K&W at Borders South Coast Plaza -- 21Jan2011

I think this was the emptiest I've ever seen this place -- maybe it's Winter Break at UCI, so we didn't have the usual contingency of Calculus, Bio, and Engineering studiers. Not that those kids, with their permanently-embedded iPods are much of an audience anyway...

So it was a pretty quiet night. I had an unusual amount of trouble getting the sound right -- the settings for "outdoors" and "recording at home" apparently aren't conducive for the acoustics of this place.

But I eventually got it worked out, and later in the night some people showed up who seemed to like us. One particular guy asked for lots of "classic rock" songs, including "Southern Cross", but I convinced him to take "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" instead, 'cuz I think I manage it better. He actually stopped his car to get out and shout something encouraging to us as we were talking later in the parking lot. That was nice.

I did set up a bunch of video cameras, but I was never particularly inspired, so nothing much to glean from the footage.

Some girls way in the back had circled six songs, mostly Beatles, on the Song List and brought it up. I played most of those, and then later, they brought up another List, with six more songs, mostly Beatles again, "written in". I don't know if they were just suggestions of songs I ought to go learn, or if they somehow expected me to just play them. Amusingly, they had written them on the List in the approximate places they'd have to be inserted. Thanks for the alphabetization help, girls!

Keith at Irvine Spectrum -- 15Jan2011

Big fun! It was pretty warm outside, so lots of people came out. And the thumpa-thumpa-cart was nowhere to be seen (nor heard!).

Maybe it's the season, or maybe it's this "big space in front" layout, but I'm beginning to notice that the nature of the gig has changed. At the old food court, I was playing to people who were seated, and usually eating -- and whether they wanted to hear me or not. Now, there are people (sometimes *lots* of people!) out on the sofas and around the planterbox bench, but I'm also roping in people who are "strolling". I guess they're there to just cruise around, and stopping for a while to hear some tunes is OK -- they weren't going anywhere in particular anyway.

These fall into two main groups: teenagers, and young families. The clumps of teens stop to see if I know any songs that they're interested in, and end up requesting the few "new" songs I know, and maybe some Beatles, too. The young families stop to let the kids have a gander at the man making music. The stroller-bound ones just stare, but the mobile ones dance, either spontaneously, or led by the moms. Either way, neither group would have been inclined to sit down, especially at "picnic tables", so the big open space suits them fine, and is working out far better than I'd expected.

The teens are surprisingly civil. They ask for the songs they recognize from my list, and frequently sing along, if their group is big and rowdy enough. And I seldom get any smart remarks. I definitely need to learn some more songs from within the decade, but I'm actually surprised that they want to hear me play "their songs". Seems like, when I was seventeen, if some Old Guy was up playing "my songs", I'd'a been disdainful, but these kids ask me for 'em, listen, and even tip me (sometimes with "all the change in my pocket", which is actually pretty endearing).

As are the little kids dancing. Some of them just shuffle back and forth, some stand and stare, some run around with their hands out, airplane-style, and some older ones actually aim at some "moves". I have to quickly dig out the more danceable tunes in the book (which I also need to learn more of). And as other parents wander by and see the Little Kids Dance Party going on, they stop, too. This happened twice on Saturday -- the first one breaking up only because the power timers went off again, at 7:30 exactly. I definitely need to have a word with the Management about that. It sure saps the momentum out of the show to get cut off mid-song...

This time I immediately rewired everything to run directly from the battery-powered amp, but even those two minutes broke the spell. Not the end of the world, I eventually got a second batch of dancing kids, but not very professional, at minimum. And, wow, does it sound different without the Harmony Box in-line, even when I'm not using the harmonies. The Box adds "vocal effects" (compression, reverb, etc.), and apparently does a great job, 'cuz it sounded suddenly pretty sad without all that. Fortunately, they got the power back on pretty quickly this time, and I re-re-wired everything to get "my sound" back.

They had also failed to bring out the table, tablecloth, and lights. I thought they were just late (and I had already found the table, tucked up underneath the stage), but I called them when it was time to start and they still weren't there. They guy said that I wasn't on *his* schedule, but he'd bring out the lights. A long while later, they brought out the tablecloth, but the lights never showed up. But the upside of that is that they didn't have to come to take them away either, so I was able to play way past the 10:00 "deadline".

So, big fun, interesting evolution of the gig itself, and 59 bucks in the jar. I may be getting the hang of this...

Keith at Irvine Spectrum -- 08Jan2011

It was my first time back at the rebuilt Food Court area since the terrible experience 6 weeks ago. It's definitely much improved! They moved the stage out into the plaza some, and brought the outdoor sofas a third-again closer. And they moved the thumpa-thumpa (animated T-shirts) cart way back to the corner.

So the audience is only "far away", not "stupid-far". Most of the night, I had people camped out in the sofas and along the planterbox bench, just listening. To me. Wow. They're a bit far away to want to shout out requests, but some were brave enough to. And quite a few young families were out, and would let their little kids dance with (or stare at) me from the "dance floor" in between.

