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Molly Lenz is great at building. A carpenter of sorts in the sense that she is able to build community through her house concerts. These concerts are well known in the Chicago area and attract musicians from across the country.
But you may ask, "what goes into making a successful house concert?" This is where Lenz comes in. Starting back in New Jersey, she created a concert series that brought talent into direct contact with "stalwarts" or avid music listeners. These are people who are not into live music for the alcohol, a big arena spectacle or hearing the latest hit, but people who are desiring of the deep "electric" connection that develops during a concert in which a musician is presenting music that is instantly and purely being absorbed. The result is something much more akin to a spiritual experience or the sort of catharsis that arises from meditation or yoga--it is a group energy cycle that takes place. As highfalutin' as that may sound, that is what people experienced on a regular basis prior to amplification. The mind's eye was the light show, the guitar and voice, all the amplification and the expectation was to listen intently and give back attention. The whole experience an intertwined, uplifting and energizing.
Taking that into account, there is something very trusting in opening ones home to strangers. That we live in a time of lack of trust and fear only exacerbates that. However, Lenz points out that there are few risks involved in hosting a house concert. No one is in it to make a lot of money---in fact, "labor of love" is the term frequently used to describe both the host, audience and artist. But the point is that in turning away from commercial music events and focusing on one-on-one musical experiences, we return to a form of community and communication that is closer to our ancestor's way of perceiving our world and each other. The need for more of these opportunities is real and, in a world, where media, algorithms and AI are starting to infiltrate the mysterious and magic of music, more important than ever. Check out her website at https://www.mollyshouseconcerts.com/

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