First Solo Gig in too many years

Subject: First Solo Gig in too many years
From: GUEST,Don Meixner
Date: 14 May 06 - 11:04 AM

I did this performance to help some friends who run a coffee house to support a local food pantry in their chuch. I have played exclusively in the shelter of a band for 18 years and doing a solo is a different cat entirely.

I am very pleased with most of the components of the event. The room was full and sitting space was at a premium. Not because I am a stellar draw but because this is a committed group of people who support their churches mission about food for the foodless.   It was great to see some of my gang there.

A good friend called this am to say he couldn't find the place. This has been a common problem it seems for the people I sent the announcement to. I'd guess about a dozen folks didn't get it at all. And thats my fault. I dropped the ball. I relied on technology and I shouldn't have. Next time I'll tell everyone in person.

This is what I learned about my performance last night.

I sing better than I thought. I can play well enough to support what I sing. I need to give a break to my fingers now and then because of serious injuries they tire easily (But I know this already, it was just amplified last night).

At 55 I am functionally blind and a set list with smaller than font size 55 is an embarrassment and unreadable.

And a Baptist Church may not be the venue to discourse on creationism, intelligent design, and evolution. I explained why I thought ID was not a viable idea and cited the porcupine and the pug dog as examples why. I explained that procreating porcupines was clearly not an intelligent design and giving birth to porcupines proves that God is not a woman. And with Pugs , why create a dog you have to feed to know which end to kick.

Don

Subject: RE: First Solo Gig in too many years
From: Big Mick
Date: 14 May 06 - 11:15 AM

I have officially robbed this bit of stagecraft and will use it without attribution so people will think I am as wise as whoever you robbed that from is. ......... hahahahahahahaha

Great bit there, buddy. Congratulations, and keep on doin' solo. It is liberating.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: First Solo Gig in too many years
From: DonMeixner
Date: 14 May 06 - 11:25 AM

Thanks Mick and you are welcome to it. I robbed it from no one. It was a complete bit of adlib. A bolt from the blue. After I said it I was expecting a bolt from heaven but luckily I moved away from the mic and he missed.

Don

Subject: RE: First Solo Gig in too many years
From: GUEST,therealme
Date: 14 May 06 - 11:47 AM

I suspect that whatever cred you lost by questioning intelligent design you regained by "proving" that God is not a woman!

By the way, anyone past the age of 40 who hasn't soloed in a while should check to see that they can still read a discreetly scrawled, abbreviated and kind-of-hidden set list without their bifocals. I got caught out like that a few years back ...

Subject: RE: First Solo Gig in too many years
From: Dave Ruch
Date: 14 May 06 - 02:05 PM

Hey Don, I wish I could've been there, as you were for me a few years ago. What songs did you do?

I too hope that you will continue to play some on your own. I'd love to hear you sometime.

Subject: RE: First Solo Gig in too many years
From: Maryrrf
Date: 14 May 06 - 02:59 PM

I too have been caught off guard with an unreadable setlist. I could read it fine sitting in my living room. On stage it was another story!

Subject: RE: First Solo Gig in too many years
From: Northerner
Date: 14 May 06 - 03:12 PM

I was a bit caught out on a recent theme night. Needed to check the words of a song (it was a new song). I have glaucoma and have to wear two sets of glasses - one for distance, one for reading. I was at the front having to change my pairs of glasses. Made a joke of it though. "Isn't middle age awful?" I cracked. There was a sympathetic response, yes it is, from the audience.

Subject: RE: First Solo Gig in too many years
From: GUEST
Date: 14 May 06 - 03:43 PM

Hi Dave,

Here you are. Not in that order and not quite every song.

Don



1         Henry VIII         
2         Natural Girl For Me         
3         Wonder Where I'm Bound
4         Two Bit Cayuse         
5         Spanish Johnny         
6         Along side The Sante Fe Trail         
7         When the Works All Done this fall         
8         The L & N Don't Stop Here         
9         Sully's Bucket         
10         Coal tattoo                  
11         The Old Dun Cow                 
12         Molly In The Mill                 
13         Generations of Change         
14         Men of Worth         
15         Rye Whiskey Joe         
16         Queen of the Rails         
17         Streets Of London         
18         Borneo                 
19         Buffalo Gals         
20         The Nightrider's lament                  
21         Rooty Toot Toot         
22         The Galway Rover         Guitar         
23         White Collar Holler         
24         Leaving London         
25         Paradise Almost Lost        Poem         
26         Gentle Arms of Eden         
27         Old Sweet Song
28         Love Will Endure         
29        A Mother's Kiss
30        The Bandit of Brazil         
31        Roseville Fair         
32        Anderson's Coast
33        New York Girls

Subject: RE: First Solo Gig in too many years
From: MMario
Date: 15 May 06 - 10:24 AM

Don - I'm exhausted just reading your setlist!!!!

Subject: RE: First Solo Gig in too many years
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 May 06 - 10:42 AM

Good for you, Don!

luvyakat

Subject: RE: First Solo Gig in too many years
From: frogprince
Date: 15 May 06 - 06:40 PM

You forgot "Afternoon Delight"...
What a nice, broad, range of stuff; woulda loved to have been there.