Anniversary: too much technology

In February 1983, Styx’s Kilroy put it brilliantly: “The problem’s plain to see: too much technology. Machines to save our lives. Machines dehumanize.”

Thirty-one years later, that rings true even more.

Technology does some tremendous things for us. But our smart phones also make us dumber – we rely on machines that we didn’t used to need, or even suspect that they existed.

It also gives us more obligations. Here is a list of the ways someone can already contact me, not including any face-to-face methods:
• home phone
• home phone answering machine
• cell phone
• cell phone voicemail
• work phone
• work phone voicemail
• personal email (2 accounts)
• work email (several accounts)
• postal mail to home
• postal mail to work

All of those require regular checking and responses. Now that I’ve ventured into Google+, Twitter, and Pinterest (but not Facebook), there are even more things to keep up checking.

Occasionally, there’s something interesting or of value, but mostly Tweets are like looking for seashells on the beach – there’s a lot of useless things to pick through. Still, the good “find” keeps us hooked just enough to keep coming back.

It seems like our SPARE TIME is being taken up more and more.

Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto.

TV: 'The Sound of Music'

Yeah, it was over a month ago, but thanks to the wonders of technology (video recording), we no longer have to watch tv programs when they are broadcast; we can watch them on our own schedule (“spare time”).

That means I finally watched NBC’s then-live performance of “The Sound of Music.” Family members kept giving me strange looks and asking “You really like this?”

I struggled with answering because it was both yes and no. Every musical seems to have a superficial story line and hokey dialogue in between characters breaking out into song at odd times. That’s just part of the schtick.

But I guess it was because I knew many of the songs well enough from childhood that kept me watching until the end. The songs were familiar, but I didn’t recall the story line much, especially the Nazi references.

What is it about songs that people want to hear them over and over? A comedian once pointed out that singers can sing the same song for 40 years and everyone thinks it’s great, while comedians have to come up with new material every 15 seconds or they’re duds.

Anyway, I probably wouldn’t have bothered with Sound of Music if the producers hadn’t gotten a famous star – Carrie Underwood – as part of the show. It just seemed to be an appealing mix of old and modern entertainment, enough to get me to record it and watch it, even a few weeks later.

Hopefully, this project was enough of a success that there will be more similar programming.

Alice Cooper in Jesus Christ Superstar? Just a thought.

Recommendation: Rock and Roll Christmas Spectacular

While putting up our Christmas tree, pulled out a CD of Rock and Roll Christmas Spectacular. Haven’t been able to see them for a couple years, but the music is always enjoyable.

RRXS is a group of professional musicians from the St. Cloud area who put together a series of holiday shows each year. There are shows next weekend in Chanhassen; otherwise it’s quite a drive to get to them, but still worth it.

Here’s their website and schedule.

Their performance includes original lyrics to traditional holiday songs, and sometimes a combination of melodies and lyrics you wouldn’t expect.

Without giving too much away, my favorites are Little Drummer Boy/Wipeout, and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen to the tune and beat of Aqualung, including the flute solo.

If you can possibly see RRXS, I highly recommend it.

Book review: So Much to Say: Dave Matthews Band

Full title is “So Much to Say: Dave Matthews Band 20 Years on the Road” by Nikki Van Noy.

We didn’t discover DMB until around 2007, so this book back to the beginning of the band in Charlottesville was a great history lesson. Interesting how in the early days taping of concerts was allowed – even encouraged – to spread the music to a wider fan base.

Especially enjoyed the Alpine Valley references since our first DMB concert was there. Just missed one of the special moments by 24 hours: the next day of the two-night stand, after the band closed with “Thank You” the crowd kept singing the song for a long time after the band left the stage (page 199).

We listened to all four of our DMB CDs on the drive there and thought we knew all music, only to find out at the concert the band had so many more songs we never heard before. The book explains how it all got going, so I pulled out all our collected albums to play again and better understand the references.

For me, DMB is an acquired taste since the type of music is hard to categorize. What I like best is that live shows are always a different setlist.

For even a casual fan of Dave Matthews Band, the book is a worthwhile read to either learn something you didn’t know or reminisce of past experiences.