Something that I think folks who either submit to Red Line, or read features here, or attend a show don’t realize is that I am a songwriter, musician, and member of a music community first and a “writer/blogger/promoter” second. It’s something that can get a bit upsetting, but alas, I am here to support folks whether that’s as a contemporary or as something else…whatever that “else” is. Never the less, I have only published one other “Through The Artist’s Eyes” in the past. I save these features for things that I really think people need to know about. Something I have experienced first hand and the experience has been so profound that I feel the need to write, to share, and to hopefully shine a light on someone, or a group of people, or entity, or whatever, that is doing something extremely special. So, here you go, Through the Artist’s Eyes, my experience at The Extended Play Sessions…
The Extended Play Sessions…umm, session (doubling up there)…was supposed to be my final performance before an indefinite hiatus, following the tail end of a tour with my friend and occasional musical collaborator (at least for the tour and last studio record I put out) Ian Fitzgerald. For reason beyond our (or anyone’s) control, that show was punted to May, which was they punted to June. Not the best start for warming me up to the evening, but to set a baseline, important to mention. I had grown sick of the let down of live shows (despite the final night of tour at World Cafe being fantastic), our homecoming show at Atwoods was a bit of a left down despite the music being fantastic, and just the normal wear and tear on a songwriter’s heart and soul had run it’s course, so I was only half looking forward to this taping that had been put off a couple times, eager to hang up the old spurs. That was until I got to the studio.
What comes across as a non-descript, normal looking enough bank of loading docks is anything but normal inside. An area that could double for a mob meeting place in a crime TV show, actually holds a room. A room in which a whole heck of a lot of special things have happened in the past and was about to play out in just a few hours following my own arrival at it.
There are people in the world who live and breath for music. It is immediately evident upon meeting them that this is what they love. Bill Hurley is one of those people. The second I walked in the door at the studio Bill was there, ready to offer whatever I needed to make me comfortable. The room was dark at first, and as my eyes adjusted I saw the bar laid out, a buffet of food and a steer skull with glowing red eyes over the stage. I just felt…something. Whatever it was, and I am still not entirely sure what, it just felt right to be there. It felt right and good to know that I would be making music in this room whether there were 4 people or 40 people, luckily the number was closer to that second one and the room only holds that many.
I’ll spare you the specific details of the performance itself (as you will be able to watch that in a few weeks when the footage is all edited and the episode is up streaming online). I will say that when we left I still felt that feeling that all was good and right. Bill asked questions of both Ian and I that were not like most interviews (who is your influence? so, I guess you like Bob Dylan, right?). No softballs were tossed our way as Bill promised. The audience was attentive, they were there for the music and it was one of the most sincere and genuine crowds I have played for in a long, long while.
When we were leaving Bill said “I don’t do these types of shows often”. He was alluding to the fact that Ian and I played two shorter solo sets and then a set of one another’s songs together to close the evening out. Typically, these shows are full bands, a bit more rock n’ roll than folk. He then said “but this, what happened here tonight was something special, and I think we need to make this happen again”. It’s something like that which makes all the shit gigs, all the nights playing to the back of 4 people’s heads as they down their Bud Light drafts and stare at the volumeless ballgame on big screens, all worth it in the end. So to Bill and all the folks at the Extended Play Sessions, thank you.
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The Extended Play Sessions does a great justice for music. What they are doing is something totally unique, selfless, and wonderful for musicians and audiences alike. With the responsibility of curating these events and documenting music history comes moves…big moves. As they are in the process of upgrading their studio so shows/filmings can be even bigger and better!
Take a minute and help them out if you can. It’s a wonderful thing these people are doing. So take in a show with them soon and donate to their big move!
http://www.extendedplaysessions.com/#!support-the-extended-play-sessions/c1ghw