December 31, 2017 [LINK / comment]
Yet another BIG show at Bedlam Brewing
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.
- Only Want To Be With You -- Hootie & the Blowfish
- Like A Rolling Stone -- Bob Dylan
- I Won't Back Down -- Tom Petty
- El Condor Pasa -- Simon & Garfunkle
- Wild Horses -- Rolling Stones
- Outlaw Man -- Eagles
- Lonesome L.A. Cowboy -- New Riders Of The Purple Sage
- Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out -- Eric Clapton
- Proud Mary -- Creedence Clearwater Revival
- Listen To The Music -- Doobie Brothers
- Dust In The Wind -- Kansas
- Helplessly Hoping -- Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
- You Know Like I Know -- Ozark Mountain Daredevils
- Come Together -- Beatles
- Heart of Gold -- Neil Young (BY REQUEST)
- Turn the Page -- Bob Seger
- Piano Man -- Billy Joel
- Here Comes My Girl -- Tom Petty
- Small Town -- John Cougar Mellencamp
- Every Breath You Take -- Police
- Landslide -- Fleetwood Mac
- Us and Them -- Pink Floyd
- Comfortably Numb -- Pink Floyd
- Better Left Unsaid -- Andrew Clem
- Leatherwood -- Ozark Mountain Daredevils
- Peaceful Easy Feelin' -- Eagles
- A Change Would Do You Good -- Sheryl Crow
- The Time of Your Life -- Green Day
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.
More open mic events
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.
- Eight Days a Week -- Beatles
- Wild Horses -- Rolling Stones
- Outlaw Man -- Eagles
- You Know Like I Know -- Ozark Mountain Daredevils
- Come Together -- Beatles
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.
- Penny Lane -- Beatles
- Lady Madonna -- Beatles
- Please Come Home for Christmas -- Eagles
- You're Sixteen -- Ringo Starr
- Lonesome L.A. Cowboy -- New Riders Of The Purple Sage
- Leatherwood -- Ozark Mountain Daredevils
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.
- Wild World -- Cat Stevens
- With Or Without You -- U2
- White Christmas -- Bing Crosby
- Panama Red -- New Riders Of The Purple Sage
- Your Song -- Elton John
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%.
- The Christmas Song -- Mel Tourme
- It'll Shine When It Shines -- Ozark Mountain Daredevils
- Sweet Home Alabama -- Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Feliz Navidad -- Jose Feliciano
- Please Come Home for Christmas -- Eagles
- Us and Them -- Pink Floyd
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.
- It Don't Come Easy -- Ringo Starr
- I'm Not In Love -- 10 CC
- Out On the Sea -- Ozark Mountain Daredevils
- Penny Lane -- Beatles
- Doolin' Dalton -- Eagles
- My Favorite Mistake -- Sheryl Crow
- If You Wanna Get to Heaven -- Ozark Mountain Daredevils