My Solo Return!
I’m returning to solo shows after what’s probably been a 2 year break.
Stop the presses. I know.
Most of these past shows were about 90% originals vs covers. It wasn’t as if I really felt the world needed to hear these dear songs. Rather, they were all I could really play. (Sounds a bit sad as I write it, actually.) It’s just--playing covers was never a thing for me.
When I was young I did not spend enough time learning songs. Went straight to writing which I did not do too much of because I didn’t know enough. No bank or well to draw from so to speak
Fast forward to right now, after spending the last few years doing a ton of live work: playing bass, doing sound + tracks, dj-ing, playing keys and synths etc. for other folks, I finally got the itch to learn all the songs.
I really have enjoyed the whole learning process. I also found a great way to chart songs, and I think that really pushed me over the edge into maniacal territory. And with all this, the urge to dig thru the records of my youth and play some of them got hold of me.
While I’m still very interested in writing songs and music, the fire’s dulled, if only a bit. Definitely overtaken by playing live. And after sitting in my big chair thinking this all thru, trying to figure out what I really wants out of all of this, live is for sure the thing for me. And covers is the shortest, cleanest line to a bunch of gigs. Desire and interest finally aligned!
All this plus a really a great sxsw gig singing this year = it’s time.
So, since this return gig is at my neighborhood family club, I’m doing a mix of 80’s and 90’s songs that are familiar, if not completely obvious. And the tunes are up enough to be enjoyable if folk don’t know them, kind of like my dj sets, which has also really informed almost all of what I am presently doing.
So in this exciting miniseries, I’m going to kind-of track this return. How did I get these songs together? What’s the set up? Why etc.? Can I really nail them all in a month?
Below is the current list. Will sneak in some originals too.
There She Goes Under the Milky Way Killing Moon Don’t Go Back to Rockville
Our Lips are Sealed Mary Jane’s Last Dance Me in Honey I Won’t Back Down
Always Something There to Remind Me Driver 8 Put the Message in a Box Fade Into You
Eyes of a Stranger / Bed’s Too Big Sweet Jane Wrapped Around Your Finger Time of the Season
Season of the Witch In Between Days Train in Vain 6th Ave Heartache
My Favorite Mistake Tiger Lilly Just Like Heaven