What a wonderful show I played last Wednesday night at Urban Press Winery in Los Angeles! It was awesome to get together with Coyote Jay and rock! Edi Roque was a great act to share the stage with, and I was blown away by his blues singing and guitar playing. I can feel clubs, bars and concert venues coming alive again, and this show's organizer FanFlex is helping to reinvigorate the live scene. There’s an energy pulsing along these neon-lit desert streets where you can walk by and hear bands through the open doors and windows. People frolic along the sidewalks with loved ones and friends new and old. I see how they smile and their eyes light up at the sights and sounds that they were deprived of during quarantine.
Wednesday reminded me of when I used to do the circuit in Los Angeles with my band and we played at venues like the Viper Room and Cat Club. I was friends with a lot of other local rock musicians. We would hang out together, do shows together, and catch other local bands. Los Angeles has a unique creative energy that lends itself to this lifestyle, and I am grateful to be living in this city again. I am grateful that we can take back the night and our music scene now that the epidemic is coming under control.
Every time I perform a song, it’s a little different; it’s a new moment of creativity. I spend a lot of time sitting at home running through my songs and honing my talent as a singer. But it’s always different when I’m out in real time at a show. So many other factors come into play: the layout of the venue, the lighting, the sound setup and levels, my physical health, my emotional state, and the other musicians. Then there’s the arrangement of the song. Even though many of my songs are released as electronic pop, in an acoustic setting they break down to chords, guitar, piano, bass, and drums. Yet there are still a million ways to play the song. There’s a lot of improvisation involved in every gig, and the song is always new. That may not be true for every artist, but I thrive off this spontaneous element.
There is nothing like sharing a moment of creation with an attentive music-loving audience. The audience at Urban Press Winery was so kind and receptive. I am so grateful for this opportunity to share my talent and spirit with them. I love it when my music brings a smile to someone else’s face, or reminds them of a band or musical style they love. I love it when they are so moved that they tell me so after my performance. It was fun to do a mixture of originals and covers. I am proud of the originals I write, but I am deeply influenced by music history, and love to pay homage to the great songwriters from the past century. I am a playlist curator and DJ, and sometimes as a performer I feel I am doing the same thing. I am curating and performing the best songs of the ages.
I am so grateful for the internet and for the community I am building around my and others’ music. But there is still something to be said for being in a room with others sharing a live moment of creation. There’s something about the type of creativity that emerges from a physical scene and community of artists. I look forward to honing my live show experience, playing out with other musicians, and making friends with people active in the Los Angeles music scene. I also look forward to hearing what the new live “rock band” is going to look and sound like now that we are so deeply into digital music and culture. I am excited to explore that with my own live performances!
