Note: My friend Eugeni told me it’s bad luck to say it’s my “último día” ( “last day” ) in Barcelona, and instead I should say “penúltimo” ( “penultimate” ) in case I come back again someday. Pues: adios, adéu, ciao, check ya later. New York, Boston, DC, Hawaii, Sacramento, San Francisco, Oakland…here I come. :)
Cuidaos, todos,
katie
As seen here.
The clip below isn’t my favorite of the pieces he played (“he” being world-renowned arranger, composer, performer, and producer specializing in flamenco, Pedro Javier González), but it gives you a sense: the man’s got fingers that could double-knot the shoelaces on a grasshopper. His quiet confidence and steady, un-showy calm, understated yet not at all mechanical, gave both sincerity and depth to the twelve songs in the set — which lasted over an hour but seemed to finish almost as soon as it began.
It was the kind of concert that feels more like one half of a first date. Through the music, he introduces himself, shares his interests, shows his sense of humor, tells a little about his past, allows pauses for reflection, and keeps returning to the warm question, shaped by empty space: So, how about you?
Enjoy, friends, and have a glorious weekend. See you next week!
Yesterday I stumbled upon this latest entry by renowned hip-hop video blogger Jay Smooth. I won’t go on about it too much — I think it speaks for itself — but I just wanted to share how thankful I am for his work on IllDoctrine.com (which I had all but forgotten since my Great Escape from the Internet). I don’t agree with evvverything he says in his vlogs, but most of it gets a big Sadhu (well said) from here. And this video’s insight about media and culture resonates particularly. As Jay puts it, we need to ensure that the coming generations can differentiate between media attention and genuine affection. Real love, vital love, does not commodify us. It is not measured in applause, sales, or hit counts.
If you know the words, join in! It’s more fun that way. :)
love,
katie
Kloncke 