I hope everyone is staying safe while sheltering in place. Many of you are going stir-crazy, cut off from friends, family, and colleagues. There have been spikes in interest for baking bread, cooking, sewing (face masks are a good project). But if you’re into music (why else would you be looking at this site?) then the obvious pursuits during the time of coronavirus are Making Music and Listening to Music (including watching music videos).
Watching Music on Video
Concerts have been canceled. Live television programming has had to be creative in ways to keep everyone safe. We are thus getting a more personal look at our TV hosts and their guests because instead of being in the same studio, they are each broadcasting (and recording) video from their separate homes. The performers no doubt miss the interaction with a live audience. But it’s a nice change and much more intimate.
A good example is the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Stephen comes from the den of his home while the music that connects the segments, instead of coming from Jean Baptiste and his Stay Human band, comes from Jean playing piano at home. More importantly for this blog are Stephen’s musical guests. Here are two tributes to John Prine that were recently on the Late Show.
The first is from Brandi Carlile:
The next tribute to John Prine is from Dave Matthews:
More music videos from home are inspired by Chris Thiele’s Live From Here which, during the COVID-19 quarantine has used the hashtag #livefromhome.
Among my favorite groups is I’m with Her. They are frequent guests on Live From Here, both as a group and individually. Aofie O’Donnovan was formerly with Crooked Still. Sara Watkins was a member of Nickel Creek with Chris Thiele. Sarah Jarosz was and is a solo artist in addition to being part of I’m with her. Here are the three women individually performing from home for #livefromhome.
Gibson Guitars also have a youtube video collection of homemade music videos by Gibson artists.
Some musicians are just posting homemade videos for their own sanity and their fans’ enjoyment. Mary Chapin Carpenter has been publishing her videos this way.
If you’ve been inspired, you can always make your own videos. Or, just pick up you guitar or other instrument, play and enjoy.
