Shootin' it Straight - Both Kinds - Country and Western

Music has always been a big part of my life. To be clear, I mean that I thoroughly enjoy music in many forms from a listening standpoint and not as a performer of any kind. As a performer I peaked about 3rd grade when they forced us to learn that plastic flute shaped torture device that I admittedly faked my way through by moving my hands perfectly in time along with everyone else. From they lingering 8 tracks and vinyl of my very young years to the heyday of cassette tapes I loved consuming it all. I read the liner notes, I studied in depth lyrics, and judged the genuineness of the artist. 

 Southern gospel, black soulful worship music, and choirs made me feel movement in my heart. Southern rock made me want to chase a feeling down with a six string and a warped leather hat. The blues made me feel like a old soul and chase down smokey rooms and back alley rooms with the lingering smell of misery. George Jones and the likes had me believing I had lost a spouse, been divorced, and lost my job all by the tender age of 16. James Hatfield convinced me that that old truck would hit the electronic speed limiter with disregard. My musical taste is varied but always rooted in quality songwriting and those sad tracks that sounds like poring ones soul out. Modern radio has lost almost all appeal to my ears as I seek out old tunes or underground acts grinding it out. Away from the manufacturered acts there is still great music being made. It just requires a little digging. Small theater shows, backwoods venues, honky tonks, and private shows reign supreme. 

 Sliding around on the tattered seat of a 3/4 ton Dodge was equally tattered albums ranging from Chris Knight to Alabama's classic Christmas album. Seger held his spot right next to Keb Mo'. Big Hank, Jr, and III filed in order. Rob Thomas and STP flopped around in a door pouch. Obscure artist from DBT to Lucero stayed in the rotation. It was a wide array and many hours of seat time had me reminiscing, testifying, and singing along. A song can take me there. It can bring me up or down. It can make me shed a tear or laugh at a memory. My rules for music is that it should either convey a true feeling from the artist that they have lived some variation of it or at minimum fake it so well I can't distinguish the difference. Let the music never die.