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Location: Flushing, MI | Hey all! I just wanted to brag a bit and tell everyone about the solo acoustic gig that I played in downtown Flint, MI at the Lunch Studio, which is a nice little coffeeshop/cafe. They feature live acoustic music every Sunday morning for their Sunday morning brunch. It's a little strange trying to play and sing at 10:00 AM, but that's what time we started.
It was indeed a solo gig, but I say "we" because I brought along my oldest son and his snare and hi-hat, and he played real light drums with brushes on most of the tunes.
Material-wise, I tried hard to cater to the people. At first we played to an elderly couple who was in there 70's or more. I played "I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me", and "My Window Faces the South", which they both knew and loved. They couldn't get to the tip jar fast enough.
Soon after that, the place filled up with a mixed crowd, including children. So I mixed it up with lots of oldies (the Temptations "My Girl", "Birds and the Bees") some old John Lee Hooker style blues, a little country, and then I spent about 15 minutes playing just to the kids, who were a great audience indeed! They were all dancing about in front of me. I played "Linus and Lucy" while they did the Snoopy dance. I also played "Jenny Jenkins" which is a centuries old childrens tune.
It was my boys first paid professional gig (he's 12), so he was happy, and I was proud. They're going to have us back again in a few weeks, and I can't wait!
I took my Legend, which I attached a Dean Markley Pro-Mag Grand pickup to, and my CS257 Celebrity (just in case I got disillusioned with the Dean Markley PU). I stayed with the Legend for the whole show though. I plugged into my small powered mixer/PA setup.
I truly enjoyed this gig much moreso than ANY electric band gig that I've done is many many months! I hope to continue in this fashion! |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Wow!! You are really versatile. I don't know the intros to that many songs, much less the words. |
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Location: Parrish, FL | Fantastic! Someday I hope to be able to pull something like that off. I'd be seriously happy to be able to do 10% of it.
Nice job.
Blues |
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Location: Flushing, MI | Thanks! I spent many years playing on cruise ships and resorts all over the world, and it was my job then to be a human jukebox and play all requests. So we did everything from "Misty" to Jimi Hendrix. We didn't have to play any metal (thank God!) but we did have to play the occasional Janet Jackson hit. LOTS of country, LOTS of oldies, LOTS of classic rock, and quite a few standards for the old folks as well.
Sing with me......
"Blue... Spanish eyes...
Prettiest eyes in all of Mexicooooo......" |
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| Nice post. Cool having your son on this one.
Made me smile reading it. Thanks
Randy |
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Posts: 2150
Location: Orlando, FL | Sounds like a blast for you and your son. Now that's QUALITY time spent.
Keep it up! |
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July 2004
Posts: 812
Location: Hicksville, NY | Wow! -- those are the only words I can think of to describe your experience. You definitely had a great time, and time well spent with your son.
I've heard of the songs that you mentioned from your performance, but could never play any of it ... that makes me so envious! ;)
OFCers like myself, may not only learn from your experience ... perhaps, learn from you as well? :) |
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April 2004
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | As a wise old cowboy use to say....
No brag....just fact! :D
I always got/still get a special chill when I do something memorable with one of my kids. If you didn't get any pics or take video, remember next time. In 20 years, it will be better than anything you can watch and sweeter than you ever remembered! |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Great to hear. Congratulations.
How was the backstage party? |
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Location: Freeport, IL | Thanks for sharing.
Sincerely,
Jon Van Gilder
Freeport, IL |
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Location: Brown City,Michigan | :cool: HEY!!!Im about 40 miles to the east of you-35 miles N/W of Port Huron.Dont ya just LOVE playing in front of people??? :eek: Some people cant do it-my wife doesnt know how I do it-sometimes,I dont know how I do it.I sometimes go to those Jamborees they have in Hadley-did ya ever notice how some people-to put it nicely-wantto get in on the act;when they really shouldnt be up in front of people at all doing their"singing and playing"?Now,dont get me wrong,I dont claim to be a Vince Gill,or Ricky Scaggs-when it comes to writin my own material,Im totslly lost-but,I feel I can hold my own in front of people.At least,the good folks in my church seem to like what I play.(Are they just being nice?) ;) How about maybe gettin together and going to one of those country music jamborees-show each other(and everybody else)just what we are made of??? |
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Location: Midland, MI | Sounds like you and your son had a great time! Do you play much around Flint? I did a contract at Mott College several years ago. We used to go to Bailiwick's for lunch most days, but I know where the Lunch Studio is (over by UoM, IIRC). Congratulations! |
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Location: south east Michigan | Welcome Steve C.P.!
Another Michigander chimes in.
And another reason to think about an OFC midwest gathering! |
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Location: closely held secret | Sounds like a great gig, Trago. I (and Schroeder, I'm sure) would love to hear you play 'Linus & Lucy' on a Legend. I don't believe I've ever heard it done on guitar.
Good on you and your son should be proud! |
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May 2005
Posts: 327
Location: Evansville,IN | Nothing like doing things with your kids. That's what family is all about. :)
I know the words to many songs, just can't play them on guitar...yet, but I'm working on it. :D |
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December 2004
Posts: 2150
Location: Orlando, FL | Trago, yeah I was curious about Linus and Lucy too. It's such a great song. Is it your own arrangement? I have heard versions by Danny Gatton and Gary Hoey. I would love to hear an acoustic version.
There, you have at least 2 requests! |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Glad to hear it went so well. I'm sure there will be many more now! |
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July 2005
Posts: 354
Location: Flushing, MI | Originally posted by cruster:
Sounds like you and your son had a great time! Do you play much around Flint? I did a contract at Mott College several years ago. We used to go to Bailiwick's for lunch most days, but I know where the Lunch Studio is (over by UoM, IIRC). Congratulations! Yup. I've fronted the Buick City Blues Band since 1994, along with harmonicist Dover Cooper, and saxophonist Sabrina LaMarr. They used to call me "Tragedy James" for some stupid reason, but I try to avoid that now. My real name is Timothy Lamb.
Since my wife passed away in March of 04, I've thinned my gigging considerably. They've picked up a bit here lately, but I'm still not ready for it. Too much smoke (I quit last year), too much drama, too many drunks, too many druggies, while I'm trying to maintain sobriety, etc. etc.
My answer to all of that is SOLO ACOUSTIC GIGS! I've done it a lot before over the years, but never liked it. I didn't like not having a bassist, or someone playing chords so that I could play single note solos. Now, I'm much more confident in my fingerpicking, and I'm teaching myself to do bass lines, chords, and play the melody at the same time ala Marcel Dadi, whose always been a big influence.
And since I've been writing a lot of Gospel tunes lately, I can hopefully do some church shows along with the coffeehouse scene. My goal for the upcoming year is to get away from bars and bar bands, although I'll probably never completely quit playing electric in bands. |
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Successful solo acoustic gig!