Early on, a birthday party of 20 or so 15-year-old girls came by, in costumes. Chicken, clown, cheerleader, superman, cone-head, etc. There was also a couple of young guys hanging out with me, one of whom had his Christmas-present ukulele with him, so I had just fired up "I'm Yours". The girls heard that and had to come over and sing/shout along, and then ask for a few songs before moving on into the food court for dinner. That was fun.

My brother came by, and heard a few songs before the thumpa-cart guy started up his break dancing show, which he apparently does once a night. This meant that his music got twice as loud, and that it was apparently time for me to take a break. I'm not sure if I "own" the sonic space there, but since he had drawn a much bigger crowd than I had, I guess he's somewhat entitled -- though I'll have to send a message to the management asking what the deal is there.

After he was finished, I started to play my new "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" for my brother, got through the first line, and the power went out. I had just bought a new parabolic heater that day, specifically to try to keep warm out there, but it had apparently been too much for the circuit. I called Maintenance, and they poked around for half an hour before discovering that it wasn't a circuit breaker at all -- they had put that outlet on a timer, since it used to be powering some tree lights or something. My brother gave up and went home before they got it fixed, and I took the chance to go talk to the thumpa-cart girl to ask, when/if they got my power back on, could they maybe keep the thumpa-music down a bit. She was really nice about it, and it worked, for a while, most of the time.

But the new location is much more prominently "just outside the theaters", and after 9:00 or so, lots of people on dates come wandering out, so I started doing the softer more romantic stuff, and drew in a lot of people. And when the thumpa-music was down (or later, off), I could really hear myself pretty well, so I was able to really get into it, and felt like I was giving some pretty good performances. I guess the difference is that I'm finally far enough away from the turtle fountain that I don't even notice it. Yay!

I guess some other people noticed that I was "on", too, 'cuz I made $82 in tips and a few CD sales. Part of that was a twenty dollar bill, which was, presumably, for a CD (or 2? I keep forgetting to count how many I'm putting out.)

Naturally, since I was doing so well, I didn't have any cameras set up. Or is it that I was doing well because I didn't have any cameras intimidating me? Either way, a really really good night. I felt good, was singing strong and playing well, I didn't get too cold, and just had a blast. After last time, I was beginning to think that they'd "ruined" the place, and that I wasn't going to want to play there anymore. Now, I can't wait to go back.

Keith at Irvine Spectrum, Myrtle Court-- 23Dec2010

I got to play the Main Stage at Spectrum again, coincidentally exactly a year from the famous hat-stealing gig of 2009. This year I swore to play facing *away* from the fountain, which is also away from any potential audience sitting at the tables along its sides, but at least it doesn't leave my "six" unprotected.

At first it seemed like a huge mistake -- it felt weird to deliberately turn my back on the people at the tables, but after I got started, I was able to almost continuously attract at least a small (and sometimes satisfyingly large) group in the standing-space in (my new) "front", and some lingerers sitting on the bench/planter boxes at either side. I guess that's the way it works -- once you're playing, you attract the attention of the tide of people coming down the corridor. Most go on by, but the ones that like what they hear can stop for a while.

I got lots of families with small kids, many of whom stop to let their kids see what Live Music looks like. I must have played "Rudolph", "Frosty", "Jingle Bells" and "Up On the Housetop" a dozen times each. Of course, having little kids gives me the excuse to play those, but the teenagers who come by while they're playing always join in, either on the main part, or with the "...like a light bulb!" descant on "Rudolph". I guess once you learn it, it's irresistible.

I made $49 in tips -- I'm sure it would have been more, but the arrangement forces people to split into two "streams" around me, so half the people didn't happen to walk by the tip jar. Next year, *two* tip jars.

Fortunately, I'd convinced the Booking Girl that, although her Original Material bands can probably sell enough CDs to cover the $50 Setup Fee, poor widdle me, playing well-liked but "cover" material, entertains the crowd, but doesn't sell enough CDs to afford to pay for the privilege. So she waived the fee, or I'd'a been a buck in the hole for the night.

So it all worked out -- I had a great time, played for a lot of people, made some Christmas money, and I still have my hat.

K&W at Borders South Coast Plaza -- 17Dec2010

A pretty good night -- unusually many people were tuned in. Was it the Christmas season, the Christmas music, or just the luck of the draw? No way to tell, I guess.

We did pretty well, tips-wise, but most of it was a twenty dollar bill that was ostentatiously left by a bearded guy we've seen before, who sat up front in the comfy chairs (*too* comfy?), asked for a few requests, and then fell loudly asleep. Not sure whether the $20 was an apology, or a thank you -- apparently he needed the sleep.

Thoughts on The Hat

I've been thinking about the response I had at the Santa's Workshop line the other day, and I think it was at least partially the effect of The Hat. At 6-foot-2, I'm a somewhat scary Big Man, and any given kid is in a foreign place (mall or Civic Center park), confronted with a Stranger, and is bound to be a little apprehensive in interacting with me. Mom seems to be OK with it, and the Big Man is playing and singing My Kinda Songs, but still...

