People work together in all sorts of ways. Last night I was admiring the collaboration of a band I've come to deeply admire in a very short time - A three-piece instrumental group from Texas called Khruangbin.
On the surface, it appears that the guitarist owns the show. The melodies, movements, floating, and flittering over the rhythm section in an allure that makes the corners of the frame soft focus. It’s not a competition, but your attention tends to land somewhere, it must land somewhere, making the rest of a composition a compliment - That’s just how attention works. Therein lies the story of power, and the lie that is power.
At one moment late in the third act, the three masterful musicians decided to show us their truth in a way that melted my heart. Mark (guitar) and Laura Lee (bass) stopped playing entirely and each picked up a glass bottle partly filled with water. Mark leads what happened next: he hits his bottle with a stick, Two Clanks, piercing and vibrant. Laura rebuttals, Two Clanks, a tone apart. Mark, Two Clanks. Laura, Two Clanks, Mark, Two Clanks. Laura Two Clanks. A unison volley of pleasing sought-after normalcy, before Mark, the drama queen, diverges … 3!!! Clanks, Laura, with no hesitation, Two Clanks. Mark... 4 Clanks!. Laura, Two Clanks. Mark, there’s a pause, and build of tension, you can see him come out of the moment as he prepares to challenge his partner, letting loose A Syncopation Dictation Clank Clank Clank Clankity Clank Clank. Laura… on time with unwavering confidence, Two Clanks. A collective smile washed over the room of 2,000 souls, then a swell of applause as DJ (on the drums) tripped the beat, to interject. you fools done fighting over there? As he continued to drive the bus, the only consistent sound in play, unnoticed in the midst of a trite bottle clanking war.
This creative group makes their way by each of them being themselves, steadfast, and tenaciously their own. I think our relationships in work and in life are best this way… and when we can each have the courage to be ourselves, amongst forces in the world that want us to be something, anything different, the result is remarkably beautiful. You should try it.
There’s more to learn on this topic, I certainly haven’t found it all yet, but I bet our next speaker will know some details that I don't. This month we’ve invited Theron Brown, a Jazz Pianist of international renown based in Akron, Ohio to be our keynote… apologies, truly no pun intended.
We’ll be setting up under the mistletoe at Forest City Brewery, you can see details below, shout out however you’d like to help, I still have a decent amount of pieces in progress. Regardless, please feel free to invite friends and enemies alike through the links below.
Happy ‘an Bright, hope to see you there.
-Thomas
T. Fox
GREYT CULTURE // About the Greyt Culture Team Email. This monthly(ish) email goes to GREYT event participants and partners, and others I would like to be aware of the contents of upcoming programs. The Team Email is for Planning Purposes Only and treated as confidential/non-promotional/not to be distributed. Event details listed here are subject to change based on input back from recipients. Confirmed event details will always be listed through ThatsGreyt.com/BigTalk - recipients are added and removed periodically at my discretion. If you would like to be a permanent recipient or removed from GREYT emails, reply and I will comply with kindness. Thanks for reading.]
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TIMELINE:
Setup will begin at 6:30 am
All program participants should arrive between 7:30-8:00 am
Check-in Begins at 8:30 am Program Begins at 9:00 am
GREYT BIG TALK:
DATE: 12/17/21
SPEAKER: Theron Brown
VENUE: Forest City Brewing Co. -
SPONSOR PARTNERS: Rapid Mortgage, North Water Productions, Phoenix Coffee BREAKFAST FEATURE: (Amira Zayed)
COFFEE: Phoenix
PROGRAM SETUP: Thomas Fox
PRINT: WE NEED A PRINT PARTNER!!
PHOTOS: ??
VIDEO: NWP
LIVE-TWEETING: ??
MUSIC FEATURE: ???
QUOTE DESIGNER FEATURE: ????
QUOTE DESIGNER ON DECK: ????
ESPRESSO PITCHES: ??
ARTISAN FEATURED: ???
CHECKIN: Amira Zayed, ???
AV: Thomas Fox
SETUP: ???
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