I used to do a semi-regular feature on Fridays called It’s The End of the Week As We Know It (or ITEOTWAWKI), a takeoff of one of R.E.M.’s most recognizable songs. And if you don’t know about my R.E.M. fandom, strap in.

I can go pretty deep on even the most minute issues on the band. It’s pretty bad. Well, bad for people who find themselves trapped in a conversation with me. I love it. I embrace my nerd-dom.

A number of years ago, I bought a guitar to play in my basement. It was always just something for me – I have no illusions about ever playing in a band or doing an open mic. For starters, I can’t sing while I play. Secondly, I am not that good. But I can play a bunch of songs thanks to the plethora of websites that include the chords to almost every song you could ever imagine.

So to bring back this feature, I have decided to actually share a video of me playing an R.E.M. song. I can play a handful of them, but I am proud of learning to play a passable version of Shaking Through from their first album Murmur. Follow that link if you want to hear the real thing. Otherwise, enjoy what I am able to do.

Part of my reason for doing this is in remembrance of my friend Dave Linantud, who died earlier this year. We grew up together and got our first guitars around the same time. We talked about being in bands together in middle school and junior high. He ended up having a prolific and influential music career in the Baltimore area. I did not.

We re-connected on Facebook and chatted a lot during the pandemic. There were times I recorded myself playing something in the basement and considered sending it to him, but I always chickened out. I have no idea why – he would have loved it. He was a passionate supporter of just doing the creative thing instead of wondering if you had made the right decision. I wish he had heard me play.

If you’re going to critique my playing ability, you will probably be bombarded with irrelevant GIFs that will entertain me. If you want to critique the faces I make and stuff like that, have at it.

Other songs may follow on future Fridays. Or maybe deep analysis of lyrics or stage banter.