I'm constantly in awe of music and the musicians that make it. The first time I cried out of happiness was at my very first concert (John Denver for my 8th birthday, 1978...also my first contact high). I didn't understand why I was crying, but my mom explained it like this: Sometimes you have a feeling that is just so big that it leaks out.
My Step sister is a professional dancer and I've always been amazed at what she can do with her body. I'm a visual artist and constantly surrounded by performers, designers, writers, musicians, and artists it just astounds me all the ways the human body can inspire another human and move them to tears through incredibly refined skills that come from 1000s of hours of pursuing just the right sound, movement, brushstroke. It's the artists that keep me from crumbling into the heart ache of just living.
I enjoy reading the beauty in your observations of life’s small things. Neko, you demonstrate a humanity, peacefulness and kindness that is in short supply these days. Thank you. And thanks to all the artists who move me to tears with their live performances. I don’t experience that kind of feeling anywhere else.
In light of recent events in the united states, we need artists like you with genuine, profound empathy and understanding. I listen to Deep Red Bells and cry thinking about the nameless women, migrants and queer folk who will suffer because of the suits in government all over our country. Thank you for all you do.
Dance is amazing. I’ve been privileged to run sound for quite a few performances of dance and live music, and the level of effort, work, experience, and professionalism of the dancers never fails to blow my mind.
Neko, you’ve written about the effort you put into training and managing your singing voice - practicing pitch, breath, dynamics, intonation, getting the sounds you make to be just right without resorting to cover-ups like Autotune. It comes through, for me, in the same way as the dancers do: it is viscerally moving to be in the presence of someone who has put so much dedication and work into the service of beauty.
There are some lucky humans (and emotional support animals) in for a treat in the airports of your future. Perhaps even bus rides too!
Discipline is a joyful word when it brings us joy. Horsemanship partnership has brought me that type of joy - although as I become more and more aware of the life the horse leads I do become more respectful of helping the horse enjoy their joy too. Amazing when the lines intersect, as in most majic!
I SO miss the partnership that I had with my horse. It felt otherworldly at times and it makes me cry to this day. To think...I had a cooperative relationship with an 1.100lb creature that could've easily killed me. Instead, we warmly related to each other with trust, respect, and friendship.
Some live and some filmed performances have done that for me. I think the correct term for what I feel is transcendence. The first time I saw Springsteen and the E Street Band doing Thunder Road in the No Nukes Film is an example. Or Jackson Browne's Running on Empty in the same film. CSN doing Wasted on the Way on one of their live concerts that was filmed; any performance of Suite Judy Blue Eyes. Sometime it is recorded -- the first time I heard Like A Rolling Stone. Listening to Neko's early work the first time. Seeing Joan Baez singing on the grounds of the ancient Festung Marienburg in Wurzburg Am Main on a summer evening. Listening to Tom Rush doing Joni Mitchell songs or playing Rockport Sunday. Brooks and Dunn's live version of My Maria. I can't isolate what it is, but it happens, and when it does it reminds me of the final chorus of Wasted On the Way:
"They are surgeons of the soul; removing old dead pathways and the microscopic plaque of cynicism and self doubt." Wow, I am transported into another dimension when a fellow human can place such precise words onto a feeling. You do that and I thank you for that gift.
Of the wordless realm, any sort of orchestral music is god (she/they) to me. Just taking a moment to think of all of the little idea-nuggets that had to fall into place for such a thing to exist: some prehistoric primate decided to tie a ?horse hair on to a piece of wood and realize that it made a pleasing sound when plucked? Another recognized the birdsong-like vibrations produced when air passes quickly through a hollow object. Another started banging some shit together rhythmically and decided it was awesome? Collaboration and coordination to weave these vibrations together. And so on and so on forever.
What a trip. What gratitude! Thank you for the reminder.
Neko, you sound happy. That makes me feel good. Be well, precious human.
I'm constantly in awe of music and the musicians that make it. The first time I cried out of happiness was at my very first concert (John Denver for my 8th birthday, 1978...also my first contact high). I didn't understand why I was crying, but my mom explained it like this: Sometimes you have a feeling that is just so big that it leaks out.
Pinned by cats and dogs is the best.
