Unwicked

I don’t listen to the radio enough. Blame the iPod. Blame the poor quality of most radio. Blame blame blame…it doesn’t matter. There’s still plenty of good radio. I’ve been listening to World Cafe on WFUV 90.7 FM since I got home. Nick Lowe was a guest and he played a few of his songs. For the uninitiated, Nick Lowe wrote “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding,” a song Elvis Costello put on the map. He was a member of Rockpile, the great group he fronted with Dave Edmunds. Both men are ace producers, Lowe having worked with Costello on many of his great albums, and Edmunds the man responsible for lending authenticity to the Stray Cats. Listening to Lowe has taken me WAY back. I never cared much for his solo work, but the man left a huge mark on a lot of the music I love.

I was in Williamsburg tonight to check out my next apartment. The place is just around the corner from Foodswings, a groovy vegan fast food joint. I never expected to end up in Williamsburg, but when a place like the one I have landed virtually drops in your lap, you acknowledge destiny and accept the gift. It’s a mitzvah from the Universe. Thank you, Universe. Anyway, when I stopped in at the Atlas Cafe (another Atlas Cafe) for an ice coffee, they had the good sense to have Elvis Costello playing on the stereo. There were twenty people and I believe twenty open laptops.

I have not accepted the new cafe culture: laptop, iPod, and no conversation. I swear I don’t recall hearing one word spoken while I was there. I’m sure I imagined it, but I don’t think I made a huge leap if I did. Take out the ear buds and chat! Not online. Chat with the other patrons! It’s weird.

I sound like an old fart. Rambling about power pop from the 70s and whining about the new i-Lifestyle. I adore my iPod, but I also unplug occasionally. You can’t hear children laughing and old people smooching with the ear buds in.