Day 43
I used to think rural folks were nosy, always leering at cars that pass by no matter where along the shore you happen to be. After almost six years of living here, I now see it as an unspoken and caring dose of functional community. Strangers who wave and recognize you by the vehicle you drive. It is an undercurrent of acknowledgement and concern that these simple gestures weave a strange and beautiful fabric to everyday life along these twisty roads. They notice if you've been away for a stretch of time, they have your routines dialed in. People genuinely care. I am a participant now and am a firm believer to the myriad of benefits that community adds towards a healthy existence.
Stretching the Minas Basin shores, music happens on the most local of levels, many small community halls hold jam nights, where anyone who can grip a G and D chord are welcome to join in. Audiences appreciate the old time sounds of the Carter Family and other country songs. It isn't about the musical prowess or showing off, it is the basic regular gatherings that have had lasting impact.
Although this music I am making isn't necessarily geared for these types of audiences, it isn't exclusionary and it has found a homely place to dwell in the Obscura. Almost halfway through this 90 day project and the routine is second nature and playing for a wide diverse section of of tourists, locals, school kids, teenagers and retirees is always rewarding. Not many seems to notice that I'm exploring the guitar in a new way and I take that as a good sign. It is simply the music I hear trying to come alive into the world. I am the one that feels rewarded by these irrational efforts with new sounds and songs. I will continue to reveal and explore similarities through the guitar in disparate musical cultures and eras as long as I keep hearing the sounds, they need to come out.
