We played a show tonight in New London in a small all ages room called the Eclectic Ballroom. Normally these shows are kinda run-of-the-mill. No offense, cuz we always put ourselves into every show.
Tonight was something special.
Let me start by describing how playing live feels during a good set. It's like an adrenaline rush. One minute you are putting your gear together, talking about the upcoming set with bandmembers, just shooting the shit with people. The next moment, it's decided to begin playing. And right there, with the first note, you can feel if the show is going to do well. Perhaps everybody in the band is getting along. Perhaps you are well rehearsed. Perhaps the crowd starts going ape shit before the first note even happens. Either way, for whatever reason, you usually know if the set is gonna be good right away.
Tonight we decided to start with the two new songs that not anybody in the crowd would recognize. As I suspected, the reactions during the song was more of a deer in the headlights type. People were bobbing their heads, getting a feel for the new songs. It was alright. Personally I just felt like I had something NEW TO SAY. lol after playing some of the same songs for awhile now, it's nice. Anyays they weren't moving around too much, but that's ok. They are new songs after all, right?
Once we got into the songs from our record, the crowd EXPLODED. Mind you, this record released in february, has recently taken off in sales. But finally tonight, it seemed like everybody knew every word to every song. These songs are powerful songs, full of deep emotion, and lots of anthems. But the crowd never really hung on to every word of practically every song in our set like they did tonight. I am so effin proud of the lyrics and musical breakdowns, it seems like it took forever, but people are beginning to absorb it and digest it. Instead of 2 or 3 songs everybody knows off the myspace, people knew the words to every god damn song we played.
I just felt like every word I sang, i really meant it. There was no going through the motions. There was barely any mistakes. There was no akward silences. We powered through this set in a way I've never experienced. Like I was watching myself do it all onstage. I was watching the crowd and connecting with them in ways I didn't even have to try. It just kinda happened.
Most importantly I felt an energy inside of me. A love. and a passion. Our stage performance felt dangerous in a weird way. We were free as birds doing what we love.
Now, I am extremely grateful. Without the crowds of strangers that come and do this, I'm not sure I would see the point in playing live. really. I write music in my bedroom and in the practice spot to satisfy some inner desire to express myself to the world. I strive for originality but also to be coherent in the message.
I got this sense of TRUST from the audience. I would go absolutely batshit onstage doing stupid little gestures, spins, twirls, kicks, just being a goofy kid. Totally not self conscious of what I'm doing. And people actually love it. Just me being me and not trying to be anything else. I feel I would be the most ungrateful prick if I didn't say THANK YOU, and at the end of the set when I said THANK YOU, I meant it. There's something magical about doing what you love, and having others love it too, and love you for it. I will never take that for granted.
I almost cried because the whole thing WAS THAT GOOD.
I'm not an ego maniacal rockstar. Far from it. In fact, I'm a huge dork. I just like to play. Music means alot to me, but being in a band isn't some status symbol. And I never flex it, I never brag. I have nobody to impress. My fans are my own. I respect them, they respect me, even if we aren't friends in life, we are bonded together.
It's the support like that, that makes me want to take risks. It makes me want to venture into new cities and see new things. Without a strong group of fans in some places, it wouldn't be worth trying to do it in others.
And I just typed a big fuckin nothing that nobody will read, but man it feels good to get it out.
Tonight was something special.
Let me start by describing how playing live feels during a good set. It's like an adrenaline rush. One minute you are putting your gear together, talking about the upcoming set with bandmembers, just shooting the shit with people. The next moment, it's decided to begin playing. And right there, with the first note, you can feel if the show is going to do well. Perhaps everybody in the band is getting along. Perhaps you are well rehearsed. Perhaps the crowd starts going ape shit before the first note even happens. Either way, for whatever reason, you usually know if the set is gonna be good right away.
Tonight we decided to start with the two new songs that not anybody in the crowd would recognize. As I suspected, the reactions during the song was more of a deer in the headlights type. People were bobbing their heads, getting a feel for the new songs. It was alright. Personally I just felt like I had something NEW TO SAY. lol after playing some of the same songs for awhile now, it's nice. Anyays they weren't moving around too much, but that's ok. They are new songs after all, right?
Once we got into the songs from our record, the crowd EXPLODED. Mind you, this record released in february, has recently taken off in sales. But finally tonight, it seemed like everybody knew every word to every song. These songs are powerful songs, full of deep emotion, and lots of anthems. But the crowd never really hung on to every word of practically every song in our set like they did tonight. I am so effin proud of the lyrics and musical breakdowns, it seems like it took forever, but people are beginning to absorb it and digest it. Instead of 2 or 3 songs everybody knows off the myspace, people knew the words to every god damn song we played.
I just felt like every word I sang, i really meant it. There was no going through the motions. There was barely any mistakes. There was no akward silences. We powered through this set in a way I've never experienced. Like I was watching myself do it all onstage. I was watching the crowd and connecting with them in ways I didn't even have to try. It just kinda happened.
Most importantly I felt an energy inside of me. A love. and a passion. Our stage performance felt dangerous in a weird way. We were free as birds doing what we love.
Now, I am extremely grateful. Without the crowds of strangers that come and do this, I'm not sure I would see the point in playing live. really. I write music in my bedroom and in the practice spot to satisfy some inner desire to express myself to the world. I strive for originality but also to be coherent in the message.
I got this sense of TRUST from the audience. I would go absolutely batshit onstage doing stupid little gestures, spins, twirls, kicks, just being a goofy kid. Totally not self conscious of what I'm doing. And people actually love it. Just me being me and not trying to be anything else. I feel I would be the most ungrateful prick if I didn't say THANK YOU, and at the end of the set when I said THANK YOU, I meant it. There's something magical about doing what you love, and having others love it too, and love you for it. I will never take that for granted.
I almost cried because the whole thing WAS THAT GOOD.
I'm not an ego maniacal rockstar. Far from it. In fact, I'm a huge dork. I just like to play. Music means alot to me, but being in a band isn't some status symbol. And I never flex it, I never brag. I have nobody to impress. My fans are my own. I respect them, they respect me, even if we aren't friends in life, we are bonded together.
It's the support like that, that makes me want to take risks. It makes me want to venture into new cities and see new things. Without a strong group of fans in some places, it wouldn't be worth trying to do it in others.
And I just typed a big fuckin nothing that nobody will read, but man it feels good to get it out.
VIEW 7 of 7 COMMENTS
stcyr:
uhm . . . what Elizadoolittle said. ^^ I wasn't there, but I almost feel like I was. This is what it feels like to be a "fan." Thanks.
imspectr:
Great shows are hard to come by. I wish I could have been there.