He Sings without Talent but with Pleasure
…It is said that the old have only one string left to play. And it is perhaps an untuned string that produces what Stefano used to call the “wolf’s note.” But that single untuned string sounds more fully and deeply than the whole instrument of youth…__Giorgio Agamben
Back in 1977 I came upon a coffee shop in the college town of Corvallis, Oregon. It was unlike anything I had previously been accustomed to. The rich aroma of Columbian coffee permeated the large open room. I remember the place being warm with plenty of dark wood and there was a stage in the corner where musicians could play live music. Folk music was still alive and well back then and it was such a pleasure for me to see singers/songwriters afforded a place to play, even if just for tips. But today, rarely are there any available performance rooms like this unless you go to a small bar, and their music events don’t start cooking until usually after dark. Long gone are the daylight opportunities for live acoustic music except for the buskers in NYC and the like. But it’s not the same. Not even close.
For the last ten days we have been camping at some hot springs near Faywood, New Mexico. Picture an oasis in the desert with old hippies running the show. It was a dream. So quiet and peaceful. Rustic and organic in a very good sort of way. Definitely not for the typical RV camper we generally come across in our travels around the country. I’ve been able to practice my guitar there and prepare for new occasions in which I might publicly try out a song or two. In nearby Silver City there is such a place.
The Tranquil Buzz Coffee Shop is one of the most original and artistic coffee houses I have ever been in. It is equal to my earlier encounter almost fifty years ago in Corvallis, Oregon. Even the bathroom is a piece of art. Owner Dale and his partner Renya provide regular scheduled opportunities for musicians and writers to share their work with patrons of the coffee shop. Hearing live music in a room that feels like home is uplifting. Plus their coffee, teas, and pastries are just as good. Everyone is friendly and supportive and it becomes obvious almost immediately that this is a place where LOVE does exist. Art hangs from the walls and ceilings, and in that music corner there are several instruments hanging from the walls as art pieces. Even the entire floor of the coffee shop is a brightly colored landscape painting. There is also a large patio with several areas in which to share private conversations with friends or new acquaintances. Such a lovely place it bore visiting again and again, which we did while stocking up with supplies in Silver City.
I wanna go and read, share
Lovely photos very evocative