Illustrated Feature: Real Music Reverberates Richly

Real Music Reverberates Richly

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Even in today’s highly technological world live music delivers so much more than any other medium of music. Everyone might have an iPod today and may have it on at all times; but it still doesn’t capture the authenticity of real music being played a professional live musician(s). You can see how the musician is making each sound wave perfect. You can feel the anxiety, excitement, energy and enthusiasm that runs in the veins of the music. Any barrier in between is broken and you can become one with it. What you experience can never be recreated, it will live with you.  I experienced this on October 7^th, at the Highline Ballroom, where Tyrone Wells, The Myriad and Matt Hires rock’n’rolled their lively audience, and taught at least one of their audience member that real music reverberates richly.

At first, the building gave a dull appeal with its creaking wooden floors, rattling chairs and dim lighting. But Matt Hires instantly changed that once he came on stage. This “bare-footed” young musician from Tampa Bay, Florida brought a unique acoustic appeal which relaxed and enlightened the spirit. His voice was tender; his notes were smooth; his melody harmonic; and his style, simple. He performed “Out of the Dark,” “Pick Me Up” and “Honey Let Me Sing You a Song.” Listening to his music made us forget all the complexities that revolve around our daily lives, and had us submit to our freed and soaring soul. I listened to all of these songs on the Internet prior to going to the concert, and didn’t think so highly of them (to the point that I thought I didn’t want to go to the concert any longer). But the way in which the Matt Hires communicated with me through the rich language of music changed my opinion totally.

Matt Hires left and so did his established smooth impression after The Myriad, a quintet band from Seattle, came on stage. The Myriad brought with it a mesmerizing energy in the form of rock, pop and techno. Their songs resonated about love, hope, doubt and heartache. Some of the songs they performed included: “A Clean Shot,” “A Thousand Winters Melting” and “Forgot What You Came For?” They put the audience in a trance that nothing else could establish. I’ve heard similar music on $200+ “quality” headphones, but can recall that music just did not sound so good. There’s just nothing like the original source. At the time of the concert, this genuine music was the energy and the audience was thirsty for more, anything more.

Finally came the star of the night—Tyrone Wells and his band. Tyrone Wells is a Spokane musician from Washington State, similar to the band Coyote Springs all Baruch College freshmen were assigned to read about in Reservation Blues. The audiences were already lighted up; Tyrone Wells just added fuel to the fire with his tunes. He masterfully mixed pop, rock and soul into a blend that impressively astonished. His dynamism with all kinds of strings was remarkable. Sitting in the first row, at times you just wanted to stand up and go on stage yourself and taste the rich music. (Not to mention, they actually had an audience member, a girl sitting next to me, break-dance.) Their ability to have the crowd cling on to each beat, each note, each melody, each word and each song was spectacular. He performed his self-authored songs: “Sink or Swim,” “Sea Breeze,” “Dream Like New York,” “Home to Me,” “Fools’ Parade” and “What Are We Fighting For?” He also gave his own twist to the tradition “Yodel,” the epic Cutting Crew hit “I Just Died in Your Arms Tonight” and most recent “No One,” by Alicia Keys. I’ve heard all these before, but Tyrone Wells made it sound so good even though he wasn’t the master of these works. Tyrone Wells satisfied his fans and critics alike with his extraordinary talent.

This concert taught me something that I never quite conceptualized before. That is, live music sounds immensely better than listening to music any other way. There is such a broad difference between the two, the former being so much more superior. Despite not knowing much about rock music, or even to an extent not liking it, I enjoyed what I heard, stomped my feet to the beat and felt the music inside me. After the first two songs, I erased from my mind that I was listening to “rock’n’roll,” or any other specific genre. I was listening to music; real, live music. Because of its pureness, I became one with it. You can do this with any form of art, I believe. Submitting to the soul of the art allows you to truly perceive the magic. I recommend you try it, and you’ll see what I mean. In the case of music, next time you’re at a concert, close your eyes and make your sense of hearing the primary channel of your sensation. It will show you what my first concert has shown me.