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July 20, 2004
From My Backyard
This morning I was running a little late so I didn’t have time to pack a lunch. So I treated myself to a Kung Pao Chicken. My office is right across the street from one of the most beautiful parks in downtown. I walked down the sidewalk and into another building that has a food court. I got my food, and went out to the street at the other end of the block.
As I was walking back I decided to walk through the park. I had intended on just eating at my desk, but I saw a musician setting up for a lunch-time concert in the park. Then I saw who it was and I decided to sit on a rock and listen while I ate. I saw Michael Monroe last year and still remembered some of his songs.
There is something about seeing artists perform in person, especially outside that captivates me. It must be the fresh air and the fresh sound of a live performance that you can almost touch. Being close enough to see the expressions on their faces adds another dimension to the performance.
Michael Monroe is Solar Powered! His performance today drew it’s power from a bank of solar panels on a small trailer. Even his home and studio is solar powered. In the performance schedule they handed out today it states, “Michael Monroe lives and records in harmony with nature in his solar powered log cabin MisTree Studio, on the North Shore of Lake Superior.” With this kind of setup, he can perform in almost any place where people can gather and even some places where most human feet never touch.
Michael Monroe has been involved in many projects related to the Environment. He created the music for the national PBS documentary, Chased by the Light, depicting a 90 day photographic journey. It was nominated for a regional Emmy, featured in the Toronto Environmental Film Fest and received 6 national Awards of Excellence, 2 for his original music.
With songs like, Life is a Mystery, From my Backyard and Follow your Happiness, Michael weaves an intricate story of a human being’s search for purpose and meaning in life I bought one of his CD’s called, AbandIn my own mind. Note the play on words, A-band-in / Abandon my own mind. This is a live CD where Michael plays all the sounds himself, blending rich vocals, guitar and bamboo flute with creative technology, delivering a powerful style of acoustic folk, reggae and jazz. The last track on this CD is called, Harmony Demo, and is Michael showing how he uses the technology to loop back sounds to provide his own backup vocals, midi-style instruments, and harmony.
Michael will be playing several free outdoor concerts this summer yet throughout the Twin Cities. Check out his website and schedule at:
http://www.michaelmonroe.info
I’d like to see the performance at the Lake Harriet Band shell coming up on August 14th.
In the search for meaning and purpose in life, Michael has been drawn back to his childhood backyard forest playground and a love for music that won’t quit.
I highly recommend seeing him play sometime.
Posted by carl1236 at July 20, 2004 7:59 PM