De Capo Best Music Writing 2006

On October 25, after an introduction by this year's co-editor Mary Gaitskill, co-editor Daphne Carr moderated a selection of readings from De Capo Best Music Writing 2006 at SoHo's bookstore with a heart of gold, Housing Works. While the first half of the reading had the greatest number of of people sitting in folding chairs, on the floor, and on the beautiful mahogany spiral staircase, the second half featured spirited readings from Elizabeth Mendez Berry ("Love Hurts" in Vibe), Robert Christgau ("The First Lady of Song" in The Nation), and Jon Caramanica ("Ghetto Gospel" in XXL).

As a writer, I sometimes read my pieces aloud to feel the cadence and to examine it in a new light, so it was really informing to hear these contributors read their works. This is especially true since what they write about isn't often a point of public discourse (that is discussion involving a face-to-face conversation, not the Internet or print publications). Sadly, when Daphne Carr asked the audience to begin a Q&A, we were all silent; all these people who interview other people for a living (or at least a passionate hobby), sat so quietly you'd think Nurse Ratched were around the corner. Hopefully, next time a bunch of writers are in a room together, we'll realize that no one is going to recommend shock therapy for starting a dialogue about the things we care about.

If yr so inclined, buy the book here.