Headphones On

A few weeks ago my Creative Director paid me a compliment while we were gabbing over lunch.

CD: "When you speak, you are very authoritative."
Me: "What does that mean?"
CD: "You come across as the authority on whatever topic you're talking about.¹ Don't worry, that's a good thing."

Change of scene to a north side bar on Saturday night. I'm sitting at a table with a fellow music nerd/old friend in from out of town and one of his Chicago friends I don't know. We are discussing the evilness of Pitchfork hype, our records of the year, breaking bands, the new Belle and Sebastian record, etc. Somehow this turns into a Q & A session with them volleying questions to me on the theoretical stage. What's up with Band ABC, how is Band DEF's new record, is Band XYZ touring soon and if so is their live show crap? I've never been afraid to voice my musical opinion and yes, in some things² I do consider myself a bit of an expert. I am scratching my head now though at their emphatic assertion that I should be teaching a college course in indie rock.

Does anyone actually offer a college course in indie rock? What would the students be expected to get out of it? Appreciation of hand claps and harmonized vocals? A knowledge of the roots of indie rock from Stax/Memphis to Northern Soul? Would I get to grade papers on how Madchester shook up modern Britain and the economic impact of The Postal Service on indie rock? I'm just fascinated by the idea now.

¹ Strangely this developed because of a test product and my knowledge of screen printing on shrink wrap (and prior experience creating new packaging for an Orange Juice).
²anything fitting into the eurosugarindiegirlvoxpop genre