Hangin' Around a Car Dealership

Woke up this Sunday morning, made coffee, and rolled my Mystical Dice of Random Musical Destiny. The Dice instructed me to listen to the 2018 self-titled album by Arthur Buck. Arthur Buck isn’t the name of a lone single songwriter, but the combined last names of a duo, Joseph Arthur and Peter Buck.

I originally bought Arthur Buck around the time of its release because of Peter Buck’s presence, since I like to keep up with the creative work of former R.E.M. members. I know Arthur has a long-standing relationship with the R.E.M. guys but I am honestly that familiar with his work.

I gave Arthur Buck some spins early on but then shelved it and it didn’t think much about it. However, prior to this morning, I did play it again in more recent times and I started to get it.

I got it even more when I listened to side 1 just now (side 2 will follow, soon). Arthur Buck is a fine collection of guitar-based pop rock tune featuring Arthur’s often insightful lyrics.

This morning, I was particularly taken with the album’s opening track, “I Am The Moment”, a song that happily firmly belongs with a set of songs I love that are devoted to living in the present tense. Others in this lyrical subgenre:

“Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More”-Allman Brothers.

“Your Life Is Now”-John Mellencamp

“In Front Of Me Now”-Nada Surf

“This Time”-Los Lobos.

Etc.

I believe strongly in the present tense, even if I sometimes waste it a bit. But sometimes, being still is the best way to spend the present tense moment.

Unfortunately, we’re living in the present tense with the odious Elon Musk, so yesterday Donna and I visited a Tesla car showroom to join several hundred other people who demonstrated against Musk’s stranglehold on the United States government in this moment.

Even though the people at this demonstration and all the Tesla dealership protests are angry about the Musk situation, the event itself felt like a positive moment. Many people in passing cars offered support via thumbs-ups, wave, and horn honking. Some expressed their disagreement though a thumbs-down or a more expressive hand gesture. And that’s fine. First Amendment and all that, you know?

Some people might cynically wonder what the organizers and participants in Tesla Takedowns hope to accomplish. I think the main thing, aside from simply creating good energy out of the moment, is for people to realize that they are not alone in their distaste for the Musk/Trump presidency.

I heard a guy standing next to me at that protest say that he thought maybe some of the people honking in support were doing so out of the sudden realization that they weren’t the only people feeling outraged by the current situation. There might be something to that.

“I am the moment/Waiting for you,” sings Joseph Buck, on “I Am the Moment.” I am happy that Donna and I decided to meet the moment down on West Chester Pike yesterday afternoon.