Stop Sleeping

One night this past summer, when I had the sense to tune into 90.7 FM from 10PM-Midnight, aka Russ Boris’ ‘The Alternate Side’ nightly segment on Fordham University’s esteemed radio station, I heard him play Pensacola by an Atlanta, GA band I had never heard of before, Manchester Orchestra. The song pulled me in with a kind of jaunty, poppy air, but definitely rock-based – guitars, thick bass and drums. There was indie cred without the indie self-consciousness. Plus, the lead singer had kind of a Mike Stipe nasally yearning in his voice without it being annoying. Just as I was getting used to the sound, the chorus hit like a jackhammer with a huge chorus of voices and sound exclaiming – “Alcohol! Dirty Malls! Pensacola Florida Bars!” It’s really important as a music fan to get a firm sense of what you like and don’t like quickly. There’s simply too much music out there to talk yourself into liking what you think you are supposed to dig. I’ll admit, there are artists and songs it takes me a while to warm up to, but it is rare that I think something from the first listen...