It’s been a busy, busy four days at work with the Oklahoma ice storm, so much so that I hadn’t a chance to revisit my recent gig at Othello’s on Campus Corner in Norman.
For those unfamiliar with me — most of the world — my solo gigs are a combination of instrumental jazz, campy cover songs and original compositions. The point of it all? Fun.
Had a great crowd in Norman on Jan. 24, including some colleagues from the station (who were very fun), Toad and Joey (my managers and therapy duo) and a Web colleague and his wife (who were very kind to come out). Any musician loves it when friends come out. It’s like a sports team playing a home game: You know the audience is friendly.
And, the first hour of the gig went swimmingly. C’mon, I’m just reading music and playing the standards, many of which I had played a billion times before. Songs like “Alfie” and “Take Five” and jazz classics from Herbie Hancock and Bill Evans.
These are like comfort foods from a playing perspective. Musicianship is mostly muscle memory, and many piano players can mimic finger movements even in the absence of keys.
But at about 8 p.m., the vocals began, and those required a bit more. They require focus, for example.
Like I told a friend who showed up on Saturday, “There are times when something catches my eye — a person walking, a fly buzzing, a picture on a nearby TV — and throws me off completely.”
Because I try to learn so many songs, in the off chance that somebody requests something, I don’t really have a chance to master many. And, I about crawled under the bench when I butchered Marc Cohn’s “Walking in Memphis.” Not only did I completely lose my place, it was like I had been attacked by a rhythm virus, afflicting my fingers with an inability to move at proper tempo.
It was truly hideous, and I wouldn’t have blamed anybody for walking out right then.
Other songs went really well, and I’ve determined that songs with more of a rock tempo fit my style really well. “Army” from Ben Folds Five continues to be a staple, and “Banditos” by The Refreshments went well.
My TV show theme set went OK, too. I debuted a version of the theme from “Cheers” as well as “Welcome Back” from John Sebastian, which I did not credit properly.
What makes the adrenalin flow is when I’m able to play a request from out of the blue. While my rendition of “Werewolves of London” was painful (Hey, he paid his buck in advance. I **had** to try. I will **always** try.), my attempts at some Dionne Warwick and Captain & Tennille went fairly well.
The thing I take away from this gig most though is that I have to make it a priority to take some breaks during a live show. My philosophy about entertaining is that if there is momentum, I don’t move. If you’re still there attentive, I don’t break.
Unfortunately, after 3.5 hours, I get up for the first time and am moderately paralyzed from not having moved my legs or back in that long.
I’d really like to find some 2-hour gigs, where I can focus on a really strong, long set. And, I’m hoping to get involved in some songwriting groups across the state and do some singer-songwriter gigs at coffee shops.
As for another gig at Othello’s, I’m not sure. They’ve got a renown Norman musician doing the bookings now, and I am pretty sure he’s never heard of me. I love playing there because it’s so laid-back and the staff/ownership is super friendly.
There are a lot of singer-songwriters and musicians and bands in this and any college town or city who gig for the purpose of stepping upward, making it to “Hollywood,” if you will.
That’s not my thing. The bottom line is that I think most folks had fun, and frankly, that is priority No. 1.
I’m going to take the weekend to get reorganized, and then I’m going to plan the spring. I’d like to play 3-4 times a month at various venues across central Oklahoma. As soon as I’m booked, I’ll let you know.
