Being Taken To An "East Coast State of Mind"

If someone would've asked me to write a story on New York and how I perceived it's energy (of the city and people alike) - I would've probably ran for the hills. Although I've never actually been to the state-I've always assumed it had to be a lot like Chicago. Tons of people in a rush to be productive as they walk hastily by my dragging ass.

Of course that's just me being prejudice (not basing my opinion off of reason or experience) and clumping all cities in one mixing pot of organized chaos. Though there may be thousands not taking a moment to stop and smell the roses-I believe there's just as many on the opposite foot who find the time to not only inhale the fragrance, but to contemplate the initial beginnings of the rose in all of it's entirety.

Photo Courtesy of Unsplash

Some travelers may view Chicago as a mere mile marker between where they've been and where they're heading to. Others may have spent an arm and a leg on air fair and hotel packages while trying to organize a family trip to the Chi-town zoo. Everything, every place and every moment means something different to everyone.

So even though NY is a trip I've never done-there's something about Beach Fossils and War on Drugs that put me in Central Park on a late night rain-soaked run.

Image Courtesy of Tasting Table NYC

Gratified, at ease, captivated, hypnotized- are all words that can't nearly express enough the overwhelming emotions that came over me-that Thursday afternoon in Benton Harbor, Michigan. It was the first I heard time I'd ever of The War on Drugs. I was crate digging in the storage room of 3 Pillars Music-and Tom-the manager, had 'I Don't Live Here Anymore' on his turntable in heavy rotation.

I was flipping through artists like Boston, Bob Welch, and Foreigner...thinking-"what in the actual fuck is playing right now to make me not pay attention to this historic albums?!" My mind couldn't focus. And although I'd willingly put myself in the line of fire to protect the last copy of Boston 1976 on vinyl (if there ever were such a scenario)-I also realized that I wanted to learn the music I was listening to in that moment...playing over the speakers-just like I did the first time I heard "Foreplay/Long Time."

War on Drugs | Photo Courtesy of The Independent

And I did exactly that. I purchased 'I Don't Live Here Anymore" and only a few days later spilled my guts over how it affected me. Just last month, I added 'Lost in the Dream'. Which, after playing them both so consistently- I can easily say I much prefer the latter. The couple make a great duo on any indie collector's shelves-but I think 'Lost in the Dream' demonstrates the bands versatility of sound basking in the shadows just as much as the sunlight. Since I already dove in deep with a previous blog-I'll give those viewers who are still "out of the loop" a little taste with their ever popular song "Under The Pressure." Oh...you may want to...I don't know-get ready to feel things?!

I didn't think my love affair with War on Drugs could ever be matched-but then just a few weeks ago-I finally (and again, as always-very late to the game) discovered Beach Fossils. Originally from Brooklyn, it's insane to envision how two separate bands, over three hours away from each other...could have such similar sounding music. And not only that! The affect of me sitting there...listening to this music is almost the same. Almost as therapeutic and as beneficial as ice cream on the beach. The dictionary defines "cathartic" as providing psychological relief through the open expression of strong emotions-and well...you know what? That hits the nail pretty heavy on the head.

Again-although never having visited the east coast...I'm fucking there-doing shit...with this on blast in my headphones. It's so much more than cleansing. So spiritual.

I first heard "Out of the Way" off the album 'What a Pleasure' by BF on a county line road drive to destination nowhere-one of my favorite places in the world. Honestly, at some point I need to digest and dig deep into why I love to cruise so much-maybe it's the feeling of the road, the speed, the escape-or just everything loud music and long drives deliver- freedom in the rawest form. It was the perfect way to discover them. After streaming the remainder of that album-I learned about the upcoming release of 'Bunny' that had me checking daily to see if there were any official music video releases for the singles that were hitting the airwaves. Luckily for me, there was in: 'Don't Fade Away' and 'Seconds.'

Beach Fossils | Photo Courtesy of The Fader

I've been itching at the chance to tell you how great these two acts are-and now that my vision is somewhat actualized...my consistent blog writing won't seem so bizarre.

I'm sure within the next day I will go on an endless rant of how much you all mean to me and why. I'm too grateful some of you have stuck through this with me-being patient as fuck through my ever changing business ideas and brainstorms. This though...I think is something. Being able to understand you all in a new light makes me feel that much more close to you-not only as a music collector...but as a friend.

Photo Courtesy of Unsplash

So why was Digest the Dig created? It's how the music IMPACTS you that matters most to me-because it's all too easy to hold up a record (without actually owning a turntable) or googling a fact that fails to transcend.