Last night, at 10pm, I (and a few others) received a text from a friend. His name is Black Francis. Frank Black. Charles Thompson. He is the lead singer in the band Pixies, you may have heard of them.
He has an important message for us all during this incredibly challenging time of COVID-19 crazy:
‘When I was a boy we used to bang pots and pans outside at midnight on New Year’s Eve. I’ve been inspired seeing those clips of the quarantined Italians singing from their balconies. I propose this action to you today: no matter your state of health or political views or age or education or philosophy, I ask you to greet the night at 6 pm local time to bang the pot long enough so that I can hear you, but not so long that you disturb our present contemplation. If you have no pot to play then play two spoons; play your tune on your porch and in your garden and at your window sill. And if you are feeling too ill to come to the window I hope you will hear us banging for joy and you can smile with us!
I’ll be listening for you tomorrow night and every night at 6pm.“
He asked me to “spread the word” and when I said he was likely in a better position than I to do that, he said: “I really wanted to make some personal connections, so that you could make some personal connections…kinda like a virus.”
Then I received another text in the thread, this time signed by Moby:
“What if we make the 6pm noise a way of saying thank you to all the people who are working so hard to get us through this? – Moby”
Yes, what if? So I’m spreading the word. And reminding everyone to use their creativity, and think about how they can connect with themselves and each other in this unprecedented time. Watch the live streams that your favourite bands start putting on (Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie is going to be live streaming daily, for example), buy more of their merch, tip better in Bandcamp, sign up to their Patreons, pre-order their albums, check in on them, and tell them you value them and want to see them back after all this dust settle.
Above all, my friends, stay safe, stay healthy, stay HOME, wash your hands and BANG YOUR POTS AT 6PM LOCAL TIME EVERY NIGHT. \m/