Grease.

All credit due to the owners of this photo.

Freedom.

Watch in Full Screen.

R.I.P.

Billy.

One of my favorite songs. Watch in Full Screen.

Frankie.

Classic. Watch in Full Screen.

Monday.

I've been thinking about what it takes to be interesting these passed few days. Does it take having really cool friends? Does it take having really cool ideas? Being able to hold conversations? Always having something new to say? While I'm sure all of those things might make someone more appealing at a party, that doesn't make that person any more interesting. Sure, having a cool talent is something that we all want, but a lot of us don't have. I would love to be able to play the piano, but guess what? I don't play the piano, and I still think that I'm interesting. Sure, if I could pull an Edward Cullen and pull a masterpiece sonata out of my ass so that I could woo Kristen Stewart, and millions of other teenage girls, into loving me, I would do it. Why does doing something like that make someone like Eddy so cool? Because a lot of people can't pull sonata's out of their ass. It is a skill which very few people are capable of. Even though Ed Cullen is a fictional character, there are a few real people who can play the piano like he does. There are a few people who can run 26.219 miles threw New Work City. There are also a few people that know all of the words to AC/DC's Back in Black. I guess what I'm saying is: You are an interesting person. I recently came across this video, and it made me think of just how awesome we all are.

While video suggests you do a few things which I think are pretty odd (why do I need to drink coffee to be creative?), it also suggests a few things that are easily to do, and easy to maintain. Most of the things that the list suggests is being able to exit your comfort zone, and learn how to find an interest in new things. You like your cluttered room because you know where everything is? Try losing some of that stuff. You're afraid of walking alone at night? Try looking at the moon from different angles, and come to realize just how bright it actually is. The world is full of things that we don't really understand, ourselves being one of them. Don't let yourself become a part of The Lackluster crowd! A community is a multitude of individuals. We can't be a community if we're all the same. Try the list out for a week, and see what you come up with! The world needs more creativity, and nowadays people are paying for it. The sooner you get those creative juices flowing, the quicker it is that you will discover just who you really are, and how you can use it to optimize your potential. Oh, and be more appealing at a party.

A bit tacky, but he's doing him!
Photo by Guerre

A wise woman once said: Take chances, make mistakes, get messy!

Thursday.

Today wasn't too productive. After attending last night's Fly Union show, and seeing a few artists that I had never heard of perform, I left a little overwhelmed. While it wasn't the music, which was all great, or the performances themselves, which were each unique in their own right, I would say that the majority of my emotion stemmed from the fact that the crowd was so boring. I attended the show with a single female friend of mine, and was later joined by another friend. I had only heard a little bit about Fly Union before last night, but the friend who I went to the show with has been a devoted fan, considering they come from her hometown of Columbus. However, despite Fly Union's still underground presence, they attracted a fairly decent crowd to the Grog Shop where they performed. While the crowd was fairly diverse, it appeared that the fans who had the most fun was a young man who positioned himself as close as possible to the stage, and another young man who stood directly behind him. While the sounds of the three MC's would would doubt get the hearts of all of those who watched racing, it didn't appear to be enough to get them really... into it. When asking to sway their hands back and forth, only a small portion of the crowd would do so. When prompted to jump up and down in a hyped up manner, it appeared that only five or so people would commit. Even the stereotypical rap 'wave' towards the stage was a lackluster performance by Cleveland's finest. Even though they were willing and able, no one really seemed to be getting in to the show. They purchased the entrance tickets, so they had to know who they were seeing. The group played most of their newest songs, so it wouldn't be a matter of not recognizing the sounds. Instead I'm going to chalk it up to something that I call: The Lackluster Effect.

A few people that need to unwind. (above)
All credit due to the owners of this photo.

The cause behind the Lackluster Effect doesn't come from a lack of skill shown by the performing artist, or a lack of stage presence. While this does occur, and can often result in the crowd being bored, what I witnessed last night was not one of these cases. Instead, what I witnessed was a bunch of people afraid to let them selves have fun. A few times, the MC's even called the crowd out by saying something to the likes of:

"I know Coventry is known to be the coolest place in Cleveland, but are you too cool to party!?"

Perhaps Cleveland is a bit too cool to have fun. But if that's the case, then maybe they shouldn't spend the money to see a show they won't even enjoy. Fly Union is comprised of some pretty cool cats, with some pretty unique sounds, and even still was able to have a fun and exciting show. Even if their Grog Shop appearance was clouded by the Lackluster Effect, I'm still excited to see what else this Columbus trio has in store for their fans.

Personally, I enjoyed the visual aesthetic that was added to the music. Let's just how I won't have to suffer the same fate on Friday. The Lackluster effect knows no bounds, and could very well branch out into the party atmosphere instead of just the concert.