Author’s note: I am not a short story writer, but I do tend to let ideas flow when they decide to come. I believe that you should not wait for inspiration to strike but rather manufacture your own through consistent hard work. #CreativeStruggle if you will. But when inspiration does strike, you should let her take the wheel and take you wherever she wants to go.

I had intended to write an article about the fight between the feeling of familiarity and the feeling of discovery when it comes to experiencing music — and how that could help you become more creative. However, somewhere along the way it took on a life of its own, like a weird Frankenstein monster. The irony is not lost on me.

The following short story is inspired by Let’s Dance, the second song off the latest Carnivaleros album, Tallsome Tales. We talk about the actual story behind the song in the second episode of our podcast, Tales From the Homestead, and I invite you to check it out to give you some context to the following story.

Club Novelty — A Short Story

When you discover new music, it’s like a light switch went off in your brain, revealing a new area you didn’t know was there.

It’s like you are wandering around the labyrinth streets of your midbrain, scouring the alleys for an off-venue concert you lost the flier for.

Suddenly, you hear the faint thump of bass, the only musical frequencies not gobbled up by the walls of the secret club. You look around and try to pinpoint where the music is coming from. You find yourself in a neural pathway that looks more like a dead-end alley than a neural circuit needing to be connected. There is no doorway and all the street signs show gibberish. Midnight steam rises up from the drains and a cat growls at the broken glass in the distance.

From the shadows, a figure asks, “Are you ready to expand your musical mind?”

Your heart beats faster and beads of sweat form on your forehead. You don’t know whether you’re ready for something new. What if it’s boring? Or worse yet, a complete waste of time?

You contemplate going back to the main venue up the street to seek out the familiar comforts of the music you already like, but you hesitate just long enough for the figure to step out of the shadows with a big Cheshire Grin.

“Well now….looks like we got ourselves somebody looking for a good time,” the figure says.

“I mean…I guess. That club up the street always plays the same songs. They’re good, don’t get me wrong. But I’ve been listening to them for as long as I can remember. We used to get new bands coming through all the time, but that was ages ago. Now, all the DJ does is play the hits we all liked in college!”

A wry expression forms on your face as you wonder why you felt compelled to share so much with the shadowy figure.

The shadow lets out a throaty snicker, like he’s heard this story a million times before.

“Sounds like you need some Novelty,” he says.

“What’s Novelty?” you ask.

“It’s the new genre behind this door.” The figure whips out a cane from his crusty leather jacket and in one swift movement strikes the wall behind it.

You wince at the blinding flash his cane creates as it makes contact with the wall. The kaleidoscopic reflections dance around your retinas as you try to rub the blindness out of your eyes. When your eyesight returns, you stare in amazement at a door where there was none before.

The entrance, a thick thick weathered oak door with heavy soundproof glass commands your attention. The dark alley has vanished and in its stead you discover a facade built with maroon brick. You can still feel the faint hum of the hypnotic music inside. You look around in wonder, astonished at the appearance of this new club that somehow feels so familiar. Your eyes freeze as you tilt your head back and see the marquee. In giant letters across the top, the name of the place calls out to you.

“Novelty…” you stammer in quiet surprise.

“Yes sir! NOVELTY!” a voice bellows and shakes you out of your flabbergasted stupor.

You glance over to the shadowy figure, and he beams at you, his cheshire grin transformed into the euphoric smile of a carnival barker. He shoots out his hands in a grand gesture, his scarlet ringleader jacket flowing in all directions.

“Step right up mister! Come check out the show!” The barker grabs my arm and yanks me closer. He wraps his other arm around me and in a hushed tone he says,

“Look here fella. I know you’re tired of the same old songs over and over again. It’s hard to give new stuff a chance because the comfort of familiarity is so soothing to the ears.”

His Dali’esque mustache grimaces as he shakes his head and adds, “it’s addictive really…sad how people stick to the same schtick when there’s a whole world of music out there waiting for them.”

The barker grabs your shoulders and exclaims, “but you’re different!”

“You’re looking for something new. Something exciting. Sounds you haven’t heard before right?”

You reluctantly agree, “Right….”

“Well then let’s go!” he shouts as he throws the door open and lets the music pour out into the street.

His head bobs and foot taps in ecstatic unison.

“Oh, I love this song! C’mon…let’s dance!”

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For more context, check out Let’s Dance here, and listen to us deconstruct the song in the second episode of our podcast, Tales From the Homestead here.