I have resolved, in my lack of diligence and preparedness, to be Jason Mraz for Halloween. It is, make no doubt, out of admiration for the man's vocal and lyrical abilities, but it's also because I'm pretty sure all I have to really do is stick a fedora on and carry some sort of stringed instrument and *BAM* I've got a sweet costume that everyone recognizes.
Even for all of my costume's simplicity, it still required me to mount a bus and kick it down to the mall and--whoa-ho-ho, was that ever fun. It was a very strange experience for me for a few reasons: it was the first time I've been to the mall while "at college," so it was a strange reminder that suburbia and shopping malls and that whole world still exists so close to college-land. It was also very strange because there were so few people there and I was alone. The only other time I ever go to department stores or that sort of thing is with my mother, because that's the only time I have a reason to. But there I was. On my own. I was ashamed enough being in those places when I was dragged there, let alone of my own volition.
And yet being there on my own without distraction allowed me to make some musical observations. First of all, the music playing in Sears was actually very interesting and stimulating; as I recall, it had a sort of hip-hop beat and sounded kind of Latino, almost too cool and apart from the mainstream for a department store. It almost made me want to stay there longer than I had to.
But aside from Sears, other stores proved to be completely predictable. I was in such a hurry, not having much time to find my precious fedora, that I was rushing in and out of stores, tasting their environments and playlists rapid-fire. It's like having a shot of milk, then a shot of Mountain Dew, then a shot of grape juice. Each sip is so distinctive and irreverant of your confused taste buds that each drink seems silly, self-indulgent, and useless for your satisfaction. I walk into American Eagle and what do they have playing? A song that says the words "girls," "boys," and "like" about five times each per second. I don't think there's a song out there that's more fitting for a teen clothing outlet. I would have forgiven this absurd frivolity if they would have had a fedora for me to purchase, which I thought they would, being a store that's played Mr. A-Z's music before, but no such luck. Other teen clothing stores were more of the same, and the gothic stores played gothic music, and on, and on. There is nothing new under the sun.
Finally, after going through several stores selling fedoras for $30-$40, I got a nice, well-fitting white one for $7.50 from H&M. On my way out, I passed by a juice bar and caught wind of some quick-hitting poppy guitar riffs paired with a voice I recognized.
Me: Hey, what radio--err...is this a radio station playing, or, uh, what is this?
Juice Bar Lady: Yeah.
Me: What station is it?
Juice Bar Lady: 107.1.
Me: Oh. Ok. Is this the new Steven Page single? I was just wondering because it sounds like Steven Page of the Barenaked Ladies. Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's what it is. Sorry. You're probably wondering what this guy is doing talking to you right now. [Departs].
And so I came back and looked up the new Steven Page single, "Indecision." It basically sounded like an upbeat Barenaked Ladies song. Except not as innovative and quirky musically. And I didn't know whether I was supposed to take Steven Page seriously now, now that he's grown up or whatever and has moved on from BNL, presumably because he's got some important stuff to say that he couldn't before with that jokester Ed Robertson and the whole comedic reputation of his old band.
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