov. I was in some obscure area of the internet and found just and incredible talent.

Great Tunes!

Gregory Alan Isakov - Big Black Car