World Venture Travel

One might very well get the opportunity to hear Perper play in many countries in Europe, but there’s something very exciting about hearing a band play in the country they call home. Montenegro is a perfect place for this perfectly eclectic band, and the geography here is as varied as their music. It’s probably a pretty safe bet to call it old fashioned rock and roll, because the screams and the guitars are definitely in tune with those rhythms, but there are enough elements to make it fall uncomfortably in the category of rock.

Drawing heavily on jazz traditions, as well as the traditional musical traditions of the Balkans, a concert will move in many directions at once. This is something that’s very characteristic of any art form in Montenegro in general, where its unusual history has made it simultaneously a community isolated by its own rough terrain, but also unusually tuned in to the cultural offerings from the world at large. Together, the boys who have pretty much grown up together, and meeting again at universities in Novi Sad and Belgrade , have crafted something very exciting. They have played thousands of concerts since they started working together in the early 90s, and their popularity suggests this will go on for a long time to come.

It is a wonderful thing, then, to have the chance to stay at a hotel in Montenegro , and find out that it’s also perfect timing for a Perver concert. It is loud, and it is fast, but it’s also capable of moving into moments that are like a kind of rock lullaby. The musicians are all very skilled at moving from mood to mood, and making sure to keep the crowd very energized through all of it. World music is always exciting, and this is some of the most beloved of the local sounds.

This is going to be a big year for music fans, and like usual, the center of attention will be in New York City.  It’s difficult to argue for the city as the center of rock and roll, the way it once was, once upon a time.  There are lots of cities that can now claim to have spectacular histories of music, and a fair share of musical geniuses.  Cities like Seattle, Minneapolis, and Athens all have major legacies, and there are perhaps hundreds more all over the world right now with the same claim.  It’s a good time to be alive, generally, and this year will be a good time for New York’s luxury hotels, hosting some of the fans and the bands.

March will see the next round of inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and the list of nominees is very impressive this year.  Lots of bands that have deserved the award for a long time are here: The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Genesis, Jimmy Cliff, and Donna Summer all stand alongside the more novelty groups like KISS and ABBA.  Some people like KISS, but there are those who saw through their attempt to cash in on glam when they first started, and are still waiting for talent to make itself known.

So far, nothing.  However, this should be a banner year for the RHCP.  This extreme energy band that’s played a combination of punk, hiphop, and funk, has had a stellar run of it, with enormous downs along with many ups.  And lately, their work is marked by an unusually steady and welcome sense of balance.  Their new album is also due out this year, and it’s time that one of the more interesting bands from the other side of the country gets their contribution acknowledged.  They’ve often spoken our language and our rhythms, so their entry into the hall of fame would be a win for all of us.

Taylor Swift is a by all standards an incredibly young star who has already reached the top of the charts and won numerous awards. She is recognized as one of the brightest stars on the country stage and lately has been admired as much for her musicianship as for her personality and depth of character. This is particularly impressive for someone who has been alive on this planet for so few years. And although she is an adult and seems to be mature beyond her twenty years, she retains a sense of innocence and sincerity that is rare in the business. She has also been tested by the cruelty of the business and has been insulted in the public eye, and all of this has occurred while she was still a teenager.

Earlier in 2009 at the Video Music Awards Swift won the award for Best Female Video. As she was standing onstage acknowledging the win the rapper Kanye West, who continues to increase his notoriety, burst onto the stage and interrupted Swift with his declamations that singer Beyonce created one of the best videos of all time. Meanwhile, Beyonce sat in the audience and seemed to be completely stunned by the situation. The higher Swiftrank demonstrated by Taylor’s poise and composure than could be expected by many artists who had many more years of experience under their belts. She also handled the response and aftermath of the awards with dignity and grace. And while this could have been a potentially shameful and embarrassing situation, Swift’s composure through it has increased her popularity and gained her respect from previously indifferent populations.

Swift began her career performing in bars, coffee shops and other clubs when she was a young teenager. She has had different situations throughout her young years that may have been difficult though nothing could prepare a performer for the situation that occurred on the VMA stage. Her ability to handle the situation so calmly and gracefully is representative of her personal character. The strength she showed in this difficult public situation should help her through many of the other difficult circumstances she may face throughout the rest of her career, which we are all anticipating will be long and fruitful.