Steven Page of Barenaked Ladies busted for coke

I logged onto my Comcast page yesterday and this was one of the big headlines of the day. You can find the article here.

I also happened upon the BNL message boards for a quick 5-minute tour of various fan reactions. The general consensus among fans seemed to be surprise and dismay because Steven and the rest of the BNL boys always seemed so "normal". Then it seemed like there were about four categories of opinions -- total disapproval and vowing to sell off all BNL albums, a questioning of whether or not they could remain fans, total support for Steven in his "time of need" and then ones who simply said "I could care less if he snorts something, I still enjoy listening to their music".

I can't exactly what camp I fall into, but I'd be lying if I wasn't a tad bit disappointed in Stevey boy. As posted on my blog a few weeks back, we just went to the children's concert they put on here in Boulder. I guess it's an understatement to say it's bad timing to get busted for coke after releasing a children's album and being in the middle of a children's tour. Steven looked trimmer than usual at the Boulder show and now I might have an explanation for that. According to various gossip sites and fan comments, Steven separated from his long-time wife last year (they have 3 sons), he has been battling drug addiction for some time, and has also had bouts of depression.

What's funny to me is how BNL always has seemed like the boys next door who struck it rich doing what they love. You could see they loved what they did (both before and after they made it big) and always made you feel like you knew them. I can't think of a time I saw them that they didn't tell some anecdote that made me feel like I got to know them better. Not only that but they always make an effort to get to know the place they are playing which made you feel like they were getting to know you and where you live. Maybe that's why all the fans are so upset by this information. It's like when a good friend tells you that they're getting a divorce out of the blue... it seems like an affront that you didn't know about it because you were friends and should have known something so important.

But why would we know that Steven Page has battled some drug and behavior demons? Do you think he would outright tell us this in his songs? I suppose you can read subtext into a lot of their songs, especially Call and Answer, and assume that he knows a thing or two about demons. One of their earlier big hits, Brian Wilson, now seems like a foreshadowing about Steven Page's life instead of the troubled Beach Boy singer.

One of the first things Kevin and I bonded over was our mutual affection for BNL. Triathlons were also a big draw, but BNL was the reason I sent Kevin my first email communication. I was going to be home in August of 1998 and was wondering if he was planning on going to their bay area show. Good excuse to write a potential date, right?!?

Since then he and I have seen them probably a half dozen times, and my guess is that we've seen them separately another dozen times. Our ears have been blessed with their music during countless road trips and weekends around the house. We don't see them live as much anymore because they play huge venues and generally we are not fans of the huge venue. My guess is that we will continue to listen to them (I actually have them on right now as we speak) and support the band as long as they make good music. But that image that they were our friendly neighbor next door does seem a bit different now.

My hope is that it doesn't mean that BNL is done for now that their leader has proven he is going a bit off the deep end. I would hate to see them break up and stop making music. And I hope Steven gets some help and his family and friends are there for him. I wonder if he's lying in bed, just like Brian Wilson did.

Barenaked Fun

On Saturday I decided it would be a grand ole time to attend the free Barenaked Ladies childrens concert at the local Barnes and Noble. Kevin untypically let out a little groan of annoyance when I mentioned that we'd all be going to the concert. How could I resist a free concert that was right in our backyard, in an intimate setting?!? He begrudgingly agreed that it would be fun. I think mentioning that he wouldn't actually have to work around the house for those few hours was what finally sealed the deal.

Despite having to wait around to get a good spot for nearly two hours, it was a lot of fun to share the event with Delaney. They played for a half-hour which is desperately short by any concert standards, but honestly it was a challenge to keep her 100% entertained for that full half hour so I was a bit relieved when they say they'd be playing their final song.

There were a lot of kids in attendance and it was pretty clear that most of them had been taken there by their parents without a clue of what they were attending and why they should be there. I could hear conversations all around Boulder that went something like this:

"Kids we're going to see the Barenaked Ladies on Saturday"
"But why?"
"Because they're a great band and you'll love them"
"I don't think I want to go"
"Well, it's a Barnes and Noble so you can pick out something you'd like when we're there"
"Cool, I guess I'll go"

Spinning mad tunes on my iPod

Those that know the long history of Courtney, understand the importance of music in my life. (Sorry, Delaney has me talking in the third person).

