Why I Love Danny, Dakota & the Wishing Well: "Guy Plays Guitar the Way You Talk."

I love the music of an Alt Rock British band called A Silent Film. I love their music. Love, love, love it! Their pace of sound makes me want to move even faster than I'm compelled to. And I feel at ease. I feel aligned with something else. Their music does that to me.

The other night, one of my best friends called me to catch up on the week. And then we got to talking about music as we always do and he brought up A Silent Film.

He said: "Guy plays guitar the way you talk." I got a kick out of his sentence. But then I got curious. So, I checked out the track. Closely. For some reason, I'd lavished other tracks from this band with attention and this one had somehow fallen through the cracks. The one that got away.... Well, not for long. That's why I got the friends I do. 

For years now I've written here about how much music informs anything and everything of substance and levity that I've ever done. And every time that statement rings true. I used to be puzzled, annoyed even, at the fact that I'd not approach the day with the same exuberance as I would when I knew I had a great new album to check out or a new live show to see. You know that feeling of waking up filled with excitement because you're doing something special that day? Yes, that's the feeling.

And I always think of Nietzsche's brilliant point about the blind, music-loving Socrates' notion of music being the most perfect 'language' of them all. And how right he was. Is.

A great track can make a day. The lack of a great track can make one lose perspective. Ergo, there's nothing trivial about music. Not to me.

Because without it, I make no sense. And as measured and analytical and focused my daily existence is, without a great track or a few minutes of music, nothing makes sense. It can all go out of focus. Very quickly.

Another older track of theirs: You Will Leave a Mark is something I've heard thousands of time as well. Especially while living out West and driving along the ocean. Those were the days. It's funny how you never think of "ah, those were the days" when you're actually in them, living them. Nostalgia is never a picture of accuracy. But the current days I'm living could very well be "the days' as well. I do have some good music today. That's a good first step.

Let's look at a live version of Danny, Dakota, and The Wishing Well:



I know why I am attracted to this. It's fast. It's full of motion. The sound is vibrant and it matches a fast walker's natural pace. You will see the same pace on You Will Leave a Mark. It speeds up beautifully.



So, enjoy the music of A Silent Film as you explore them as well.

And if you have not seen them live, find a way to do so. My friend is right. He does play guitar like I talk. A fast pace is a good thing. It better be. It's all some of us know.