Song Share: Wise Up

By Marcus Howard

Wise Up by Aimee Mann. Almost word-for-word how I've been feeling over the past year..... Not much more to say than that.

Lyrics:
It's not
What you thought
When you first began it
You got
What you want
Now you can hardly stand it though,
By now you know
It's not going to stop
It's not going to stop
It's not going to stop
'Til you wise up
You're sure
There's a cure
And you have finally found it
You think
One drink
Will shrink you 'til you're underground
And living down
But it's not going to stop
It's not going to stop
It's not going to stop
'Til you wise up
Prepare a list of what you need
Before you sign away the deed
'Cause it's not going to stop
It's not going to stop
It's not going to stop
'Til you wise up
No, it's not going to stop
'Til you wise up
No, it's not going to stop
So just...give up

Song Share: Heart of Steel

by Jake Parker

This song is called Heart of Steel by ManOwaR on their album Kings of Steel (1988). It tells of a lone warrior coming home from a long battle. Though the battle was hard, he prevailed and is returning triumphantly. Heart of Steel is about more than just that. It's about standing up for your beliefs, for what you know is right, even in the face of ridicule and scorn. And though the forces that rise up against you may be powerful, and all you want to do is give up, throw in the towel and quit, ManOwaR reminds you that you were born with a heart of steel. That if you live by your heart there is always one more try. And in doing so you will prevail.

What about the band itself? I think this quote from founding band member says it all: "I believe in the fans. I believe in metal more than anybody you've ever met. And another thing, I'm prepared to die for metal. Are you?"

Lyrics:
Build a fire a thousand miles away
To light my long way home
I ride a comet
My trail is long to stay
Silence is a heavy stone
I fight the world and take all they can give
There are times my heart hangs low
Born to walk against the wind
Born to hear my name
No matter where I stand Im alone

Stand and fight
Live by your heart
Always one more try
Im not afraid to die
Stand and fight
Say what you feel
Born with a heart of steel

Burn the bridge behind you
Leave no retreat
Theres only one way home
Those who laugh and crowd the path
And cut each others throats
Will fall like melting snow
Theyll watch us rise with fire in our eyes
Theyll bow their heads
Their hearts will hang low
Then well laugh and they will kneel
And know this heart of steel was
Too hard to break
Too hard to hold

Stand and fight
Live by your heart
Always one more try
Im not afraid to die
Stand and fight
Say what you feel
Born with a heart of steel

Song Share

We are going to try something new with the Music Night Blog, something we're calling Song Share. It will work like this: One person will be chosen to share a song. That person will write a short summary about the song and why they selected it. Then using the comments we can have a discussion about the song . . . just like a real Music Night. I am hoping we can do a new Song Share every week. I'm also hoping it is going to be an awesome supplement to Music Night.

Music Night: October 2008

Time: October 25th, 2008, 7:30 PM
Location: The Glass House
Order: Birthdays

Kohl Glass - The Sun Always Shines On T.V. by a-ha
Chris Glass - Helter Skelter by the Beatles
J.C. Glass - To the Dogs or Whoever by Josh Ritter
Martin Gonzalez - Suffer in Silence by Apoptyma Berzerk
Nancy Andersen Hamilton - Electric Field by MGMT
Todd Hamilton - Jenny by Flight of the Conchords
Chris Smith - A Moment of Silence / A Moment of Violence by Street Light Manifesto
Heather Glass - At the Hop by Devendra Banhart
Marshall Glass - You Are the Best Thing by Ray LaMontagne

Music Night: August 2008

Time: August 30, 2008, 7:00 PM
Location: The Glass House

Emily Chipman - Piano Concerto #2 In C Minor, Op. 18 - 2. Adagio Sostenuto by Rachmaninov
Josh Boyle - Hung my Head by Johnny Cash
Ashlee White - Storm by Lifehouse
Marshall Glass - Elephant Gun by Beirut
Heather Glass - Sugar by Louis Armstrong
J.C. Glass - Talkin' World War III Blues by Bob Dylan
Kohl Glass - Paper Planes by M.I.A.
Chris Glass - Mad World by Gary Jules
Samantha - Calabria by Enur
Stiney - Leaves in the River by Sea Wolf
Christine Fugino - Snails by The Format
Jordan Glass - Stars by Hum
Chris Smith - No Regrets by Aesop Rock

Music Night: July 2008

Time: July 11, 2008, 7:30 PM
Location: The McKay's Neighbors

Caleb McKay - Handlebars by Flowbots
James McKay - Goodnight Saigon by Billy Joel
Stiney - The Weather by Built to Spill
Marcus Howard - Intervention by Arcade Fire
Marshall Glass - Made for Better Things by Brett Dennen
Heather Glass - Smile by Madeleine Peyroux
Angus McKay - One Day Like This by Elbow
J.C. Glass - Ocean Breathes Salty by Sun Kil Moon
Chris Glass - Knights of Cydonia by Muse
Kohl Glass - Minatoma by Hidekatsu
Todd Hamiton - Butterflies And Hurricanes by Muse

Music Night: June 2008

Time: June 24, 2008
Location: The Glass House

Kohl Glass - How It Ends by Devotchka
Stiney - I'd Rather Dance With You by Kings of Convenience
Sam Stinocher - Dumb Hummer by Why?
Macoy - Skyway Avenue by We the Kings
Heather Glass - Ol' Macdonald by Frank Sinatra
J.C. Glass - Goin' To Acapulco by Jim James & Calexico
Caleb McKay - Love Me Dead by Ludo
Christine Fugino - Rockin' Robin by Bobby Day
Jordan Glass - This is Not an Exit by Saves the Day
Chris Glass - Whispers From A Spiritual Garden by Yusuf Islam
Mitchell Glass - Love is My Legs from the Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Soundtrack