But when I put on The Hat, I'm suddenly Something Else. With The Hat on, I'm not a Big Scary Man anymore -- I'm a Character; a Clown maybe; or something from TV. Kids are suddenly completely confortable talking to me, telling me their stories/concerns, asking for songs (sometimes while I'm in the middle of singing other songs!), screaming demands at me ("Play it again!"), etc.

It's magical, and quite wonderful. I'm thinking of wearing it year-round. Or at least whenever I'm likely to be playing for little kids.

Keith at Santa's Workshop - 15Dec2010

What a great night! They re-routed the line to see Santa so that it's on the sidewalk, putting the people too far away if I set up on the lawn like usual, so I moved to the in-between "rest area". I set up so that I could play to the head of the line, but that coincidentally put me right in front of some (anchored-down) park furniture -- a bench, two chairs, and a "coffee table". I didn't realize that parents would allow their kids to come and sit there, right near me, but they did, and what an audience!

And a huge turn-out. It's supposed to go from 6-8, but they obviously can't turn people away, so I was playing until 9 when the line finally played out. It moves quite slowly, so I had some of those kids for 2 hours. I played and played, and they danced and sang along and requested songs, some real, some made-up. Sometimes I'd do a song, and they'd all scream, "Do it again!" Even with several "greatest hits" non-Xmas kids' songs mixed in, it was tough not to be too repetitive, with 3 hours to fill, but nobody seemed to mind.

Lots of cute, cute kids to play for. Most of them dressed up for Santa (and the pictures) -- red velvet with white fur trimmed dresses, sequins, sparkly shoes. And it's so fun to say, "I'm gonna play a song now about a dragon -- a magic dragon..." and have some kids shout, "Oooh! 'Puff the Magic Dragon'!" They're so excited to have guessed it! And I got to enlist kids to "help out" with the "...like a lightbulb!" descant for "Rudolph". Everybody sang along on "Jingle Bells". And there are lots of kids who know a full hand-gesture routine for "Up on the Housetop", miming the words "up", "reindeer", "Santa Claus", etc. I love audience participation!

I did work up the guts to put out the card table with the basket of candy and business cards on it, despite being pretty sure that Mister Cranky-Pants was there. All the candy was gone, though nobody seemed to have gotten the implied, stealth, "tip jar" aspect. But I didn't mind at all -- I had a blast. There was a pretty thick cloud cover that might have meant rain, but really only served to keep it merely cold, not freezing, so I didn't even have to play with frozen fingers. What a great night!

And a good thing, too, since the weather report is for rain all the way through the weekend, probably killing my Spectrum gig on Saturday, and the last Santa night on Sunday. Bummer. Now that I got this great setup (accidentally) figured out, I want to do it again!

K&W at Borders Mission Viejo -- 11Dec2010

That was pretty fun. Due to various complications, I haven't played at the Mission Viejo Borders since May. When I got there, I was reminded of one of the downsides of playing in these no-stage bookshop venues: a lady was completely camped out in the corner where we need to set up, and was steadfastly impervious to my setting up of amps, stands, cables, etc. all around her. We get the same situation at South Coast Plaza, too, where someone is parked there, and we have to gently dislodge them. Awkward.

Anyway, we managed to get going eventually, but I had a lot of trouble getting the sound right. I guess the adjustments that get it working outdoors don't work so well indoors. And it's complicated since there's a tone knob in the guitar, on the pre-amp on the ground, and on the amp itself, all fighting/enhancing each other.

We did get some decent response, and I managed to goad several people into requesting songs. The good part was that, due to the "holiday hours", the store was open an hour longer than usual, so we had time to do more stuff. I sprinkled in several of my more pop-like Christmas songs, and Warren didn't complain too much about it. And, later in the evening, when the requests tapered off, I played through some unusual stuff: "Waiting", "People's Parties", "Landslide", and "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes", which I've recently figured out how to use the harmony box on, and worked far better than I'd expected/hoped. Demands a bit of fancy footwork, but I guess I'm getting the hang of it. Next up: "The Weight", which requires some really complicated foot-button pressing but sounds great, if I hit it.

We pulled in $19 in tips, which is pretty good for this place. I have a busy week coming up -- The Mission Viejo Santa Claus line on Wednesday and Sunday, Spectrum on Saturday, and the South Coast Plaza Borders on Friday with Warren again. 'Tis the season, I guess...

Keith at Santa's Workshop -- 01Dec2010

This is my third year playing for the families waiting in line to see Santa Claus at the Mission Viejo Civic Center. This year it's a little different -- they took out the stage (which was too far away from the "audience" anyway) and replaced it with Other Activities: cookie decorating and a projected loop of animated Christmas specials (Charley Brown, Frosty, Chipmunks, etc.) with (fortunately), the sound quite low. This was pretty smart, but it turns the lawn behind me into a Destination. It's a little odd to have people milling around behind me while I'm trying to play.

But it wasn't a problem -- this time anyway. The turnout was very small, here on December 1st, and a Wednesday. In fact, I always set up to play to the "middle" of the line, but the line was so short all night that it never even reached back to where I was playing. Everyone could hear me, but nobody was "in front" to see me (and I, them).

