Performing

Photo by Roman SobusWow. I just had 3 of the most amazing shows of my career. They weren't the biggest audiences I've ever played to or the highest paying shows I've ever had and they weren't the best musical performances I've ever given.These were some of the best shows I've had...

I just returned from a 3 week tour visiting about 15 states and 3 seasons. Yay America. Most of these shows on this run were on college campuses. I do a fair amount of college shows. They're fun. They pay well. And the audiences are mostly very attentive. However, once in awhile...

You may not get Phish. But that's because you've never been to a show. Phish isn't their hits (they've had one - 20 years ago). Phish isn't their albums (however some are pretty damn good). Phish isn't just the music (however they're all masters on their instruments).Phish is abo...

My ears are ringing.I bring ear plugs wherever I go. They're in a little plastic pinch-to-open container on my keychain. I put them in whenever I'm at a loud concert. Well most concerts really. Except for those at the Hotel Cafe. Because they know how to mix. It's a listening roo...

The simple answer is: alienate your audience. This is exactly what Michelle Shocked did last Sunday at Yoshi's in San Francisco.Shocked had built a career over 30 years of activist folk music that targeted a progressive, LGBT friendly crowd.Then, in a moment, she did the equivale...

The night of your album release show should be the biggest night of your career to date. If you've done your job right, the show will be packed if not sold out. The reason more people typically come to album release concerts than your Wednesday night 4 band bill show is because i...

Scott Palahniuk wrote in (via the Request a Topic below) and asked about cover songs and how an opener should order their set. And Ian J wrote in asking: 'they ask you to play for three hours, but having that much original material is hard. Is it singer/songwriter suicide to sing...

I've played countless 'local' gigs with a 4 band bill where everyone had an equal draw, many 'opening' gigs where the headliner clearly brought the majority of the room and I've headlined (both locally and on tour) where I clearly brought the majority of the room.When you're just...

As much time as you spend in your rehearsal space perfecting your sound, it won't mean anything if it's botched coming out of the PA. All the money you spent on new pedals, amps, guitars and strings doesn't matter if the mix is off in the club.The sound guy (or gal) is the most i...

Anyone who has seen my solo live show knows that I have a lot going on on stage. I run multiple instruments and microphones through a mixer into my loop station and out to the house. I have quite a bit of gear setup on stage for a solo artist. I've played over 500 shows and just...