Susan’s Music Talk and Cool Shit

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Now, it stands to reason that anyone who grew up the way I did loves great music. That I love to throb with music. (Oh, shut up, you gutter brains!)

When I was little, my sister played the flute and piccolo. She’d practice for hours. Thus, music is something that’s always been a part of me, something I miss when it’s not around and like many musicians, something I hear in the oddest of places.

Too bad I can’t play it worth a damn.

So of course I fell in love with the absolute brilliance that is Apocalyptica. A four-man cello band from Finland who got their start playing Metallica??

Man, that start was only the tip of the iceberg for those boys. I can not listen to the song Burn from their newest album without humming and thrumming along. Sheer brilliance. Sometimes, depending on where I am and how sunk into listening I am, it brings tears to my eyes. (That link’ll take you to a live version)

That’s why, when #1 brought home a note from the school orchestra teacher inviting the kids to a free concert by cello rock group CelloFourte, I figured they’d have to call the cops to get me out of that auditorium. Live music? Good live music? I am so there.

Turns out it wasn’t an issue. Heck, with that large number of kids from third grade on up, the powers that be at the school were probably quite glad to see us parents sprinkled in among the students.

CelloFourte only played for an hour, which was about right for those of us with younger kids. #1 sat a row in front of me with three of his friends, transfixed. Me, I fought the urge to go stand up somewhere. It’s been way too long since I’ve seen live music and the sound of those cellos… oh, man. Soulful. Different from Apocalyptica, and different is good. These three men and one woman can certainly put their own stamp on the cello rock genre.

Afterward, #1 and his friend wanted copies of the newest CelloFourte CD. And this is when the Pittsburgh connection kicked in.

Turns out that the very coolly named Tate (uhh, he’d be the cello player in the band) works for a friend of mine. And when he’s not doing that, he’s playing with a band you might have heard of… Skillet.

My jaw dropped. Skillet? The same Skillet I hear (not often enough) on Squizz? The same Skillet who does the amazingly moving The Last Night?

Tate, dude, we gotta be friends. My living room makes a great practice space, ya know…

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9 Comments

  1. Florinda

    October 29, 2008 9:08 pm

    Skillet? I sort of remember them from when they were a local Memphis band about 10 years ago. They got some radio play – Memphis is SUCH a music town, which is one thing I really miss about it – but I haven’t really heard them in a while.BR/BR/Thanks for jogging my memory. I’ll have to follow up on this one.

  2. Jennifer

    October 30, 2008 12:23 pm

    Live music is an amazing thing. This reminds me that we don’t go out to see it enough (and, for some reason, we’re always going to see Robyn Hitchcock). Though I am not familiar with Skillet …

  3. Thomma Lyn

    October 30, 2008 8:34 pm

    Yes, music — a huge part of my life, forever part of my self-expression. :)BR/BR/A cello rock group — cool beans!! Gonna have to check that out!

  4. Shelley Munro

    October 30, 2008 8:50 pm

    Okay, most of this was double Dutch to me, but I’m happy for you. I love music, although I don’t get a chance to see live bands etc often. I’m off to follow some of the links and educate myself.BR/BR/Tate, dude, you should definitely head for Susan’s living room. It will make her day 😉

  5. Susan Helene Gottfried

    October 30, 2008 10:43 pm

    Shelley, he dropped me an e-mail. Ahh, the power of Google Alerts!

  6. confused

    October 31, 2008 12:50 pm

    I love to sing..the only problem is I can’t carry a tune in a bucket..:)))

  7. Alice Audrey

    October 31, 2008 4:48 pm

    I’d never heard of cello rock before. This stuff is hot! Thanks for the intro.

  8. Lex Valentine

    October 31, 2008 11:45 pm

    Skillet’s okay. But I really like the Apocalyptica song I like is the one Adam Grontier sings… you know, the dude from Three Days Grace. He’s sooo hot…

  9. Bethanie

    November 7, 2008 9:31 pm

    Ah, Susan – I knew you’d have something for me. Have never heard of cello rock, but I’m a certified cello addict (BC (before children), of course) – I once got to see YoYo Ma live at a BSO rehearsal! – so I’ll be checking out Apocalyptica after said children go to bed. Thanks for the tip!

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