Welcome back everybody!
    It seems hard to believe that it’s already September. This year has been every bit of crazy.  I’m not sure whether to be glad it’s zooming by, or upset that time is escaping so quickly.   It’s a toss up for me.  My great and awful life events seem to work in tandem.  Why is that?!  I don’t know either….merely a rhetorical question.
    Have you ever heard a song that just felt like it described exactly what you’ve experienced, but couldn’t quite figure out how to say it?  I have.  I live for finding those nuggets of unexpected poetic epiphanies!   Then, I proceed to play them on repeat incessantly, for days…sometimes weeks or more, depending on its personal relevance.  And it doesn’t have to be anything I’m living in the present tense.  A true lyricist can cause their words to stir up memories of the past, and take us back to that story or moment.  I’ve had songs that pinpointed my dreams in life and hopes for the future, for things I’ve not yet experienced.   That poignant poetry combined with a beautiful melody, is the essence of brilliance, in my humble opinion.
  A few weeks back, Ashley Monroe was on XM satellite radio, being interviewed about her new album release.   For those of you who may recall, I am a huge Miranda Lambert fan.  Well, Ashley Monroe also sings with Miranda in a female trio, called Pistol Annies.  They have a lot of parody songs and crass points of view, but are extremely authentic , and keep ya in stitches.
   However, during Ms. Monroe’s interview, there was a song that made me take a double take and just stop.  The song is called, “The Blade”.  Have you ever been in a romantic relationship  that you fell in the deep end, and you knew it was sincere love?  And, you knew how dangerous it was that you fell so hard?  It’s always reminded of me a double edged sword.  I can only speak of my experiences,  but it’s the best and worst happening all at once.  It’s like I’m riding the euphoric high that I’ve never felt before on that level.  But, fully aware how absolutely God awful I will feel when it’s over.  It almost drowns out the glory of basking in that moment of sheer bliss.  “The Blade” has tons of raw emotion and again, the words wrap around the music like satin ribbon on a Christmas present.  This song just does it for me.  There’s lots to choose from lyrically,  but here’s the line I love:
“But you caught it by the handle.  And I caught it by the blade.”
YES!!   Sweet, little, sad song speak for me!!  Now, if you don’t look it up and hear the words in context to the preceding verse, it doesn’t truly reflect its impact.  But, believe me:  it speaks volumes.   I just love when a song takes you there!  For some of us, it’s the only way to salvage the good moments from a tumultuous romance.  Or it allows us to relive a precious moment with a loved one, who has passed away or no longer in our lives.  I’ve been a musician for as long as I can remember.   But, I’m still in awe and mezmerized by the power of a song.  Music is amazing.  I can’t imagine life without it!
    If any of you fine folks are looking for something to do this Labor Day weekend…our band, Sanctuary is competing in a weekend long Battle of the Bands.  We will be on a huge stage, out on the water of Lake Murray at a great place called the Frayed Knot in Chapin.  It’s on Dreher Island Rd.   We will play Saturday night from 6:30pm to 9pm. Come by boat or car, bike, walk, whatever you’ve gotta do to get there.  Food and service are awesome.  They’ll bring food and drinks to your boat!  The winner is based on crowd response, so the more of our friends show up, the better!!  Whatever you do, please be safe.  Life is crazy!!!  Y’all take care and we’ll talk again soon.   Love to all.