Even by the most conservative standards, it seems safe to start celebrating the upcoming release of the Dave Matthews Band’s 8th studio album! Earlier this week, Stefan Lessard, who is always good about letting fans in on the progress of the group, tweeted, “Just imagine yourself dancing to something new and something beautiful!” And if that’s not enough to wet your whistle, check out this video where Rashawn Ross talks about his role on the new record. Even by the most conservative standards, it seems safe to start celebrating the upcoming release of the Dave Matthews Band’s 8th studio album! Earlier this week, Stefan Lessard, who is always good about letting fans in on the progress of the group, tweeted, “Just imagine yourself dancing to something new and something beautiful!” And if that’s not enough to wet your whistle, check out this video where Rashawn Ross talks about his role on the new record. 
Over the weekend, I watched a beautiful movie called, “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close,” about a boy with Asperger’s Syndrome, who loses his father in 9-11, and embarks on an emotional journey to find the matching lock to a mysterious key. Of course, the lock and key are symbolic of this boy’s search for meaning in a world where his father died an unjust death on what the boy calls, “The Worst Day.”
I hate New Year’s resolutions. Mostly because I feel like they put unnecessary pressure on people to do things that they believe they “should” be doing. It’s not that I don’t think people can change, or that I think trying to improve upon oneself is a hopeless endeavor, it’s just that it seems to me that people are more successful at making necessary adjustments when the impetus for change comes from within, rather than from the fact that it happens to be January 1st. That being said, I have noticed a very interesting yearly pattern in my own life, where I start new projects in September, which happens to be the Jewish New Year. But what fascinates me about this dynamic is the way that it occurs. It’s not like I sit down and plan for Jewish New Year resolutions. (Does anyone even do that?) They just happen, and then, days, or sometimes weeks later, I realize what time of year it is. You would think that after several years of this I would catch on quicker, but, as is often the case, insight doesn’t always follow a logical time-line.
Blame it on the holiday season, but lately I’ve been thinking about the unparalleled power of kindness. Paradoxically, this wonderful quality sometimes eludes us, as we rush around, under the stress of a deadline, worried that our loved ones won’t be sufficiently delighted when they open their gifts. Add a tight budget to this mix, and we might understand why otherwise sane people find themselves fighting over plasma television sets at 3 in the morning on Black Friday, when their tryptophan-filled bodies would clearly prefer a good night’s sleep. In depth psychology, we say that very strong energies often bring up their opposite counterparts. For example, after the horrific events of 9/11, the city of New York saw compassionate connections forming between people who may otherwise have remained distant strangers. In that same way, I wonder if the positive dynamics surrounding Winter’s festivities can also activate some of our negative human traits, like impatience, selfishness, and greed.
Yesterday, I found out that one of my favorite movies of all time, “Titanic,” is coming back to theaters this April. At first, I was surprised, but then I realized that this makes perfect sense, considering the current state of affairs in this country. One of the most memorable scenes in this film has to be near the end, when the ship is sinking, and only the rich are allowed into the inadequate number of life-boats that were boarded onto the craft. Too many floatation devices would have dirtied the beautiful image of this boat, making it clear that the decision makers valued looks over lives. In any event, as chaos ensued, and people perished in the frigid waters of the sea, the small orchestra played as if nothing was amiss.
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about karma. As it turns out, this simple word holds a plethora of complex definitions, but, to me, it symbolizes a Universal law of balance. In other words, for every action there is an equal reaction, on some level, although we may not witness said reaction. I like to think of it this way, mainly because it makes me feel that I don’t have to be the one to egg my neighbor’s house to show my disgust at their neglect toward their incessantly barking dogs. No need to waste my eggs. Karma will take care of it.
Sometimes, when inspiration seems a little sparse, I venture out to a movie in search of a thought, or a theme, that seems, somehow, relevant. Relevant to what, I’m never sure, but, inevitably, and, at times, in spite of myself, the dots always connect. Yesterday was no exception.
Steve Jobs, 56, died, yesterday, after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. Oddly, I first saw this news on facebook, and suffice it to say, that it was quite a surreal experience to be on my Mac reading posts of remembrance to the inventor of all things Apple.There are many reasons why I think a dedication to the life of Steve Jobs belongs here, on a Dave Matthews Band website.
Last night, I watched a fantastic documentary called “Music,” in which over 50 musicians from various genres discussed the subtle idiosyncrasies of their field. Bands such as Smashing Pumpkins, My Morning Jacket, Vampire Weekend, and Death Cab for Cutie were all represented, as well as, appearances from artists like Ani DiFranco, Lenny Kravitz, Ziggy Marley, Chrissie Hynde, Iggy Pop, and Fiona Apple. 
As promised, the Dave Matthews Band rocked Washington State last weekend for the 15th consecutive year. Just a few of the highlights from the group’s most recent stint at the Gorge Amphitheatre include, surprise fan favorites, such as: “American Baby Intro,” “Big Eyed Fish,” “#40,” “Loving Wings,” “Shotgun,” “Raven,” “Halloween,” “Seek Up,” and a killer “Lie In Our Graves,” which, amazingly, wrapped itself around seven unsuspecting tunes. But perhaps the biggest bombshell was dropped during the encore of night two, when the band busted out Blue Öyster Cult's 1976 hit, “Don’t Fear The Reaper.”