Essays of a Common Man

On the Indie Road – Tuesday Night, songwriters in the round.

It was as I watched Ernie Halter and Tony Lucca get out of the mid size car, walk around to the trunk and get their guitars that the differences between the corporate managed performing artist and the independents were once again made clear to me. This was a Tuesday evening, on a downtown Austin street, in front of a small up scale restaurant & bar called Hoolihan’s.

Tony and Ernie were in the middle of a club tour and had been following this same procedure, night after night for weeks now. The only difference in the routine is that they were at a totally different venue each night. Touring for a major label artist was just as grueling, but they usually travel in busses. They also have the benefit of performing the same show night after night, the luxury of performing on a similar stage set up and the support of an entourage of musicians and technicians.

Hoolihan’s is a very nice place if you are ever looking to spend an enjoyable evening in downtown Austin. The downstairs is a large wide open room consisting of several partitioned areas for dining. A low light atmosphere with accent lighting on the table provides the diners comfortable surroundings that lends well to casual conversation during the meal. In the back of the room is a bar. A brilliant white light highlights rows of glass shelves filled with bottles of all different shapes, sizes colors. The lighting contrast gives a splendid shining backdrop to the rest of the room. This evening’s musical event was to take place on The Roof Top at Hoolihan’s, a very nice open air bar.

Boy! What a difference twenty-four hours makes in the life of an independent artist on the road. One night they are performing in the living room of someone’s home, were everyone is keenly intent on their music - the next night out in the wide open spaces of Texas in a roof top bar where most of the audience was more concerned about making it to the restroom before the waitress came around again. I’m here to tell, this requires two totally difference performance techniques that would baffle any of the multi million dollar bubble gum pop rockers.

As it turns out, not only was the venue a 180 degree turn-a-round from the night before, so was the performance itself. On the rooftop that evening, Tony and Ernie joined up with Aston Teague and Jonathan Clay - two Indie artists from Texas. The performance started out in what I call a “review” format – or, as I heard one of the singers remark during the first set, songwriters in the round.

They had lined up four abreast on stage. Then, each in turn, one at a time, sang one of their songs. Once all four had sang, they started the performance cycle over. This is why I look at this kind of a performance as a review. Not having an overall theme or direction, to me it is more like a demonstration of the performer’s individual talents. I do find this kind of performance enjoyable and these guys were doing a bang up job. In fact this would have been a perfect format for the previous night in a living room where everyone was intent on hearing good music and being entertained.

But up on the roof that night, a beautiful fall evening surrounded the gathering, the cities night time sounds filled the back ground, and it was happy hour… actually, it was several hours after the start of happy hour. So, it stands to reason that most of the people in the audience were… well, let’s say…….happy. With all this, there seemed to be a general lack of focus as to what was happening on stage.

Each singer had his complement of devotee’s in the audience and they were tuned in when their favorite artist was performing. But, in this situation, with the performers changing after each song, I felt it was hard for anyone to get into a real groove – singer and audience alike. This is a situation where the metal of a true performing artist is tested. And I have to say, these guys passed with flying colors.

For the second set, they assumed the same stage set up as the first, but each performer sang three songs instead of just one. This gave the artist more of a chance to create a little musical momentum for their performance. It also allowed the audience members not familiar with that particular artist to get more of an ideal as to what he was about. This slight adjustment made for a more cohesive performance and the end of the last set came way too early for most of us in attendance.

This splendid fall evening, in the wide open spaces of downtown Austin, with its tall window lit buildings and city night sounds as a backdrop, every one was treated to a great musical experience. The artists showed a keen savvy in adapting to the challenges of the performance and won over their audience hands down. With this, it was clear to everyone that they are all excellent at their craft. Yes indeed, there was a very fine collection of songs, singers and songwriters on the roof at Hoolihan’s that night.

Jim

Just so you know; these guys are well worth checking out.

