Preferred song you start off

Subject: Preferred song you start off
From: Leadbelly
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 02:03 PM

Recently there was a thread about favourite closing songs. Consequently, it would be interesting to learn...

What's your preferred song by which you are going to start a performance/appearance/show?

(If such a thread was discussed in-depth in the past, please tell me).

Manfred

Subject: RE: Preferred song you start off
From: Peace
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 02:14 PM

Hi, Manfred. If I have followed an act that got encores or standing ovations, I tend to start soft and slow. Helps get the audience settled down. If the last act got polite applause I tend to start fast, rousing. (You wouldn't know the songs I use so I won't mention.)

Subject: RE: Preferred song you start off
From: The Sandman
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 02:15 PM

It would rarely be the same,that gets boring,something different every gig,depends what mood Iam in.
rarely a ballad,although it has been known.

Subject: RE: Preferred song you start off
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 02:16 PM

Good thought, Peace.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Preferred song you start off
From: MMario
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 02:18 PM

It also depends a lot on the venue; whether or not you're doing a "themed" set, etc.

Subject: RE: Preferred song you start off
From: Hamish
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 02:18 PM

Um. Something I'm really comfortable with. That I know inside out. That's accessible. Quite often it's Willin'.

I always say that a one or two-song spot's much harder than gig: you don't have the luxury of a settling in song.

--
Hamish

Subject: RE: Preferred song you start off
From: the button
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 02:25 PM

Tried & tested to start, and something with a bit of "dynamics" in terms of quiet bits & loud bits. Songs that have a kind of dialogue between the characters are good for this I find. I know it's been done to death, but "Blacksmith" works OK for me ("A blacksmith courted me, nine month & better..." and so on). Obviously I would begin by mentioning the homoerotic overtones of me singing this as a bloke.

Subject: RE: Preferred song you start off
From: Bert
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 03:27 PM

Depends on the venue but I often start with Cuckoo's Nest.

Subject: RE: Preferred song you start off
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 03:58 PM

I can picture Bert singing "Cuckoo Nest," but not me....My performances are usually campfires for kids, and I guess I usually start off with a rousing, funny song that gets people singing.
Every time I see John McCutcheon perform, I wish I could play the banjo. He almost always always starts off with an old-timey banjo song - "Little Birdie" is a good example - and then continues playing the tune while he tells a story. It's a terrific way to start off a concert, and it's the part of a McCutcheon concert that I look forward to most.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Preferred song you start off
From: kendall
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 07:49 PM

I used to start with Rambles of Spring by Tommy Makem, or The Frozen Logger.

Subject: RE: Preferred song you start off
From: Leadfingers
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 08:06 PM

The Song I get 'Leadfingers' from , usually ! The rewrite of The Boxer

Subject: RE: Preferred song you start off
From: MystMoonstruck
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 11:33 PM

I tend to start out with "Banks of the Dee", starting at that low, throaty note at the tip of the bowed psaltery then up the side, which sounds rather like a warmup. By the time I'm launching into the melody, I have an audience. Generally, I'm not playing on stage but have found a shady place with slightly comfortable seating.

When I was asked on stage at a Renaissance faire held at Saltpeter Caves in Southern Illinois, I played "Charlie Is My Darling", which, if you crossbow, is sort of flashy and looks more complicated than it is. People LOVE this song!

When I'm in some corner and am uncertain if I'm welcome to play, I start with "Ash Grove", very softly bowing. If it looks like I won't be booted out for playing, I play it through again with more volume then keep going till I'm asked to leave, which only happened once. The woman's employees told me that she had been cranky with everyone all day long. Later, during their break, they tracked me down and asked for more songs. That was sweet.

Subject: RE: Preferred song you start off
From: Leadbelly
Date: 15 Sep 07 - 04:50 PM

Thanks to all for comments on this obviously short thread. It is not the quantity that counts but the quality. And because of this, I've learned a lot!
Special thanks to Joe Offer,

Manfred

Subject: RE: Preferred song you start off
From: GUEST,Texas Guest
Date: 15 Sep 07 - 05:13 PM

Well, if I'm doing a gig at a pub or restaurant I'll usually get an
opportunity to interact with the patrons prior to going on, and, with
that in mind - I could start with almost anything. Since I don't write my own songs the coffeehouses won't book me; so, when I'm at a
a coffeehouse - I just don't start.

When doing festivals - Irish / Celtic - I like to start out with
something bouncy that will get toes tapping and heads bopping and such so I usually select one from the following list:
"Star Of The County Down," "Ballad Of St. Anne's Reel,"
"Real Old Mountain Dew," "Feels So Near," or "Roseville Fair."
Cheers.

Subject: RE: Preferred song you start off
From: Joybell
Date: 15 Sep 07 - 08:52 PM

It does depend on the venue but I often go for an in-your-face start. Comes of being a busker when it seemed the way for me. If I'm with True-Love we usually sing a duet first. "Hello Stranger" is one of my favourites but we rarely use the same song twice.
Also I really like songs that start with, "Come gather 'round me..." or something like that. I sometimes use the same method as Peace though -- if I'm following a popular group. Sneak in with something sad and pensive -- use the genuine vulnerability I feel at such times.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: Preferred song you start off
From: RTim
Date: 15 Sep 07 - 09:46 PM

Of late I like to start with the following song - Collected in Dorset from (William Bartlett Ð Wimborne, Dorset augmented with other Hants/Dorset versions)
It even starts my latest CD.


