Back In The Saddle Again (Sort Of)

Hi

Well I made the attempt to get back into playing out last night
by attending an open mic at a local Brew Pub.

It started off kind of sparse as I enter fashionably late at 8:25
with one fellow finishing up with a very nice rendition of James Taylor's
Fire and Rain (a favorite here in Berkshires because of the local mentions).

Then it was the host ( a very nice young man name Dan) and I being
the only other players there. Dan was defiantly encouraging and I went
up and played after he did a couple of songs one featuring some really
nice slide guitar.

The dinner crowd was still thinning out when I took the stage so it
was a like CCR's Lodi " Every time I had to play while people
sat there drunk".

It was a little difficult playing over the din of the conversation.

I had decided before hand the I was going to play an original set
and opened with "Last Train" a song I wrote with my songwriting
partner Aaron followed by my own "Time For Makin' Love". These
two songs I had performed at the recent Riverside Jam Songwriters
Night so I felt pretty confident. There was a small but appreciative
smattering of applause from Dan and the few people close to the stage
area. Most of the others continued with their drinks and conversation.

At about this time more musicians started to arrive and I launched
into "Stray Cat Blues" a recent SSG song that was making it's first
public appearance. This was accepted somewhat better as there were
now more "music" people in the room. Since the other musicians were
just arriving and getting organized I continued with a semi terrible version
of "Think I'm Going To Get Drunk Tonight" which didn't go over too well
partly because there was a lot of activity in the room and a
weak performance on my part.

At this point Dan gave me the one more signal which I found
encouraging after my poor job on the previous song.

I closed with "Two Minute Love Song" which is just what the title implies
a two minute love song. I flubbed the intro but being an original nobody
noticed and I made it through the rest OK. At least the crowd seemed
a bit more appreciative at this point. Maybe they were just happy I
was done insulting their eardrums.

I felt a little out of place because as more musicians arrived I noticed
that I had about 30 years on all of them but the music was good and
everybody was friendly.

One young lady did a Ani DiFranco heavy set with some great
finger style play followed by a guitar and vocals duo with another
young lady singing with one of the best blues voices I've heard in ages.

Although the set was heavy on Jam Band style music her voice was pure Blues
and they even threw in "Me and Bobby McGee" ala Janis Joplin.

It was kind of funny to hear all the Twenty Somethings discussing Janis after
the set like she was something they discovered but I remained
quiet on that subject.

The last set I stayed for (us "old" people need our rest) was a three piece
original Jam Band of Acoustic Guitar, Stand Up Bass, and Drums. Great
music a blend of Rock, Reggae, and Jazz well executed .

All and all a good night and Dan did invite me back again next time in
two weeks and seemed to be impressed that I was playing original stuff.
He also mentioned another venue where he hosts a Thursday night gig
and that it attracts a slightly older crowd and may be more to my liking.
I did enjoy listening to the younger crowd though and hope it to bring some
of their influence into my songwriting .

John