Beyond the Veil – A Poet’s Interpretation

Have you ever read a poem, (Or Shakespeare, or something from classic literature, either because you had to for school or because you simply love the arts like me) and you thought to yourself, “Gee that was really pretty, but . . . wait, what?”

This was my first reaction to watching the amazingly stylized cinematic experience for Lindsey Stirlings video for her brand new song, “Beyond the Veil.” Recall my first reaction to her song having heard the music, but not seen her vision:

The violin ballad captivates me immediately. It is simplistic in nature, with a mournful introduction that builds into something of a battle. The nature of this battle is triumphant, but a sense of longing never leaves the song. The violin “cat calls” in this song twice, and at the bridge there is a harsh sawing of the strings much like the devil’s song in “The Devil went down to Georgia.” I look to the title for clues for meaning. A veil hides something from the world. Often it hides the innocence of a bride, but it can also hide the identity of a knight. In the case of this song, whatever lies beyond the veil has a deep longing to get out, to be free. The battle for freedom rages and victory does not seem to come without cost. The motif of the struggling journey is ever present in this piece and louder than ever, and it holds a heroic theme throughout. It’s a song that upholds some primal truth, and it promises to be one of Lindsey’s most popular works.

It took some thought, but the motifs in the video became more clear to me by watching the video and then listening to the song again on its own. It seems I was pretty close in my initial gut reaction to the song itself, but this video adds new insight.

The primal truth is self-acceptance, and comes at the end of the heroic journey. Also present is a new motif of old life versus new life, which can be found in both the chorus and  the way the song reveals a long build up to a triumphant crescendo. I found it easier to break down the various symbols, and let the journey in the video speak for itself.

Symbols

 

Ocean and Waves - The physical Veil, hiding the world Lindsey must journey through to find herself.

White dress – The prominent color of the video, representing hope, innocence, or purity. One Lindsey wears a gold exterior armored corset. (The Lindsey that dives in the water). The dry forest Lindsey wears a forest green shawl, and the Lindsey that remains on the beach or on the cliff is in the white dress alone. It looks damp and somewhat tattered.

New Life Imagery - There is a shot of new life as spores fly from the leaf and Lindsey releases white flower petals. New Life Lindsey dances in twirls or circular motions and wears green. This is the current Lindsey who wrote the song, and can be thought of as the narrator of the story through music.

Old life Imagery  - Ruins, old Gods, Old Forest both underwater and on land. Old life Lindsey dances in linear motions rather than circular, and plays in the storm. Old life Lindsey is ever present in the video because sometimes we all revert and all must continue to struggle. 

Transitional Lindsey – This Lindsey wears gold armor and undergoes the journey.

Storm – beach weather is in constant state of approaching storm, further hiding the calm beneath the waves

Treasure – Lindsey discovers treasure in the ruins of an ancient city in an underwater forest. She opens it, and the treasure floats upward like bubbles, rather than staying heavy like metal. I feel this represents the letting go of needless desires in the old life, but treasure could be interpreted as either new or old life imagery.

Mirror – Reminiscent of the Mirror in Harry Potter, the mirror reflects the true self. Touching the mirror in the video sets the true self free. The mirror sequence represents acceptance of the true self.

Child Lindsey – Represents both Lindsey’s spirituality and connection to God, and her true self. Lindsey spends the entire video searching for and following this true self on a journey. She was not able to simply accept who this child was at the beginning.

Musical Childlike Voice “Hey” – Lindsey’s child/true self calls to her in the song with this voice, masterfully placed into the music.

Awakening – The visual of waking up is not so much as from a dream but in waking up to a better reality. The video starts and ends with a wake up.

Cosmic Beauty – The Nirvana achieved when finally connecting with the true self. The Video starts and ends in the same and reveals the true self was always trying to reveal the cosmic beauty to Lindsey from the first awakening.

