After School Unwind Session: "Time to Pretend"

I'm so excited tonight! Every Thursday I get excited because I usually have a Zoom virtual concert. Friends and I pay a small fee for a ticket that supports musicians during this pandemic. My dear friend Vito Rinaldo started this beautiful thing called "The Tree of Forgiveness" Productions. The money from ticket sales go to the bands/artists who perform. They also share their virtual tip jars for us to show our love. Its always a wonderful time to see friends virtually once a week AND get to experience some live music, even though it's through a virtual setting.

Tonight is a different level of excitement. There are three...THREE...different live shows tonight. My Thursdays are always devoted to Vito and the crew, but now I have a decision to make! I know, I really shouldn't complain. But here are my options:

• JP Soars and Rockin' Jake ("Tree of Forgiveness" show with a paid ticket)
• The Revivalists (free ticket)
• Dave Matthews and Carter Beauford (free with my Warehouse membership)

After much careful thought and consideration, I decided to go with watching The Revivalists show. I can watch Dave and Carter as well as JP Soars and Rockin' Jake on another day since it will be viewable still. (Sorry Vito! You guys get me on a weekly basis, so I'll see you next time!)

Before every concert, the venues always play "house music" before the band takes the stage. So now, it's time to pretend that I'm really there and play my own house music.

Now Spinning: MGMT - Time to Pretend

I'm actually spinning my 2015 Record Store Day Glow In The Dark Limited Release version of this album (2,000 copies made). I was first excited to see that they had a RSD release that year. But GLOW IN THE DARK?! Purely amazing!

Key Tracks:

• Time to Pretend
• Love Always Remains
• Kids

Can't Put Me In A Box

I know this is a random choice for house music. And to be quite honest, just a random album for me to be listening to. And yet, I own 3 different vinyl albums of theirs (this one isn't even my favorite). I normally don't listen to electronic, synth-pop. But this band had me hooked the first time I heard them. Not only did they hook me, but they reeled me in to going to a live concert. It was different in a cool way. I felt like I was at a college rave. And looking around, I felt pretty old (I think I was the oldest one there)! But it's great to try new things. It's all about the experience. Would I go again? In a heartbeat!

I love and also hate it when people ask me "what kind of music do you listen to?" I listen to practically everything. Whatever I listen to at any given moment depends on my mood. There is never a simple answer. One moment I may feel like listening to some classic rock, like Led Zeppelin or Janis Joplin. But later on I might end up putting on MGMT. So, tonight, I felt like changing it up a little. I haven't listened to MGMT in a while, so I felt like tonight would be the perfect night. The memories it brings are incredible. It makes me feel young and alive without a care in the world. 

It's always good to branch out with your interests. You never know...you might come across something that you like that you never imagined enjoying. It also keeps things exciting and interesting! Life becomes boring when things are predictable. 

Liven things up a bit...be unpredictable.