gapingvoid: "cartoons drawn on the back of business cards"

preston reed is blogging.

Preston Reed is blogging.

The result of a successful composition should be satisfying, entertaining, involving, and, on some level, edifying, whether it be long or short, simple or complicated, easy to listen to or not. Some compositions require multiple listenings to digest and enjoy. Some are instantly pleasing. But there will always be something that feels right -- natural, organic, alive -- about a good composition.

A good composition gives back energy. It continues to evolve inside the listener over time.

[Live-streaming music samples can be found here. My fave track is one called "Flatonia," but that's just me.]

[Here's an AMAZING hour-long video of Preston performing live at The Kennedy Center. Watch his technique. Wow.]

A few weeks ago, I wrote about how I thought legendary acoustic guitarist, Preston Reed, should start a blog:

What Preston realised is that what paid his bills wasn't percentages on record sales, but the relationship he had with his audience.

So he and his wife built up a nice wee "Global Microbrand", which includes lots of playing, lots of touring, lots of real time connection with people who dig his work.

Like I said, this conversation was pretty seminal. Turns out what a lot of bloggers are now trying to do online, Preston was already trying to do the same via live music. His philosophy certainly helped confirm what I was trying to do with my work, back in those early blogging days- bypassing big media, building one's own sovereignty from the ground up etc. Even though I'm not a musician, his hands-on M.O. proved to be a real long-term inspiration for me.

So I wrote him an e-mail earlier today, telling him he'd be a perfect candidate to bring some music into the Blogosphere. Maybe I get him to play live at a Geek Dinner, blog confab or something. Just an idea.

A few phone calls later, he was on the case.

Rock on.

Posted by hugh macleod at February 25, 2006 9:34 AM | TrackBack