(48) In music: The pig--the straw.

(48) In music: The pig--the straw-the sow.

I don't like using "marked" as an expression, as in, what "marked" me in life. Two events impressed me though, that is, left a lasting impression on my mind--and ears. I usually never go to concerts. Some of my friends do it all the time.

It was with these friends, in their company, that I heard for the first time what played there that evening. I hadn't bothered to ask any questions about the bands. For me, concerts were greater gutterings to a musical background.

That's why outdoor ones appealed more to me. Indoors, the focus was more on the stage. But this time, although indoors, I still certainly would have noticed even if it was performed outdoors, as something entirely different to what I broadly considered in musical terms as possible to assist, that it even existed.

As I recall, I was in for a big surprise. The place and the people didn't look different. Not even the band. Nothing to prepare me for what I'll describe in three ways. The guitars were completely tuned low and formed a permanent wall of distortion and amazing heavy breaks.

The hollow drumming sounded machine-like fast and the intense cymbaling reinforced that "mashed to a pulp" feel to it. If that was not a new musical entity in itself, the vocals, as there was no conventional "singing", were varied burps and low grunts that sounded exactly as if a pig was producing all the vocal sounds it can make, thus "vocals."

The layered grunts and squeals over the textured rush of sound formed at times moments of intense serenity, especially when a long cricketing chirp from the throat joins in. It was very sensitive, an insect, a pig and very impressive.

In another similar concert, the guitars and drums sounded much like the previous concert, but the vocal element sounded this time like someone slurping at different speeds through a straw at the bottom of a glass. Very touching. There was much audience interaction too. Nearly everybody had a glass and straw and would either blow or slurp at the bottom of their glass, trying to sound low and bubbly or fast bubbly.

People would squint in their effort, shaking their heads at the same time as the music. Once again, I was impressed by all the gentle subtleties possible in such a reduced specter, contrasting with such low intensity. I would never have thought that exacerbated brutality, fast-forwarded to the max could express so serenely death as being dead.

These expressions may also be considered conscious voices in reaction to our rapidly transgenic and otherwise global dehumanization, artificialization, degeneration, processing and extinction.

You should have seen the expression over her face. It made me laugh. I didn't expect that, and I was happy she understood!