Poems and Travelers at Walden’s Coffee
Went to Walden’s tonight. I got there early (I’d had enough of being last on the list and waiting till ten to play) and so I got to sit with a few of the other musicians and chew the fat while we waited for Todd South to set up. There was a rush for the sign in sheet – never having been there on time I didn’t know what to expect – and while I got signed up third, we talked about ways to make the whole process fair. Someone suggested that you get to pick your slot in the same order by which you purchased something from Walden’s (so if I’m the first to buy a beer that evening, I’m the first to pick when I want to play). We all thought this was great – hopefully Todd will put it into practice.
Todd and one of his old friends played a few songs each, round robin style. Then Brian Callahan (I hope that’s right) got up there with his keyboard and played some originals. I really liked the one called “Never a day without you” – or something like that. He has a great song there.
I was fortunate enough to sit next to Mark Earnest, who was performing alongside Naomi Grady as the featured artists. They’d taken her poems (which she reads at open mics around town) and put them to music. It was really well done and Mark seems to have been in the Reno music scene for quite a while. As for Naomi, I’d heard her poems before but they really took on a whole new quality when they were accompanied by Mark’s chord progressions – some quite haunting, some very uplifting. All in all, great job.
Kristen Lagasse (the host of the Truckee songwriter’s showcase I played a few weeks ago) was there with her boyfriend, Nathaniel. She played her custom-made (boyfriend-made, actually – he’s a luthier) ukulele and her guitar as well this time. She played well again – in a way it’s nice to know her polished performances came from hundreds of past performances across the country – just because that means it’s doable and it just takes work. Reminds me of Edison’s quote: “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”
Also got to hear Justin McMahon, a local songwriter who’s actually toured internationally and done very well. He just got back from Italy and had been a regular at Walden’s for many years. He has some great songs.
My performance was fine. I played Man in Black, Into Open Arms (previously “Home”) and Feel Like Dancing. My friend Bridget Meade, who I haven’t seen in years, walked in during Dancing and she liked it (it was great catching up afterward too). The truth is, I drank too much last night and pushed hard on a run today and so I knew going in that I had little energy. The crowd also put my nerves on edge more than usual, so it was hard to relax and sing well. Still enjoyed playing and it’s nice to know what the body will do (or won’t do) when it’s tired!
I’m Chuck McCumber. I live and work in Reno, NV, where I’m finishing my MBA at UNR and where I play at open mics (and an occasional paid ::gasp:: gig) around town. Cecil’s Refrain is my long time music project and this site is a place where I talk about my experiences playing and the fellow musicians, artists, and fans that I meet along the way. I’d love your feedback. And if you’re ever looking to jam, hit me up.
Aww… I’ve been mentioned! It was great to see you and I LOVE THIS BLOG.