Fun Time On the Horizon

In a couple of weeks, I will be headed out to Ohio for what has been termed "Dustinpalooza." For a week and change I will get to see my parents and brother as well as my closest pals, which are collectively nicknamed Quad One. The Quad is taking me on a road trip from Columbus to Cleveland. There will be stops at Canton (to see my hero Elway in the Pro Football Hall of Fame) and Kent (to go to a place where you can get breakfast served in a "trough"). The occasion is a Bachelor party -- of sorts. I didn't want anything crazy or R-rated, just a good time with the guys and a chance to see the state I still consider home in many ways.

I am really looking forward to seeing my brother Adam. Adam is a blogger as well, a great photographer and a musical genius. I say that not as much with respect to his songwriting and guitar playing abilities, which are also amazing, but with respect to his ears. He has the most incredible ears of anyone I have ever met, and will probably ever meet in my life. And I am not talking about size and shape (although one of our soccer coaches once said his head looked like a trophy, with his ears as handles). But his ability to dissect the anatomy of sound is unparalleled. I look to him constantly for his opinion on new music. He is like the Simon Cowell of my network of friends when it comes to evaluating music. We disagree at times, but he is usually right. If Adam thinks it is good, I know it is.

That reminds me, what happened to U2 this time around? I took a listen to their new album "No Line on the Horizon" on their web site. Color me unimpressed. Don't get me wrong, I love the band. I love Bono. I've met Bono. I just think this album is void of melodic creativity. Putting in a few lyrics here and there about war and politics does not make up for the lack of hooks "wow" the listener. But watch them still find a way to haul in 2 and 1/2 years worth of Grammy awards. I won't mind. The Grammys completely lost legitimacy in my mind this year when they failed to mention the death of Dave Matthews Band sax player Leroi Moore in their annual list of fallen musicians. I have a feeling had "the Edge" died, it would have made the reel.

Anyway, the best thing about seeing Adam this time around will be that we can play some guitar. When he visited NYC last summer and Christmas, he didn't bring a guitar. I haven't picked up a guitar in ages, but when I get around to it, it is a thrill. Honest it is.