Tony Lucca
www.tonylucca.com
www.myspace.com/tonylucca

Ernie Halter
www.erniehalter.com

Aston Teague
www.astonteague.com
www.myspace.com/astonteague

Jonathan Clay
www.jonathanclay.com

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On the Indie road - Monday Night, different kind of venue

On the Indie road - Monday Night, in three segments;
A venue / The Human Aspect / The Concert

A Venue a little different from the norm

Getting a chance to experience life on the road of an independent artist, up close and personal, was exciting to me – especially when the first night was going to be in a new kind of venue that had been gaining popularity among the Indie pop artists. You see, a while back I had the pleasure of attending two concerts of an Indie artist that was brought to my attention by a good friend. The concerts took place on Monday and the consecutive Tuesday night here in Texas. It was in route to the first night’s venue that I started to get an up close understanding of the differences in life on the road between an independent pop artist and one signed with a major music label

Usually, in going to a concert of one of the major music label’s pop artist there is a lot of traffic to navigate and deal with. I found this to be true for this particular evening as well - although, the traffic to this evening's entertainment was nowhere near a major thoroughfare headed in the direction of a mega performance arena. The road I was traveling - back in its day - was a fine broad roadway I am sure; affording the urban flight-ers of the ‘50’s easy access to all the sparkling new subdivisions springing up in this area of the city. But now, in order to accommodate the burgeoning population, four lanes had been crammed into what was probably two back then.

Another aspect of the expanding population trend was also reflected in the seemingly unorganized stretches of small businesses that now lined both sides of the street. Most of the signs on the business were in a foreigner language - well, at least foreign to me. And in reflecting the culturally eclectic nature of Houston now-a-days, those languages seem to change as we made our way from neighborhood to neighborhood.

Night had already shrouded that part of the city and a light rain began to fall. With the myriad of ruby red brake lights in front of me and the diamond bright white light of the on coming traffic - combined with the street lights, traffic lights and business lights; all reflecting off the wet streets, cars and my windshield... I was faced with a brilliance in the night that was almost blinding. But my friend - driving the city folk’s version of an army tank called the Chevy Suburban - was fearless in those conditions. And seeing as how she had the direction to the concert I was religated to the position of follower. I have to tell you, my driving senses where on high alert most of the way.

After pulling off into a deserted parking lot in the back of a shopping mall - in a part of Houston that only God knew where we were - and making a cell phone call; we then traveled back several miles to where “Ms. Fearless” flew by the turn the first time. Finally, we were on the street leading to the concerts location.

It was evident the subdivision we had entered was established long before the thought of a Home Owners Association even entered any ones mind. All homes were of the ranch style made so popular back in the dawn of the suburbs. But, the original design of some of the homes had been augmented a bit. Extra living space now occupied what use to be garages with carports now occupying what use to be driveways.

All in all, the area had a comfortable feeling about it. Being in the evening hours, everyone seemed to be at home. Cars of all colors shapes and sizes occupied the car ports and were lined up and down the streets. Tall, magnificent, hard wood trees filled the yards and being the fall of the year; mounds of brown, crunchy leaves were scatted throughout the neighborhood - at some points even covering the streets. From all the windows of the homes; a warm glowing light shown that filtered throughout the neighborhood. It was in their well kept yards and nicely maintained homes that one could sense the self pride and dignity they felt for the life they were living here.

With her upbringing, I’m sure Christina would have felt as comfortable as I did walking down the street - after having to park my car several houses away from the concerts address. Unfortunately, I just can’t imagine a corporate, money grubbing, major music label booking a gig for Ms. Aguilera in this neighborhood. But then, that is to Miss Christina’s loss because the performance I was part of that evening was truly amazing. You see, this was going to be, what is called, a House Concert.

The Human Aspect of this Indie world

My friend Linda has an enthusiasm level that is infectious. She is also kind, courteous and mindful of her place as a fan in the life of a performing artist. With these qualities, and being a Grobanite from back before the term was even coined, she has found her way into the world of the independent musical artist and made several friends among their ranks - Ernie Halter bring one.

This is why, on that Monday night, I found myself in the living room of total stranger, sitting next to a
bunch of other total stranger, who were not only strangers to me but a lot of them were also to the hosts of the event, who had opened their home to people that were total strangers to them. If fact, if I have my story straight, Ernie was even a total stranger to Tricia and Allen, host of the concert, when they invited him to perform a concert in the living room of their home. The amazing part is that Ernie accepted this offer from a total stranger and even brought along some of his Indie artist friends, Tony Lucca and Cousin Johnny.