My Step sister is a professional dancer and I've always been amazed at what she can do with her body. I'm a visual artist and constantly surrounded by performers, designers, writers, musicians, and artists it just astounds me all the ways the human body can inspire another human and move them to tears through incredibly refined skills that come from 1000s of hours of pursuing just the right sound, movement, brushstroke. It's the artists that keep me from crumbling into the heart ache of just living.
I enjoy reading the beauty in your observations of life’s small things. Neko, you demonstrate a humanity, peacefulness and kindness that is in short supply these days. Thank you. And thanks to all the artists who move me to tears with their live performances. I don’t experience that kind of feeling anywhere else.
In light of recent events in the united states, we need artists like you with genuine, profound empathy and understanding. I listen to Deep Red Bells and cry thinking about the nameless women, migrants and queer folk who will suffer because of the suits in government all over our country. Thank you for all you do.
Dance is amazing. I’ve been privileged to run sound for quite a few performances of dance and live music, and the level of effort, work, experience, and professionalism of the dancers never fails to blow my mind.
Neko, you’ve written about the effort you put into training and managing your singing voice - practicing pitch, breath, dynamics, intonation, getting the sounds you make to be just right without resorting to cover-ups like Autotune. It comes through, for me, in the same way as the dancers do: it is viscerally moving to be in the presence of someone who has put so much dedication and work into the service of beauty.
There are some lucky humans (and emotional support animals) in for a treat in the airports of your future. Perhaps even bus rides too!
Discipline is a joyful word when it brings us joy. Horsemanship partnership has brought me that type of joy - although as I become more and more aware of the life the horse leads I do become more respectful of helping the horse enjoy their joy too. Amazing when the lines intersect, as in most majic!
Fly on
I SO miss the partnership that I had with my horse. It felt otherworldly at times and it makes me cry to this day. To think...I had a cooperative relationship with an 1.100lb creature that could've easily killed me. Instead, we warmly related to each other with trust, respect, and friendship.
We're held captive in bed by our pit bull mix, Sarge, every night. I hear you and understand. Good job Coco!
This is an especially lovely piece of writing, especially when you describe feeling your own body shift. This is what dance does to me, too!
Years ago, I wrote a song called Colours and Sound. I hope you enjoy it:
https://youtu.be/6h_5otUeQs8?si=sKOFNSWDiSNWjJws thank you for these posts. They are a BIG help for so many of us. ❤️
"Surgeons of the soul." Amen to that! What a post. Thanks for living and sharing it. I feel it.
Some live and some filmed performances have done that for me. I think the correct term for what I feel is transcendence. The first time I saw Springsteen and the E Street Band doing Thunder Road in the No Nukes Film is an example. Or Jackson Browne's Running on Empty in the same film. CSN doing Wasted on the Way on one of their live concerts that was filmed; any performance of Suite Judy Blue Eyes. Sometime it is recorded -- the first time I heard Like A Rolling Stone. Listening to Neko's early work the first time. Seeing Joan Baez singing on the grounds of the ancient Festung Marienburg in Wurzburg Am Main on a summer evening. Listening to Tom Rush doing Joni Mitchell songs or playing Rockport Sunday. Brooks and Dunn's live version of My Maria. I can't isolate what it is, but it happens, and when it does it reminds me of the final chorus of Wasted On the Way:
And there's so much love to make up
Everywhere you turn
Love we have wasted on the way
So much water moving
Underneath the bridge
Let the water come and carry us away
Let the water come and carry us away
https://youtu.be/BDPTX2GUuuM?si=iZmm2Xnky6a2sV-q
Welcome back!
"They are surgeons of the soul; removing old dead pathways and the microscopic plaque of cynicism and self doubt." Wow, I am transported into another dimension when a fellow human can place such precise words onto a feeling. You do that and I thank you for that gift.
Of the wordless realm, any sort of orchestral music is god (she/they) to me. Just taking a moment to think of all of the little idea-nuggets that had to fall into place for such a thing to exist: some prehistoric primate decided to tie a ?horse hair on to a piece of wood and realize that it made a pleasing sound when plucked? Another recognized the birdsong-like vibrations produced when air passes quickly through a hollow object. Another started banging some shit together rhythmically and decided it was awesome? Collaboration and coordination to weave these vibrations together. And so on and so on forever.
What a trip. What gratitude! Thank you for the reminder.
Absolutely love the painting!