The Music of Philosophy: Music as Magic
                                  Part 1
                              by: Brandon DeGeorge

Hola, and welcome to the first installment of the music section of this wonderful thing we like to call Seeker! As your host for this section, I will be taking you on a magical journey through the amazing world of music. You will come to know music, and musicians like you never have before. (Unless you're a groupie, in which case, you already know them fairly well.) You will see and hear, music from around the world that will astound you, and take your breath away...

Okay...I know, that sounds like a Disney attraction, but..there is some validity in what I say. For instance, why is it, that music can make us change our emotions, make us happy, when we're sad, and make us sad, when we're feeling good? What's that all about? What's the scoop on that? Why can music do that to us, no matter who we are? Is that magic, or something?

Well, it's not uncommon to hear music refered to as a kind of magic, and it's not uncommon to be watching a concert, and feel a small chill down your spine, because of that music. Dare call that magic? Well...why not? What is magic, after all? My personal definition of magic is that of a focus of a force of nature by human will. Well, shucks, sound is a force in nature, and music is sound, and to create music, you need human will to create. Of course, other animals can create music, but that's another story, and we'll get into that later.

Sounds nice and logical, right? Of course it does..but it really proves nothing. There is no possible way to measure magic by the known empirical methods, but there is more to the universe than just what we know scientifically. Music exists in that realm, that isn't accurately discernable with our five senses. For some odd reason we do feel it, like we feel nothing else on this planet, and in a way that we don't actually understand. There must be some way for us to know what we are dealing with, but until we as humans evolve to a point that we are able to sense the magic of music on a normal basis, we can't possibly know for sure. That doesn't mean we can't discuss it, nor does it mean we can't ever feel it, or know it. It just means we have no precise way of manipulating it.

Manipulation of the magic of music? To do what? Scary to think about the possiblities of that. Mind control? Music is already used as a therepeutical device for psychological paitents. Music certainly can relieve stress. It could also create stress.

If music is able to do this, does it mean music has other uses besides therapy, or simple enjoyment? Of course it does, but what those uses are, who knows? We as a society can't accept the fact that there are special things in life (like music, and love.) that are not made up of the measly hundred-odd elements that we know of. Music isn't concrete matter, though. It's more than just the rarefaction and compression of air molecules.

The word energy comes into mind alot when dealing with music. What kind of energy you ask? We're not talking about the electrical energy that is needed to power today's massive sound systems, or the high-tech computer-instruments of today. This is more like a spiritual energy, that can't be processed by computer, at least not yet. Maybe that's one of the reasons for the large movement in popular music to the retro sounds, and equiptment of twenty years ago. MTV Unplugged.

Could it be that society as a whole is making a shift to a more spiritual awareness, than we have ever known? One could be so hopeful. Whatever is happening, it seems to be a good thing. Let's just hope it continues.

Okay, let's sum up. Music is a cool thing, it's certainly different than anything else in the world, and it does things to us that we can't explain with science as we know it. Whatever it is, we like it, and want more of it. We homo sapiens have a long way to go before we find out what makes us go nutty and move our bodies in ways that it's not normally used to when we hear music. We have a long way to go, and much to do before we get there. We have much to talk about....

Ok y'all...this is your chance, tell it like it is...you have a band you're just dying to tell everyone about? (if it's your own, that's ok too). You just heard an album by someone new, or someone dead that's driving you bonkers every hour that you play it? Tell us!! We want to know!! This is a place to share good stuff that you think others might just enjoy. No negative reviews, please...we don't do that here. You think someone sucks? Tell them to their face, and see how well everyone takes constructive criticism...Oh..by the way...tell us when and where a band/solo artist/ensemble is performing, or where we can find the album/single/soundbyte, some of us just might want to check it out. Also, if anyone has music they want to share via the Net, send it here...we'll give it a listen...but we make no promises..

I want to send you my Music Reviews! I know that all responses will be considered, and those selected for the article will be duly credited to the author.

Yes, yes...this is my band...and this is my unashamed plug for that band...but if I, as music editor can't plug the stuff I like, then what does that say about the kind of world do we live in? If you live in the NY metro area, come see us make money, and make magic. I do have to say, that we have talent, and energy that you've probably haven't seen in a cover band..but what the heck, it's fun for the whole family!!!

Oh yeah...the name of the band is:

FUNNYBONE!!!!

You can call the 24 hour Bone Fone at (516) 799-6574 for up to date info on us...

Sat   1         Classics (2nd anniversery party)
Tues  4         Summers (each and every Tues for the whole summer)
Thur  6         Finley's

Tues 11         Summers (it's ladies' night every Tues at Summers!)
Fri  14         Mainstream Sports Bar
Sat  15         Call the Bone Fone for info on this date

Mon  17         MS Benifit at Malibu
Tues 12         Summers (Free champagne for the first 100 ladies!!))
Fri  21         Napper Tandy's Centereach
Sat  22         Napper Tandy's Northport
Sun  23         Polly Ester's

Tues 25         Summers ($ 2.00 Coors Light all night)
Fri  28         Mustang Sally's
Sat  29         Molly Bloom's
Sun  30         J. Sprats (on the water)

Phew..that's it for this month....and just in case you have some strange notion to come see us...go to your local shrink as soon as you can...or call the following numbers, and find out where the heck these places are so you can go.

       Summers:  Dune Road, in East Quogue, L.I.  (516) 653-5777
      Classics:  Levittown, L.I.                  (516) 731-7830
       Finleys:  Huntington, L.I.                 (516) 351-3440
    Mainstream:  Rego Park, Queens                (718) 459-6658
 Napper Tandys:  Centereach, L.I                  (516) 588-9577
                 Northport, L.I.                  (516) 757-4141
Mustang Sallys:  West Islip, L.I.                 (516) 661-7286
  Molly Blooms:  Smithtown, L.I.                  (516) 360-8169
     J. Sprats:  Island Park, L.I.                (516) 432-2400

All shows could change without notice, sorry.... For booking info, call OMNI POP at (516) 937-6001