For those that have read this column through the years know that talking music with friends, old and new, sits very high on  my detailed list of favorite things to do.  Now I won’t ramble about why talking music is a powerful connector between people and regenerative to the soul… (I will save that for another day).


Commonplace when attending great venues like The Brooklyn Bowl, the hanging out part before the show and between sets is ripe for diving down a heavy dose of verbal rabbit hole on a band or song passionate for someone. It is one the reasons I love going to shows so much. In the right venue, the concert experience is enhanced significantly by the physical space and vibe.  Venues that play great music over the PA get a virtual fist bump from me. Who is that masked man? (Please email me at mbeckeri@mac.com).

This one particular June evening, the first night of the Drive-by Truckers statement making five-night run at The Brooklyn Bowl (website), Television’s song “Marquee Moon” (click here to watch on YouTube) in all its 11-minute glory was playing just before the Craig Finn opener (that story is en route).  Just as we secured my favorite spot near the exit doors by the stage, my music-minded friend Ryan says, “were you talking about Television earlier tonight at length with us? That’s wild. It’s on the PA. I haven’t heard this song out anywhere, ever.” 

We immediately leaped down a rabbit hole of CBGB music, Tom Verlaine, David Byrne, etc. By the time we got to the signature delayed reprise in the song, we had created a specific bond and unity that many yearn for in their run to the end.


My always handy pocket notebook had several references to Television’s groundbreaking specific style that can be beautifully seen in The Strokes music (website). Television is similar but different than Talking Heads.  I must admit before watching the CBGB movie on Netflix (super good in my humble opinion), I decided to investigate and learn about Television.  I was once again tickled by the idea that there is so much music old and new to fall in love with.


To come full circle, I shared Television’s music with my wide-eyed music-minded daughter, and my very adaptable music-minded neighbor and passed the torch. 


So tune in, tune on and pass it on Rancheros.


Yeh-haw.