So mostly I seemed to be playing for the middle-school girl volunteers that pass out the hot chocolate and wear the Rudolph and Frosty suits. And that's OK. It was almost like a dress rehearsal for the rest of the nights.

I am pretty thrilled to be on the bill with such eminences as Suzanne's Dance Factory and Brownie Troop 367. I'm definitely on my way to the big time now...

There was some email discussion about whether or not I could put out my card table with CDs and a hat. Someone on the Committee doesn't like that because this is supposed to be a "free event". I'm not actually forcing anyone to buy one, but whatever. I have more of a problem that they won't even allow a tip jar. I don't need the money (though it's nice to feel appreciated), but it turns out that if I don't put out a jar/hat, people walk up and try to hand me money. Even in the middle of a song.

So the (possible) stealth solution we came up with was to put a low basket on the card table, filled with mixed peppermint candy and my business cards (which they specifically said I was allowed to put out). We figure that if anyone decides to leave a dollar in the basket in exchange for a mint, I can't stop 'em.

But, since the line never came back that far, that scheme didn't get tested. We'll see how it goes next Sunday.

Keith at Irvine Spectrum -- 26Nov2010

They've been doing construction next to the Food Court for the last month or two, demolishing a big restaurant, with no indication of what they'll put in. Well, it's finally done, and the answer is: nothing. They just paved over the whole place so it's one huge patio connected to the east side of the Food Court itself, and probably tripling the area.

But they didn't equip it with more tables and chairs -- the outside seating area of the Food Court never really filled up, so the idea clearly wasn't to add capacity to it. So all that's in the new area is three new sun-umbrellas with some outdoor comfy chairs and couches, two little vending carts, and empty space. Lots of that.

When I got there, I hunted around for where they put the stage in this new setup, and it was way over at the edge of the Food Court, "behind" (from the Court's point of view) a planter box with big trees in it, facing out into the new area. People in the Court, my usual audience, couldn't even see me. From the stage, there's nothing but brick pavers for miles, until you get out to the new comfy chairs clump, waaay out there. And over to my left, the two carts.

One of which made matters even worse -- it was selling T-shirts with live LED images on them that would react to sound/music. Pretty cool technology, but in order to demonstrate them, she had specially chosen thump-thumpy music blaring out so the display shirts would move. Loud -- really loud. I thought (hoped?) that she was far enough away that it wouldn't be a problem, and it was mostly OK (from where I was standing anyway) while I was playing, but as soon as a song was over: thumpa, thumpa, thumpa. Really annoying. And the space between her and me must have been even worse.

So basically, it's terrible. People wander through the space, and occasionally smile or nod my way on their way past, but there's nowhere to sit, so there's nothing resembling an audience -- even an accidental one a la the diners in the Food Court area. Some folks would take the only option and sit out on the comfy couches, where they could probably hear well enough, but there's no possibility of any kind of relationship -- no point in even clapping, and definitely too far away to shout up a request. Indeed, old Toshiba friend Glenn and family came by and did exactly that, though he did make the trek up and back to say hi, and then again to ask for a few tunes.

And occasionally, someone would come and stand up close, over to the side by the table, and listen for a few songs. Had some families with little kids so I played "Roll Over, Beethoven" so they could dance, and a really nice couple who ended up buying two CDs, and some others. But it took a lot of guts/dedication to do that, so it didn't happen much.

Not to mention, cold. I had brought our bathroom space heater, but of course, I couldn't even tell it was even on unless I was touching the front grill. The readout on top said 48 degrees. And I'm standing there, almost completely still, for 4 hours straight. It gets really hard to play when your fingers are frozen stiff.

Anyway, enough whining. I was upset that I hardly have any gigs there through December, but now I'm glad. All these issues are solvable -- maybe some furniture is on order, maybe someone will tell the T-shirt girl to turn it down, and the maintenance guys will undoubtedly start bringing out the umbrella heaters someday. I just figure that whoever has the rest of the gigs in December can deal with them, and I'll cruise in to all-fixed-up, later on. Hopefully.

Inexplicably, there was $35 in the tip jar. A third of that was the nice lady who bought the two CDs. Not sure when the rest of it came along, but I guess I was playing OK. Or maybe it was just pity for that guy playing guitar up there and turning blue...

K&W at Borders South Coast Plaza – 19Nov2010

Early in the week, I was walking around the parking lots with my electric guitar, and a lady pulled up in her car and shouted, "Do you give lessons?" I told her, "No, but I know a guy who does." I gave her my email address so she could contact me and I could give her Warren's info, but I also told her that she could come see us at Borders on Friday, meet Warren in person, and even maybe discover that the crazy guy who plays guitar while walking around the buildings really isn't crazy after all.

And she actually showed up. She's a big "music fan", and seemed to really enjoy listening to us and asking for songs -- and not just as an "audition" for Warren as a teacher. But she (Lisa) wasn't the only one. There were several people who were joining in, listening and requesting. It was almost like having an actual audience!

