Bill Small's Blog » mean eyed cat http://www.billsmallmusic.com/blog music, creativity, and the life of an entrepreneurial artist, coach and internet wanderer Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:30:11 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 The Next Time http://www.billsmallmusic.com/blog/2010/05/the-next-time/ http://www.billsmallmusic.com/blog/2010/05/the-next-time/#comments Mon, 17 May 2010 18:49:45 +0000 billsmall http://www.billsmallmusic.com/blog/?p=121 Like the song says, “Mostly I want to know that there’s gonna be a next time”.  Last Tuesday, I woke up anxious. There were questions, and not particularly useful questions, running through my brain. I was sleepy. I was jumpy. Agitated. I guess it makes some sense. Later that evening I was scheduled to play my first official CD release show in support of “The Next Time”. My first solo record in almost 10 years. It’s also the first time I’ve played my songs with a band other than the Mystiqueros in years. Of course when it comes to the band, I stacked the deck in my favor. Chris Gage, my friend, producer and musical wunderkind on guitar. Glenn, (I’ve played on everyone’s record including yours and toured with all kinds of amazing folks), Fukunaga on the bass. And, my Mystiquero brother other half of R-n-B drummer Ray Rodriguez. Of course having Glenn and Chris there was a source for more nervousness. Would I lead the band well? Would I remember the songs? Would I have any money to pay them?

As show time approached I began to let go a bit. I’d been in the studio that day playing bass on a project that WW was producing and everything was lined up as far as I could see. But would anyone come? I knew a couple folks would be there, (like my girlfriend) but would it be full? I didn’t expect it to be as full as the MQ release show, though that would be cool, but would the club have a good night? Luckily, the show was booked at The Mean Eyed Cat and after a year or so of monthly Monday nights with Sam Baker back in 2007, I felt very comfortable there. I knew I had MQ sound sensei Mike Horn running the show and making sure everything was handled. But, I was still nervous enough to slam a couple of ice cold beers in the first 20 minutes of set up. ( so good)

Show time arrived as it always does and there was nothing for it but to stand up and sing. I managed to call the first tune in the wrong key and after a re-start we began to play the new record. I decided to just play the record in order start to finish. Some of the songs have been around for awhile and some are newer. Some I’ve played many times and others not so much, so I wanted to see what the flow would be like if I just stuck to the sequence of the record. Frankly, I just couldn’t bring myself to come up with another plan at that point. Even though I broke a string in the second measure of the title track, (we re-started that one too!) I was surprised by how much I enjoyed playing those songs. It was really fun. And what a band. Those guys were stellar!!

The crowd dug it. And yes there was a crowd. Even the folks who just came to the Cat for a drink, having no idea who I was, stayed and listened. The audience actually moved in closer as  the show went on. It was nerve wracking and exhilarating at the same time to have everyone paying close attention, but that’s what we do this for isn’t it? That nervous exhilaration. That rush of energy passing between you and the audience. That’s what live music is all about.

So where does all this lead me? I want to play with that band again! I can see that show as  a step in re-awakening a part of myself that’s been resting for a bit. As I performed that night I was once again, “Bill Small”. Not just El Guapo, bass player of the Mystiqueros, but also the old singer songwriter, the guitar slinger, the artist that I have been, as well as the artist that I am becoming. I felt it all bubbling up that night.

So next time I may be nervous again. Next time I may have a different band, a different crowd. Next time I may reach some transcendental state of live performance bliss or fall flat on my face. But there will indeed be a next time.

p.s. This is kind of what the show looked like to me:

]]> http://www.billsmallmusic.com/blog/2010/05/the-next-time/feed/ 0