Thursday, February 13, 2003

Education will broaden your horizons

I just wrote a buncha crap that I thought was witty and clever, and it was really crap. Just goes to prove that writing is and always will be a task that requires revision and patience. Walk away from it for a moment and then come back. You may change your mind a thousand times. I started writing in the first place because I made a decision and didn't change my mind. Because I made a decision and stuck with it, and though the doubts were all there, the rewards were even better, and made it worthwhile.
I decided to play a new open mic. No big deal, right? I've played three: the BBT, the Rex, and Club Cafe. All have their own charms... but I ventured into the Shadow Lounge last night to check out their open mic. I know a coupla folks who told me they played there. So, last Thursday I poked my head in to see what it's about. The guy gave me the scoop: open mic Wed., bands and groups stuff Fridays. There was a subtext there, but I didn't glean all of it's meaning until last night when I showed up at 8:30. Two guys sitting at the counter, one works there, maybe the other guy too, but he looks more like a regular. This is a smoke-free coffeshop venue with BYOB policy. There's some hip-hop flowing in the background music, and I ask about the open mic.
"Yeah, you're kinda early but it's tonight. It usually doesn't start till 9. What do you play?"
"Mostly originals, but a few covers. I don't really know how to classify myself aside from that." He nods and smiles, I order a spiced-apple drink, sit and start reading a magazine. A third guy shows up and starts talking with the two guys at the counter; they all know each other. I assume there will be a sign - up list, an EmCee / Host and they will say, hey, you can sign - up and folks will trickle in.
After forty-five minutes, a few more folks show up: three college age kids. They nod to everybody and sit off to the side. About half an hour later, a girl and her date come in. I walk up to the counter, get a second drink and ask about the open-mic again.
"Oh well you can play whenever, it's really just you, " and he smiles. So I say how about now, get my electric guitar out and he hooks me up to an amp.
Music fades out and find myself sitting on a stool in a big big room, with six people. See, when you play solo guitar, or guitar by yourself, I should say, it's you and a guitar. No rhythm section, no drums, it's pretty cut and dry. The three colllege kids pull up chairs and sit waiting.

"Hi my name is Matt. I'm gonna play some originals, maybe a cover. I'll start with the first song I ever wrote, My baby doesn't Love me Anymore" It occurs to me as I start into the first line, playing and singing, that I have in effect walked into a roadside bar in Texas with Hank Williams, Jr playing (not Hanks version 1.0 or 3.0, there's a difference there, believe you me), asked to play some songs and then I bust out a tweak scratch with me and my beatbox freakystylin' some'in some'in. Uhhh ... but in reverse.

The place is quiet, and then the golf clap and and a smile in the corner and I continue.
"This song is about how my love life sucks," and play 'Another girl I met along the way.' Golf claps.
I play "I Don't Know" (the 'Jet Aeroplane' song as some know it). Golf clap, and heads turnign over looking like, uhmmm I dunno. Hard to say, but kinda like, is he done yet?
"I'll play this last one, and then turn it over to you guys. It's called "Don't Go Sayin (that you love me)." And after that, there was applause, hmmmm. OK, so ther'e glad i'm done. well they sorta sat there and while I'm waitng for the guy to come unplug me from the amp, I figure I'll just provide the instrumental background ... and play the Kumler BossaNova bit.

"What's that called?"
"YOu got words for that?"
"I want to try something . . ."
And I step away from the mic, one guy starts a free style lyric about chillin' with his buds the day after a party. it's like Sunday afternoon chill music, he says.
Suddenly ther'es a drum kit uncovered, and the three are rotating on the mic while I lay down guitar bit. Then the drum gets the kabosh and some pre recorded beats come out. Kooky! We played until the beats switched over to some seventies sorta stuff, with a disco backdrop, and then I unplugged. I can't cut it with a full orchestra and beats and stuff ... Dang . . . somehow that fits! I'm not claiming suddenly to have flow and mad skillz. But how did it work? The trick is listening, hearing and playing with your heart. Oh yeah, and don't forget about respect. Always be respectful. Enjoy your music and let everybody else have fun too.

Monday, February 10, 2003

MUCH THANKS to everyone who came out to see the show at the Rex Saturday. :D And much thanks to BJ O'Malley and Louie and the Humans (Madge and Marty). It was great fun.

If you missed out, don't worry: I'll try to let everyone know about future shows.