But Lisa is apparently a rocker at heart, because she requested almost exclusively the faster songs on the list. As a result, I think it was our hardest rocking gig ever. I don't generally like to play the rock songs on the list, because I think they sound a little pathetic on acoustic guitar with no bass nor drums, but I have a few on there anyway. She asked for all of them, and the Friendly Guy Who Works There came up and asked for "Roll Over Beethoven", too. So we played a lot of fast songs that we seldom play, some that we haven't played for years, and more of them in a single gig than ever before, I'm sure. "Take Me to the River", "Don't Stop Believing", "Daydream Believer", "Peaceful Easy Feeling", the aforementioned "Beethoven", and there was an older guy there who asked for "Dream Lover", and "Teach Your Children", and a nice lady next to Lisa who asked for "Country Roads". Some "harder" than others, of course, but it sure seemed like a lot of *strumming* to me.

And big fun. Lisa and Warren wandered off to talk business toward the end, and set up a date for the first lesson, so apparently we passed the audition -- all good, all around. But do I need to get a tattoo now?

Keith at San Mateo Campground -- 13Nov2010

A guy in my old Indian Princess nation invited me back to play for their campout and I jumped at the chance -- even at the expense of having to postpone a Borders Mission Viejo date to do so. The San Mateo campground is just 17 miles from my house, and has a really nice little amphitheater, with nice benches and a stage and power and even lights.

To make it more fun for the kids (or to buy the audience's favor), I went to the swap meet in the morning and bought 60 tiny LED flashlights, and gave one to each princess. The picture above is half the crowd with their lights.

I started with my greatest hit, "Waltzing With Bears", and a bunch of the girls (and several dads) got up and danced between the stage and the front row. Nobody dances like little girls, aged 5 to 9. And after each song, they all went back to their seats, only to leap up and dance all the way through the next song, and the next...

It was huge fun for me, and all too nostalgic. We did all the hits, including "The Indian Princess Song", with the cue cards. Since there were several dads there that came up and welcomed me, I asked for 3 volunteers for the cards of girls "who have seen this before!", though I think one of the girls that I picked may have fibbed a little, 'cuz she was completely confused. But that was, and always has been (though inadvertently), part of the fun.

It was far too short, because (a) they scheduled in the girls' skits in the middle (though that was fun/nostalgic too), and (b) it got really cold and a lot of the girls just wanted to go back to the tents and go to sleep. I had made up 30 "Bears" CDs, and left them (and a donations hat) out for the guys to take, and 15 of them disappeared. I heard a lot of girls begging their dads for one, only to have the dads tell them that they already had one. Apparently the girls wanted a back-up -- even more flattering...

About a dozen guys came up while I was taking down the equipment to thank me for coming out, and several girls, too -- some of them even without their dads making them do it. A lot of them mentioned how much they missed having the music at the campouts. Me too! Call me any time!

Keith at Irvine Spectrum -- 12Nov2010

A bit disappointing after last Friday's success -- I guess it really was the nice weather, and last week was *before* the time change which probably helped, too. A lot fewer people this time, and less "connecting" going on, but still better than sitting at home watching TV.

I did have some people listening -- Daleen came by for a while with the dogs, and there were some friendly people along the way, and a pair of teenage-girl Beatle fans at the end. And sometime in the middle, there was a guy looking on my table for a business card (which I'd neglected to put out), needing my email address, saying something about wanting to hire me. He discovered the email address at the bottom of the song list, and insisted that that was enough, and left. I didn't think much about it, until I got an email on Saturday morning, which I'll just quote in full:

---

Dear Keith:

I heard you play at the spectrum today and I just wanted to say thank you very much for playing. I was having such a hard day and I took a very long walk to calm down...maybe a 5 mile walk I would say, and I ended up in the spectrum where you were playing. See, I've been diagnosed with depression and have reoccurring thoughts of suicide, today being no exception, but for some reason hearing you play made me feel so much better. I know it may not seem like a lot to you, but it meant a lot to me. It really makes a difference to people, even if it's just one simple song. Thank you for giving me something worth living this day, and something to keep me going in the future.

I appreciate what you do. You don't have to respond, just thought I would let you know that you make a difference.

---

So... there's that.

Kind of makes worrying about the "take" in the tip jar fade in relevance...

You know, I'm obviously glad to have had a positive impact on the guy's life, but I'm not sure how much credit I can claim, since I was completely unaware and just doing my usual show (which, let's face it, I do for the attention). But still, nice.

Keith at Irvine Spectrum -- 05Nov2010

Somebody has snapped up almost all of the upcoming Food Court Saturdays, so I broke down and requested a bunch of Fridays, 'cuz I thought they'd be better than nothing. But I wasn't expecting there to be many people on a Friday, to the point where I brought out the electric guitar, figuring that I could play around with switching to it while there wasn't anyone there anyway.

But I was way wrong. There weren't many people at first, but, possibly because it was a wonderfully warm evening, people started showing up, and for no apparent reason, there were lots of attentive, appreciative people out there, all night long. I half-expected, after this presumed disaster, to have to tell the booking lady that I'd need to beg off of all those other Fridays I'd booked, but it turned out to be the best Spectrum gig I can remember.

