Tunes With Tom
I am a creature of habit. My wife teases me about it often. But my routines keep me productive. I get stuff done because I follow my routines. The downside is that I’ve become complacent. My habits are comforting, like an old pair of sneakers. And, like a lot of old people, I don’t care for change. I don’t find change to be exciting. Instead it’s usually a bit unsettling.
Recently I interviewed Tom Heideman for my podcast. Tom is a singer/songwriter that I’ve known and admired for over twenty years. He also has an internet radio show on Saturdays from 11:00am-1:00pm. I had never listened to it because, well…..it’s new. It’s not part of my routine and I didn’t know what kind of music he played but I knew it would be different from the music I normally listen to……and that can’t be good. But in the name of “research” I tuned in a couple weeks ago.
Internet radio is very different from what I imagined. First of all I needed to find the website. Then I needed to figure out how to tune in and listen on my computer. So I’m already a long way from my comfort zone. But it’s Tom…..he’s a friend……..and a guest on my show. So I guess I’ll just “man up” and deal with it. (Insert audible sigh here).
It turns out that it wasn’t that tricky after all. Just a couple of clicks of the mouse and I was in. I came into the show several minutes after it started and was greeted with a really cool, kind of jazzy tune. I also noted there was a live chat room. People were engaged in pleasantries (remember pleasantries? Pleasantries seem to be in short supply these days.) discussing the song they were listening to as well as other songs they had heard by the same artist. And, in this case, the artist was also a part of the discussion.
I “lurked” for a few minutes and then simply typed “Good morning Tom” and was immediately greeted by several others and welcomed into the group. That encouraged me to become a semi-active participant. (I didn’t want to be pushy and I wasn’t sure of proper chat room etiquette)
Then came the next song. It was a soft acoustic ballad. A far cry from the one before it. Each successive song was different from the others. What a pleasant change! (Wait! Did I just say that out loud?) And it quickly became apparent that these were indy productions….and they were good…..mostly. Some of the production qualities were a bit sub-par, but once you learn to listen past that you will enjoy yourself. And if you don’t like the song you’re currently listening to, just wait a minute. The next one will be different.
I’ve been advocating “buy local” for years as a point of principle and philosophy, but it turns out there is a much more practical reason for doing so. This is just plain, old, great music. In many ways this is the way it was when I was growing up. The local radio station played a wide variety of music from rock, to country, to polkas, to big band. Radio today is formatted and the music has a sameness about it. Ok…I know that’s comforting. Believe me….I get it. But “Tunes With Tom” (that’s the name of his show) is eclectic. It’s new and exciting (geez…there I go again).
I revisited the show again last Saturday morning. This time it wasn’t for research or to be polite to a friend. I went back because I really enjoy it. And I honestly expect to be a regular listener and participant…..routinely.
If you have some spare time on a Saturday from 11-1 take a moment and listen to Tunes With Tom on Twisted Road Radio. It might became a part of your routine too.
