Go big or go home, I guess.

I did my first open mic at Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs, NY last night.  Pictures of Bob Dylan playing on the same stage in 1961 and 1962 and others of Arlo Guthrie.  It was the Saratoga Acoustic Blues Society's monthly open mic and I thought this would be a good crowd absent the electric gearheads and whatnot.

The host, Sonny Speed was just inducted into the New York Blues Hall of Fame and a local HOF inductee, Phil Drum was there to play as well.  There were about 10 players of all levels of ability playing acoustic blues guitar.  No slides or resonators and when I say all abilities, I mean from really freakin' good up to HOF spectacular.  There was a guy playing harp for several performers and for the jam session there was even a tuba!

In this, I stood apart.  I brought my Sawzall Box Resonator.  

"Ah, instead of a cigar box, we have a tool box.  What is that?"

"How heavy is that?'

I explained to the small crowd made up of the night's performers and some of their spouses that I was an open mic virgin.  And so I was going to be done real quick and it was likely going to be a mess.  And I held true to form.

I warmed up with a few sets of Blues in G just demoing the sound of the guitar flatpicking and with the slide.  Went OK and I wasn't thrown off the stage.  Several surprised compliments on the sound from the guitar.  Sweet!  Let's try singing.

I pulled out Uncle John's version of "So Lonesome I Could Cry."  How can I screw up basically a one string song?  I was pretty proud that a line that always baffles me came out right. "When leaves begin to dry."  It was still a pretty mechanical and rigid rendition that I'd like to do better.

That went well and I think I was singing in tune.  Let's try my version of Wagon Wheel.  First verse and chorus went well.  I think I got the vocal pitch on the Em chord which always gives me trouble because the root note is not the bass string for my 5-string chord shape on the 2nd fret.

Then it happened.  The second verse escaped me.  I went into a little solo routine hoping it would reappear.  Nothing.  A blank.  I had to concede defeat.  Ended it short and thanked everyone for listening.

The host thanked me, asked for a round of applause and quipped, "You never know what's going to happen when a guy brings up a toolbox!"

So I have some stuff to work on for next month's open mic.  I won't be playing in the same league as the other guys who are all old dudes who've been doing this forever and play regular gigs, but I'll be doing my thing.  I think I'll do "Baby Please Don't Go" on my garbage guitar using a full bourbon bottle for the slide.  Maybe I should bring out my version of "Going Down Slow" too.  We'll see.  I will be back there playing the same (relatively) famous stage in the folk music scene with the same great players and I'll try to be a little less intimidated by the whole atmosphere.

The thing I'd like to say to conclude this is how much different this open mic was compared with the 30 minutes I played on stage at the PA CBG Fest last August.  The audience there were my club, or family, and welcomed me with open excitement.  I was completely comfortable knowing that everyone there "gets it."  The best I hoped for last night was passive indifference to light curious engagement.  And it crushed me.  I'll have to puff up my chest a bit more next time, be a big boy and sell it.

Views: 544

Comment

You need to be a member of Cigar Box Nation to add comments!

Join Cigar Box Nation

Comment by Bad Finger (Eric) on March 22, 2015 at 12:57pm

Thanks Glenn!  I particularly like the first one.  Fits with my Finn heritage and "sisu".

Comment by Bad Finger (Eric) on March 15, 2015 at 2:57am

Thanks for the advice Wayfinder.

It is more than a bit ironic, but I am an introvert.  It would be so much easier if I could walk into a group of strangers, strike up conversation and become quick acquaintances.  Treat an audience like a bunch of close friends.  But even with a crazy Sawzall resonator guitar on my back, I can't make myself just go up and make small talk.  If someone approaches me, I'm OK to chat a little, but not very long.  I force myself.  The CBG crowd is different.  You're all my kind of weirdos, even if many of us are a little different or slide higher on the eccentric scale.  I wonder if other artisans (folk or not) have the same connections?

Comment by Bad Finger (Eric) on March 15, 2015 at 1:59am

Thanks for having a read Cause and Slowpaw.  For the next open mic I'm taking my garbage guitar and playing Baby Please Don't Go with a mostly empty bottle of bourbon.

Although Caffe Lena is relatively famous in the folk scene, widely accepted as the oldest folk music cafe in the country, it has a major negative.  No alcohol.  I find it is easier to let go of the musical inhibitions with a little libation.  