Part of it may also have been that, for some reason, the sound was way better than it's ever been there. There was a new maintenance guy who turned the "house music" completely off (as opposed to just "down"), and there were a lot fewer screaming kids in the fountain, and maybe just a lower general hub-bub of people, or maybe I just had the knobs adjusted different. Or maybe it was because the stage got moved back in front of the ice cream bar store, so I didn't have a wall right behind me, which I now think may contribute to feedback which in turn prevents my being to turn it up as much. Whatever -- I could hear myself far better than I ever have been able to before at this place. That really helps me play and sing better.

So people were staying, and listening, and asking for songs -- it was great. My voice was even better than two weeks ago (when I thought it was "all better"), and I was able to really go for it. While I was setting up, I had asked the maintenance guy when he gets off (11:00), and told him that the last 9-10 hour was generally the best for me, so he didn't need to hurry to come out and get the lights (and shut me down). He heeded that and showed up to stop the fun at 10:30 -- literally leaving several people "begging for more".

One of whom was a guy who was there with his self-professed First Date, and who was trying Way. Too. Hard. When they arrived, they sat down right up front, and he spent most of the songs singing along and expansively miming all the lyrics, for the presumed "benefit" of his date. I don't usually think this of people, but I had to suspect some kind of "artificial courage" was at play.

Anyway, after a while, he came up and asked if I could play "Fire and Rain" and I told him I could play it with both hands tied behind my back. He said that he wanted it to become "their song". I said OK, and started flipping to it in the book, but then, thinking about it, I said, "You know, it's not really a love song." He started squirming a little at that, but then I thought about it more and said, "Actually, I guess it is kind of a love song, but the girl is dead". That got him really squirming and laughing nervously -- I suppose that wasn't the most tact I've shown lately, but I wasn't really thinking. I went ahead and played it, but I'm not sure it'll really become "their song", nor even if there'll be a second date.

So, other than that lapse of judgment, it was a really great night. I guess I'll keep the rest of those Fridays -- even though it is quite a bit tougher to play a 4 hour gig after a day's work. On the other hand, it's a great startup for the weekend. Not to mention the $75 in tips, which is a recent record -- and then there's that great "Stickin' it to The Man" rush 'cuz it's all tax free.

Keith at Irvine Spectrum -- 23Oct2010

It had been raining off and on all week, but it was pretty clear on Saturday. Still, I didn't expect many people to come out, but I was wrong. It was empty for the first hour or so, but it picked up pretty well. At one point it was literally "standing room only", which is hard to do in a Food Court.

It was quite a struggle to get anything going that first hour or two, though. Faced with stone silence at the end of every song, I always end up reverting to a "greatest hits" program, playing just my most crowd-pleasing stuff, just to try to rope somebody, anybody, in. That's the trouble with this venue -- no subtlety allowed. And how many times can I play "Hotel California" in one night?

Actually, that's not true. About 9:00, I usually get some people who've apparently gotten out of their movie and don't want to go home yet. Then I get some real audience, and it's late and moody enough to do some soft slow stuff. That's my favorite time.

But before that, I had a big foreign kid ask for john Denver's "Country Roads". This is another song (like "Something") that I had to include because a song I *like* to do (James Taylor's "Country Road") gets confused with it, and people ask, and get disappointed 'cuz it's the "wrong one". So I did it, and got probably the loudest round of applause of the night. C'mon people! Really?!? Any campfire hack that knows 4 chords can, and does, do "Country Roads". It's so dumb and easy that I'm embarrassed to play it. But it goes over. People like what they like. I guess I'm not really *being* a music snob (I *did* put it on the list), but I'm sure thinking like one. Gotta try to cut that out...

People occasionally take my picture. I assume they're tourists. Nobody takes any video, though (except me, of course). This time, a lady was clearly taking video with her smart phone -- holding it up, horizontally, at me for half a song, then turning around and walking back to her husband. That's odd, I thought.

Twenty minutes later, I spot a guy in the back with a real home video camera, pointed right at me for quite a while. Wow, twice in one night -- weird.

A half hour later, there's a guy off to the side with a full-scale "pro" video camera, on a tripod, aimed at me! What's going on here?!? That one was *really* strange -- not to mention the triple-coincidence. I half-expected him to come up later to have me sign a waiver, but he never did. I wonder if it's for those Spectrum commercials I've occasionally seen, and if I signed a general waiver when I took the gig. Guess I'll have to keep an eye out on the TV.

Anyway, it was a pretty great night, after it got rolling. I'd wonder about talking them into letting me play from 7-11 instead, but I don't have any more gigs there until December 18th, so it's kinda moot. And, presumably, when Daylight Saving ends, it'll all be different anyway.

I've been neglecting the CD manufacturing lately (with everything else going on) so I only had two with me, and they both sold (usually, none do). And though it seemed slow, I ended up with $67 in the jar, so, not bad at all.

I just wish I had the stage presence or knew what to do to get the audience connected earlier. It seems to happen anyway -- usually; eventually -- without my direct influence, but it would be nice to be able to *make* it happen. Maybe I need to play "Country Roads" more...

