Music: The People, the passion, and the business

It’s a Friday night and the beginning of a wonderful weekend. We’ve been driving through thick traffic for over two hours and our anticipation is beginning to reach climax. My cousin and her friend begin to scream as we pull up to the Palladium concert hall in Worchester. As we roll down the window we see a plethora of similarly dressed kids lined about two blocks down waiting for their chance to get a ticket to see the concert tonight. We pull into the Palladium parking lot and flashed our ticket that allowed us parking for free. The excitement begins to fill me as I jump out of the car like I just won the lottery and screamed at the top of my lungs and threw my hands in the air. I was greeted by a chorus of kids who yelled with excitement along with me.
A concert can be the experience of a lifetime. They vary in size from small bars and venues to full scale stadiums and event halls. They can create an emotional hold over us that can cause some of the most outrageous behavior and leaves you stories for the rest of your life.
We strolled towards a smaller line which consisted of people who had purchased tickets over the internet for less wait time. My cousin shook me and said, “We are about to see the most progressive new hardcore bands out!” I replied with a huge smile and a jump for joy. The door man patted the kids in front of us as we slowly made our way in.
We finally made it to the door after a thirty minute wait. The door man began to pat us down and when he finished he handed us our tickets from roll call. I could almost smell my cousin’s anticipation to get the ticket and run into the standing area. After getting our tickets checked we ran through the thickets of people down the descending levels of the Palladium just in time to see the band and stage technicians begin work on sound check and tuning the instruments.
Sound check and tuning is the most tedious part of the concert life. Some even say, “It’s just so annoying I want to rip my hair out.” (Hurley) Sound check consists of the musicians tuning their instruments over the noise of the loud crowd with out making their instruments audible to the crowd. Once they plug in their instruments they have to strum, yell and hit their instruments until the sound booth has everything in check then they can turn everything up so that band can play. (Hurley)
The average sound booth consists of a wide range frequency equalizer to adjust how the sound actually is and whether it has lots of treble or bass and to equalize all the instruments. They also have an 8 channel amplifier to adjust how everything flows and to place where which sound comes from where in the sound system. Some even have a mechanical light control where they can control the lights on stage. All of which are essential to set the mood of the concert and increase the excitement of the concert. (Wade/ Zing)
The lead singer screams out, “Hello Worchester!” His greeting is followed by thousands of kids who screamed like banshees after the sound of his voice. “We are We Came As Romans and we are from Troy, Michigan!” said the singer as the synthesizer began it’s symphonic music and the crowd let out a roar.
I jumped up to see the band playing their hit song Intentions. My cousin was trying to be careful to not get pushed into the circle pit of flailing kids in front of us. Just as the bridge came for the song and it was about to hit a very powerful section I fell into the circle pit and being a punk rock concert I knew I had to stay standing. As the heavy section of the song made it’s passer-by I was shoved and tossed and carried. Eventually I was standing in the emptiness of a circle with a wall of sweaty, dirty, happy human beings that felt the same passion for work of art that these six men were creating on stage. I had a clear view of everything on stage from where I was standing and kids slowly began to disperse into the circle closing my view.
I turned around to look for my cousin and her friend and noticed them standing up a level watching me make a fool of myself. When I ran up to them there was a man trying to sell merchandise hounding them to buy a t-shirt. I quickly ran up to see what shirts he had. I immediately found a nice We Came As Romans shirt that had some of their lyrics on it and purchased it.
Besides selling the actual music it self, bands and musicians make a huge bulk of money at a concert from merchandise. They are at mostly every concert and are sold from small stands with displays and a plethora of boxes filled with freshly printed tees in all sizes, buttons, belt buckles, posters, CDs, and DVDs.
A few bands actually even have skateboards with their logo and name on it. It’s all a part of the world set forth by the concerts and it shows your passion for the music. (Hurley)
After I put my new fresh t-shirt in my cousin’s purse, I turned to see the next band come on stage. It was a newer band that was a little bit heavier hitting than We Came As Romans called The Word Alive. They were fresh on the scene at the Palladium and they had just recently gotten signed to Fearless Records, which immediately told me they were about to put on a crazy show.
A record company says a lot about what kind of band you are and sometimes it shows how famous you are. Victory Records is the prime example of a punk rock/ metal record company. They hold some of the most prestige bands of their genre today. They vary in bands from the melodic punk rock band Silverstien to the demonic death metal band Carnifex. Victory is a fail-safe on fame and it shows how you can be labeled through your record company.
A record company consists of someone who can help a band/musician produce and create their music. Record companies are also the main advertisers for their bands and are the connections to concerts and venue opportunities. They also are usually in charge of merchandise and its creation. To make it big, however, it becomes a necessity to sign incredibly talented bands that already have a good start for them selves so the company and band work with each other to get famous. (Victory Records)
The guys on stage got settled and they began to smash their instruments with excitement to get the crowd pumped up. Then the first song they wanted to play followed and I knew I had to be closer. In full blown sprint, I ran to the lower standing floor and pushed my way through toward the front. There was about twelve security guards place along the front barrier to pull the rowdy crowd surfers off the top of the crowd and to deal with the kids that got hurt in the dancing pits or “mosh pits” or just in the brutal race to get up front and see the band.
Depending on which genre of music you are going to see determines which kinds of people you will encounter. If you are going to see your favorite pop singer you are probably only going to encounter a bunch of hyped up 15 year old girls that are ready to dance to the singer’s newest bubbly song and if you’re going to see the hottest indie-rock band you’re probably going to be dealing with jumpy teenagers that just want to hit the giant beach ball that the band threw out on to the crowd and listen to some good music. However if you go to a show like The Eagles or AC/DC be prepared to deal with middle aged men that are to drunk to sing correctly, swaying around and seeing their half naked spouses and if you are going to see your favorite punk/metal band be prepared to deal with angry, scary men flailing their arms and pushing each other all while jumping on the crowd and getting thrown to the security guards up front. The music usually purveys a message or a mood that feeds the crowds attitude towards the music and usually their actions at the event follow as such.
After two more bands had played everyone began to get tired. I was one of those people. I walked slowly up to my cousin and her friend who had no interest in the final band playing so we began making our way towards the exit and as we did I bumped into a few tall, burly-looking characters. The guy turned to apologize and I realized that it was the lead singer of We Came As Romans. They had been tired from their set and were out from the back to get in touch with some of the fans and grab some water. I began to laugh and cover my mouth because I was meeting one of the guys I have posters of on my walls at home.
I congratulated him on his wonderful set as the rest of the band began to make their way over. Excited and thankful for my congratulations he shook my hand and began questioning us on our opinion of the band. After a good conversation and several questions he was more than pleased that we were fans and gave us all free posters of the band and thanked us for coming to see them. I knew this night in Worchester would one that I could never forget.