COME, COME MY FRIENDS

Come, come my friends
We do intent, this night to spend in mirth
With all my heart I'll drink my part
And good liquor shall quench our thirst

Chorus
For in laughing Joking Drinking Smoking
Laughing Joking Drinking Smoking
This night we'll spend in mirth,
This night we'll spend in mirth.

A man that has wealth and starve himself
He might as well be poor
The man that has gold and keep it old
That man had better not been born.

Come ring that bell that we may tell
The secrets of our mind
Come tell to me if you be free
For to mirth we are inclined.

Tim Radford
www.timradford.com

Subject: RE: Preferred song you start off
From: Hamish
Date: 16 Sep 07 - 06:06 AM

Although, Tim, in light of recent legislatory changes, you'll need to change the chorus. Maybe something like "Laughing Joking Drinking Eating crisps"?

--
Hamish

~8^)

Subject: RE: Preferred song you start off
From: Hamish
Date: 25 Sep 07 - 06:56 AM

So I was lucky enough to do three sets at Otley Festival over the last weekend. Three different venues, three different starting songs. I'd planned to have three almost totally different songs in each set in any case, but three different starters: and three different ripple effects:

Set #1, Friday night. Opened the concert for Stanley Accrington, Dark Horse and Harvey Andrews. Didn't get to sound check until the audience were already in - despite having been there in loads of time. First act - last check: seems sensible. But I didn't quite have my usual period of calming down and getting settled. Started with an up tempo banker: Shady Grove. Been doing it for years. Nothing can go wrong. Good audience chorus song, too: get 'em involved straight off. Except I fumbled the words on the fourth verse and mumbled my way through a jumbled re-run of the third verse instead. Decidedly shaky (as opposed to shady) start. Result: not quite in the zone for most of the set. Not bad, but not great either.

Set #2, Saturday lunchtime. Opened the concert again (well, I don't get near the top of the bill, do I?) Decided on a change of vibe. Sat down for a start. Did a gentle version of Proper Sort of Gardener (aka Mr Harding's Garden). No chorus, no in-yer-faceness. Controlled and unforced. Magic! Result, felt totally in the zone for the whole set.

Set #3, Saturday evening. Opened for The Hall Brothers, a local act who have great rapport and a strong following, so the place was packed. No pa. Started with John Barleycorn. Fairly relaxed, but a good audience participation, slightly in-yer-face song. Result: another good set.

So, where's this going? I guess it shows that:
a) there's more to it than selecting the right song. There are many other factors involved in getting your head together, like a sensible sound check.
b) the opener sets a mood and helps set you - and the audience - up for the rest of the gig.
c) er, that's it for now...

--
Hamish

Subject: RE: Preferred song you start off
From: Leadfingers
Date: 25 Sep 07 - 07:05 AM

Thinking back over the years , there's a guy I used to gig with who always said the First song was so difficult he preferred to start with the second one !

Subject: RE: Preferred song you start off
From: stallion
Date: 25 Sep 07 - 09:33 AM

Our first song is always a "warm up" song not too taxing on vocal range, usually short,up tempo, chorus (then nearly everything we do is a chorus song)and cosily familiar, currently "My Emma" or "Sailor Lad", Probably the first three songs will be "warm up"/"tuning up" songs.

Subject: RE: Preferred song you start off
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 25 Sep 07 - 04:30 PM

We often start with an instrumental version of either Bury Me Beneath The Willow or Bully Of The Town, letting the banjo, guitar and fiddle each take a double break. For some reason, the guitar, me, always takes the middle break. We never seem to open or close with a vocal.

Subject: RE: Preferred song you start off
From: Sean Belt
Date: 26 Sep 07 - 03:22 PM

When playing with a band, the first tune is usually a fast fiddle tune that we're all in love with at the moment.

For solo performances, I've been starting off with an unaccompanied "We'll Camp A Little While in the Wilderness". It seems to get folks attention and it gives me a nice chance to warm up the voice.

Subject: RE: Preferred song you start off
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 26 Sep 07 - 05:54 PM

Everybody's choice is limited.

With a band - there has to be some sort of agreed running order - for the members to organise themselves, instruments. usually has to be something you can play very easily - so that if you hit sound problems - you can take them in your stride. Its also when you take in what the rooms capable of.

With solo gigs. The number has to either explain or reassure what you are about to the audience.

for anonymous characters like myself - the limitation is that you have to demonstrate your right to be there - technically. for acts whose personality is well known - there is a sort of paradigm for them to conform to - there are expectations that have to be fulfilled.

Subject: RE: Preferred song you start off
From: PoppaGator
Date: 26 Sep 07 - 05:59 PM

I certainly admire anyone who starts a set by singing unaccompanied ~ assuming, of course, that the person's repertoire is mostly self-accompanied, or otherwise supplemented by instruments.

As a purveyor of solo guitar-and-vocals, I'm much more comfortable singing to my own accompaniment than without.

Now, I do have one unaccompanied song with which I like to close ~ but only on evenings when I am in particularly good voice, and enjoying a stronger-then-usual rapport with the crowd. That would be Dave Van Ronk's "Last Call."

To start off, I try to pick something uptempo and easy to sing; easy for me, at any rate, either because the melody itself is simple and unchallenging (minimal range, etc.), or because I'm currently extra-enthusastic about a newly-learned (or newly re-learned) number. This strategy is not so much to bring the audience along as to get myself properly warmed up and "in the mood."