Today's installment of #MethodMonday is another example of one of those "solo-not-solo" segments. These last couple days have been a slog and so I chose this one because it hits home to why we do this. So today we're looking at John Mayer’s cover of Jimi Hendrix's: Bold as Love (3:20-5:30) and how that speaks to our purpose.
The guitar playing is amazing and beautiful, sure, but it’s the message within that we're talking about today. In the middle of the song he stops playing for a minute, lets his band hold it down, and just talks over the beat, engaging with the people. What he says is so honest and pure and joyful. For me he is speaking to the very foundation of why we're doing this and what we get out of it: so we can get up on stage or plug into your headphones and tell you that even though the world's fucked up: we are here together and we hear you and we love you. It's a gift that I've received so many times from so many people and pieces of music and it'd be damn selfish not to give that to someone else. It's moments like these that make the magic. Just listen to the energy that explodes after that. It takes it to an entirely different level... EPIC KEY CHANGE! Palpable Electricity. Pure Love...
I bumped this one up to the top because I needed a reminder of my roots. Especially in isolation, even during "normal" times, it's super easy to slip into doing it for MYSELF. Not gonna get very far with that approach. It starts with people telling you that you've "got something special" and feeding the ego until you believe it and it takes you to a lonely place and you feel stuck. But on the other side of that is perspective and that old African Proverb: "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." Nothing could be more true. I too have tried a lot of different approaches and methods to synthesize that essence to get to the heart of what really matters: sharing what you've created and opening the floor to create something even greater TOGETHER and watch it take on a life of its own. As we dig deep to find the inspiration to tackle our bold quarantine plans, remember this: Music is great and all, but only insofar as it allows us to connect: with musicians, to the audience, to the glow that we feel after playing that opens our channels of communication and connection. Sometimes the best part of the music isn't even the music itself. And this is a great example of how to lean into that magic. John, ya big Corn Dog, thanks for giving us that "I got your back" love. And thank you Jimi for paving the way. Be Bold As Love. It'll get us where we want to go ❤ And we'll have a damn good time getting there 🙂 Los Huevos Banditos <3 <3 <3