Songfinisher's Showcase
March 27, 2003
Gig: Friday, March 27, 2003
Location: Evening Muse, Charlotte, NC
Purpose: SongFinisher's Showcase
Set: 1 song--Fast Girl in a Pretty Car
Attendance--roughly 45
Band: Brian vox/gtr, Doug Albritton small kit (kick, snare, hat), Greg
Baker electric bass
Recordings: Audio--for charity (Foundation House), Video--Cable Access
(Naked Truth) and Yona (home DV)
Description:
The SongFinisher's Showcase is an event that features cowritten songs
selected from the last six months' output of the SongFinishers group.
My song "Fast Girl in a Pretty Car" was selected from over 30
tunes.
Songfinishers is a group of songwriters that meets once/month to gain
experience co-writing with new people and to share ideas. The attendees
set off in teams of two or three and have two hours to come up with a
song. Then the entire group gathers to hear and critique each others songs.
The Song Finisher's sessions are held at the Steve Everitt Foundation
House at 500 West John Street in Matthews and are open to the public.
Curiously, I brought the song idea for "Fast Girl in a Pretty Car"
to SongFinishers to work it up as a co-write...but Greg, my cowriter,
decided not to continue. I think I freaked him out. I don't mind, though,
because it's perfect for my forthcoming CD.
The Show:
After Doug and I recruited Steven and Danny to help us sort out the logistical
problems of moving the drum kit from Doug's parking space (2 blocks away),
through the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd, to the back of the overcrowded
stage...we sat back to enjoy the show...and talk to our friends who came
to see us play. Thanks all! I had sent out a quick email a few hours before
the show and was pleasantly suprised that 6 or 8 of our friends were able
to venture out on a "week night".
The showcase was good--it was filled with new Charlotte music, which
is always fun...but Doug quickly noticed how "out of place"
we were. We were the only rock band in a bluegrass/country/folk/americana
evening, we were the only group with an electric guitar, and the only
group with a drum kit. I let him know that we may catch a few "cool
points" by being different...but I don't think that settled his nerves.
We were slated to go on by about 10 or 10:15, but it was about 10:45 before
we hit the stage.
Because this was our FIRST GIG EVER...that is, we've finally pulled ourselves
out of the home studio to peform...and because it was my first gig in
about 5 years, I was a bit nervous. Luckily, my wife Tracey had bought
me a new black shirt with big red flaming daggers on the front...VERY
COOL...she also did wonders to calm my nerves. Once onstage, we scrambled
into position--trying our best not to step on the acoustic guitars, banjos,
and bluegrass paraphenalia. I made a quick comment to let everyone know
that this may be the only chance they'd have all night to make the heavy-metal
sign of the devil...and we were off...
The performance was pretty okay (as I remember it). By the second verse,
I saw a few people bobbing their heads...and, amazingly, I remember all
the bazillion words.
Because of my excitement, I forgot to check my tuning with Greg's...it
didn't matter much because the stage monitors were set up for an acoustic
act...not a rock one. That's right--all we could hear onstage was drums...the
soundguy was great, however...and made a quick adjustment that solved
most of our problems.
There was a 12 year old in the front row who started groovin' during
the song...and he kept wanting to make the devil sign...but his mom kept
pulling his hand down. I think they left after our set. I wonder if it
was something I said...
It was good to see Amy Foster who let me know her CD is nearly done as
well. I met her drummer, who promised to trade CDs with me.
Thanks to Yona who ventured out for a night on the town to film us...and
to everyone for the kind words!
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