Mountain Xpress’ suite of offices straddles the confluence of Haywood Street, Battery Pattery Avenue and Wall Street downtown, uniquely situated to catch the full waft of street musicians’ offerings in these early summer days, when it’s warm enough to open the windows but not yet hot enough to turn on the A.C. And mostly that’s a good thing.
But what about the performer who uses street time to seemingly practice scales or the equivalent, or, worse, plays the same song over … and over … and over … on a wheedling harmonica, say, or a wheezy sax? For my money, those are two instruments that need to be paired with a good repertoire to stay listenable. Don’t call me names until you’ve listened to “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” so many times you wish for a sudden influx of flying monkeys to swoop down and carry the perp away.
I know it’s not in the laissez-faire spirit of street music to impose restrictions on who can set out a tip jar, but is it wrong to wish certain performers would spend a little more time woodshedding before they “entertain” us?
— Melanie McGee Bianchi, arts & entertainment editor
Bless you. When a street performer has a setlist of, say, 2 tunes, there is something wrong. Very wrong. And, when said “musician” sits on,say, one bench ALL DAY LONG…Perhaps a quartet of Krishnas will come along and drown out the wheedling. Hurry Hare, Hare Hurry!!!!!!!!!!
I hate live music. Put it on tape or go home!