Tom Clancy's Red Rabbit

Tom Clancy's Red Rabbit is another chair gripping edge of your seat novel from the author. The book is a prequel to The Hunt for Red October. This novel features a different style from Tom because in Red Rabbit he uses the way Jack Ryan gets recruited to be an analyst to set up his hero while still keeping the main ideas he sets forth in his other novels.
The novel gains it's story line during the Cold War and the pope's threats to resign if Russia does not ease off the people, thus causing a worldwide crisis. Jack Ryan gets word that someone in the Soviet is planning to kill the Pope. A bulk of excitement is provided around Jack's struggle to find evidence that there actually is a plot to kill the Pope. This play of the mind leaves you the reader plotting what will happen next and how this rookie is doing this test of wit.
The novel is set in third person and it is part of a series. It's a fiction and an action thriller. It has a serious tone with some mild humor to spice it up and keep the novel going smoothly. The mood is suspense. You feel the same stresses that Jack feels and helps you understand and gain a connection with him. I would definitely recommend reading this book along with the series.

Feelin moody?

Jake Brouillette
Mr. B.G. World Lit 12
February 22, 2010
How Treasure Island uses mood

Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island conveys many different moods through out the story. He shows his mood through explaining each situation with lots of detail to grab the reader and help you feel what the characters feel. The mood is important to the story because it is necessary to develop the story and it provides a wonderful foundation for actions to follow or be driven by this mood.
In the novel Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson a feeling of intensity is immediately brought forth when Billy Bones enters the Inn. He is a sour old man that scares most people and he definitely doesn’t seem like a trustworthy fellow and this provides for a suspenseful air about his presence. This is greatly intensified by the fight with Black Dog and it begins the desire for the treasure map.
An interesting thing about this story is Stevenson uses the character Jim Hawkins as the narrator for most parts of the story and he is just a boy. For the most part the boy is feeling fear because he is around these treasure thirsty pirates, however, after being exposed to the life style he grows and gains confidence and begins his passion towards the lifestyle like the pirates.

