I love to drive.
No, you don’t understand. I LOVE to drive. Driving is how I learn about myself, it’s how I reflect on my mistakes, my successes, and my hopes for the future.
Driving helps me pray. Some people burn incense, some people read the Bible, I drive.
When I was in high school, I drove because I was lonely. I went to a very small high school – 90 kids in my graduating class – and I not only didn’t have a girlfriend, but I didn’t have a date until after I graduated. I drove and listened to music that made me happy, made me sad, and allowed me to talk to God and beg for the loneliness to end. Night after night, mile after mile, song after song, putting around the north shore of Long Island, communing with God and learning about myself.
After college I joined the Air Force and was sent to England. I bought a Geo Tracker and drove it around Europe. I loved that little thing, had a Blaupunkt head unit, Polk Audio speakers, and a Bazooka Tube for bass. No girlfriend while I lived in Europe, but I drove the beejeezus out of that truck.
I moved to California and got a Honda del Sol. Alpine head unit, JL Audio speakers, and a pre-fabricated JL Audio dual 10” subwoofer box replacing the storage compartments behind the seats. Yes the cowl-shake was extreme, yes people made fun of my Super Hero green car, but it was a hard-top convertible in the California sun, and I drove everywhere, music blaring.
Correction: not blaring. I have never been an SPL-freak, (i.e. I don’t care about the volume.) I cared about the sound quality. Tight bass, not pounding. Crisp mids, and the tweeters properly spaced and angled to produce the best sound-stage possible in the driver’s seat. Music volume is important so that the music can be heard and felt, but I didn’t make my stereo so loud as to be obnoxious or to damage my hearing.
Now I have a 350Z, Clarion head unit in the dash with a pair of Boston Acoustics separates in the doors. And this past Sunday, I drove. It was glorious. The day will come when I can explain why I was so excited to be driving yesterday, but for now, here’s what I listened to:
- Is It For Me, by Toad the Wet Sprocket
- Human Touch, by Bruce Springsteen
- Don’t You Forget About Me, by Simple Minds
- Human Wheels, by John Cougar Mellencamp
- Runnin’ Down a Dream, by Tom Petty
I got to drive yesterday. I talked to God. I felt the steering wheel hug the road and the pulse of the engine through the gear shift. The music filled me, and I achieved the state of awareness that allows me to reflect on the past and look into the future.
And the future looked and sounded pretty damn good.
Way to feel it my friend.
I did this too while i was student and feeling the need to be by myself, far from people, or some people.
Just driving around in the night, listening to the music, what a cliché
I don’t do it anymore, i don’t know why, i usually take my car to go somewhere, still the music is important but having a goal to the ride makes it pointless
Driving is the only moment apart of jogging where i do enjoy a good transcendent trance music. Have the nice future you deserve.
Great post man, keep it up ;D
Walking is like that for me. After my divorce earlier this year I started getting into a walking regimen. Some Sundays I’ll head for an 8 mile walk with the ipod going in my ears.
Good taste in music! I saw Toad the Wet Sprocket this summer in Atlanta – awesome show, no new music, just all their great old stuff – was an awesome show.
The blaupunkt commercial with the stuffed animals is still one of the best commercials ever, imo.
During my divorce, I did a lot of driving myself, for the same reasons you mention (though I don’t associate any sense of religious affiliation with the activity). When I moved back to Vermont during my divorce, I got myself a Honda Civic, and one of the first things I did to that car was upgrade the sound system. I replaced the factory deck with a Pioneer unit, replaced the standard speakers with Alpine Type S’es, and got myself a 1200 watt Rockford amp and two 12″ Rockford subs. Yes, the system was a bit of a mish-mash of random parts, but I got the whole set-up second-hand from a friend and it’s stood me in good stead. (I still have it, and still love it, though the deck needs replacing in a bad way.)
My friends used to joke that my subs were rattling my car apart. I used to laugh and think that was a compliment.
If you really want to hear those subs sing, you should check out Pendulum, particularly the album “Hold Your Colour”. I’ve caught you listening to things like the Chemical Brothers before, so Pendulum might be right up your alley. Check out the songs “Slam” and “Fasten Your Seat Belt” for a good taste of their stuff.
Happy driving, Daniel.
