David Byrne, Arbutus, and Lansdowne Senior High School-ish Things

I am listening to David Byrne's How Music Works (September 12, 2012, McSweeney's). Just happened upon it when I was looking for a downloadable audiobook on the library website. (Thank you, Louisville Free Public Library.) And since (1) I have liked Mr. Byrne for forty years or so and (2) I am interested in finding out how music works, I downloaded it and have been listening to it when I exercise. After awhile, I couldn't help but notice that there were a few references to Baltimore, my hometown, so this morning I checked Wikipedia to see what I could see re: Mr. Byrne's background.

Well. He was born 14 May 1952 in Scotland, but venisoon after he moved to Baltimore, Maryland. Specifically the suburb known as Arbutus. And he attended Lansdowne Senior High School. Graduated in 1970 (I assume...the Wikipedia article didn't say, but I think this would be right.) 

And those details rocked my little world. 

See, I was born in 1957 in Baltimore, Maryland. Specifically the suburb known as Arbutus. And I attended Arbutus Junior High School from 1969 to 1972. I then attended Lansdowne Senior High School from 1972 to 1975. So that means I missed David Byrne by a mere two years. 

Shit.

I mean, we definitely would have been bros. Maybe we would have started a band together. Mmm-hmm.

I could have been a conTENder, man. I could have gone to Red Lobster tonight 1, motherfucker.

Oh well. 

It's a really interesting book, by the way. Kind of the musical equivalent of Henry Thomas Buckle's History of Civilization in England (still one of my all-time favorite non-fiction books, and available for free online at  https://archive.org/details/historyciviliza03buckgoog/page/n10  if you'd like a tickle.) At least the section I'm on now, which discusses the connection between the type of music created and the musical venues available. How the sound the composer pursues is shaped by the place in which the music will be heard. From rooms in palaces to the front seat of your car. And beyond (yond yond yond).

It's good stuff. I keep wondering when it will stop making sense, though.

See what I did there?

Hello?

Is this mic on?

1  And EVery night.