Archive for December, 2008
Small steps
Last week’s show was a success. Not a smash success but good things moving in good directions nonetheless. We didn’t get onto the stage until very late (about 12:15) but I thought we had some nice moments. My voice cracked in the middle of “Broken Bow” but it actually almost sounded natural and/or emotional which is not such a bad thing. The songs that Amber sang on had a special poignancy for me. “Hold My Heartache” always sounds really lovely and “Dirty White Coats” is equally beautiful. We still need to work out the right dynamics for “One More Time” and I flubbed the part coming out of bridge. I also think the new tune “Life Is Hard” has a lot of potential but, again, the trick is dynamics. Creating the right musical tension so that every part and every phrase sits in its place in the song and adds a little inflection, a soft little taste of melody and articulation. Still, Matt’s piano line in that tune is really lovely in a optimistically wistful kind of way which is ironic given the line is “Life is hard today”. But so it goes. Highlight of the set was the “All My Friends” closer which rocked a little more than back in September. It had a frenetic intensity that I found inspiring. And, as advertised, everyone got free copies of the new album. Onwards!
