The Musical Maverick

A shaky economy and evolving technology have sent many professions into a tailspin. In the music industry, adaptation is what separates those who survive from those who perish. Charlie Hunter has used this skill to remain one step ahead of the curve and achieve success on his own terms.
Since the early 1990s, Hunter has earned critical acclaim for his dexterity on the eight-string guitar, a custom-made instrument that combined five guitar strings with three bass strings. (He switched to playing a seven-string guitar in 2006.) But what really makes him stand out is he's a thinking person's musician -- one who pushes the envelope in terms of what a guitar can do and collaborates with others to challenge the traditional boundaries of music. While artists with substance can be found in any genre, his lack of interest in mainstream approval strikes a chord -- no pun intended -- with sophisticated fans.
In a conversation before taking the stage at Drom in New York on August 20, Hunter revealed that it's getting harder for him to find an audience for his jazz-influenced sound. I found this observation to be ironic, since his recordings pale in comparison to his concerts. (Full disclosure: I first met him in 2001.) During his performance with keyboardist Erik Deutsch and drummer Tony Mason, they used their 90-minute set to play material from his upcoming album, Baboon Strength, along with tracks like "Drop a Dime" and even cover songs like The Roots' "The Seed 2.0."
The lounge's intimate setting allowed listeners to be transported into another world, whether they were sitting at a table or the bar. (I even got away with disregarding the venue's two-drink minimum policy.) On a personal level, I find Hunter's music appealing because it puts me in an introspective mood. As a writer, I can identify with the creative process that goes into pairing notes and melodies, constantly revising one's effort to compose a work that will stand the test of time. (Some of his songs are just as pleasing to the ears now as they were when I first discovered him in 2000.) Crafting quality music on a consistent basis is his hallmark; unfortunately, true musicians like him are becoming an endangered species.
Hunter's four-week residency at Drom ended on August 27, but he's far from done when it comes to performing. Here's a round of applause for music's most underappreciated road warrior.

Three Cheers for Beijing

Sports junkies usually get their fix on the weekends, when athletes take to the baseball field or tennis court or golf course or ... you get the idea. But, thanks to the 2008 Olympics, one could watch events ranging from soccer to badminton and take their minds off the turbulent economy and heated presidential election.
Michael Phelps' dominance in the swimming pool allowed me to focus on something other than my unemployment status, and seeing the "Redeem Team" defeat Spain for the title of world's best men's basketball team gave me hope that I'll rebound from this professional setback. As for Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh, watching the beach volleyball duo successfully defend their gold medal victory from the 2004 Olympics was full of drama -- without a whiff of scandal. It was refreshing to see these athletes not only set the standard for excellence in their respective sports, but raise the bar to new levels.
This summer showcase represented the best of sportsmanship and goodwill. Athletes from dozens of nations competed in hundreds of disciplines to find out how good they really are and serve as cultural ambassadors. Viewers drew inspiration from the physical and mental toughness on display before a global audience, and one couldn't help but respect the hard work and huge sacrifice that went into pursuing a gold (or silver or bronze) medal. Regardless of the outcome, being part of an experience that most people can only dream about is a privilege.
In the end, the United States topped the overall medal count ... but other nations seized the opportunity to flex their muscles. China was a thorn in America's side when it came to gymnastics and diving, and Jamaica blew away the competition in several track and field races. These countries don't always see eye-to-eye when it comes to geopolitical matters, but they put aside their differences in the name of pursuing athletic glory.
16 days of riveting performances was a lot to digest -- even for a sports junkie. And while the accomplishments of the aforementioned stars didn't stabilize the economy or lead to world peace, they did whet my appetite for the 2012 Olympics. Let the games begin!

Flying High Again

After a disastrous performance on May 31 at the PNC Bank Arts Center, Stone Temple Pilots (hereafter referred to as STP) redeemed themselves on August 6 at the Nikon at Jones Beach Theater.
The alternative rock band -- consisting of singer Scott Weiland, guitarist Dean DeLeo, bassist Robert DeLeo, and drummer Eric Kretz -- set out to recapture their glory days around three months ago after going their separate ways in 2002. During the 1990s, their songs dominated the airwaves along with acts like Soundgarden and Smashing Pumpkins. These groups crafted songs that were an alternative -- hence, the label -- to the hair metal and bubble gum music that populated the Top 40 landscape.
I was lucky enough to see STP live in 1996, when they played a concert at Madison Square Garden, as well as four years later, when they played a show at Jones Beach. Good fortune came my way again in 2007, when I met the Brothers DeLeo while they were promoting their Army of Anyone album at the Bowery Ballroom. (Read about it here and here.) I arrived at Jones Beach around 5:30 p.m. with the hope of extending my luck and meeting the band as a whole. While that didn't happen, I managed to find even greater pleasure in not going home empty-handed.
Mother Nature blessed the day with beautiful weather, and I passed the time by chatting with a few STP fans and entering a trivia contest sponsored by Q104.3. An employee asked questions about the band as well as the classic rock radio station, and I won a DVD chronicling The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Live at Monterey for correctly guessing which disc jockey hosts a morning program about the Beatles. My winning streak continued once I entered the venue, where I stopped by the Citibank table and scored a $10 gift certificate from Borders.
Even though I was happy to acquire these items, a voucher for tour merchandise would've been more useful. The t-shirts were expensive (as much as I liked the "Uncle Sam" top, it wasn't worth $45) and the food was overpriced (I still can't believe I paid $8 for a slice of Papa John's pizza and $4 for a cup of Mountain Dew soda) ... but when I thought about the cost of my ticket, I shrugged it off as the price of reliving my late teens and early twenties in a bad economy.
When STP took the stage at 9:25 p.m., they kicked things off with "Big Empty." (Purple is my favorite album.) For the next 100 minutes, the band churned out hits like "Sour Girl" and "Plush" (Scott even had the audience sing the chorus). The band also threw in a few surprises, such as playing underappreciated gems like "Coma" and having the crowd serenade Robert's son, Duke, with "Happy Birthday" (he turned three years old). Other highlights included their cover of "Redemption Song" -- perhaps a not-so-sly reference to the PNC fiasco -- and a stirring rendition of "Lady Picture Show."
Watching STP work their magic on a warm summer night was nothing short of amazing. The best part about the concert was it hinted at greater things to come if Scott remains drug-free. Such an achievement would be music to my ears.