Observing live music, I find myself in the midst of an odd contrast. On the one hand I am drawn in to the experience, on the other I am pulled inward to reflect on my own thoughts and feelings. The entire complexity of a musical event, be it a concert or other performance, is difficult if not impossible to contain in a structure or definition. However, the idea intrigues me.

With the rise of Ipods, file sharing, and the Internet music has come to saturate our culture to the point where we walk around with the little white headphones in our ears listening to the latest hit single oblivious to those around us. I am unable to hear the shouted greetings of friends, lost in the lyrics to a song I have already listened to at least 50 times. The man at the bus stop glances at me as if to initiate conversation. I smile and offer a good morning in return, unable to hear if he responds. I am in my own world, riding a roller coaster of bridges and choruses through my imagination. However, unlike thought requiring the active formulation this is passive as if viewing a film of my thoughts. This is peaceful.