Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Do What You Do
Some day I'm sure I'll go to an open mic and have absolutely no fun at all. I mean, it's bound to happen, law of averages and what not. But it ain't happened yet and tonight's Borders show was no exception. Ran into Steve Thorpe first thing. He had the mini disk recorder with him that he'll be using to record the Songwriter's Invitational, he wanted to practice with it a little before the recording of this event starts in earnest. He'd apparently had some trouble with it before, but I helped him out a little and it sounds like he got some good stuff tonight.
Playing on my own is always different. I enjoy it, but I'd much rather make music with someone else. If I hadn't hooked up with the Andys at Cheers last February I probably wouldn't be playing nearly as much as I do now. I'd still do the occasional open mic if I only played by myself, but most likely not with the frequency I do now.
On the other hand, I really look at playing solo as a way to try out new material. While I had done Two Condoms with TSA a time or two, it really took off when I did it solo. So tonight I worked out Home Sweet Home, last week I played I Wanna Marry a Stupid Woman. I do some other stuff solo that I've never done with Mr. Welvrig (see Dramatis Personae if you don't know who that is), a couple of Randy Newman tunes, Guilty and Political Science, a bunch of Bruce Springsteen songs, some originals like Treat Me Like a Dog, and the fun sing along (though no one has yet sung along, even though I invite them to in the song) I Know All The Presidents in Order. That last one gets the most amazing array of responses. When I played it tonight, an older woman in the bookstore let out a big "Wooo!" when I was done. I'm not sure the subject matter warrented that, but what the hell I'll take a "Wooo!" from a woman, any woman, any time I can! My favorite responses to that song are the blank stares, as if I've been speaking a foreign language. Sometimes I'll just get a smirk out of someone with it, since it's about the silliest thing someone could write a song about, I'll take it.
Steve Thorpe played Washboard Road tonight, and when he was done I let him know that I had blogged about it. He seemed baffled until I explained what a blog is. Then I explained the story of why I was thinking of the song and the insight it brought into some of my own limitations. We talked about music and "giggle factor" some. He noted that when he plays open mics with some of these younger folks (but I don't think he was talking about me.....) that he sees guitar chords he has never seen before, tries them out and can't make them sound worth a damn. Then again, none of the younger folks can finger pick like Steve. There was a time in my life when I had to be the best at anything I did. I suppose it's admirable to put in the effort to be the best at something, but being the best isn't important. Steve told me once not to apologize before I played guitar. I said I'm not very good but he told me I do what I do. Whatever that is, it seems to reach people. All in all, that's pretty cool. Steve helped me to realize that I don't need to be the best guitar player to be entertaining. It made me realize that even though I'm a pretty good harmonica player, singer and songwriter, I'll never be the best at any of those. That dosen't mean I can't entertain people. It also dosen't mean I can't get better at any of those things, but if I keep doing what I do, I'll be OK.
BOJ
Playing on my own is always different. I enjoy it, but I'd much rather make music with someone else. If I hadn't hooked up with the Andys at Cheers last February I probably wouldn't be playing nearly as much as I do now. I'd still do the occasional open mic if I only played by myself, but most likely not with the frequency I do now.
On the other hand, I really look at playing solo as a way to try out new material. While I had done Two Condoms with TSA a time or two, it really took off when I did it solo. So tonight I worked out Home Sweet Home, last week I played I Wanna Marry a Stupid Woman. I do some other stuff solo that I've never done with Mr. Welvrig (see Dramatis Personae if you don't know who that is), a couple of Randy Newman tunes, Guilty and Political Science, a bunch of Bruce Springsteen songs, some originals like Treat Me Like a Dog, and the fun sing along (though no one has yet sung along, even though I invite them to in the song) I Know All The Presidents in Order. That last one gets the most amazing array of responses. When I played it tonight, an older woman in the bookstore let out a big "Wooo!" when I was done. I'm not sure the subject matter warrented that, but what the hell I'll take a "Wooo!" from a woman, any woman, any time I can! My favorite responses to that song are the blank stares, as if I've been speaking a foreign language. Sometimes I'll just get a smirk out of someone with it, since it's about the silliest thing someone could write a song about, I'll take it.
Steve Thorpe played Washboard Road tonight, and when he was done I let him know that I had blogged about it. He seemed baffled until I explained what a blog is. Then I explained the story of why I was thinking of the song and the insight it brought into some of my own limitations. We talked about music and "giggle factor" some. He noted that when he plays open mics with some of these younger folks (but I don't think he was talking about me.....) that he sees guitar chords he has never seen before, tries them out and can't make them sound worth a damn. Then again, none of the younger folks can finger pick like Steve. There was a time in my life when I had to be the best at anything I did. I suppose it's admirable to put in the effort to be the best at something, but being the best isn't important. Steve told me once not to apologize before I played guitar. I said I'm not very good but he told me I do what I do. Whatever that is, it seems to reach people. All in all, that's pretty cool. Steve helped me to realize that I don't need to be the best guitar player to be entertaining. It made me realize that even though I'm a pretty good harmonica player, singer and songwriter, I'll never be the best at any of those. That dosen't mean I can't entertain people. It also dosen't mean I can't get better at any of those things, but if I keep doing what I do, I'll be OK.
BOJ
# posted by Blind Orange Julius @ 10:41 PM 