Now, help me get this straight in my head if you will. Is this Indie music world way too strange? Or, might there still be a flicker of good, descent humanity left in this computerized, mega corporate world of the 21st Century. You know, where things like simple trust in your fellow human beings and reaching out to others in friendship is a good way to live your life. I don’t’ know, but I think I might have found a home, built in the dawn of suburbia, owned by people with a lot of self pride and dignity, where this good, descent humanity thing is still flickering for all it’s worth.

Anyway, by the time the concert was about to start, the fact that a lot of us were strangers was a mute point because we had all become friends in music.

The Concert

As Trish made her way around the house, announcing the start of the show, people started steaming in from the kitchen and game rooms. Slowly scooching their way between the people already seated, they all nestled into the available chairs and squatted down into vacant spaces on the floor… making for a truly “packed house” – if you get my pun.

I have to admit, I was sort of pessimistic as to how this was going to work. I mean, we were just in someone’s house. The stage was two simple folding chairs set up in the corner of the living room. A small book case stood behind those chairs containing family pictures along other personal items and nick knacks. Ten or so crosses of various shapes and sizes decorated the wall. A very nice home, but a concert stage for two major independent artists on tour? It was also an alcohol and smoke free gathering. Usually in the life of an Indie musician on the road, it’s the sale of those very two substances at the bars and clubs that generates their pay. I just sat there and thought to myself that this is going to be a very interesting evening

My curiosity was peaked by the time Trish took the “stage” to welcome everyone and get the “show” started. First up was Paul Michaels, a local up and coming Indie artist. He seemed quite at ease with the situation. I found out later that he was no stranger to this kind of venue, having performed before in this very living room before - or maybe I should say on this very stage. It turned out that Trish and Allen are very big supporters of independent artists on the whole – Trish actually working for the group Leeland. One of the first house concerts they sponsored was for Rob Blackledge.

As Paul progressed through his set list of tunes, the audience started to get into what was happening. With this, I started to as well. The audience was very attentive and seemed to have genuine caring for the artist’s performance. By the time Paul had finished I also found myself starting to get excited about this kind of venue.

Tony Lucca and Ernie Halter, on the other hand, still seemed a little hesitant when they took the stage. It’s not that they hadn’t performed in such close quarters before. I would say, it’s just that in the other close situations like this; it was at a small bar where most of the audience members were drunk and not paying attention to them. Here, their audience was sober, eye level and starring straight at them. Added to this, it looked to me that neither had prepared any kind of set list nor worked out a performance routine between them… probably because they were unsure of what to expect at this kind of venue. But in the end, that wasn’t a problem at all.

Even though the performance was of an impromptu nature, due to the musical talent and professionalism of Ernie and Tony, they figured out the venue and provided the audience with a fantastic musical experience. A performance that had the ebb and flow of a well planned performance; containing high energy moments that seamlessly subsided into tender and touching musical moments. Their road manager, Cousin Johnny, also joined in for a tune or two - leaving most in the audience wondering; why is he the road manager? He should be on stage with the other guys.

All heck even broke loose at one point when a member of the audience was invited on stage to help out with a splendidly timed, jiving and rhyming rap segment - a segment so spontaneous and fun, when it ended everyone erupted in joyous laughter. High five’ing was a plenty on stage at that moment I have to say.

Then, there was the fun-loving duet in which Tony and Ernie ended the song by rhythmically thumping around on various parts of their guitars, creating a rhythm section of their very own. Hey, if you don’t believe me, watch this and see just how much fun a house concert can be - Ernie and Tony at Tricia’s house.

I am here to tell you, even thought I started out a little pessimistic about this kind of concert, buy the time it was over, I was a big exponent of the new venue popping up all over the Indie music world. As far as this particular house concert goes, all I can say is that from the hard strumming, fast picking, edgy sounds of Tony Lucca to the bluesy melancholy vocalizations of Ernie Halter, this duo rocked the house with this concert.

Thanks Trish and Allen, for your continuing efforts in demonstrating the good, descent sides of humanity.
Jim

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