Music Night : May 2008

Time: May 29, 2008
Location: Todd Hamilton's House

Kohl Glass - Walking on Air by Kerli
Heather Glass - Whole Wide World by The Proclaimers
Chris Glass - Chale Chalo from the Lagaan Soundtrack
Nancy Andersen - Ize of the World by The Strokes
Todd Hamilton - What's Left of the Flag by Flogging Molly
Stiney - Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games by Of Montreal
J.C. Glass - Tower of Song by Leonard Cohen

Music Night: March 2008

Time: March 21, 2008
Location: The Glass House

J.C. Glass - Us Ones In Between by Sunset Rubdown
Heather Glass - American Terrorist by Lupe Fiasco
Nancy Andersen - 2 Rights Make 1 Wrong by Mogwai
Todd Hamilton - The Woman Who Was Also A Mongoose by The Dead Milkmen
Chris Glass - Knock a Little Harder From the Cowboy Bebop Movie Soundtrack
Kohl Glass - Les Jours Tristes from Amelie Soundtrack
Boo Boyle - Doctor Worm by They Might be Giants
Meredith Boyle - Bannana Pancakes by Jack Johnson
Caleb McKay - The White Tree from The Return of the King Soundtrack

Music Night: August 2007

Time: August 29, 2007
Location: Angus and Amy McKay's House

Amy McKay - Get Rhythm by Johnny Cash
J.C. Glass - Step Right Up by Tom Waits
Heather Glass - Have You Forgotten by Red House Painters
Angus McKay - Little Beast by Elbow
Chris Glass - Daffodil Lament by The Cranberries
Todd Hamilton - Paranoid Android by Radiohead
Kohl Glass - Mrs. McGrath by Bruce Springsteen
Bonus - Hurt by Johnny Cash

Music Night: July 2007

Time: July 6, 2007
Location: Angus and Amy McKay's House

Heather Glass - What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong
Caleb McKay - The Middle by Jimmy Eat World
Todd Hamilton - Closest Thing to Crazy by Katie Melva
Melanie Glass - Color Blind by Counting Crows
Marshall Glass - Gone Away From Me by Ray LaMontagne
Chris Glass - Through the Glass by Stone Sour
Angus McKay - All the Way Up to Heaven by Guster
Kohl Glass - J'en ai marre by Alizee
J.C. Glass - Hold On by Tom Waits
Amy McKay - Prince Igor by Borodin

Music Night: May 2007

Time: May 2007
Location: Angus and Amy McKay's House

Chris Glass - Song for a Winter's Night by Sarah McLachlan
Todd Hamilton - At the Bottom of Everything by Bight Eyes
Marshall Glass - Tinfoil Hats by Rocky Votolado
Amy McKay - Music from The Story of the Weeping Camel
J.C. Glass - Slaughterhouse 5 Excerpt
Caleb McKay - I'm in Love with a Big Blue Frog by Peter, Paul and Marry
Angus McKay - The Grave by Don McLean
Kohl Glass - Dream Island Obsessional Park by Susumu Hirasawa

Music Night: April 2007

Time: April 2007
Location: Angus and Amy McKay's House

Chris Glass - Kyrie (Voice) from Illumination
Kohl Glass - Cold Cold Water by Mirah
Angus McKay - Another Galaxy by Paul Simon
J.C Glass - Chicago by Sufjan Stevens
Amy McKay - Great Expectations by Elbow
Heather Glass - Bowl Of Oranges by Bright Eyes

Back in the Early Days

Back in the early days of Music Night we didn't make CDs and no one thought to keep a record of who was in attendance and what songs were shared.

As far as we know there have been at least 11 Music Nights (10 of which we have some record of attendees and songs), though it is possible there have been 13 or more.

The first Music Night was documented, but the following Nights, between March 2006 and April 2007, were lost to history . . . so far. We're working to piece things together, if at all possible.

That said, even the Music Nights we do have record of are susceptible to error and memory loss. Not everything is going to be 100%, but we're working on that one too.

If there are mistakes, please speak up and let us know. We want to have this "Archive of Music Nights" be as correct as possible.

Music Night: March 2006

The Very First Music Night

Time: Saturday, March 25 2006, 7:00 pm
Location: Angus and Amy McKay's House

Kohl - Stars by Charley Marlowe
Chris - Touched by Vast
Marcus - How It feels To Be Something On by Sunny Day Real Estate
Mandi - Marvelous Things by Eisley
Amy - The Night Time Is the Right Time by Ray Charles
Angus - Stranded in a Limousine by Paul Simon
Caleb - Prelude to Cello Suite #1 by Bach, performed by Yoyo Ma

These songs are not in the order they were presented. That info has been lost to the ages.

Also no CD was made of this Music Night. Maybe someday.

How Music Night Goes Down.

1. Each person brings one song to share.
2. The person presenting the song may choose to give a short introduction (historical or personal) of the song.
3. After a song is shared a discussion of the song follows.
4. At the end of Music Night a CD compilation is made of all the songs shared that eventing.

Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time, Angus McKay, Marcus Howard and I were over at the Boyles working on the soundtrack for my short film Der Ostwind back in the early half of 2006.

This being a long time ago, memory may have shifted from reality to whimsy, but I can only report what I remember.

I was talking with Marcus, while Angus was working on the soundtrack, about how back in days of yore, friends would get together and listen to records together . . . a past time that has faded away with the advent of more fascinating technologies.

Anyway I was telling Marcus that I always thought it would be cool to periodically get together as a group to share and discuss music . . . an idea Marcus said he could support with some enthusiasm.

Shortly after, Angus planned the first Music Night, claiming that Marcus and I would only talk about this idea and never do it. I don't know about that, but maybe he was right.

Either way Music Night was born.