Yesterday was fight off a panic-attack, jump-up-and-down, shout from the rooftops awesome.
Yesterday, I played Common Grounds Music Festival. (Read more about CGMF at Anne Erickson’s LSJ article.)
It was my first chance to play a smaller stage at a large music festival, along side big name acts, ones that I’ve seen live multiple times over the last 15 years. (BNL, Ben Folds 5, Guster…)
I thought I’d share some photos to bask in the memories for a few minutes longer before reality returns.
Hannah Fralick and I got to perform songs and feel cool for a fun, hour long set with the Grand River as our backdrop.
And Mother Nature took pity on us by stopping the rain during soundcheck!
I got to smile for the camera and answer some questions for Jane Suglyama & Fox 47!
Our spouses got to eat snacks and drink Michigan beers with us in a green room!
We got to hear our new friends Elliot Street Lunatic rock out.
For a few flashes, my name and picture were on the large screens by the main stage, between Ben Folds Five and BNL’s sets.
I got to hear Barenaked Ladies sing one of my favorite Gordon tunes, “Blame It on Me,” from backstage! (Ah! How cool is that?)
Oh! And Natalie, our friend Nick, my parents and I sang along in glee to $1,000,000 during a gorgeous Lansing night!
But the best part of yesterday was my wife Natalie saying to me, “In 2004, I tried to convince my friends to see Barenaked Ladies and nobody would go with me. Today, not only do I get to see them with my husband, your name is on the bill too!”
* * *
Today, life returns back to normal. Our dog Lois is napping on the couch, Natalie is in her office conducting interviews for writing assignments, I’m eating cereal out of the box while typing this blog.
In a few hours, I’ll be back on the road to my regular haunts of bar gigs and small clubs, while my ears are still ringing from the gigantic, festival speakers. I’ve got to admit, this musical life is a rollarcoaster.
Mike Vial @ Common Grounds Music Festival
I’m excited to be sharing the bill with Barenaked Ladies, Ben Folds Five, ZZ Ward, Elliot Street Lunatic (and more) on the first day of the Common Grounds Festival in Lansing, July 8!
I thought I’d offer anyone who buys a ticket from me one of my CDs, as a thank you for joining me at my biggest show so far! Your choice of one CD with purchase. Let’s sing $1,000,000 & 1 Angry Dwarf & 200 Solemn Faces together! Anyone interested in getting a ticket? Grab them here.
This ticket is for admission to only Monday, July 8, 2013, of Common Grounds Festival. The Monday bill is:
Barenaked Ladies, Ben Folds 5, Guster, ZZ Ward, Boothby Graffoe, Xavier Rudd, ZZ Ward, American Authors, Elliot Street Lunatic, Nahko & Medicine for the People, Mike Vial & the Great Lake Effect.
Related show
My friend Paul Federici invited me trek out to Catherine North Studios in April to record guitar tracks for his new record. I’m really honored to be a part of his music, and the songs are turning out great!
Paul released the first single, “Sail On,” today! You can hear some of my Taylor guitar in the track, too. Paul’s offering a free download of the song here.
Video produced and edited by Kristopher Chandroo: http://vimeo.com/lnoyl
“Busking”
When taking chances, failure feels
Better than success unearned.
Yet here I am, sidewalk my stage,
Singing a song from my stomach.
You see, I’m obsessed with a melody,
One that came to me on a rainy afternoon,
And lives between chords molded
From the flatted thirds of minor keys.
It would leave you wondering,
“What could have been?”
As you shuffle with your coffee,
And toss pocket change in my jar.
But I won’t sing that song for you;
It’s too nice of a day for the blues,
And you seem too busy
To hear a song like that now.
April 18, 2013
Rewritten Jan 2014
Big thanks to Noisetrade.com for featuring me on their front page “New & Notable” section! You can download my song “Reaching Back” (and more) for free this week here.
Noisetrade is one of my favorite sites to check out and download new tunes as a music fan, and it’s also become a great spot for me to share some of my music over the last two years.