K&W at Borders South Coast Plaza -- 15Oct2010

I'd only just gotten back from our trip to Japan the day before, so I was a little spaced out and unrehearsed, but at least not too sleepy. The sound was quite loud (inadvertently -- but once you've started, it's too late to back down), but clear and wonderful, as it always is, here.

It did seem more bass-y than usual, so I had to do some tweaking to get comfortable, but eventually was loving it. It wasn't until the very last song that I noticed that I had turned up the amplifier's reverb at last weekend's ill-advised campfire. That's usually off, 'cuz the harmony box takes care of it now. But I guess I had "double reverb", which may explain the odd, but lush, sound.

Had a mother/daughter (or big sister?) pair right up front, right from the start, so we got some participation right away. More than the usual amount of friendly listeners this time.

And my voice was almost completely back on track, finally. I still can't hit the very highest note that I used to have, but it doesn't appear much. And my nice clear tonality is back too, so I'm pretty happy.

Unfortunately, my usually-reliable almost-every-Saturday gig at Spectrum seems to have dried up (I could only book two more until the end of the year!), so just when I finally *can* sing I'm not gonna get much chance to actually do it.

But it was a great night, and it was a thrill just to hear my (functional) voice coming out of the speakers again.

K&W at Borders South Coast Plaza – 17Sept2010

It's been awhile since I've played with Warren, or at SCP for that matter, so it was a fun change. Unfortunately, my voice is still a little messed up, so I had to do most of the songs with my guitar still down-tuned a half step. This has the effect of changing all my guitar-friendly keys into worst-case-scenario keys for Warren to try to play along in. But he hung in there, and called it all "educational", which I imagine it was. Towards the end, though, I figured I was warmed up enough, and there were few enough people there anyway, that I could go ahead and tune back to normal key and give him a break.

As always, not many people there, and during the second hour nobody was paying much attention, but early on we had an Asian couple sitting right up front, definitely there to hear something. They just stared at me blankly when I'd ask if they had any requests from the list that they appeared to be reading, until finally the lady asked for "Rhythm of the Rain", barely understandably.

She had some odd mannerisms -- all through "The Boxer" she held her hands out and twiddled her fingers as if she were (faking at) playing the piano. And through another song, she alternately banged her fists on each other, to the beat, sending the hit-upon fist around in an 18-inch loop to come back and hit the other, sending it on its own loop. Some weird kind of drill-team move, maybe. But they must have liked us, 'cuz they bought a CD on their way out.

Later on, a college girl came in and joined in pretty well -- singing along (to herself, of course) with several of my songs. Her two friends showed up and they all requested a few tunes before they had to leave.

But, as I feared, the terrific acoustics of the place made it very clear (to me at least) every time my voice missed its mark. Fortunately, there was hardly anyone listening, so I wasn't too embarrassed. I probably *shoulda* been, but I'm too far beyond that anymore.

I did get to play my new "Nature Boy" in a quiet mellow setting. Works much better than last week at Spectrum. I don't know how easy it is to play along with, since it's all vague-rooted spacey jazz chords, but Warren seemed to like it in general.

We made $12 to split, which was pretty good considering how few people were there. Obviously, it's not a very lucrative place to play, but it's good to play someplace where I can actually hear myself, once in a while. As opposed to Spectrum where I'm so drowned out by the fountain noise that even *I* don't know if I'm singly badly or not. I guess it's good to have the camouflage while my voice is trashed, but it's a lot less artistically satisfying if I'm actually doing well.

Keith at Irvine Spectrum – 11Sept2010

Well, school's officially started, and the Food Court is pretty dead. Maybe it'll pick up again after all the excitement's over, but every week for the past 3 has had fewer people than the one before. Note to self: If you're gonna have a trashed voice for a 10-15 week stretch, don't do it in the summer next time. I up and missed the best playin' time…

I was hoping, again, to be able to tune my guitar to concert pitch, maybe after a while warming up at a half-step down, but I never really got the impression that I'd get away with it. But it was pretty comfortable singing down the half-step, so maybe I'm very slowly approaching "fixed".

Never a lot of people, but an occasional friendly group to play for. One 30-something couple sat and listened a long time, and the girl unexpectedly and raucously joined in singing/shouting the chorus "Time After Time". That was odd.

I have a section in The Book of songs that I mostly-know, and are there in case someone asks for them, but not on The List 'cuz they don't seem that popular. I occasionally run through them to remember how to play 'em, which I did on Saturday. That was lucky because out of the blue, a guy asked for "If You Could Read My Mind". If I hadn't run through it earlier in the day, it would have been a disaster.

Anyway, pretty fun, even without much of a crowd to play for, and $44 isn't bad (especially considering how few people were there). Next week is South Coast Plaza, and then I'm out for a while for my vacation, so it'll be a while before I'm back at Spectrum.

"Flyer" at Buster's Beach House -- 05Sept2010

It's been years since I've dragged myself out to see Todd and Nancy play. They have a new third member of the band, Kurt, who, coincidentally, also went to Marina, a year behind me. And the guy is good -- really good.

Anyway, Daleen and I sat and watched anonymously for a couple of songs before Nancy noticed me, and started saying that they'd have to have me up there in a while. I never know if that's "cool", for them to bring up other people, but apparently it is. On that chance, though, I brought my guitar, just in case.

