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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I absolutely love your ability to write in such a way that one feels as if they are actually experiencing everything as they read it! Or, maybe it's your ability to make one feel as if they were! Either way, the intimate details of sharing an evening like this do well in allowing the reader as much as possible, so that reading your article is the closest thing to actually having been there too. That's just good stuff!
How I wish I could have joined you both Monday and Tuesday night!
Posted by: Mark | July 04, 2007 at 08:28 AM