Why I prefer professional singers

Hello Everyone,

I only ever once saw the Tragically Hip live in concert. It was at a music festival in Montreal a few years ago. They hadn't been putting out new music in years, so it was a good set of their greatest hits. Now, most anglo Canadians know the lyrics to at least some Hip songs, but at a concert like this, you come across people who know them all. Like the guy who was standing next to me at the time. He knew them all. I know this because he was loudly, drunkenly, belting them out, song after song. Say what you want about Gord Downie's abilities as a singer, it was better than this dude. 

Had a bit of a situation like that last night, only I don't think he was drunk, and he wasn't singing Hip songs. The spot where I am camped is federal land, meaning it's free to stay for up to 14 days. Salida being a popular tourist destination, there are other rigs out there, especially on the weekend. Most of the time, I can see them in the distance, not hear them. Like well behaved children. 

But the guy camped closest to me was out with his guitar late into the night, singing standards from Sweet Home Alabama to Hotel California to What I got. It was the kind of singing where he was strumming the same notes no matter the song, and mostly only knew the choruses. Needless to say, I was enraptured. 

I can't really complain, despite this entire blog post of a complaint. Singing around a campfire has a long history. But they weren't awesome, old school campfire songs. If I want to hear the Eagles, I'll turn on any classic rock station in the country. When I'm out there, I really enjoy the natural sounds of the environment. Crickets, nocturnal critters, the occasional wolf or coyote, even the wind has a beautiful sound. Those sounds let you be in that place and time, in a natural setting. It's one of the things I like best about the adventure I'm on. Having to tune out some guy butchering Freebird wasn't high on my list of things I wanted to do. 

But it's off my chest. I'll think of it no more. I'll go back to having one way conversations with Arthur. 

wes

Photos 

The first is from our ride yesterday. Very much desert riding. The second is of our campsite. Also very much in the desert. The third is of a tshirt I saw recently, because, you know, America!