Yes, I do! I love house concerts. I think I was probably made to give house concerts. Dimly lit, like with candles and 4 watt light bulbs. Night lights really. The kind you plug in when you have guests visiting from out of town.
A big “Thank You” to everyone who came out to Bonita and Keith Crowe’s house concert and welcomed me. Of course, the wine didn’t hurt either; I drank a nice little Shiraz.
This last Saturday night I opened up the Tamarindo House Concert series for Rod Picott and Amanda Shires. They were the real deal. I sang a quick four songs, sat down and listened to the seasoned pros. Very good show. All night long I was thinking, “Why didn’t i think of that line, and that one, and that one….” It was one of those nights. Great lyrics, great singing, great playing … you get the picture.
On Saturday morning, I met with Chad Elliot and Bonita and Keith Crowe to finalize a big show we’re putting on in January. Chad and I will spend an evening trading songs on stage at People’s on Court Avenue in Des Moines. Now this is typically a Rock and Roll venue, but on Saturday, January 16, 2010, we’re gonna go acoustic and rip out your hearts with our songs. I’m pretty excited. And as much as I love the full band shows and the duo stuff I do with James Biehn, I dream of shows like this too. Big venue, great sound and sad songs. Mmmmmm. They won’t all be sad, don’t worry. Heck, half of ‘em will be about … well, I wrote ‘em, if that’s a hint. No shame.
I played the Indoor Des Moines Winter Farmers Market last Friday. That was fun. I got to bring out the Christmas songs. I love Christmas music and of course I do them all my own way so you can’t figure out what song I’m singing until I get to the chorus. It’s the only way I know how, people … no one needs me up there singing “Jingle Bells” just like you’ve heard it a million times. No one. I like to find the obscure Christmas stuff anyway.
Garrett Cornelison refused to tell me the big renaming secret for the last month. Whatevs. You secret keeper. Smash is now Raygun. You got nuthin’ on me now, Garrett…..Cool new name!
Tags: 87 Central, Bonita Crowe, Chad Elliot, Des Moines Winter Farmers Market, Garrett Cornelison, James Biehn, Mary McAdams, Peoples on Court, Raygun, SMASH, Tamarindo House Concerts