Violin – Somewhat self-explanatory but Lindsey’s device for connection to her true self. The one belonging to childlike Lindsey is older and worn looking, and could be viewed as both old life and new life imagery

Make sure you check out the new video at the link, and if you have not already like and subscribe

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyC_4jvPzLiSkJkLIkA7B8g

 

Beyond the veil is also now available on itunes and the entire album for preorder.

http://smarturl.it/ShatterMe

Lindsey Stirling: South by Southwest and Beyond Series - Part 6 - Farwells and Futures

Greetings fellow denziens of the internet. Today's blog wraps up the series on my time at South by Southwest. In this section I gloss over the rest of the weekend after that first special concert. For the price of one concert I got three Lindsey concerts and shows by a wealth of other bands. A very good deal. The original artical I am pushing to magazines is in black italics. Please take the time to comment, because you could help me modify it and make it shine for publication.

The show is over, but the crowd wants more. Enough Lindsey fans are present that a chant of “One more song!” commences. She has already unplugged her violin. Her keyboardist and I exchange shrugs at each other. He seems game for another song but the venue is on a schedule and it is probably almost closing time. The band is flattered but closes down shop. The venue breaks down into controlled chaos. Lindsey comes over to exchange a few brief words of small talk with me before she is bombarded with requests for photos. One man literally leaps up and down over me to get her attention. She is escorted out by members of her stage crew and progress is slow, because she honors as many requests for photos as she can. Meanwhile, I visit with Drew and Gavi for a while.

As much as I would have liked to talk further with her, I wanted her to get the heck out of dodge. The crowd was unpredictable and at different levels of intoxication, and some were even hostile towards her, throwing things up on stage during her performance. I didn't feel she was all that safe and hopefully they can truly get the venue reserved if they do something like this again.

I do not overstay my welcome and make my way back out onto the organized chaos of sixth street with a feeling of having just witnessed something truly special. There may be a time not far off when Lindsey is too big for the random appearance at a small venue, because it is obvious the girl is going places and continues to wow audiences. I have just seen the start of the next chapter in her career.
She performs twice more at South by Southwest and manages a few interviews. I happen upon a performance by chance the next day for Pandora while traversing Sixth on my way to the Willcall office. An RSVP list for the venue is strictly adhered to this time, and I am content to listen for a while from the street. Last, I attend the concert I originally bought a ticket for—a charity event for the VH1 Save the Music Foundation in which several amazing bands like “A Great Big World” and Ingrid Michelson participated. Although nice, neither of these compare to being at the edge of the stage and capturing the essence of the performance.

The Perez Hilton event was unique in a different way, and I gloss over it here. If I return to Lindsey Stirling in my Independent Music blogs, I may go into more detail. I felt a bit like a spy, but from my balcony I could see things the general audience could not. I found it intruiging how she was led around from camera to camera, person to person, doing the walk of a star before they finally let her prep for her set.

I watched Lindsey Stirling perform three times in less than twenty four hours. I can add this feat to my list of above and beyond fan accomplishments. It may seem like overkill, but each performance was a completely different experience. This is one of the benefits of being a fan of such a unique brand of music. There is always something new to see and hear, and the music is so layered it can take on a number of meanings. It must be exhausting to perform three times, rehearse, give several interviews, and who knows what else in such a short amount of time—but this is the extent of Lindsey’s dedication to her art and to her fans.

I am dedicated to the power of imagination to change the world. We cannot always be prepared for when inspiration will hit us in our lives, for I believe inspiration comes from God and arrives on his time. Our challenge as mortals is to harness the power of this motivational force for creativity when it strikes and pass it on to as many people as we can through our own talents. Lindsey conducts herself as a shining example of this ideal, and the encouraging motifs of her music urge people to fight through adversity, keep love in their heart, and realize their dreams. In this way, she has been granted the power to change the world. I share her belief that we all have this power within us and can cause the same sort of positive influence on the world in our own way. In short, when we come across someone who has the power to change the world we want to help them do it.

