The Attic, is really cozy. The wood floors and ceilings, and eastern exposure for early morning light make it a great place for recording with just me and a guitar. It wouldn't really be appropriate for much more than that unless everybody was very laid back, literally because of the low ceiling, but that isn't really a concern.
Just yesterday morning I made my first recording of a new song, "Trespass", up in the Attic. This song will probably be song number 11 for the new album "Garden of Love".
THE other seasonal change is that the 2019 Farmer's Market performing season is over for me now. It was a long and very rewarding run, playing every week from the spring of 2018 thru the winter and all summer into the first week of November of this year.
The market manager, Pam, gave me a gift I can never thank her enough for, by giving me a regular spot to play my music, and develop my ability to perform these songs. She has been a true patron, angel, and friend.
It will be a bit different, not having a weekly "gig" now, but in truth, it is welcomed. Now I can focus on the writing and recording in a way that I couldn't manage to when I knew I had to be in form for public performing. Even after the year and a half of steady gigs, I still got keyed up as the market days approached. That kept me from really focusing in on the writing and recording.
As verification of the new found psychological freedom, I just wrote that new song yesterday. It was a "two day song", the first to have the inspiration and dig it out of my brain and shape it with the guitar and pencil, and the second day to learn it, start recording it, and then to see, and hear, the wholeness of it. I love those ones, they are so instantly gratifying, and I have learned not to question how fast or fluidly they come to me. During that period of writing, I don't stop thinking about the song. I am haunted by the musical idea, super ear worm. I can't seem to get out of the mind of the character of the song. This is a very focused time and it is hard to stay in it with other things to think about. I really happy I have arranged my life in a way that allows me times like this.
The end of the market season didn't mean the end of the performing season for me. Yesterday I was invited to play for a "Arts and Cafe" event at the Central Presbyterian Church in Haverstraw. Nancy, a jewelry artist, who I know from the markets, asked me to come and play as the evenings entertainment. A chance to hang out with "Pastor Katie", who is always a good time, and play for such a friendly and appreciative crowd, I could not pass up.
 |
| Thanks to "Pastor Katie" of the Haverstraw Central Presbyterian church, for having mein her place. Thanks to Nancy Jagelka, jeweler extraordinaire, for introducing me to these good people. |
THEY had a cozy stage set up, tables for people to sit and eat and drink and listen or chat, and lots of art to shop. It ended up being a paying gig though I had didn't expect it. Food and drink as well. The really great thing was that it wasn't outdoors in the cold, like the markets all have been lately. Lovely.
In truth, that was probably the best gig I've done from a certain perspective. Though the markets are very safe, friendly, and appreciative, the musicians playing there are certainly just decoration, and it is rare that people stay to enjoy the music. It happens, certainly, I've had people hang out and listen to multiple songs, and then go shopping, and then return to listen some more, but the overriding feeling is that the people are there to shop and then get on with their day. We music performers are a bonus.
At the "Art Cafe" last night there was a bit more of a feeling that people came for community and were more interested in being in the space. Some people were actually making crafts/art, and some were enjoying the drinks and snacks and most seemed to be listening and enjoying the music. I got to do a bit more interacting with people thru the music. Being up on the stage, which was minimally but thoughtfully decorated, gave me a real sense of purpose and place that felt good, felt right.
It was a step maybe, toward the kind of performance I'd like to do with this music. This music is storytelling, and poem and the words have weight that wants a listener, not just somebody to tap their feet to the rhythm, though there was that last night, and even some dancing. So from that perspective, it might have been the closest I've gotten to being able to present my music the way I'd like to, outside of recordings. But recordings are the self indulgent part of this music thing for me.
I have ideas of an "Acoustic Cafe" type of show, showcase, that I'd like to see happen at some of the local establishments. There are some great venues around, but the singer-songwriter, folk, and acoustic genre aren't the focus, as far as I can tell. Maybe it will happen someday.
For now, it's the colder season and the time is "write" to record, and get these albums done. I hope to play out again someday, but for now I'm good with hibernating for a while.
Peace.
Totally spaced out the fact that last week I got to be a stagehand/sound tech again. It was an great time for a big birthday celebration at a local place in Nyack, "Prohibition River." Their upstairs space is quite lovely. Would be a great place for the "Acoustic Cafe". I was just helping out the talented artist Bill Batson, with his lovely woman Marisol's, 50th celebration. Great party and such a treat for me to do my thing again. I almost miss the biz.
