GIGS

"Impromptu"

A last minute drop out resulted in me getting asked if I wanted to play and support De La Rue last night two hours before the showcase was due to start. I didn't really feel "match-fit" as I've had my head in writing recently but perhaps it's evidence of a growing confidence that I said yes anyway. And actually, do you know what? It's possibly the most I've enjoyed a performance. I'm wondering if in the past I haven't perhaps "over-trained" or "over-prepared". Sure my voice was a bit ropey and I wasn't hitting the higher notes as I should but I know a factor in that is that I'd neglected to do my vocal exercises these past few weeks. (And a lesson, if I should really need one, that those exercises are important for me even if they're a bit tiresome.) I certainly felt last night as if I was getting more in the "zone" where I want to be when I'm stage and I'm eager to have the opportunity to do another longer set as soon as possible.

Undoubtedly a factor in what I felt was a successful performance was the warmth of the audience that De La Rue had brought with them. Which brings me neatly to De La Rue. I'm not sure if I've seen a local act actually engage with an audience so well. Of course they were helped by such a large number of family and friends but I thought the onstage banter and interaction was very endearing and charming. I've mentioned before on these pages that sometimes I imagine a veil of concrete being between the audience and performer but last night there were no such issues. Perhaps you can see what I mean from the video below. Very nice music too.