Thanks for reading everyone! Please go support this amazing talent. I plan on covering Pentatonix in my next blog on Independent Music, so stay tuned.

Lindsey’s music and style of performance is easy to access on youtube at www.youtube.com/lindseystomp
Tour information can be found at her website at www.lindseystirling.com
You can also preorder her next album and get exclusive content here: http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/lindseystirling

Lindsey Stirling: South by Southwest and Beyond Series - Part 5 - Shatter Me and the Longing to be Free

Hey Everyone. Sorry for the delay. My work with the Veterans Community Foundation often drains me of all energy. This is the best part of the article, the introduction of experiencing a new song for the first time. I was honored to be among the first to hear it, and I heard it first live, rather than on an album. Before I get to that moment, something else touching happened. Read on. Original article in black italics.  

She pauses again after Shadows for a touching act of respect and remembrance. Early on the morning of March 14^th, a drunk driver plowed through the barrier on Sixth Street, killing two and maiming at least fifteen others. Lindsey asks for a moment of silence to honor the people affected and their families. It takes a moment for the crowd to quiet down, but most comply. She prays silently to herself and many of us join her. This act in itself would have been enough, but Lindsey plays the next song in honor of the victims. Based on her next two concerts, it would appear she had planned on playing Transcendence, a song about overcoming adversity. Instead, she plays her cover of “My Immortal” by Evanescence. Lindsey’s rendition of the haunting, sorrow-filled song takes the original in new directions, for she can go places with the violin that the human voice cannot. It was the perfect song to play to help heal a city after such tragedy, and I do not feel it was a coincidence it was already in her repertoire. God was using her to heal.

It is important to note I did not expect her to play a new song. She even second guessed herself somewhat, having played it so few times with her band members. She need not have worried. 

After the last notes fade and the cheers die down, she approaches the microphone again. She begins by talking about how she has a new album coming out in May. My ears perk up. She talks about how excited she is about this new album. I cross my fingers. She announces she will now play a new song from her new album, “Shatter Me.”

I’m bouncing with such excitement I almost miss the name of the new song – “Beyond the Veil.” The new song captivates me immediately. It is simplistic in nature, with a mournful introduction that builds into something of a battle. The nature of this battle is triumphant, but a sense of longing never leaves the song. The violin “cat calls” in this song twice, and at the bridge there is a harsh sawing of the strings much like the devil’s song in “The Devil went down to Georgia.” I look to the title for clues for meaning. A veil hides something from the world. Often it hides the innocence of a bride, but it can also hide the identity of a knight. In the case of this song, whatever lies beyond the veil has a deep longing to get out, to be free. The battle for freedom rages and victory does not seem to come without cost. The motif of the struggling journey is ever present in this piece and louder than ever, and it holds a heroic theme throughout. It’s a song that upholds some primal truth, and it promises to be one of Lindsey’s most popular works. Yet “Shatter Me” as an album promises even more musical greatness.  Adina Friedman of Atom Factory and Lindsey’s manager describes the album to me in a few words.

“Epic,” she says. “Its on another level.”

The above quote was not pulled from an interview, but rather a brief message exchange and used with permission. I am honored to be involved enough to learn a little about what goes into producing an album, planning a tour, and in general making a star. I do not doubt as I struggle to complete my journey as a literary artist that it will take a team of hard working, amazing people who believe in me just like Lindsey has. So thank you to all of you already along for the ride.

With the crowd reeling from this first live play of the new song, Lindsey returns once more to the mic.

“Alright,” she pants. “This next song is a dance song so I want to see everyone dancing. I’ll be dancing with you.”

She begins Zi-Zi’s Journey. I try to dance, but I’ve never been able to pull it off well sandwiched between people like a sardine. Zi-Zi is a great song to jump to, but in actuality it holds a deeper meaning for Lindsey. It is about her personal journey as she faced down and conquered the growing pains of life. A perky, five note theme repeats itself to create a ten note fanfare. It seems to represent the child Zi-Zi and then later in the song represents Lindsey’s inner childlike wonder. The song marches forward into a classic Lindsey “journey” motif until the beat drops hard after a whimsical bridge. Lindsey speaks to the crowd in this quiet moment—a calm before the storm.

