Playing our Songs

A while back, Don and I had this idea.  Don't know if it is a good one or not, but we finally decided to go for it.  We rented the Expressionz Cafe for a Thursday evening at the end of this month.   We figured we'd use it as an opportunity to showcase some of our songs, but we'd also open it up so our musical friends could get up and play a few songs. Kind of like an open stage but more like an 'invited' stage.  

So tonight, we get this other bright idea.  I hope it wasn't because of the wine.  We are going to record the evening - not a professional recording, but we'll take it of the PA system so we get a decent sound.   Then we going to ask everyone that comes to bring cameras, video cameras, cell phone cameras and get them to take as many pictures and videos as possible from all kinds of angles.   We'll collect those and put together a video of the evening.   OK, so maybe it was the wine talking.  But it would make a great documentary of a great time in our lives.  

We then thought it would be a good idea to practice some of our tunes so we don't look like complete fools.  So, tonight we gathered at Brian's place to work through some stuff.   When we look over all the stuff that we've written (Don and myself) over the past two years or so, it is amazing how much we have done.  Aside from the songs we play, we both have a lot more that we haven't brought out of the vault.  

So our challenge is to narrow down our song selection to  what we do well and what we like the best.    So tonight we picked the songs for the Thursday night 'extravaganza', and we decided to play them through.    We still left a whole lot of stuff un-played.  Amazing. 

The best thing about working on our own songs is that we get to play them any way we want to.  They are our songs.   Trouble with playing covers is that you have to play them the way they were recorded or the audience can get nasty.  And for the record, we ain't good enough to copy.    What I find fascinating is that our songs keep evolving and usually for the better.   Sometimes we try something different and it doesn't work, but sometimes it can make an old song take on a new life.   As Brian says, if it sounds right, then it must be right.  

I'll keep you posted on the Extravaganza.