Dave and Serge...played the Fiddler's Elbow as if it were…
““Dave and Serge...played the Fiddler's Elbow as if it were Giants Stadium, and even though it was acoustic, they just about blew the place up. They were standing on chairs adn lying on the floor, they were funny, they charmed everyone in the pub apart from an old drunk ditting next to the drum kit...who put his fingers firmly in his ears during Serge's extended harmonica solo. It was utterly bizarre and very moving: most musicians wouldn't have bothered turning up, let alone almost killing themselves. And I was reminded...how rarely one feels included in a live show. Usually you watch, and listen, and drift off, and the band plays well or doesn't and it doesn't matter much either way. It can actually be a very lonely experience. But I felt a part of the music, and a part of the people I'd gone with, and, to cut this short before the encores, I didn't want to read for about a fortnight afterward. I wanted to write, but I didn't want to read no book. I was too itchy, too energized, and if young people feel like that every night of the week, then, yes, literature 's dead as a dodo. (Nick's thoughts after seeing Marah at a little pub called Fiddler's Elbow.)””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Live music can create rare feelings of inclusion and vitality, contrasting with passive audience experiences.
In simple terms: Music can make you feel part of something.
Key Takeaway
Seek active, immersive experiences.
Themes
community
music
loneliness
creativity
Mood
joyful
energetic
Type
cultural
personal
When to use this quote
- concerts
- pub gigs
- jam sessions
- creative writing
- nightlife
Key Concepts
performance art
social connection
youth culture
Questions to Reflect On
- How does music change your sense of belonging?
- What moments have made you feel alive?
A Different Perspective
Not everyone feels this intensity; some prefer observation.