i want to thank everyone for reaching out
so many messages coming in
i started replying individually
then i had to do a format reply
that felt fake
so i’m addressing a few things in this blog
i don’t think we’ll be back in business for a very long time
i can’t imagine a large public gathering in two months
maybe six months
probably more
but even then - who’ll have money to spend?
i hope i’m wrong about this
but as soon as the big sports teams get back to normal
so will CAL
despite the song
i do trust our governments
i don’t believe that anyone will go hungry or get thrown out onto the streets
the change coming is severe
but the humanity of the crisis is starting to take hold
and people are going to be taken care of
it’s a time of trust and awareness
i don’t think we’ll be doing a live broadcast anytime soon
i have been in talks
and we agree that when the time is right - we’ll do it right
until then
we can’t gather
it’s just not responsible
we’re abiding by the protocols and doing our part to flatten the curve
and having musicians all stream together online is extremely problematic
sound and sync
mics and mixes
too many moving parts
it’s classic albums live
not classic albums digital
i do applaud all the musicians that have been doing their thing from their pads
they’re joyous and connecting
i’ll post more of those as time passes
right now my feed is full of living room performances
rob phillips did one with his daughter
they wrote a hit song!
i’ve been humming it all day
i hope to see more of these
they restore our connections to one another
it’s dark days for us all
and yet
in isolation there is a certain peace
all the alumni are practicing
and learning things
i do chores and cook and crosswords and compose
i put on some doobie brothers from time to time
i’m learning french through the duolingo app!
mostly i play guitar piano and sing
while music is not an essential service
we do have a silver lining in that we have our instruments
to guide us through the uneasy unclear path
my mother is a world war two survivor
she was in london
a child
she was evacuated to the country
where it was rations and drills and uneasy expectations
her stories of this time
filled both my childhood and my adult life
i’ve learned that
the stiff upper lip can really make a difference
she came through the experience and is living a life full of love and appreciation
so
i look at that time from the comforts of my home
and reflect on her and my father’s experience
and i stiffen my lip and get on with it
i abide
when the curve disappears
we will all be amidst the roaring 20s once again
people will be warmer and more empathetic
borders will just be lines on a map - but respected
and the world will appear like a mirror to us
and when this happens
it will be the musicians who will make a difference
it will be our time to share what we have committed to
we’ll show the way towards love and goodness
we will be harbingers of soul defining life experiences
we will be at our best
me and my crew
we’ll do it with classic rock
i send love and hope and harmony to anyone who reads this
craig martin
founder
classic albums live
(glenfiddich with apple and cheese)
