| In the movie High Fidelity, John Cusack says, "Which | | | | the blanks.I love live performances. If I have seen a |
| came first - the music or the misery? Do I listen to pop | | | | performer live AND have their music on a CD I'm in |
| music because I am miserable or am I miserable | | | | heaven. If I have CDs of a favorite singer and haven't |
| because I listen to pop music?" Personally, I like pop | | | | seen them live, I search on the internet for their |
| music and all kinds of music. I really enjoy listening to | | | | concert dates. And sometimes I just fall into the right |
| music with friends. I'm not miserable at all.Some of my | | | | situation.A friend attended a performance of Judy |
| friends like pop music. Some don't. Some like | | | | Collins at The Triple Door in Seattle, a small 300 seat |
| country-western music. Some hate it. Some like classic | | | | dinner and music venue. I asked him to bring back a |
| rock. Some don't. Personally, I appreciate all kinds of | | | | calendar of upcoming events. After the concert he |
| music. I may not like some writers or performers, but in | | | | just told me the website address of The Triple Door |
| almost all genres, there are songs I like.In the mid-1980s, | | | | and I went there to look around. To my surprise I found |
| my wife and I joined forces with some friends and ran | | | | out that Guy Clark was appearing just a week and a |
| a small dance club, The Bedrock Lounge. For a while it | | | | half later.Peg and I once attended a Nanci Griffith |
| was the place to go . . . until we had liquor board | | | | concert and expected to see Guy Clark open for her. |
| problems. We mostly played alternative rock and | | | | To our dismay, he didn't make the trip. Since that time |
| dance mixes. On the weekends we brought in live | | | | we have purchased several of his CDs, however. |
| bands. Peg and I listened to a wide variety of music. I | | | | Two days later I was invited to join friends for a |
| played records through the evening and into the early | | | | performance of Romeo and Juliette in Olympia. I |
| morning hours. She knit, read, and worked on her | | | | declined, but mentioned that we were going to see |
| calligraphy. From pop to classics and show tunes, we'll | | | | Guy Clark just a few days later.Guy Clark was |
| listen.Every time someone mentions a musical I like, I | | | | wonderful. We had a decent dinner, enjoyed Rachel |
| generally say, "Oh, that's one of my favorites." I don't | | | | Harrington, his opening act, and saw him live with our |
| really have a list of favorites, but perhaps I should write | | | | Olympia friends. Good food, good music, and good |
| one down. Like Cusack, again, in High Fidelity says, | | | | friends. There was no misery to mix in with our |
| "What really matters is what you like, not what you're | | | | listening pleasure.Don Doman is a published author, |
| like."When I attend a musical with my wife, we always | | | | video producer, and corporate trainer. He owns the |
| buy the cast album if possible. If you are familiar with | | | | business training site Ideas and Training ( which he |
| particular Broadway musicals you can experience the | | | | says is the home of the no-hassle "free preview" for |
| entire play just by listening to the music. In your mind | | | | business training videos. He also is webmaster for the |
| you can see the characters, hear their lines and watch | | | | music/movie website Videos, Music, and More( which |
| their actions. In reality you are just listening to the songs | | | | promotes the world of music and entertainment. |
| performed on stage, but the human mind tends to fill in | | | | |