Siddartha Comes to America

There I sat in my yard as the sun slowly began to reach its peak in the sky. It was a lovely day, the sun shining and not a cloud in the sky. I was just about to fall asleep when a bark from my dog caught my immediate attention. I turned to look at the disturbance and a rustling noise came from the woods. Of course I figured it was a small animal so I ignored it. However my dog persisted and then I heard the groan of a scared man. I turned to see a dirty, dark haired man in what it seemed to be robes trying to avoid my dog at the entrance of the woods.

Immediately I called off my dog and allowed the man to approach. He asked if I had any food. I gave him some and discovered the man’s name was Siddhartha. He informed me that he was a wandering holy man in search of the answer to enlightenment. He told me a story of his past riches where he was very unhappy because he was bored and unfulfilled, so he had left his father to search for the answer.

Siddhartha sat on the ground and I asked him if he was okay. “Yes, kind sir, I just wish there was a way I could find the answers”, said Siddhartha. “I think I have the way”, I replied, “But first we’ve got to clean you up.” After bathing and new clothes, I told him that with my recent inheritance of a hefty fund from some relatives I would take him to several places to possibly get in touch with him self and get a feeling for his senses. He hold heartedly agreed.

The next day we headed off in the car to a place where it was hard to miss any of the senses, New York City, New York. We arrived several hours later and Siddhartha was staring out the window like a curious dog. We pulled into a parking garage and got parking for several days, then got Siddhartha a map and a prepaid phone. I told him we need to get a hotel and then we can wander around.

After getting a room for two I brought Siddhartha to the dead center of Times Square and I asked what he wished to do. Siddhartha glanced around and immediately began walking to the large Toys-R-Us. He had noticed the large Ferris wheel in the center and was interested. He was surprisingly okay with the heights and enjoyed the view of all the toys up at the top.

I decided after going on the Ferris wheel we would go to China town to see what bargains he could get on some new stuff. He noticed several robe-like garments and was very intrigued. The man selling them perked up with a very high offer and Siddhartha, not knowing he could bargain began to pull out his money. I immediately thought to myself, there’s no way I’m letting this happen. I told the man half his offer and Siddhartha turned to me with surprise. The store owner of course disgruntled after I interjected a very high transaction said 3/4ths his original offer. I then said one quarter of his original offer. He said no of course and I dragged Siddhartha away and the store owner immediately accepted. Siddhartha was extremely pleased and for several hours, went around bargaining for clothes and interesting items.

Siddhartha and I stopped into a local restaurant later that evening. We sat down for our order and Siddhartha stared blankly at the menu and I realized that he had no clue what he was doing. So I pointed out all of the things on the menu and explained them. Siddhartha then discovered the adult beverage menu. He asked what they were and I explained it was alcohol and he had no hesitation ordering himself a beer. After our meal and Siddhartha having about 12 tall glasses, he turned to our waitress and winked at her. As she smiled Siddhartha asked, "Hey, you're kind of pretty, what's your name pretty lady?" One thing led to another and there I was paying extra for another hotel room for Siddhartha and his new friend.

The next day we headed back to Massachusetts. We arrived back to my house and I began questioning him about New York City. “Did you like Times Square?” I asked. He replied, “Yes, I had an excellent time, but I need to find a place to get in touch with myself. New York City definitely indulged all the sentences. However, it did not allow me to truly appreciate the world, just experience it.”

I thought to myself, where can I take Siddhartha to indulge his senses and get in touch with himself? Then it hit me, there’s a few beaches on the side of the river. I threw my car in reverse and we followed a road along the river and stopped of the side. Siddhartha confused at this point asked what we were doing. I told him that this was one place where he could get in touch with himself.