I drive to work, that is an hour (two hours this morning, oil leak coupled with two accidents blocked the roads for a while) one way so when the weekend comes, I really don’t want to drive anywhere. I listen to morning radio, the public service channel (no commercials, win!) that can play whatever damn music they choose. Which means, one morning I got Earth, Wind and Fire – September, another I got Bee Gees – Stayin’ Alive, and this morning I got Scorpions – Who wants to live forever. You just know that the day will be good after that
And glad that you are glad mate. I spent the weekend comforting two friends that split up and one friend that have just started a 22week absence from his girlfriend – so good that some are good
I know exactly what you mean about the loud vs. quality loud. My friend in High School had his brother in the R&D Department of Boston Acoustics so he had alllllll these toys to put in his ’82 Cherokee Chief. The problem was, he liked to listen to everything at ear splitting levels. Never could enjoy the music.
It actually sounded better in my little Acura with the $1,000 miniature system because I took the time to set it up the right way.
Glad to hear your weekend rocked as well!
I love driving. I live in Texas and there’s a lot of space here to cover.
In high school, a buddy of mine and I would drive a couple hours south or north to the next largest town just to get out and run around a bit on the weekends. When I moved to San Francisco I packed up my pickup and drove the whole 24 hour trip.
When I moved back to Texas I drove.
When I moved my girlfriend (now fiance) from Indiana down here to live with me we rented a uhaul and spent 18 hours on the road getting here. It’s one of the best ways to be alone with your thoughts and a great way to get to know someone.
There’s a reason there are so many movies with road trips in them.
Glad to hear you are enjoying life.
Love hearing funny stories about Airman Howell and your son.
I know good things are heading your way, and as always, if you ever find yourself in Texas, shoot me an email and I’ll buy the first round.
I’ve only been driving for going on 3 years now (got my license later in life than most), but I do find it very meditative. Although, apparently, I sometimes have ridiculous road rage…according to my friends…who laugh at me from the passenger seat.
I swear the lead sing of Toad made a pass at me when I went to PIL concert back in ’89. Some sid vicious look a like grabbed my ass at the concessions before the show. After a not so polite expletive I high tailed it back to my friends. A little while later the opening act got on stage and there he was. Thought their set sucked too. Johnny Rotten on the other hand rocked the joint.
Damn I’m getting old.
I’m glad you are able to find something that you can thoroughly enjoy and that allows you a time to reflect. (And, that’s legal ). I know when going through a divorce the loneliness sometimes feels like it can consume you, but hopefully you can focus on your son, your God, your friends.. and come out stronger and wiser from all this. It takes awhile..
-Del
My car is my sanctuary away from family, life, etc. Someplace I can go to truly be myself. Sadly, my stereo was jacked out of my car in May and I haven’t had the time or money to replace it yet. I miss my Mike & Mike in the morning, ICP, and Disturbed.
Although, I haven’t listened to Johnny Cougar or Simple Minds in years. May have to go dig them up.
I know what you mean, I tend to do the same thing when I can (driving thinking time is a lot scarcer, now that I work from home and have two small kids). I think one of my favorite songs now for driving is Jonathan Coulton’s “Drive” (you can preview it on his site here, under Thing A Week One, last song: http://www.jonathancoulton.com/store/downloads/). Hope you enjoy it too.
Glad to hear things are looking up for you!
–Dzuri
Driving + Music = fantastic. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi would say you were in a Flow State, and I think he would be right on in saying it too. Being there is good times, and good for you as well. With the exception of Toad the Wet Sprocket, who never really did much for me, I love all the artists you named. If you are ever looking for some newer stuff though, you might check out Pela, and The National. They are both bands out of Brooklyn, and their records, (Anytown Graffiti and Boxer respectively) are both absolutely Flow inducing for me.
I Know what you mean. I don’t have a car, but i feel the same when i ride my bicycle, feeling free to go wherever the heck i want to. A good headset, and a selection of the finest melodic metal from my 40~ or so Gb of music. Yeah, maybe our musical tastes are different. Yeah, maybe driving a car is miles away from riding a bike. But i know what you mean, friend. I know what you mean.
Nice! My first car was an ’85 Ford Escort. I slapped a Clarion head unit in with a pair of 3′ tall house speakers laying on their back under the hatch. That sounded insane until I blew the channels. Most recently, pre-kids, was my Acura RSX with an Alpine head, Alpine 12″ sub, Polk speakers and JBL amp. That was a pretty tight set-up with amazing clarity. Prodigy sounded like they were performing in the car, and my wife named that as my car’s soundtrack
These days I settle for the factory upgraded audio in my Highlander. Blue’s Clues on the DVD really, um, rocks?