“When the beat drops, I need everybody to jump with me!”

The degree and amount of people who follow this crowd command depends on local culture and inhibition. Last year, Houston went wild while nearby Dallas barely moved. In this instance, it is mostly the gathered Lindsey fans with inside information about the concert who begin jumping. Here in Austin, when Lindsey jumps, more of the crowd joins in the commotion, and the concert reaches a crescendo of energy. Lindsey concerts are fun, and in all likelihood hundreds of new fans were discovering this fact for the first time. It was thrilling for me to watch the reactions of people discovering her for the first time.

Zi-Zi’s Journey was one song I did not like originally. It is the only song on Lindsey’s first album earning the distinction of needing to grow on me. I didn’t like the sharp electronic string beat or its electronic flavor, but I developed a new respect for the song when I heard it live. Since then, it has become the driving force of inspiration for my next book, “String Theory.”

She pauses one last time to thank the crowd for coming out, and then concludes with her most popular song, “Crystallize”. Crystallize was the first time any artist mixed dubstep with the violin with such resounding success, and the video for the song went viral within a day. Inspired somewhat by the work of Japanese scientists on the effects emotions can have on water molecules, the song emphasizes the realization of dreams through positive attitude and faith. Crystallize follows a different pattern than most of her other work. The journey motif is subdued in favor of a calm and swirling theme that is both uplifting and heroic. The majority of Lindsey’s music follows a traditional verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus-chorus structure, but Crystalize deviates.

The verse is more powerful than the chorus, in particular when complimented by a dubstep power beat. As a result the chorus springboards from the verse but does not thrive independently. The chorus is a flurry of positive energy, alive with imagery of rapid construction or creation. This wanton assembly could be crystal at the molecular level, or the dreams and aspirations of humanity. There is no one specific bridge, but several sweeping transitions that complement the song, which ends with its powerful verse rather than its chorus.

Although Shadows barely edges out Crystallize as my favorite, it is currently her most popular song for a reason. Everyone has dreams they wish they could realize, and the song delivers in its message that they all can come true with just a little bit of faith and perseverance. Come back next time for the final installment in the series!

Lindsey Stirling: South by Southwest and Beyond Series - Part 4 - The Journey Motif

Hey loyal bloggie land reader! Original article in black Italics

“Alright!” She says as the microphone works at last. “I think we’re ready to have a show!”

Putting a song into words is difficult, but I love trying. Art is language and language is art, and one of the most fun things about music and art is watching it translated into another art form. Be it Lindsey turning her vision for her song Stars Align into an amazing video of dance and poetic imagery, or Kuha'O Case rewriting Crystalize in a genius rendition for piano, art is a way for us to glimpse the way we are all connected. 

She is met with a unified cheer, and after a short welcome she begins with her original song, “Antigravity”. It’s a good choice to start with because it’s a high energy song laced with a flowing melody. The song gives a sense of flight in its chorus, and though it is whimsical in places it also carries a strong motif of a journey or march toward a goal. This motif of a journey with triumph at the end is found over and over in Lindsey’s music.

Interesting Note: My kids and I once attempted the dance to Electric Daisy at the end of the Assassins Creed video we made. Maybe that's why I'm partial to it and spend more time describing the dance for this one than any of the other songs. 

The journey motif is also present in her next song, “Electric Daisy Violin”. Electric Daisy is another crowd pleaser, and is particularly fun to watch for its expressive dance choreography. At the conclusion of Antigravity she barely gives the audience a chance to breathe as she crouches into a ball to begin the song. Her dance tells the tale of a flower blooming under adverse conditions, and the song becomes a jubilant celebration of these events. It is difficult to listen to Electric Daisy, no matter your mood, and feel anything less than cheerful.

