The club where everyone knows your name

In 2011 my friend Scott created a Facebook group for music lovers with eclectic taste, and invited a hundred or so friends to join. I was one of those friends.

It operated on a simple premise. Share a link to song you enjoy, that you think other people might also enjoy. At it’s most simplistic level the group is still that; a place where people share youtube links to songs they like.

What we soon discovered was if you share something on social media, you tend to say something about the thing you are sharing, And what happens when you share music is you talk about it in an emotional way - eg I love this song, this song reminds of that time my heart was broken, this album was the soundtrack to my divorce, this song takes me back to a special time in my life - that sort of thing. And when people bare themselves in this way, in a trusted environment, it allows deep connections to be made.

Those deep connections can lead to many wonderful things. In my case it has led to treasured friendships and important support networks. These are mostly sustained online.

In 2014 or so, I had an idea. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to meet some of these people in real life?

So I dreamed and I planned, and I started to make it happen.

First, I went to the Netherlands, to meet the group’s most active and prolific member. That went well, so I dreamed and planned some more, and I learned how to shoot video for social media. That led me to another idea. What if I filmed interviews with people about the music they love?

So that’s what I have done, on my last few big holidays. I have traveled around seeking out members of this group, to meet, to drink, to talk and to film an interview, so that other members of the group can see them and hear them and get to know them a little bit better.

So far I have interviewed people in (USA) San Francisco, New York, Boston, Cleveland, Montgomery Village, and Portage, (UK) Bath (Northern Ireland) Belfast and Den Haag in the Netherlands.

Tomorrow, I’m off to the USA again, to meet some people for the first time (yay!) and to spend time once more with beautiful friends I have already met along the way.

See you soon my Club Eclectica family.

Homecoming music

After an exhiliarating, confronting, reinforcing, emotionally charged, busy couple of days away, my weary, foot-sore body has been cosseted by sweet, sweet sounds as it wended it's way home, and settled back in. More about my Sydney sojourn soon. Today, I'm giving a shout out to the soundtrack to my day.

The Wailin' Jennys track, The Parting Glass
The Swell Season album, Strict Joy
The Polyphonic Spree track, Suitcase Calling
Tim Buckley album, Tim Buckley
Belle and Sebastian album, Dear Catastrophe Waitress
Colin Hay album, Going Somewhere
Carole King album, Tapestry
Marianne Faithfull album, A Collection Of Her Best Recordings

Check out the ones you haven't heard before. Pull out your old copies of the ones you have heard of, and give them another listen. You won't regret it.

Rainy day music

One drizzling Melbourne morning, the delightful Anna, mistress of a go-go academy, asked Facebook friends to nominate their favourite rain songs. A list of tracks like It's Raining Men and Raining in Baltimore, soon peppered Anna's wall. It's easy to associate songs with weather, from the title alone.

But what about albums?

When yesterday's rain had softened enough to hear music above the sound of it hitting the tin roof, I had an urge to listen to Iron and Wine's Around the Well.
Sam Beam and band's double cd collection of rarities and rejects is the perfect soundtrack to a rainy afternoon. It's even better when the weather is cold. Listening to it makes you think about snuggling and campfires. Around the Well is chilled, unobtrusive, very laid back, and fun to sing along to; softly.

There are a few covers in the mix, the best are Peng 33 (Stereolab), Waiting for Superman (Flaming Lips), Love Vigilantes (New Order) and Such Great Heights (The Postal Service). But truthfully, there's not a bad track on this album.

The last track, Trapeze Swinger, held me obsessed for weeks last winter. Over 9 minutes it manages to weave a lot of instruments and sounds in and out, so the ears are listening out for the next thing and not being distracted by the monotonous undertones. It's a triumph, that is beautifully executed.

So, over to you. What are your favourite rainy day albums?

Here comes the rain again Melbourne. Take cover!