I'm with the Band

If you're not familiar with O/A, let me introduce you to some dear friends of mine. They've recently begun to release new work after a very long time and I'm honored to introduce you to their newest piece, Apparitions, which they've put here: http://oabands.com/fr_summersingles.cfm.  Take a listen in a bit.  They've been kind enough to donate their proceeds from recent purchases to the William S. Davies (my dad) Homeless Shelter here in Rome.  

I have to tell you, the resurfacing of O/A has thrilled me in part because so much about these guys has stayed the same. They still match what they've always been in my memory - creators, driven by curiosity, incredibly and hilariously observant, sincerely earnest, and just plain GOOD, boys. They're the same, but all grown up, and even better.  And this tune, Apparitions, reflects the perspective young boys can't have.    

See, I've never claimed to be an expert at relationships, but I'm constantly studying over them.  Knowing other people and connecting with them seems like such a fluid thing, and the defining agendas of folks sneak away as soon as I think I've got a handle on it.  That's confusion you're seeing on my face a lot.  In the middle of trying to sort out things, I might think I am pulling at the thread that really untangles a person, but morning comes along with a new word or two and then what I thought was clarity settles into something else.  Things seem real and sensible as I solve the puzzle of you and drift off to sleep, but then there's some startling new discovery that sends me in another direction.  Always.  People are moving targets and the real articulation of what motivates us always seems slippery and evasive. That's why most of my puzzles end with me saying, "Whatever."  And all of this tangly, can't quite put my finger on it stuff is what I think of when I hear Apparitions. 

Probably what I'm most in love with about this hazy song is that it appeals to my desire for music and lyrics to synch. Have you heard it yet? Leave it on some kind of loop because the lyrics will remind you of the person stuck in that relationship loop that, for better or worse, replays itself over and over without resolution. The words, "You've done all of this before - I don't envy you" made me think of that sinking moment of clarity when you see that sometimes one of us can only watch and wait for connection while the other is stuck in a self imposed, isolated and frustrating, loop. So easy to see the futility from outside. And like I said, I'm no expert, but waiting for a person to figure out that they stand in the way of their own real desire to connect can leave you wondering if you'd be better off to leave ("If I had the peace of mind, I could leave you"), but more likely leaves you weary enough to "just sit here and think until I see you." Also scratching around my head is that feeling that I'm onto figuring someone out, pulling at some thread of understanding that's just out of the corner of my vision, not quite concrete.  

And speaking of never resolving, it's funny that I don't get the satisfaction either of a solid, lasting, definitive chord resolution at the end of the piece either - they leave me with just an ethereal sort of exit.  This sleepy, dream song even had the decency to mention "floating there above the floor" while I was floating around with it.  Well played boys - I'm hooked and I'm leaving Apparitions on my playlist. 

Amazing how many memories flicker when I think of O/A and while I typically hope that no one even remembers me at that age, I love the glimpses of these open-hearted kids playing REM's "Driver 8" on the sidewalk near Schroeder's, of their discovery and adoration of the great Howard Finster, of Camper Van Beethoven, and of their scrappy style.  It's a pleasure to be able to tell you that I can't wait for you to hear the same O/A, but all grown up and even better.

http://oabands.com/fr_summersingles.cfm