At Left: Stirling is about expressive dance as well as her music 

Here she stops to pump up the crowd a little. She’s breathing heavily and already sweating, and mentions feeling out of shape from not touring. However, just watching her can make a marathon runner feel out of shape, particularly under central Texas humidity.

Shadows is hard to make as good without a Shadow to dance with, but sometimes when the light hit her just right, one would appear. 

She introduces “Shadows” as one of her personal favorites. It is also one of mine. The song holds a special place in my heart for being the first of Lindsey’s originals to reach my ears. It’s house beat and somewhat mournful melody feels like it belongs in a science fiction epic. Lindsey had a vision of a video where she was dancing with her own shadow, and she wrote the song specifically to match this vision. Perhaps Shadows is a story about turning the darkness within all of us into something cheerful, rather than something to fear. Perhaps it is just a girl dancing with her shadow from start to finish. Whatever Shadows means to each individual heart, Lindsey plays it with a passion this night, and does it justice even without her Shadow to dance with

Let me know in the comments if you like how I delve into music with words, or if this music gave you different ideas as to the motifs and meanings. That could make for some excellent discussion and maybe even a guest blog - Thanks guys!

Lindsey Stirling: South by Southwest and Beyond Series - Part 3 - Technical Difficulties

Hey Folks! Pregame time is important. I call this period before he concert "pregame" because it has the same feel to me, from the perspective of the entertainer, as I had getting ready for a fotoball game when I was an athelte. There are nerves, prayers, moments of intense concentration and warm ups. I got a chance to watch Lindsey and crew at their pregame, and it was quite a bit more intense than the soundchecks fans can pay to attend at typical Lindsey tour sound checks. The original article is in Italics once more.

It only took five minutes to get inside the Blind Pig Venue, rather than a few hours, but as I walked through the door I saw band members from other performances of the night wandering all over the place, and I had to wonder what I would do if I ran into Lindsey. My goal if that happened would be to reestablish professionalism and demonstrate respect without overstaying my welcome. I kept an eye out for Lindsey and her crew, but if they were even in the same building they were well sheltered and hidden away from the mob of rooftop partiers. This was just as well in my mind, because as I made my way to a covered rooftop, the stench of pot increased. I estimate this rooftop to have been about the size of a football field, split into two sections. A stage was set up at the furthest point away from the street. A Vanilla Ice-type rap artist with foul language was performing, and once I figured out a side route to the front of the stage, I settled in to wait for Lindsey.

I never had to deal with technical difficulties, though. Has anyone ever had to try an make sure their instrument was in tune with a crowd chanting at you or loud music playing  in the background? I think it was a good thing Lindsey, Gavi, and Drew have worked together so long and know each other so well. Had this been their first tour I don't think they would have worked through these issues with such a cool demeanor.

Two hours later her stage crew and her two band members escorted her through the middle of the crowd to the stage. They were scheduled to begin their set at one in the morning, but there were technical difficulties. Somehow, Lindsey managed to tune her instrument over an intense drone of crowd noise and other music. I got the impression she has mastered the violin enough to the point where she can feel the music she plays, more than hear it. Her Keyboardist, Jason “Gavi” Gaviati had to maneuver two huge keyboards through the crowd and up onto the stage, and after he finally had them set up they would not play like he wished. Her drummer, Drew Steen, had a set of drums from the venue that every band had been using, but he still seemed to flounder a little getting used to them. At about fifteen minutes past the hour they were ready to begin.

Below: Lindsey and Gavi discuss set up issues


A simple chant begins while these issues are being worked out.

“Lind-sey, Lind-sey, Lind-sey.”

I join them. She makes an over-dramatic show of humility, waving the crowd off from their chant with a bemused smirk. She’s like this during the whole set up, alternating between intense concentration on her pregame and spurts of impish fraternization with the audience. The stress of setting up her unique equipment in a noisy and somewhat nauseous environment could have consumed all of her attention, but she takes time to smile and wave at individual fans, lean down and shake hands, and welcome as many people as she can.

