"I Do It for Love, Love, Love.."

The Why. 

Anecdotes aren't my thing, so I'll just jump right in.

I'm starting this because I love music: everything from Passenger to David Nail, Enya to Lady Gaga, and Sara Bareilles to Linkin Park. All of it. When I'm not working or sleeping, I have earphones in listening to something. Scratch that--music is a big part of my work as a Massage Therapist, and I usually fall asleep with the earphones too, so my life essentially revolves around it. Music is healing, which is why it is used in massage sessions frequently. In the darkest times of my life, it is what I have turned to for comfort and coping, and I think most, if not all music lovers would say the same thing. I'm also a writer and poet, but there are times when I have a hard time writing about the things going on around me. That's where music comes in. As a literature major at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, I have a deep appreciation for written art in all its forms: poetry, short stories, novels, etc. Lyrics are poetry and there should be an appreciation for the songwriters as well as the musicians. Music possesses this universally reassuring aspect that reminds us that we are most definitely not alone in this whole life thing, and that should be celebrated however and whenever possible. Live music takes the songs we hear on our iPods and brings them to a point that is nearly tangible.

 

The How. 

So the plan is to grab some friends and travel around to witness the art that is music and live music and talk about it. Just like we should care about the things we put into our bodies for nutrition, we should care about the music that goes into our ears, and the goal I'm trying to accomplish is simple: share the music and help people recognize and appreciate the art of creating what we enjoy listening to. I've made it a hobby to find up and coming artists and blare their albums on repeat, learning the lyrics within 24 hours, as well as bombarding my Facebook news feed with videos and song tracks, trying to convince my friends to check them out (sorry, not sorry friends. You've been missing out). Now, I figure if I let people voluntarily read about the music coming to our area in the South, they might actually take a listen--versus shoving it into their ears. Lesser known artists have an energy like I've never seen. They're still in the phase where they are willing to experiment with their sound and what a privilege it is to be a witness to the transitions small bands go through. Their presence on stage is still raw and new, and it's an honor to be a part of that phase.

Lafayette has one of the most amazing live music scenes in the country and it remains a fairly unknown gem. Most folks know Southern Louisiana as the go-to place for Zydeco. But not many realize that we have a huge Indie Rock, Folk, and Blues scene. For me, this was unbelievably reassuring since these are my preferred genres.

The What the Hell We're Doing.

I'd one day like to see Lafayette become a major live music powerhouse like New Orleans and Austin, where headlining artists will want to come and experience the crowds that live for live music and the unique, intimate venues Lafayette holds dear. We just need to put our names on the map. So this is where we're starting. A central place where fans of Indie, Folk, Zydeco, Country, Rock, and many more genres can go to get the background and guidance for the best music. With the help of some friends, the goal is to collaborate and spread the word on local talent.

Aside from sharing local artists, we'll be sharing some artists worth checking out from around the country as well as international artists that haven't made a crossover yet. We hope you will find it worth your while to check out the featured musicians and songwriters. 

Until then, keep it raw, keep it real. 

 Follow me on Instagram for updates of this blog and my adventures in live music @ml_brew