Music and the Outdoors?

By Brian G. Schommer

“How fun would it be to combine two of my passions – the outdoors AND music – into one column,” I said to myself. Then I said, “I think that would be a lot of fun and maybe even a bit entertaining.” Then I did what I always do before writing a column. I fill up a large glass of ice-cold water, plop down at my computer and start typing whatever comes to mind. Generally, what comes to mind fluctuates between run of the mill basic thoughts to over-the-top rhetoric which leaves even myself wondering what the hell I was thinking? Well, here is what I am thinking… One minute I was driving down the road and it was like the Willie Nelson song, “Blue skies smilin’ at me, nothin’ but blue skies do I see.” I was driving past the beach on Highway 10 heading towards Prescott with the top down on the Mustang and feeling that breeze come off the St. Croix… I was reminded of Seals and Crofts “Summer Breeze” and I can tell you, it sure did “make me feel fine.” Eddie Cochran said, “there ain’t no cure for the Summertime Blues” but, there is… Summer is awesome and there are so many cool things to do outside… most years, anyhow. While we didn’t have much opportunity for live music and concerts in 2020, certain things like family picnics, boating, golfing and fishing were still options. Most of us still were able to get out and find what Sly and the Family Stone describe as “Hot fun in the Summertime.”

Then, in a blink of an eye, the 2011 song by Luke Bryan called “Harvest Time” is playing and I am wearing camo from head to toe, sitting in a duck blind flanked by my best friend and his son. The sweet corn is gone and apples are the new roadside produce. Almost overnight, the trees change into various shades of reds, oranges and yellows, painting one of nature’s most awe-inspiring masterpieces and then, BOOM… the Mama’s and the Papa’s start singing “All the leaves are brown… and the sky is gray.” Before you know it, October will be gone and it will be like the 1991 Guns and Roses song “November Rain” but, don’t let it get you down friends because the lyrics state, “Nothin’ lasts forever, even cold November rain.” Soon it will be winter and many of us will be “dashing through the snow, on a 544CC snowmobile…” or however that Christmas Carol goes. Some will be roasting chestnuts on an open fire while others will be letting Jack Frost nip at their nose. Most of my friends will be nipping at Jack Daniels, but that’s because they know that the Whiskey Burns (like I wouldn’t get a Jake Nelson reference in the column). You never know what kind of winter we will have around here… will it be a “Winter Wonderland” or more like what Simon and Garfunkel described as a “Hazy Shade of Winter?” I guess time will tell and as The Byrds remind us, “To everything (turn, turn, turn) There is a season (turn, turn, turn) and a time to every purpose, under heaven.” Before you know it, Spring will be sprung and the circle of life will be completed with all sorts of new life.

Music and the outdoors have made such profound marks on my life and I know many people can relate to this; not just musicians. There are people like my mom who couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket with a reinforced handle whose lives would be empty without music. The same can be said for getting outdoors and enjoying something as simple as a deep cleansing breath of fresh air. The combination for me, as a musician, is something special that until this past year, I took for granted. Playing live music at outdoor venues has become common place for me over the years. Being a part of the Jake Nelson Band and performing at festivals like Lakes Jam, Country Fest, #Livin Festival, Twin Cities Summer Jam and many others is hard to describe. Seeing people dancing, smiling and having fun because of something you are doing is again, difficult to put into words. Of all the venues I have played over the years, there is nothing like an outdoor gig. This all went away this past summer and while there have been a few glimmers of hope including a few outdoor shows, it is few and far between that I and my musician friends get the opportunity to share our music with others. I know this was hard for all who love getting out to the concerts and festivals.

Writing this column has helped me realize how important being outdoors is to me. Not being able to do certain things that I have always done while frustrating, has also helped me realize there are so many things that I have in my life; in my opinion, blessings, that I may not have been as thankful for as I should have been. I am not saying that I am a thankless schlump who is never grateful… not at all and, I do think that with age comes wisdom. The more I look at things… I realize that like the band U2… “I still haven’t found what I am looking for.” More and more, my life is like Buddy Holly’s “Everyday.” It says… “Everyday it’s a gettin’ closer, Goin’ faster than a roller coaster.” Finding balance and happiness in life for many is difficult and, if we let the situations in our world, most of which are completely out of our control get to us, it sure doesn’t get any easier. With so much division and opposing viewpoints, it seems to be much easier to get caught up in the fight instead of just letting things go. I finally feel like I am much closer to finding the balance AND it is because of Music and the Outdoors… specifically: Coming back from duck opener, the song “I’m For Love” by Hank Williams Jr. came on and the chorus just grabbed my attention. It says, “But I’m for love and I’m for happiness AND I’m for ‘if you don’t like it can’t you just let it rest?” It seems many of us, me included, have a hard time with that last part. I think Hank might be onto something here. I’ve been thinking a lot about those lyrics and they may just be the final piece to the balance puzzle I am looking for. We are all different… what turns my crank is most likely different than what turns yours. My boat may float on a different lake… but there are similarities as well. Our boats need to float and our cranks still need turning. Sometimes we need to take the time for a little maintenance to keep things on an even keel. It might not work for you, but I recommend finding somewhere outdoors, listening to a little music and taking in a few deep breaths. As The Byrds say, “An a time to every purpose, under heaven.” Get out and Enjoy the Great Outdoors (and music).