Lindsey has a natural crowd leadership ability not all entertainers have. Every time she speaks to the crowd she adds energy and usually gets the response she is hoping for. She has so much fun on stage her audience cannot help but join her.

Gavi would explain to me later that one of the issues was the keyboards were not giving him the sound he wanted. This would effect the quality of the new song, "Beyond the Veil". However, even at a lower quality this song was still amazing. They have some fun antics planned for the tour so prepare yourselves Lindsey fans.

Lindsey Stirling: South by Southwest and Beyond Series - Part 2 The Dangers of Fandom

Howdy folks. Thanks for coming back for more. I didn't just want to write about a concert experience. I had done that before. I wanted this article to mean something in regards to fandom in general. It is human nature to have heros. It is human nature to want to be the hero, or to chase after that which inspires us. We have fan clubs, we dress in costumes, we have entire conventions based around one subject or even one person. We see worship and emulation of rock stars long after their deaths. I wanted to write a little bit on the subject of obsessive behavior. Its not a fun subject and this section seems to be a little bit controversial with some early readers. I hope it is written in such a way that it adds to the piece rather than detracting from it. I introduce the subject this way. Again, the sections of my article are in black italics.

As I get in line for the venue I wonder if I will be treated with a performance of a song from the new album, and I find myself lamenting the fact that I was unable to find any friends old or new to come to the event with. In fact, only a few people know I have made this trek from Houston to Austin. There are a few friends who if I told them I was going to a special Lindsey Stirling concert would give me a hard time. Even though they like Lindsey themselves, their teasing is meant to keep me honest. They want to make sure my enthusiasm for the violinst’s music never becomes unhealthy. I have quite a history.

If I did the all of the following for Star Wars related events, people might call it "normal" for a geek.  It still would be unhealthy if I made Star Wars fandom my entire life, but I nobody would bat an eye. The horror stories we read about surround one star or starlet. My objective here is to start to differentiate the overly enthusiastic from the dangerously obsessed.

Last year I went to four concerts. I paid pretty good money to meet her three times, and briefly interacted with the dubstep violinist on a fourth occasion. I had an action figure made in her honor and gave it to her as a gift. My kids and I made a commercial for this figure, and we also spent Black Friday filming a promotional video—running through a crowded shopping mall in the Spirit of Assassins Creed. I dressed up in a funny redneck disguise as a joke, and I tried to give her a brief martial arts lesson, the result of which was awkward. I remember it as a “seemed like a good idea at the time” moment. I also approached her with intent to collaborate as a writer and although I tried to maintain an air of professionalism, I have doubts about whether I succeeded and fear I came off forced. I’ve gone above and beyond the norm for most fans, and even to me it seems a little much sometimes. As a result, I evaluate and re-evaluate my motivations for all of my actions regarding Lindsey, and my conclusions are always positive. If I can adequately share my experience this past weekend, I think anyone who reads this will understand why I am such a geek for this artist. More than that, I would hope they would share my enthusiasm and support this amazing talent toward even greater heights in her career.

Now to get serious. This is the darkness that fame can bring. By the end of this article, I will be focusing on the light - on the way we all can use inspiration to change the world. But we all must be mature enough to be aware of the danger that may reside within ourselves and others.

True obsession is no joke. I am still struggling to understand why it occurs in some people to such a dangerous degree, and it makes me sad that so many who achieve their dreams of fame have to then shield themselves from the fans they love because of this unfortunate reality. I have witnessed the cursed mark of obsession in some of Lindsey’s fans. One in particular was a young person struggling in life who Lindsey sought to help. However, Lindsey’s kindness was abused to the point of belligerence and attempts to control or coerce. The entire situation was eerily similar to the story of the murderer of famed Tejano singer Selina in 1995. Yolanda Saldivar shot and killed the object of her fandom after being fired from her position as fan club president and merchandizing manager for suspected theft. Lindsey had to block this individual from her life. This is not to say that Lindsey was ever in any mortal danger, but after a certain point who could afford to take the chance?

