The Midnight Run From...

Two of my best friends live in the greater L.A. area: Brock in Anaheim, and Sam in Pasadena. So we often make the trek to the O.C. to see them. Tonight was special, because not only did we hook up with Brock and Sam (+spouses), but we were also joined by Josh and Cammie Delph, whom I haven't seen in over four years (old traveling music buddy). It's amazing what four years of life can do to change the dynamic of a group of friends. We are all older, wiser, and better friends than we ever could have been in the "good old days." It was great to see Delph. We're getting re-acquainted. Sam and Brock, however continue to be rocks in my life as far as dependable, brother-like relationships go. I'm continually grateful for them.


Enough of the mush. On to the point...

That which travels UP to the O.C. must travel back DOWN to the S.D. The trip up is always a bit stressful. We're normally leaving as quickly as possible from another event in which we had no choice but to be at, and arriving later than we planned because traffic wasn't what we expected. The trip home is where it gets predictable. We always stay too late (midnight-ish), then we say our goodbyes. Once in the car, the conversation between Lacy and I lasts about ten minutes before she reclines the seat and falls away into dream land. I'm then left with a haunting question: What music will energize me enough to stay awake? "Stay awake" music is different for many people. Most people need loud, obnoxious tunes to keep them "pumped up." Not so for me. I need music that tugs at my soul. That rips my inner being out of my chest and into the car I'm tailgating. I need one song that I can put on repeat for an hour, then one more that gets me the last 30 minutes to La Mesa.
Often, it's a great worship song (Hillsong's "With All I Am") or a black gospel tear jerker (Kirk Franklin's "Lean On Me"). If I design the right soundtrack for the trip home, my mind will soar and my creative capacity will reach its peak and I will no doubt change the world the next day. Trouble is, by the next day, I've forgotten all those glorious Ideas, and my inspiration went to sleep with me at 3am when I arrived home.

Tonight was different, however. I chose the wrong music, and stuck with it. Intentionally. Sam and I were discussing the differences between Coldplay and U2. I had been thinking about it all week (I just bought X&Y) and have been trying to put my finger on it. Coldplay is after U2's spot as the biggest band in the world, and I'm just not feeling it. In their defense, I realized that I had never listened critically through any of their albums, so I made a pact to do so on the way home tonight. I made it through "Parachutes", and halfway through"A Rush Of Blood To The Head". So far... I was impressed more than I had been, but not convinced of them being a band that could move me like U2 moves me. There were no magical moments. Emotion? All over the place. I'm just waiting for them to release their emotion with sound and tone that expresses it to the fullest. I'm not sure that Chris Martin's vocals can ever truly express what his body seems to be saying when he sings. And I'm not sure that a guitar without a heavy distort pedal combined with a heavy piano in a trance-like grove can ever break throughout the outer atmosphere.

Tonight's midnight run from the O.C. improved my opinion of coldplay, but did not put them in the leaders spot yet.

Maybe their next album will