What is it like to PERFORM LIVE?

[suzdoyle]

(continued) . . . Fav gig # 2Playing a solo piano concert at a local theatre as the last of 3 acts. The night felt magical and flowy, and at one point I thought I saw something flying around the darkened theatre. Odd.After the show, a woman who was obviously in great pain hobbled over to me in the lobby. She told me she was in a car accident years ago, and had an illness in addition to that that kept her in chronic pain. However, she said that when she heard me play one particular song ("Beauty and the Beast"), she felt herself leave her body and fly around the room, free from pain at last.She thanked me; which felt so backwards. With both of us in tears, I thanked HER for the gift of sharing how the music had lifted her so gracefully out of her pain.Since that time, performing has become something much deeper than I imagined possible. Even as the queen of quirky theme songs and comedy sketches, I still find that, more often than not, playing music becomes an invitation to experience community, connection, and healing. ,Suz

[matthoggard]

May 1, 2009, 10:12pm, mojobone wrote:Not cheesy at all, Mewman, and I know jes' how you feel; there's been a lotta great gigs, and a lotta bad gigs, but I wouldn't trade none of it for bein' a civilian.The ability to lift people's spirits when they're feelin' down is kinda like a superpower; I may never get to make babies or watch 'em grow up, but this music bidness'll do jes' fine for my contribution to society, even if it's always on the smallest of levels. The other day, it occurred to me how many peoples' wedding pictures I been in; what a privilege it is to be a part of such a special occasion for so many good folks, and what an honor to play them off the stage at their funerals. Hell, I even played a baby shower/hog roast, once. I can't even begin to express how thankful I am that I get to do this. (well, not by typing, anyway) Damn!For 8 years I been wondering who that guy in our wedding picture was!!!!!Hey Suz glad to see you around how is your daughter??Matt

[matthoggard]

May 2, 2009, 4:18pm, suzdoyle wrote:(continued) . . . Fav gig # 2Playing a solo piano concert at a local theatre as the last of 3 acts. The night felt magical and flowy, and at one point I thought I saw something flying around the darkened theatre. Odd.After the show, a woman who was obviously in great pain hobbled over to me in the lobby. She told me she was in a car accident years ago, and had an illness in addition to that that kept her in chronic pain. However, she said that when she heard me play one particular song ("Beauty and the Beast"), she felt herself leave her body and fly around the room, free from pain at last.She thanked me; which felt so backwards. With both of us in tears, I thanked HER for the gift of sharing how the music had lifted her so gracefully out of her pain.Since that time, performing has become something much deeper than I imagined possible. Even as the queen of quirky theme songs and comedy sketches, I still find that, more often than not, playing music becomes an invitation to experience community, connection, and healing. ,SuzThats awesome!Weird thing, just last might my cowriter and I went to audition a drummer for the band we are forming. He had a really nice rehearsal studio and we walk in and think "yeah this is cool". Black walls, couches, mood lighting, a small stage setup you name it, (no I DID NOT INHALE!)Well this place was also right down the sidewalk from a neighborhood bar and of course the drummer knows everyone there. We hadnt been there 20 minutes when 4-5 people walk in and start partying. The drummer doesnt even have a kit setup, his stuff was in cases, says hes been "on the road". We packed a couple acoustics and started playing our songs seeing how were the big time songwriters and he wants to check out or "stuff". 5 more people later, we realize that almost the whole bar is in there and now were playing a friggin CONCERT!!! Geez, Good thing we knew some Zeppelin and old classics but they seemed to like our originals (drunk folks will tell you anything).Point of my story, One guy was tearing up and told us he had to bury an aunt today and a couple of our songs really touched him so that was the payoff I guess.The drummer asked "what did you think"? I said you didnt even play so I think WE did ok. He says "yeah lets hook up yall are good"!NEXT DRUMMER PLEASE!!!!God this is a weird occupation.M~

[ernstinen]