All of us have some void to fill. That is why we need God. Some of us find other forms of goodness and spirituality to fill this void. For me, I call it Jesus. The article isn't religious in nature, but the unspoken words here are that we should never try to fill the void in our hearts with something worldly, and especially not another human being - no atter what your faith, humans and material things of this world will fail you and let you down. So look within and learn to love yourself first.

I hope to encourage others to chase their dreams with all the passion in their hearts with this article, as to me that is what Lindsey stands for. Yet we all should realize our dreams do not and should never revolve around a single achievement, and especially not a single person. The drive to succeed must come from within.

See you next time! Check out the full article here if you like. Please follow and comment: http://hightowerdreamland.com/category/media-and-interests/

Lindsey Stirling: South by Southwest and Beyond Series - Part 1 Sixth Street Woes

Hey bloggers and followers, Sorry I have been away for a bit. I will resume my series on Veterans non-profits soon, but first I wanted to break down an article I did. This continues a series I will be doing on Independent musicians like the article I did on Peter Hollens (Look for it in a brand new magazine this April). This time, I cover Violinist Lindsey Stirling - but I want to change my writing style. Today I just want to cover what Sixth Street was like at South by Southwest, and introduce the topic. The full article can be found on my website blog if you just can't wait and like a longer read. Passages of the article are in black Italics.

Sixth Street. It’s more than a line of bars and venues. It’s more than the street musicians and the drunks. It’s more than the record stores and Korean Barbeque stands. This is Texas culture. It’s a crossroads for every type of music, every type of film, and the birthplace of many dreams.
I navigate this street with caution at the height of South by South West. Vehicle traffic on Sixth is blocked for Austin’s acclaimed music festival, and parking in the surrounding areas is scarce. Thousands of pedestrians mill about a stretch of road not more than two miles long.

Does this get your attention? Are you interested? Let me know in the comments.


Only Mardi Gras in New Orleans or perhaps Carnival in Rio De Janeiro can top this grand spectacle of the wonderful, weird, wild, and stupid. I pass by a street musician with a clarinet and toss a dollar into his jar even though he is only playing scales. Next I dodge a bicycle chariot as I cross through a traffic light. The light still changes in its normal rhythm even though it is rendered useless for the weekend. I try not to inhale too deeply, as the sickly sweet smell of lit marijuana assaults my senses. A few blocks later I have some difficulty finding a route through a large crowd surrounding a few break dancers. I squirm between layers of people and somehow make it through by walking close to the club entrances. My destination is a two story bar and venue called “The Blind Pig”, and the email I relieved a few hours before has me terrified that I will be waiting in line for hours just to get into this place.

I like dropping my readers into a scene and establishing a setting. There should be a sense of adventure here. Just for fun I include a picture. Are you not sorry you didn't come to Austin?



The email, sent to me from a website called pledgemusic.com, confirms I have a special spot reserved for a hastily arranged concert. The show is meant to cater to three hundred loyal fans of violinist Lindsey Stirling. She has a new album coming out this May. The title, “Shatter Me” hints at music with a deep emotional connection to the artist. This is an account of Lindsey Stirling at South by Southwest from the perspective of a longtime fan. On a deeper level, this somewhat lengthy article is about achieving dreams—not only on how to achieve them but to do so within the space of reality while avoiding dangerous fantasy.

There is a bit of a funny story behind this invitation. Someone tried to message me about the event on facebook but they were asking if I had "pledged." Since the concert I knew about on Saturday was a charity event for VH1's save the music, I thought I was being asked if I had made a donation. What they meant was the website pledgemusic.com. A "derp" moment for me for sure.

Tommorrow I will cover a few thoughts on fandom and its potential dangers.