-John
Nice! My first car was an ’85 Ford Escort. I slapped a Clarion head unit in with a pair of 3′ tall house speakers laying on their back under the hatch. That sounded insane until I blew the channels. Most recently, pre-kids, was my Acura RSX with an Alpine head, Alpine 12″ sub, Polk speakers and JBL amp. That was a pretty tight set-up with amazing clarity. Prodigy sounded like they were performing in the car, and my wife named that as my car’s soundtrack
These days I settle for the factory upgraded audio in my Highlander. Blue’s Clues on the DVD really, um, rocks?
-John
PS: Forgot to mention good post!
Ah, Daniel, my friend, you think 90 is small? I graduated from a class of two. Count ‘em. One. Two.
All I can say is that I had salutatorian in the BAG, man.
Grats, glad things are working out… Maybe it will be long term parking, maybe it was just a taxi, either way, you got to red line it while a new driver shifted.
Hey, you might like Relient K, a christian rock band. A little different sounding than the ones you listed, but some definitely good song :]
I think it’s really obvious to anyone who listens to music that it is, in fact, a thing that can completely change your day.
Something I once noted was how musicians and the music they make are the closest things to wizards and magic on this planet. We have wands/batons, we have complex text to read (or we can just feel the music form within and put it out, that’s jazz et al) and we can make people feel chills up their spine and change their mood with a subtle but powerful chord change.
And people wonder why I study music. /flex
About sound quality: my friend in 4th year told me something that everyone should remember…
“A good sound, steady tone and such, will cut through any noise like a hot knife through butter. Loud sound with no control? That’s like bashing your head against a wall: no one cares and it leaves everything in a bloody mess.”
Missing one good song there, the motorcycle song by Arlo Guthrie
And I am totally with you on sound quality over loudness
Yarr, driving can be cathartic. Walking also. But no ipod when I walk; I listen to the wind and the critters and the silence.
I always knew I liked you! It’s good to hear people want GOOD SOUND QUALITY. Not boom boom boom boom. Yea, if you don’t have a sub in your current car, I would suggest a 12″. I had one in my eclipse awhile ago, and was very happy. Good choice on the Boston Acoustics! I bet it’s sounding great.
Still going strong since the old BRK age. always fun to read keep it up.
Active boombox for the old car….:-)
Pioneer TS-WX20LPA
Worth every penny
/regards
Matt
Sweden
If you’re in to Driving (with a capital D) get a German car. Nothing else quite like it and safe for the kiddo.
I like driving solo through the twisties to Beethoven, especially the piano Sonatas. Great emotion, dynamics.
Had a brilliant holiday recently where me and my fella took a week driving around Cornwall and the general SW of england. Gorgeous weather, all A roads, stopping where we ended up and my wonderful VW Golf 1.9ltr TDI eating up the miles. Plus a ton of good tunes.
Bloody marvellous!
I think a nap after a long 12 hour shift followed by a long fast loud drive is in order.
When I was a little younger, figure, college aged, that’s how I’d blow off stress.. and I live on an island that isn’t that huge, so it would be from one end to the other, and occasionally back again, with my ipod rigged into my speakers.. I bet somewhere I still have that old playlist.
Thanks for the idea
And, Very Glad to hear all is looking well at the moment.
I’m no motorhead but it sounds like my car is to me what yours is to you. I bought a Mini CooperS and will never own another make for the rest of my life! This car is designed for the driver and no one else! It’s the most fun I’ve ever had behind the wheel, AND you can race them!! There are Mini Rallys all over the country! Considering how you feel about driving, I would seriously consider letting you drive Smacky (yes, I call my Mini Smacky).
Also:
Led Zeplin
Rolling Stones
and give Matt Kearny a listen…. awesome!
Happy Motoring!
I don’t talk to God much and I am a born-again taxi cab driver when behind the wheel of a car. Bumpers are there for a reason, imho. And I don’t listen to music when it’s loud, even if the quality is good.
So, what exactly to we have in common? Ahhh, I know. We have the same number of ribs, regardless of what He has been telling you.
This is pretty much what I do when I really need to think. Not so much the last year…a long commute that you HAVE to do, at least for me, kind of killed my desire to drive for the heck of it. There are times in my life I wouldn’t have gotten through without the ability to drive aimlessly, endlessly around town or out to wherever. Which I think is part of the reason it hit me so hard when my first car was totaled…that car heard all my desperation and sadness, my hopes and fears, my sweat and tears were soaked into its seats.
I play music, but I’m not a very musical or audial person…generally once I start thinking I don’t even hear it.
VERY glad to hear you are getting to a good place. You were overdue for some good times. Let ‘em roll.
It’s nice to see the smile back in your words.