We began to walk down a make shift trail carved out of lots of walking over time and we came to the beach and I allowed Siddhartha to have his time and take in his surroundings. He smelled the air and sat by the water on some dry, warm sand. It was a beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky. The sun was very warm, but shaded by the trees that over hang the side of the river. Even the water seemed blue compared to it's normal disturbed sediment color.

Suddenly Siddhartha grabbed my pant leg. Startled, I jumped. Siddhartha asked me to sit with him, my heart was still pounding cause he scared me so bad. However, I sat next to him. As I did he told me to relax and meditate with him. As I sat down he told me to breathe and he asked, "Have you ever listened to the water here, or the trees, or the sand? They speak to you." I nervously responded, "No, I didn't know they spoke. What do they say?" He replied, "I cannot tell you what they are saying to you. I can only speak what they have told me. You have to listen to hear what they say. Clear your mind, then listen."

As I cleared my mind it began to wander to places it obviously shouldn't have. I began thinking of how my legs were starting to feel funny from sitting on the ground. Then I began thinking about my job and my car dieing soon and other stupid things. Siddhartha said, "Do not let your mind wander other places. Let it wander here." I then began to imagine being a fish swimming down the river and then I was a tree providing shade for the beach along the river. After several mental embodiments, I stopped and then looked at Siddhartha. It was dark now and the time had just flew. I stood up and told Siddhartha we could go. He slowly looked at me and got up and we walked to my car.

We got in the car and began our ride to my house. Siddhartha looked at me and said, "Thank you friend. I truly appreciate the experience you provided. However I would not want to be a burden any more please stop and let me out." I was sad to let him go, but I obeyed his wishes. As Siddhartha stepped out of my car he turned, smiled, then bowed and disappeared into the woods.

When I got home I went and sat on my couch and stared at the ground. It took me a while to take in the past couple days. I asked myself why did I feel so compelled to help this man look for the answer. Maybe I was just looking for some answers myself. I helped him get some answers and he helped me. Now I can listen and now I can teach myself.

Summer Reading Assesment

It was a quaint afternoon in the small region of Long Island well known at the time as West Egg. A tall lanky man with a muscular stature walked down the side walk kicking stones as he went. The man's name was James Miles. He was a star running back for a local football team from Odessa, Texas. James continued down the sidewalk until he was abruptly stopped by the chest of another tall man. However on the contrary this was an educated, white, wealthy man. This man went by the name Jay Gatsby.

"I'm very sorry my good sir" said James with contempt.

"Oh no sir it was my fault, I was the one not paying attention", replied Jay. "By the way, I would be Jay Gatsby"

"James be my name"

"What brings you here James? Vacation, family, school?"

"Well I got injured playing football for the Panthers at my school, so I quit the team and now I'm just here to blow off some steam. Why do you look so glum?"

"I can't help but to be glum... A girl whom I'm madly in love with has gone off to marry a wealthy entrepreneur and I wish to be with her so"

The two continued to converse about their situations and Gatsby revealed the hidden things from his past and his reasons for obtaining his wealth. As well as James reveals his status where he's from and his feelings about the team and quitting it. The two then decide to go elsewhere and Gatsby then offers to take the boy to a local restaurant to further converse upon their issues. When they get to the restaurant James perks up and says, "Man, I wish that I didn't quit the team, cause they did so good, but I suppose they were better off without me on the team. Thar's probably why they did better."

"Well James it seems that that football team is really the only thing that town has to rely on.", said Gatsby with a chuckle.

"Yeah, pretty much. I think Daisy doesn't know you're where she is yet."

" Well I'm sure she would know after all the parties and things I have and I make my money well known."

"Parties and money ain't everything you know. Try talking to her and let her know your feelings and then let her decide for herself."

"Well then maybe you should get over yourself and even though you won't be perfect get back on the team and help them to victory", said Gatsby with a disgruntled tone. " I won't have anyone questioning who I am especially a stranger like yourself!"

James got up furiously at the comment made by the emotional Gatsby. "Yeah well I had my reasons for getting off the team and they ain't none of your business.", said James. Just then Gatsby tossed down money for both of the meals and stormed out of the restaurant mumbling something about him getting Daisy any way he chooses. Then James heard a newsbroad cast over the radio about a highschool's football team win in Odessa, TX and their epic story that he could had been part of.