Calla and Adaptation
So I should be asleep, but creative energies are stirring.
I saw one of my favorite underdog bands tonight, Calla. What a fantastic show. I bought both of their latest albums and had all four band members autograph them there. The lead singer and guitarist, Aurelio Valle, was a really cool guy. We chatted a little bit about their background. Originally from Texas, they all live in Brooklyn now, and have been playing together since high school (1988, I believe). So I'm glad that I got a chance to see them play live. I doubt they'll be returning to this shitty little town any time soon. I really enjoyed watching Valle break a guitar string and continue to jam out for the remainder of the song and the entire next song before ending their set. They had great chemistry and sound. Fucking incredible music. I can't believe they were the opening band, because the feature band, Luna, was mediocre at best. Perhaps that's just my opinion, because the older crowd there seemed to multiply out of nowhere and they seemingly enjoyed the music a lot. To me, the varied instruments just didn't seem to meld together to form a pleasing, cohesive wave. They had a keyboard, two guitars, a bass, drums, harmonica, and god knows what else. Sure, they all had talent, but it just didn't mix. Not to mention, the roughly even mixture of the five male and female performers made the vocal sound somewhat strange as well. Calla had four male artists with the standard bass, two guitars and drums. They had their own unique sound, but it just flowed. The drummer, for example, played with one drumstick and one maraca (a rattle-like instrument). He played as though he had two drumsticks, but the sound was different and very fascinating. All of the musicians had a lot of talent, especially the lead singer and the drummer. Anyway, enough about the concert tonight.
After the concert, my friend and I went to see the movie Adaptation. I usually hate mainstream movies these days, but I must say that this flick was well done and original. It explores loneliness and adaptation/change and life and permanent choices. I loved it. Several timelines and the lives of many people were skillfully (not perfectly, but the task was extremely difficult) woven together. Some of the epiphanies and reflections in the movie are astounding. However, I disliked how Hollywood found some way to insert a manhunt, gun violence, two car accidents, and drugs into an otherwise insightful and dramatic movie, especially after the main character (played by Nicholas Cage), a screenwriter named Charlie, states explicitly how much he dislikes how Hollywood does just that and shows such disdain for his brother's unoriginal and typical Hollywood screenplay. I intend to find out whether or not the book upon which the main character is basing a screenplay actually exists. I particularly liked one point in the movie when Charlie is examining the great variety and beauty of orchids and then he shifts the same attention to women. With combined detachment and wonder, he makes poignant, succinct descriptions about each female he sees. I often feel the same way about women. They are so beautiful and elusive and complex. However, it takes so much effort to explore each one, and I am disappointed with them so often, that I am usually content now to just casually observe them for a moment, like an orchid or a wildflower. Walking around this university campus is like looking in a mail-order bride catalog. There are too many of them with their flawless complexions and makeup, their well-selected attire, their perfectly done hair, their separate personalities, motives, dreams, flaws, and thoughts. I think I summed up my feelings best when one of my best male friends casually commented that some woman was particularly attractive. Without thinking, a completely natural response came out of my mouth: "Yeah. They're all beautiful. I'm so sick of women."
