December 31, 2017 [LINK / comment]
I had another performance at Bedlam Brewing last month, November 17, and it went very well for the most part. After my show in September, I wanted to make sure the volume was high enough, but apparently it was still too low for the first song. For the first time, I had a brief feedback problem, which usually results from the microphone being too close to the speaker.
I wasn't really at the top of my game, but I did well enough to get plenty of appreciative smiles from the patrons, some of whom stayed for nearly the entire two-hour set. Due to lack of time, I tried to rush the last few songs, and I probably should have left out "A Change Would Do You Good," which I only learned recently. One song got left out entirely: "Found Out About You," by the Gin Blossoms. I have two more shows at Bedlam Brewing scheduled for next year, and I hope to line up dates at other local venues soon.
Back at the regular open mic event at Queen City Brewing on November 22, I stuck to familiar material for the most part, but some of those songs I had not done in public before. I felt very good about the way they sounded.
I missed the following week (November 29), but returned to Queen City Brewing on December 6, with a few brand-new (for me) songs as well as old standy-by's. The host Fritz Horisk remarked that "Penny Lane" was especially challenging. After it was over, I talked to him about the online video I had seen on Facebook, and he agreed with me that the "surprising chord" that the musical instructor was discussing was not a B minor 7, but rather a G major 7. That made me feel good. It's an unusual song, and I manage to use a single harmonica (key of D) to play in both keys as the song modulates back and forth.
On December 13, My first four songs (listed below) were first-timers for me, and I realized I probably need to sing "White Christmas" in a higher key. Otherwise, I did OK. People even got up and danced for "Your Song," which was nice. It's one of my favorites.
December 20 was another evening of great fun at Queen City Brewing, as we all got into the holiday spirit. My first four songs (listed below) were first-timers for me, and I realized I probably need to sing "White Christmas" in a higher key. Otherwise, I did OK. People even got up and danced for "Your Song," which was nice. It's one of my favorites. Afterwards, another musician, Larry Ragland, suggested that I add a G major 7 chord between the D major and A major chords in the first line of each verse, and I agree with him on that 100%.
On December 27, I was expecting a low post-Christmas turnout, but was pleasantly surprised that at least ten patrons showed up. But there were only two other musicians besides Fritz (Diane Byrer and Patrick Dimeo), so I got to do more songs than usual.