At the #CGMF concert Monday, I chuckled at Ed Robertson’s introductions for the newest, Barenaked Ladies songs. “Since you guys can’t stop screaming for them, we are going to play a new song!” he said.
It was a light-hearted way of acknowledging that he knew the audience was there to hear hits, but the band wanted to share a new song or two. (After a new song, a hit followed.)
Which makes me wonder, whose needs matter more? The artist’s, or the audience’s?
Clearly, an audience is necessary for the artist; but without the needs of the artist being met, there would be no art in the first place.
A scale’s balance of the “audience vs. artist’s needs” tips quickly: Bob Dylan’s current live shows might be an example of the artist’s needs being more weighted than the audience’s.
However, it’s easy for an audience to be initially annoyed about an artist sharing something new that is wonderfully special, utterly phenomenal! (Ironically, Dylan’s historic electric performances; Chris Thile’s Punch Brothers’ first live show; The Decemberists performing their The Hazards of Love in its entirety.)
As performing musicians, there is nothing wrong with performing for our audiences; but there is also nothing wrong with performing for ourselves. When making a set list, it’s important to recognize the scale, and consider which way it’s tipping; and how far.
I often wonder what life was like as a traveling minstriel during Elizabethan time.
How difficult it must have been to travel from town to town, to seek patronage from lords of the house.
As a 21st century musician, I can’t picture traveling without the perks of GPS, a cell phone, IndieontheMove.com, Twitter, Youtube, a car, a website, a Priceline App, airplane flights…
Whenever touring gets difficult, I just remind myself, “At least you aren’t having an adventure like an Elizabethan minstrel!”
Yesterday, I was listening to Stateside on Michigan Radio, and Cynthia Canty was interviewing Tom Baily, director of the Little Traverse Conservancy. Baily used the word “adventure” many times during his discussion of why conservation of wilderness in important to us, for kids to have a place to “have an adventure…”
His use of the word “adventure” made me chuckle. Can we still claim to have “adventures” in the modern age?
The word “adventure” seems like an outdated term:
Ad·ven·ture:
(n.) an unusual or exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity.
(v.) to engage in hazardous and exciting activity, especially the exploration of unknown territory.
And then it hit me–music and art are their own abstract wildernesses in which we still have adventures.
It is exciting to create. It can be emotionally hazardous to share one’s work, letting the world observe, consider, judge or criticize. The act of creation explores “unknown territory,” usually within our minds or hearts.
When we grow up, we often lose the spirit for adventure. Could being an artist or musician be one of the last ways to keep that spirit alive?
If so, than conserving our arts and music programs in our schools in communities is important, just like conserving the beautiful, scenic character of Michigan .
Grandpa Burg, still having adventures at 90 years old!
One of the most scary adventures I've had touring was when a five hour gig commute became a white-knuckling nine hours because of a winter storm on the 402 in Ontario. It was an adventure getting to Paul Federici's CD Release show!
Set List: Common Grounds Festival, July 8, 2013
1. Empty Cup
2. Damn Fine Day
3. Love & Be Proud
4. Ohio*
5. My Lovely Enemy>Such Great Heights%>My Lovely Enemy
6. Only the Rain Knows Why
7. Made a Mess
8. Smooth+
9. Mahogany
10. Do You Know Your Fears by Name?
11. Driftwood
12. Love Birds
13. It’s the End of the World^
with Hannah Fralick accompanying on vocals, piano, organ, and guitar.
*Neil Young cover
%Postal Service tease
+Santana/Rob Thomas cover
^REM cover
9 & 10 Mike Vial solo
10. first time this song was played live
10. first time Mike played piano live
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.