It's strange that, the night before and almost every Saturday, I play for 4 hours and it never even occurs to me to be nervous about it anymore -- but Nancy even suggesting that I come up sent me into a cold sweat. Most of that was undoubtedly just unfamiliar circumstances, but part was also my still-not-fully-working voice, made a bit hoarse by the 4 hours of singing the night before. And the fact that my guitar is tuned down a half-step (so I can reach the "high notes"), and I was worried about Todd trying to play along when I'd be in a really odd key.

Luckily for both of us, he wanted to just go out and listen. I played "You've Got a Friend", quite badly. I was nervous, and my guitar sounded funny and distant through his system, and I'm not used to singing into a fixed mic on a stand (I have a "head mic"), so I was completely thrown. I kept thinking, "Who *is* this?", 'cuz I couldn't recognize my guitar, my distracted and bad playing, or my voice.

I tried to snap out of it and just play, and maybe had it partially together by the ending. I thought it was a total bomb, but I got a *huge* round of applause, surprising me a lot. They (the crowd and Todd) seemed to want me to play another one, so I chose "Leaving On a Jet Plane", because (a) it's really easy, (b) my arrangement is unique, and, I think, pretty cool, and (c) I get to put some spin on the vocal. Todd had reappeared, and I warned him not to try to play along ('cuz of the weird key and guitar arrangement), but to definitely sing harmony, which was really great. Amazing to think that the first time we harmonized together was 39 years ago...

That one went way better, and people seemed impressed. Nancy seemed to want me to do "Sweet Baby James" (so they could both sing harmonies), but two was enough, and we might get to it later on (though we didn't).

Of course, it takes me at least two songs just to get warmed and loosened up, but it's pretty cool to play for people who are actually there to hear music, as opposed to my usual gigs where I'm essentially an interruption. I'll definitely have to go back down there, when my voice is better, and sooner than a couple of years this time.

Keith at Irvine Spectrum – 04Sept2010

It's Labor Day weekend, so I wasn't expecting many people out, but it was the opposite -- lots of people, all evening long. It was pretty hot in the day, but a pleasantly warm night, so people seemed to just stay -- it was the most people I've had still-there all the way to the end, ever.

My voice has gotten noticeably better over the past week (finally!), so I took a chance and brought my guitar back up a half-step, so it's only a half-step down from normal pitch. That helped a lot as far as it, and me, sounding really low, and most of my songs were sing-able there. I even felt like I occasionally had enough "left over" to actually *sing* parts of some of the songs, as opposed to just hitting the notes.

Two sleeve-tattooed, black-T-shirted guys sat down at the very front table even before I got started, and, far from heckling me with requests for Ozzy tunes as one might expect, they asked for classic stuff off my list, very politely. Their first request was "Hotel California", which I've been opening with anyway, so that worked out well. Then "Hey Jude", "Help From My Friends", and a lot of others, until finally the girls that they were apparently waiting for showed up, and off they went. Great way to get started, though.

Lots of nice older people out too, quietly hanging around, though most were too shy to request anything (or, as they invariably insist when called out, "You're doing great -- I love all these songs!"). Some couples sat and listened for an hour or more, I'm sure.

And, especially early on, lots of kids playing in the fountain. That makes it crazy and pretty noisy, but I'm starting to think that I have a symbiotic relationship with the kids -- the fountain brings the families out, and my tunes keep the parents less bored, so the kids get to play longer. Especially on such a warm night -- there were kids still playing in the fountain way past dark, with their parents smiling and nodding at me.

Towards the end, there was a cheerful guy shouting great ("Eagles!") and crazy ("Boz Skaggs!") requests. He audibly liked my rendition of "Old Man", so I took the opportunity to play "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" for someone who'd recognize it. Seemed to go over with him, but not so much with everyone else. Bummer -- I'm really liking playing that one. Then, when it was almost 10:00, I decided to play "Nature Boy", just to get it in, but it just completely flopped. Wrong mood and setting -- it still might work at a Borders. I did *not* get the chance (or the guts?) to play Kelly Clarkson's "My Life Would Suck Without You", which I had worked up earlier in the day. It plays really well, but it's a bit out of my wheelhouse. But if I get a pack of tweens out there one of these nights, I'm gonna whip it out and blow their minds. Or not.

Anyway, it was a great night -- basically no "down time" the whole 4 hours. That's never happened before. I'm pretty sure I had more tippers (though less actual money), than last week. More singles, fewer fives, but still $55 ain't bad.

I wish I coulda played later, but I had warned the crowd that I'd have to quit at ten, and they apparently believed me and started clearing out at 5-'til. Actually, I can usually play another 10 or 15 minutes before the Maintenance guys show up, but my left-hand fingertips were really hurting, so, since most of the crowd was gone anyway, I went ahead and shut it down just a little after 10.

I hadn't even noticed the pain in my fingers until 9:45, when I looked at the clock and realized that I only had 15 minutes left. Now I know how Wile E. Coyote feels when he's run out over the ravine and doesn't fall until he looks down.