Comment by Slowpaw Steve T on March 14, 2015 at 9:06pm

Sounds like you made a good impression Eric - everyone has to start sometime,  i think most are impressed and remember their debut as 1st timers so won't give anyone a hard time...after that it gets tough! ;-) 

Comment by Cause the Blue rat on March 14, 2015 at 7:54pm

I blew out and laid an egg at the KC fest last year. I know the pain. Even cringed wile reading your story. I have a lot of catching up to be where your at now. But like you i know I'm going to be the one everyone remembers the next time I take the stage. 

 

Comment by Bad Finger (Eric) on March 10, 2015 at 12:00pm
Thanks turtlehead!
Comment by turtlehead on March 10, 2015 at 11:55am

Quality blogging Eric.  Made me nervous just reading it!  I've been there...

Comment by Bad Finger (Eric) on March 7, 2015 at 8:38am

Thanks Roberto!  I appreciate the compliment.  :)

Comment by Roberto Diana on March 5, 2015 at 6:06am

Cool ! :)
Well done :)

And your Sawzall Box Resonator is beautiful :)

Comment by Bad Finger (Eric) on March 3, 2015 at 7:10am

Thanks Uncle John.

It was both an honor and intimidating to play on the same small coffee house stage as Bob Dylan and Arlo Guthrie, not to mention being in the middle of the play list among two NY Blues HOF'ers.

Next month, instead of introducing myself as a virgin, I will take the place of a student.  I'm obviously not looking to show off.

The Essential Pages

New to Cigar Box Nation? How to Play Cigar Box GuitarsFree Plans & How to Build Cigar Box GuitarsCigar Box Guitar Building Basics

Site Sponsor

Recommended Links & Resources


Forum

crossover guitar.

Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Taffy Evans yesterday. 8 Replies

Tune up songs

Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies

Duel output jacks

Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies

How to Get Your Own Music on Spotify

Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 21. 2 Replies

CB Bass Guitar

Started by Mi Rankin in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Justin Stanchfield Jan 27. 5 Replies

Latest Activity

BrianQ. liked Gary O'slide's video
2 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Doug Thorsvik's photo
Thumbnail

Flathead Diddley Bow

"Thanks. Wow! That becomes a spendy box Alan. They are pretty distinctive though. I have a few on…"
6 hours ago
Nigel McTrustry posted a video

Nigel McTrustry & The Hound Dogs are Loose! - Yellow Dog - Live - Original - Cigar Box Guitar

Nigel McTrustry & The Hound Dogs are Loose! Yellow Dog (McTrustry)@ The Cave Inn Brisbane, Australia.The song is currently on Spotify.
7 hours ago
AGP # commented on Doug Thorsvik's photo
Thumbnail

Flathead Diddley Bow

""Sweet Doug" :-), have seen quite a few Flathead Builds over the years, great looking…"
9 hours ago
AGP # liked David Dodt's photo
9 hours ago
AGP # liked David Dodt's photo
9 hours ago
AGP # liked David Dodt's photo
9 hours ago
AGP # liked Doug Thorsvik's photo
9 hours ago
AGP # liked Doug Thorsvik's photo
9 hours ago
AGP # liked Doug Thorsvik's photo
9 hours ago
AGP # liked Aaron Green's photo
9 hours ago
Keith Rearick liked Gary O'slide's video
10 hours ago

Events

Music

© 2024   Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

\uastyle>\ud/** Scrollup **/\ud.scrollup {\ud background: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/963882636?profile=original") no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent;\ud bottom: 25px;\ud display: inline !important;\ud height: 40px;\ud opacity: 0.3 !important;\ud position: fixed;\ud right: 30px;\ud text-indent: -9999px;\ud width: 40px;\ud z-index: 999;\ud}\ud.scrollup:hover {\ud opacity:0.99!important;\ud}\ud \uascript type="text/javascript">\ud x$(document).ready(function(){\ud x$(window).scroll(function(){\ud if (x$(this).scrollTop() > 100) {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeIn();\ud } else {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeOut();\ud }\ud });\ud x$('.scrollup').click(function(){\ud x$("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 600);\ud return false;\ud });\ud });\ud \ua!-- End Scroll Up -->