I go in waves of music but it's always important to me. iTunes and iPods have improved my life greatly. Immensely. Stupendously. I wouldn't even consider going away for a trip, a long car ride, or even starting an intense cleaning project, without having a timely iMix created for my listening pleasure. I've always loved music and especially live music. I can't think of many other ways I'd like to spend a night out than at a small intimate club listening to a great band. Some of my fondest memories with Kevin and friends are at concerts. A little bit of unknown trivia is that the Barenaked Ladies were one of the big reasons Kevin and I started corresponding in the first place (I didn't know too many other fans back in 1998).

I believe there's a time and place for all kinds of music. Even Britney Spears. I laugh when music critics, or critics in general, dismiss an artist or type of music as crap. It may be crap to them but it means something to someone, somewhere. If there's a song that can bring you out of your funk, or causes you to stop everything and sing the chorus, just know there's someone else out there doing that exact thing for "Hit Me Baby One More Time". More often than not I can understand and appreciate a song for having value of some sort.

I can't put my musical taste squarely into any one category. If I have to choose a few, I suppose I'll go with alternative, hip-hop and folk. However, I am a huge sucker for a good pop song, a rocking good head banger or a melodic country tune.

I am spinning some particularly good tunes on my iPod currently, as I am going through a new phase of discovery, with new artists and new songs. I love that I can go onto iTunes and buy just ONE song from an artist. It makes that iMix task all that much better. So here's my recommendations, in case you have some spare time or spare cash on hand for some new downloads.

Carbon Leaf -- They are not new and not actually new to me (first heard them in Eugene in 2003). They are talented, fresh, melodic, energetic, at times gritty and to boot really nice guys. If I had to describe them, I suppose I would say a cross between REM, The Fray and an Irish folk band. They are amazing live, they fall into that rare category of bands that I would go see two nights in a row. Go buy the whole Indian Summer cd. You won't regret it. They are the single best musical discovery I have made in the last 10 years. (Sidenote: Barry, the lead singer, is also mighty fine eye candy.)

Bands you might have heard of that deserve a further listen: Ray LaMontagne, Amos Lee, and Josh Radin. Josh needs to start putting out new stuff, and I would love it if he'd write about something OTHER than a break-up, I have faith it's coming soon.

Cheesy, pop-py, but can't help but sing along: I have to admit I heard a bunch of these songs on The Hills. Kevin gets downright angry when I tell him I found a song there BECAUSE NOTHING GOOD SHOULD COME OF THAT SHOW.
Sara Bareilles - If I have her playing in the car I always end up turning up it up and singing full pitch like I was auditioning for American Idol. It might be cheesy, but it's oh-so-good-melted-brie-dripping-down-my-chin-satisfaction. Download Between The Lines and Gravity.
Lifehouse -- Yeah, they've been around for a while, but they sure can write a catch-phrase. I love the grit in his voice especially in the ballads. Download Broken, Whatever It Takes and Broken.
Suzie McNeil -- Download Believe.
A Fine Frenzy -- Download Think of You and Almost Lover. Her voice is like Jewel but more vulnerable and mellow.
Matt White -- Kevin can relax because I did not hear him on the Hills. The music engine of iTunes told me I might like him based on some other music I had purchased. His lyrics are full of syrup, and so is his voice, but it's good enough to keep appearing on my iMixes. Wait for Love and Midnight Desire are particularly good.

Alternative cheesy, a bit more grit than the cheese above:
Matt Nathanson: I liked him immediately when I saw him open for Carbon Leaf. Of course his SF roots made him even more likable, but his music is "hold up month after month" good. I will have to recommend you get a whole cd, instead of a few downloads. Beneath These Fireworks is a great album, and his new one is good too (although I forget the name).
Needtobreathe: They could easily be in the above category, but there's some nice writing in the one single, More Time.
Angels and Airwaves: They remind me a lot of some of the cooler bands in the 80's like Hothouse Flowers, Big Country, and The Alarm. Their drum beats are so uptempo that I think they cross over into a little bubble gum every now and again.

Crap, I'm out of time but I have a TON of other bands to mention. I guess another post, another day.