The Goat Rodeo Sessions

I know what you’re going to say: “Yoyo Ma playing bluegrass? Really?” Really.

If you haven’t heard of The Goat Rodeo Sessions yet, consider this your wake up call. Just imagine – the musical virtuoso and cellist prodigy Yoyo Ma plus the award-winning bluegrass-er Stuart Duncan PLUS the jazzy contrabassist Edgar Meyer PLUS the dreamy folk-inspired mandolin-playing Chris Thile. These four musicians, all stellar in their own rights, have come together to craft the album The Goat Rodeo Sessions, an eleven-song bluegrass journey with soul, power, and intoxicating sound.

If the folk revival is where your music’s gone recently, The Goat Rodeo Sessions is where it needs to be now.

Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvw0vbewH_Q

Your Voice

By Lauren Mahncke

Over the past few weeks, despite the lack of mainstream media attention, Occupy Wall Street has garnered up a lot of discussion about the current state of affairs in the United States. Despite differences in opinion on the movement, one thing that can be said about the movement is that this group of protesters is making their voices heard. And in a society that often prides fitting-in and conformity, a great lesson can be learned from the Occupy movement— silence does not set you free.

I believe that the one thing everyone has in this world is a voice, and this voice gives you power. When you start to figure out your voice, you start to figure out who you are.  When you begin to speak out, it’s a lot harder to be ignored. Realistically, one voice cannot change the world. But being a rebel in thought doesn’t get you very far until you begin to speak and act on your voice. And when a lot of voices join together, they become harder to ignore. Even if you don’t think you’re being heard, speechlessness does not protect you, it simply hides you. Only your voice can make your presence known.

For our generation, it is easier than ever to make our voices heard. Blogging in particular is an easy way to get your voice out, especially among your peers. So I invite you, the Stonehill community, to submit your posts to this blog. State your claim, tell the world what you think, and hear what others have to say. You never know who is listening.