Wow, great thread!I've been performing in bands since I was 14. First on organ/vocals, then added electric piano, alto sax, and finally electric guitar (my soul mate!).So many gigs, so little time to tell all the stories!Best gigs in my 20s --- opening up for Mitch Ryder at a BIG outdoor concert. We were at our best, and ol' Mitch was on his way down. This was in Kalamazoo, MI, and word got out to a Grand Rapids FM station who said we "BLEW them off the stage!" --- Around that time, we opened for a big act from Australia in a huge indoor arena and blew THEM off the stage, to the point that the guys from down under were so pissed at us a fight almost broke out! Tough guys, HA!Worst gig was in Flint MI at a biker bar. I've told this story, but it got down to that we did NOT connect with the audience. Finally, a rough voice screamed "Goddamn it, play something @#$%ing MELLOW!" THEN the dance floor was packed. --- Nightly knife fights etc., with guns drawn. Wow! Best gigs here in L.A. were showcases for record companies, with A&R guys sitting down with us after the set.Worst gig in L.A. --- Our keyboardist took too long to set up in one of these clubs where 3-4 bands played each night. When we were ready, over the P.A. the soundman said "Your set is now 30 minutes." I was so pissed, I axed ALL of the softer numbers, cranked up my amp, and played like a crazy man. After the set, people came up to me saying "Amazing!" "Incredible" --- But I was still so upset, I went outside, sat on the curb and cried. My band members took down my gear, and I never went to the sheister club owner for our money, I was so angry. --- Sometimes in rock, anger is a good thing, but it didn't feel good to me, even though it did while I was playing. Soon after that, the band switched to playing "unplugged," and we had some really nice, musical, fun gigs doing that! Ern

[suzdoyle]

Hey Matt, Thanks for asking. Things are still up and down with my daughter; more ups than downs, thank goodness. Seems it's going to be a fairly long process. I may not be on the boards as much until things really settle down with her.ANOTHER GIG STORYWedding gig in the park for two avid bicyclists, each of whom biked separately down the aisle at the beginning of the ceremony. After the ceremony, they departed on a bicycle built for two. Very fun !! Of course, the recessional song (which I played on piano) was "Bicycle Built for Two". I love living in the Pacific Northwest! Hey, Ern, I started performing at the age of 14, too (in a 30s and 40s band that was great fun).Suz

[onoffon]

Thousands of gigs too...When I was a young lad still in my teens, I had a group of friends that would call up out of the blue and haul our equipment and a few Honda generators up into the hills of Big Tujunga Canyon and we'd have what we called 'mountain jams'. We'd play all weekend and people would hike over the hills from miles around and find us out there jammin' - from then on I was hooked. Never had so much fun...Since then - a few highlights -- Opening for The Outlaws and Foghat at Fender's Ballroom- Opening for Willie & Lobo and Acoustic Alchemy at The Roxy on the Sunset Strip- Playing B.B. King's at Universal Citiwalk- Playing a fundraiser for John Kerry in Beverly Hills- Opening both days of the first Long Beach Jazz Festival, among artists like The Rippingtons, Poncho Sanchez, Mongo Santamaria, Ronnie Laws, and the Stanley Clarke BandStill play whenever and wherever I can...

[ernstinen]

Good Gigs! Man, I've done everything from pop to rock to country to jazz, pretty much it all. Lots of "casuals," too.One best casual moment was when I played a gig at the Bel Air Country Club (Von, I'm sure you've been there!). Very rich crowd, and we did the usual bossa novas etc. during the first set.During the second set, we started cranking it up, and the "sub" drummer was fantastic. At the break, I asked the guy what he was doing otherwise musically. He said "I'm playing with a great singer-songwriter-keyboarist, and we're doing an album." I said "cool --- I'm really enjoying playing with you tonight!"Since I was playing left-hand bass, we just locked in and rocked the house down.It turned out that the drummer was recording with Bruce Hornsby, and his name was John Molo.What a fine drummer! If you've ever seen some of the latest live "Austin Limits" shows on TV, Molo has been playing with John Fogerty, alternating with Kenny Aranoff. I like Molo better.A real performing highlight!Ern

[deantaylor]

Great stories guys, keep 'em coming. Presidents, smashing guits, getting your clothes ripped off, bikers, crazy drummer stories, more electrocutions .... lol good stuffThanks for sharing.

[cmrmurray]

I'd an interesting one last year where we played this bar outside London with 2 metal bands (we're rock but not metal). It was OK, but the promoter didn't really dig us, and the other bands were nice but seemed to know each other before and like each others' metal way more than what we were doing. Then after the show a guy came up and introduced himself as Rod Stewart's guitarist, and said that we were the only decent band all night, the first band he'd heard in ages that could actually write songs, and he asked for a CD. Things like that go to show how anything can happen.

[allends]

May 3, 2009, 4:57am, cmrmurray wrote:...introduced himself as Rod Stewart's guitarist...Hey that's really great! I smile every time I remember being mistaken for Rod Stewart's guitarist while I was walking out of the art school I was attending in Rio de Janiero back in 1972. That was a long time ago. Thanks for the memory jog! Allen