After last week’s, uh, revelations, I felt that I needed to do something to further my own musical exploration process. Really, this came about for a few reasons:

1. I rarely give a second thought to what’s happening on the musical horizon or what might have already crossed it to stare directly in my face. I need some prompting to go out and find new things. Even if they’re old things disguised as new things.
2. I get a weekly opportunity to present some sort of perspective on music, but the feedback is delayed. I’m way too impatient to wait for comments anymore. Damn you, Internet.
3. After repping for Starland Vocal Band last week, I figured I’d better have a backup plan for when I get kicked off this thing.

So here’s the idea: a monthly music junkie gathering/discussion group. I almost want to call it a book club for music, but that’s just incredibly lame. I’m sorry I even wrote it down.

In any case, I’d like an in-real-life opportunity, once a month (more often if time permits), to let the dork off the chain and dig through tracks, albums, and arrangements in excruciatingly geeky detail. Not everyone has to get so specific, but they need to indulge my peculiar brand of detailed analysis as to a song/album/musical choice is good/not as good/bad/potentially great but falling short. And they need to be willing to show up. And willing to bring in the unusual/unheard-of for discussion as well, as I will endeavor to do.

I’m beginning to see glimmers of the music dorkosphere here and there in southern Maine but only glimmers so far. I’d like to send up the Bat Signal and find out where my musical friends/fellow travelers are.

So what form does this thing take? Probably a few options:

1. Ongoing online discussion in one forum or another enhanced by in-person discussion when a particular subject strikes our fancy (call it the “trigger” option)
2. Monthly meetings planned with general discussion via e-mail, no official forum online (call it the “opt-in”)
3. Monthly assignments of a track or album for a small and hardcore dedicated group of obsessives (call it “single-player”)

Do any of the NAPsters have any experience organizing this kind of thing? A music appreciation/deconstruction debate/coffee klatsch? Let me know if you have – I’m making this thing real and would appreciate any advice.

If you are an innocent bystander (i.e., a southern Mainer) with interest in the group, please get in touch as well. I’d like to know how big and dorky our club might be.

In the meantime, please tell me how to get this out of my head. I’m thinking trepanation?