Citylink

As you might imagine, I’ve had many conversations about music lately. Some of them have been with music geeks like me, usually on topics of such esoteric interest — should Whiskeytown reunite? Does The Langley Schools Music Project’s Innocence and Despair warrant repeated listening? — that everyone within earshot began scanning the room for the nearest exit or blunt object.

Just as often, however, I’ve talked music with people who don’t rank it as highly on their list of life’s necessities as I do, placing its importance somewhere between knowing how to repair a go-kart engine and where to buy an inexpensive hair shirt. Now, I’m no music snob — far from it. I’d no sooner look down on somebody for not knowing Captain Beefheart’s real name than I would look down on somebody for not even knowing who Captain Beefheart is. But upon learning this, I would immediately make a note to burn that person a copy of Trout Mask Replica — knowing full well that he or she will probably hate it.

Maybe I’m getting softer and more tolerant as I get older. (I turn 32 this month — too old to be watching MTV but still very much a viable member of that much-sought-after 18-to-34 demographic.) Years ago, I would never have thought this possible, but I find myself less inclined these days to dissociate from people whose taste in music I despise, Toby Keith apologists excluded. I simply lack the willpower to debate every person who tries to convince me to listen to such blatantly execrable bands as Linkin Park or Nickelback. Whenever I find myself trapped in one of these conversations, I just nod, mumble something about picking up the kids I don’t have and excuse myself with The Clash’s “Lost in the Supermarket” playing in my head.

Still, I do have a little fight left in me. And this, at long last, brings me to my point: For 11 years, City Link has published an annual Music Issue with the understanding — naive or not — that music is important, that it is worth arguing about and fighting for. It might not be worth ending relationships or losing friends over, but it comes mighty damn close. So please read this issue as if eavesdropping on a series of conversations between people who, to put it kindly, are a little obsessive. And just to be on the safe side, we’ve sealed off the exits and cleared the room of anything that might be used as a weapon.

In the meantime, don’t forget the 10th annual City Link Music Fest, taking place this Saturday in downtown Hollywood. Roughly 80 South Florida acts will perform on 10 stages from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m. For more details, see the City Link Music Fest schedule.

Oh, and one other thing: Captain Beefheart’s real name is Don Van Vliet.

Contact Jake Cline at jcline@citylinkmagazine.com.