As I’d mentioned in a message to my email listers, I’ve had some of the best nights of my musical life at the original Uncommon Ground location in Wrigleyville. To be perfectly honest, I’ve had less-than-ideal shows there, too — including the last time I’d played there, three or four years ago. So I was going into Friday night fully prepared for a situation where I’d be merely “getting one under my belt,” if I had to.
To make a long story short, I didn’t have to. The (admittedly small) music room was standing room only at showtime, when Alain De Courtenay started. Alain was amazing, a singer of Jeff Buckley caliber, and while his songs were mostly soulful and introspective, he had an easygoing rapport with the crowd that put everyone at ease. After he closed with a cover of Etta James’ “At Last,” he was urged on to an encore.
I was a tad nervous after that. Not only was he a hard act to follow, but the encore made me wonder if the majority of the crowd was only there for him, if they’d exit as soon as he set down. Not so. Everyone stuck around, and I did it like this:
The Ballad of Roy G. Biv / I Wouldn’t Make You Happy / Jay / The Next Thing You Know / West of Western / Everybody Looks Like Somebody Else / Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want (Smiths cover) / Here Comes the Sun / Stay (Shakespeare’s Sister cover) / The Oldies Station / Soda & Sympathy / Good as Gold / Spirit of 91 / Get on with It / Common People (Pulp cover)
The last two songs were encores, and I feel like I might’ve been overstaying my welcome a little bit with the last one, but Amy wanted to hear it, so I figured what the hell. I cracked many a joke with the crowd, too, which is not normally my strong suit. I tend to speak too quickly between songs, coming across as a total nervous wreck — if not just flat-out mentally unstable. But I’ve been trying to lighten up a bit as a performer, smooth things out, open myself up. And I think it’s starting to work.
This video of “The Oldies Station” — including preambly stuff — will give some sense of the feel of the evening. Thanks much to all in attendance!
