Strangest of Things Unseen

 the strangest of things unseen
 blend with the newness that spring brings
And i tap to bottomless beats
Where my sisters and brothers walk streets
The strangest of things take refuge on broken television screens
The strangest of things unseen reside in broke down trash can alleys
May the weak
The meek
The poor
The fat
The skinny
The broke down
Run down rags rise and be seen
Scream with voices unheard and unseen
Where once solitude reigned as king
Bellowing the battle of cry of freedom has captured solitude in a coup de tat.
The strangest of things unseen take hold in words yet read
They fight the things unseen
The strangest unseen things fire off in universes far beyond the way of the Milky
Where wars rage for peace
Where utopian ideals are preached
Where destinies are written in pages by tormenting Gods
Ah the things unseen
Like a Shakespearian comedy you plague our hearts so
Where the knife in the back is as lovely as the kiss on the cheek
For the weak and disbanded gather in mass
For their rightful return to take back what was lost centuries ago
Yes, the things unseen remain to the maybe
That maybe being an eventual return to light
To sound their voice
The strangest of things unseen
Blend with the newness that spring brings
And that is where doors open or close
And that is where the muse rests her tired bones

Juliet & Death

Juliet don't hang your head so low
Where Romeo's flown you soon shall know
The moon's shine is blinding on this night
And try as you might why else shall you fight?
Don't flail in the wind
And don't bellow to the skies
For Romeo's flight has sailed away
Juliet let slip your hands to the end
For where else shall you go now that family disgrace has come to bare?
Juliet, i sit here beside your Romeo
We converse about the love in your hearts
We converse about the fire that resides inside you both
That, upon your tongues you can still taste each other
Upon your skin you can still feel the hairs on his arm
And where shall you go from this place?
Where shall you go in this world of torment and doom?
Your love awaits you
Your Romeo sits beside me basking in the glory that is your fate
Oh Juliet, for your own eyes can see the way
Oh Juliet, take refuge within your heart of hearts
And where your Romeo persists
We shall see you in a moments time
As the wind sighs from the east
You shall be beside your Romeo
For eternal peace

Katie Garringer: A Little Soul Medicine

Katie Garringer: A Little Soul Medicine

By: Moose Gronholm

​Katie Garringer is a songstress who resides in Muncie, IN and comes down to our Queen City to play shows every so often, and is currently getting ready for a big move to the Big Apple. Before the move however she would like to share her latest recordings with us. Six songs worthy of what my ears thought were a sheer pleasure to listen too. She has a voice that can shake and chill you to the bone, and her playing is equally as chilling. Dave Manship from Beltauer Studios in Daleville, IN was the one who recorded the songs and captured the chill and the shake. There are a few pleasantries we must take care of first however before we delve into the songs. 

​Katie started playing music at a young age growing up with a piano in the house and parents that were constantly singing she couldn’t escape it. So at 5 years old she decided to give this whole thing a whirl, but her mom made her wait until she was seven to start lessons. The main reason for making the decision on wanting to play was not for fame or fortune, but for a reason more simple a reason more humble. At family gatherings her grandparent’s, on her mother’s side, would both take turns at playing the piano and the entire family would sing along. Mostly gospel hymns, and Katie wanted to be a part of that, and not just in the singing but to be the one who plays the piano at the family gatherings. As time progressed it was only natural that Katie’s biggest supporters would be become and remain her parents. Her influences run across a broad spectrum as most musicians have them being; Dolly Parton, Ingrid Michaelson, Josh Ritter, and Brandi Carlisle. Her creative influences are: Maya Angelou, Madeleine L’Engle, and Bob Dylan. Through most of the songs whether it be the playing, a lyric, or the way her voice hangs on you can hear these influences melded into a blender and out with them came Ms. Garringer. 

​As mentioned before there are six songs on this ep and each wrap around a feeling whether literal or figurative about love. Two in particular “Bonnie and Clyde” and “Who Do You Think You Are,” are about in her words “I was madly in ‘like’ with someone new” that being “Bonnie and Clyde” and “Who Do You Think You Are” is about the same person post break up. She has always again in her words “loved, ‘love’” but her intention was to write about everything but love, and over the course of a year and half roughly of writing these songs she realized early on that this might not be possible. Again Katie “While all the songs I write are not about love, the majority of the ones on the EP definitely are.” You write what you know, and you write what you feel at the time. Which makes this EP an honest reflection of a life being lived, and where the road has gone and where it may be leading to, and only she knows. Her story however, begins with this EP and she is kicking it off in great fashion. 

​With the EP done she will be returning to the studio to record a second in New York City with a friend of hers that plays cello. She said that a full album will come after EP 2 is finished. With a move to the Big Apple happening over the spring, a Midwest tour, and the EP release party happening in her hometown of Muncie, Indiana a full album has been put on the back burner. She said all of this with exclamations points and the excitement was palpable, even if through email. 

​The last question I asked Katie was what I always like to ask musicians that I talk to and that was why music? Of all things to do why this and her response was pretty damn good so I will let her close this out. Here is her answer: That’s a doozy of a question (with) so many emotions. I’ve always known that the way I communicate best is through writing, and playing music, rather than speaking. I feel like I am the best version of myself when I play music, and the connection that occurs with the folks that listen is palpable, and powerful. I believe that everyone is struggling with something in life, and that music can be an effective remedy, or at least a distraction from what is ailing them. My main motivation in playing music is to positively affect those who are listening and to give them a little soul medicine. While I love to play music for others, I also play and write for myself. I’ve overcome some pretty serious trial in my life by writing about what’s going on, and I can’t imagine being the person I am today if it weren’t for the healing power of music. I can’t imagine doing anything else with my life.