The Song Fight Bulletin Board

I knew that Peter Gabriel was once the lead singer of Genesis and I knew their music back then was much more progressive. It was nothing like the pop stuff they put on the radio in the 80's and 90's. But one thing I didn't know was that Peter Gabriel was such a showman. My friend Shakti directed me to some videos of Genesis live and I was blown away by the theatrics. It made me think alot about how I, as a musician, compose my live act. I love theatre, as I used to work off-Broadway but being an acoustic guitar guy, in some ways I am limited in my abilities. It will take some creativity to branch out beyond the "coffee shop style" performance.

QotD: How would you describe your live performance style?

Are you very theatrical? Do you play a character? Are you very dynamic? Do you just stand in one place? What kind of emphasis do you put on the live performance aspect of your musical career.

I'm usually in my head when I perform. It's not for show, really, but I wish it was more so.

I have a creative mind for coming up with ideas and directing a performance. But I'm not a very entertaining performer. In fact, I'm anti entertaining. I don't have any of the articles in front of me, but the local music write ups basically would always say that I look like I'm in a dark scary place when I'm on stage or something to that effect. They thought I was a really deep musician with serious demons, lmao! A big part of that is because I have terrible stage fright and I don't like being in a position that I can't just get up and walk away from. I feel caged when I'm on stage and I have an obligation to the band and the audience. They think I'm deep, but I'm really just psycho. But then off stage, I'd have a beer with them and chat it up. One journalist from one of the papers, I think OC Music Scene at the time, asked me if I am possessed. I had to think for a moment and then answered with the only honest answer I could. I said, I might be, do possessed people know if they're possessed? Of course he ran with it and wrote a funny article. He told us ahead of time that he wants to have some fun with it, which we said no problem. We were just happy to get in the free papers at Guitar Center, lol. I have like 8 or 9 articles on BLT. One of these days I'm going to dig that stuff out and scan everything and put it in the "junk" section of the music site Spud made me. Still under construction.

But, Edgar (bass) and Gary (drums) LOVE the stage. They made up for my antisocial behavior. Edgar is funny and is always getting the audience involved. Gary always standing on his drums and squeezing in a killer solo when ever he can. Edgar's famous thing was to stop us just as we are starting a song and say, WAIT!.....I'm parched. Then he'd grab his mug of beer and hold it up and give a quick "cheers", down it, let out a huge disgusting burp and say, ok, proceed. People loved it.

QotD: Non-Existent

Octothorpe is an act, not a band.

qotd: Self-conscious, introverted, uncomfortable.

one of my most prized possessions is a VHS copy of a 1973 Selling England by the Pound concert video. Genesis in full force and theatrics. Supper's Ready is the greatest one song-album side ever! Live it's amazing!

My stage theatrics leave much to be desired. Hopefully the flurry of my fingers on the fretboard is entertainment enough.

The only thing comparable to Genesis of yesteryear is Sleepy Time Gorilla Museum. SEE THEM! If Idiot Flesh ever reunites they are as wonderful! There's some great Idiot Flesh You Tube stuff though.

I dunno why I feel it necessary to defend my former employer (mostly I hate seeing angry mobs with pitchforks and torches), but I have a little rant at http://beesbuzz.biz/blog/e/2009/04/13-s ... onfail.php about this weekend's little Amazon-related clusterfuck.

I got to drive the Roadster today for the 1st time

only 2 years I had to serve before the chance came to me.

DRC:
A few days ago, I got my first full-month-aggregate evaluation. It came back quite favorable. Today, a customer gave me a formal compliment, by way of my manager. That's the second time in a one-month period. One of my superiors just got promoted, creating an opening, for which I've been informed I'll be eligible to apply. I'm still weighing out the pros and cons of applying for the promotion.

QotD:
I've performed live in two capacities. I was in two bands in college where I simply hung around near the rear of the stage and played the hell out of the keyboard (and sometimes sang harmony vocals). Not much of a persona there, but people loved it.

I've also done a few odd solo guitar gigs. I tend to shake when it's just me on the stage. I imagine that if I were to do such solo shows more often, I'd get used to it. Guess I should get on that.

glennny wrote:The only thing comparable to Genesis of yesteryear is Sleepy Time Gorilla Museum. SEE THEM!

I probably will see them on Friday.

glennny wrote:I got to drive the Roadster today for the 1st time

only 2 years I had to serve before the chance came to me.

Wait, what? Explain please.

Uh, dorky, stiff, full of mistakes, static. However, hopefully fun and the SF people clapped for me, hah. Not at all theatrical.
-bill

qotd: sitting on a chair, with an audience of 0.

QOTD: I basically do the coffee house thing with a lot of patter aimed at building rapport. I aspire to something like an Arlo Guthrie concert - which is showmanship in a different sort of way.

Side question: How do you know when your band/project is ready to play out?

When you have a gig that goes well.

fluffy wrote:When you have a gig that goes well.

Chicken and egg, eh? Fair enough.

Henrietta wrote:Side question: How do you know when your band/project is ready to play out?

When you're on stage.

QotD: I don't know who the hell he is, it's like someone gave my inner child a really shiny axe. And sent him off to his first day at school. Live performance is like being truly awake, more than 100% awake. So awake it feels like you're dreaming it all.

QotD: Never done live stuff... don't have a BAND... but I'd be one crazy dressed up Ziggy Stardust Marilyn Manson Jumpsuit wearing Kraftwerk/Devo sunova Stormtrooper.

Henrietta wrote:Side question: How do you know when your band/project is ready to play out?

If you wait till you're "ready", there is the risk you may die of old age before you start.

Rabid Garfunkel wrote:Live performance is like being truly awake, more than 100% awake. So awake it feels like you're dreaming it all.

...or in my case, so awake that I'm going to die.