Inspiration by Ira

Thanks, Ira Glass, for this. I think we all need to hear it. 

That moment you realize you're a grown-up...

This realization has been coming over and over with some milestones I've been hitting in the past few weeks--and it happened again tonight, as I walked the backroads to downtown for my first grown-up dinner date.

I was one half of one of those (kinda nervous and very smiley) couples on one of their first dates that I've been watching my entire life while out to dinner with my parents. I was the grown-up some kid was watching--when did THAT happen? Cause last I checked, I was 12.

It happened the other day--when I got a raise at my job. Only grown-ups get raises.

Grocery shopping, cleaning, rent, listening to Morning Edition in the car on the way to work...

I'd say there's probably a moment each day lately when I've heard myself think, "...just like a grown-up!"

Do we ever really feel the age we are? I feel as if I've been waiting my whole life to be this age, doing these things, living this life--and now that I'm doing it, I can't really believe it. Though it sometimes seems like things are constantly changing, and we often grasp with lame fingers at the past, I guess change can slip by us too. Sometimes, I find myself ahead a few pages from where I thought I left off, so it's all that much more important to remind myself to live in this moment and this life and BE the grown-up.

But there are certainly still days like this:

The Friday Folio: Oct. 19, 2012

Every Friday, I'm going to post the best things I've come across by the end of the week: music, other blogs, art etc. This week is music-heavy...I didn't think you'd mind :)

Enjoy this week's findings!

First off is something rather dated (from Nov. 2010), but if you haven't heard it--now is the time! An all-star team of string players (including Yo Yo Ma and a new obsession of mine, Chris Thile) perform in the vein of Bluegrass for the Tiny Desk Concert series. The quartet plays three pieces from their album (The Goat Rodeo Sessions) so expertly and beautifully, it's beyond well worth the 15 min 42 seconds. Give it a listen. 

The Stray Birds & Three Tall Pines

On Wednesday night, I drove into Boston to Club Passim  to see a band I've been a follower of since spring, The Stray Birds (on left) perform on a co-bill with the Boston-local Three Tall Pines (bottom left). Passim was packed, and the bands didn't disappoint the expectant crowd. Surely in the vein of folk/roots/Americana, these groups combine expert instrumentals with nostalgic, beautiful song-writing.

Multiple stringed instruments and tight harmonies are the solid foundation upon which these groups expand into new musical territory. 

Look out for a future focus post on The Stray Birds...those guys are my jam!

images courtesy of thestraybirds.com & threetallpines.com 

Last, but not least: Lake Street Dive's cover of "I Want You Back" just gives me the happiest, goofiest smile--they're harmonies are rich and warm like a blanket of music, and the soloist...well...you'll see. Thanks, Mom, for sending these guys my way! 

Comment or tweet me if you like what you hear!