Best of Open Mic at the Lazy Dog

It's been awhile since I've posted.

On Friday, August 29, 2008, I was fortunate to perform about 50 minutes of my songs. I chose a mix of guitar and piano songs for this performance. The Lazy Dog Coffeehouse was filled and it was a great time. Many thanks to my friends, co-workers, family and the open mic friends who joined in the night. I shared the night with two other talented folks, John and Liz.

It was an outstanding night!!!! This was my second non-open mic experience where I could play more than three songs. This, by far, was so enjoyable and fun. I never felt a sense of nervousness or uncomfortable that friends and family were all eyes and ears before me.

I also just want to thank David, Denyse, Jim and all the folks at the Lazy Dog. Thanks for giving me the opportunity, for believing in me and supporting my original music. They've got a great place going there.

Thanks to my co-workers... for traveling the distance and the support.

I need another gig!

Hey! I get requests! (and it's not to leave)

Last night, I was at my favorite place to sing my songs, the Lazy Dog Cafe (or Coffeehouse) in Minersville, PA. I don't get to the open mic weekly, but i try to get there twice a month. Having just recovered from surgery, I was anxious to get back out singing, especially thankful for still having a voice, which was a risk of the surgery. I chose 3-4 songs to sing and was greeted again with the request to do "I Love My Truck"....OK, that wasn't on my list. I have a love hate relationship with that song. it's a corny song, it was a fun write, it's simple, it has that surprise factor in it and it has some sexual undertones... everywhere.

Reminds me of a story I heard on the radio about the Steve Miller Band (or someone like that). The hold a concert, have all this great new music and the crowd is yelling for all the old music that made them great.

I did my first two chosen songs and slipped into "I Love My Truck". Never announce the title to this... it gives away the line. Anyways, I sang it and enjoyed it immensely. In a venue that most of the singers sing cover songs, I've attained a place where someone or a few ask for one of my songs, something not on the radio. How cool is that? So, perhaps I'm doomed (said playfully) with that as a song that will follow me when I play. But the doom is a sweet welcome for this guy who used to be afraid to share his songs with anyone.

I followed one of my musician rules: Give the audience what they want whenever possible and play it the best you can.

In my little world of songwriting and performing, I had my smile. Just to be sure she understood, I thanked her later and said she can request it anytime.

Thanks for reading ;)
Dave


www.myspace.com/davidderbes
www.soundclick.com/davidderbes

No Risk, No Reward

No Risk, No Reward

This blog entry is not about songwriting. It is about a joint symphony/chorus concert of Mozart's Coronation Mass and Requiem Mass. It is about one of the more exciting performances that I've been a part of.as a concert percussionist. I'm sure many of my readers are a little surprised to learn that I am a percussionist. Yes, classically trained, music degree and all. At one point, I was a monster on the mallet instruments like Marimba, xylophone, bells and chimes. Back to topic, yes, this one concert was incrdible, for many chorus and symphony musicians. Read on...

The Risk
Our local symphony, the Schuylkill Symphony Orchestra, performs a few times per year and always in a local school auditorium. In addition to being a percussionist with the symphony, I also have the lofty title of Operations Manager. (do what it takes to make the show happen). The local Chorus will occasionally share performances with the symphony. This spring concert was scheduled for one school auditorium on Saturday night. A chorus member and I were then asked to assess whether we could fit both the 75+ member chorus and 40+ symphony in St. John the Baptist RC Church, Pottsville. I am music director for the church and he is a member of our choir. He drew up some measurements and believed we could make it work.

I told the conductor that it would be tight. I prepped the musicians, especially the string players, that it would be tight and there would be no removal of any pews. I really didn't worry until the performance weekend. I really worried on the performance day, Sunday.

After the Masses were done, a few of us moved things around and set the stage. I had a few options to try. All were tight, all doable. This might work I thought. There were some adjustments made and it allowed me to focus on the other non-playing part... making the show work. How do we get people here and there in a church setting.

The Reward
3:00 PM, show time. A moderate size crowd is in the church. This will let the church ring. The ceilings are probably 60 feet tall and arched so even a cough sounds good.. The chorus and symphony are in a 'shell' like part of the church which has a way of filling the church. The challenge for the musicians is hearing their music reflect back later. Most musicians understand how to play through this, watch and don't listen so much.

It was a cloudy day. Our church has very tall stained-glass windows. They are really old and are considered priceless. They were brought over from Italy and made by the Pope's guy at the time, one of the windows has the Papal Seal. The sounds was amazing in church. I was able to see some people and their reactions. I saw some tearing and experiencing this event. At times, the music would swell and the sun would peek..... the church would light up with colors of the windows. You couldn't miss the light. You couldn't help smile and wonder when the light flowed in and out with the music.

At the end of the concert, as people appluaded, I smiled. This was probably one of the most exciting times I've played music where I could feel some emotions within, and where others felt it too. I imagined Mozart would have heard his music in a similar sounding place, large and airy. In the 20 years or so that I am with the symphony, this was the first time symphony played in a church. I imagined this will be the last time to play in this church. Money is tight and it is harder and harder to run the symphony. The Diocese is considering closing several churches in our 5 county area. I think ours will remain open, but one does not know. I smiled.

Had Butch and I taken the conservative side in our decision, this concert would have been canceled. It would be Saturday only, in a school auditorium. Our risk was transformed into most beautiful moment. All who came were rewarded. Few of us knew the risk. Thank God we took the risk and felt the reward.

Thanks for reading ;)
Dave

www.myspace.com/davidderbes
www.soundclick.com/davidderbes

Why I don't have good demo recordings

Almost two and a half years have passed since I began my semi-serious songwriting efforts. To date, I have over 35 songs written, none of which are recorded in a studio or even on a home computer. On the positive side, I did complete over 35 songs, which is a major feat for me, and each one is recorded in it's basic and simplest form.

My reasons for not having done any demo recordings include the cost of undertaking a project, not having the instruments (both of these are financial issues), my ongoing struggle as to what to record and the fact that any dollars spent towards this are probably unrecoupable (probably). If I had a few thousand or even a hundred dollars laying about, trust me, I would have a nice little home studio and a decent keyboard and software. It is a little frustrating.

While I may not have great sounding demos, I am fortunate enough to have the skill to play and sing my songs on either guitar or piano. My equipment consists of a small stereo cassette boom box that probably cost $20.00. It works….. kinda. Balance and gain are controlled by moving the recorder around the sound sources.

I hope that during 2008 I will be able to have a few simple demos completed and prepared to send to some publishers. Since I have probably 25 songs that I think are radio/artist capable, I'll just have to decide which songs are my best. Time will tell!

Dave

www.myspace.com/davidderbes

www.soundclick.com/davidderbes

www.davidderbes.blogspot.com

Chords: When 2 and 6 give you 5

Much of country and rock music use the standard I, IV and V (or 1, 4, and 5) chords throughout a song. In the key of D major, these chords are D major, G major and A major. Basic blues music also uses these chords but typically add the minor 7th and in a prescribed blues chord progression.

Two simple chords, the ii (2) and vi (6), or E minor and B minor, offer some variety when writing a song. They almost sound like the IV-4 and V-5 chords, differing by one note each in their chord makeup. The addition of the minor 7th in each of the ii-2 and vi-6 can also have a nice effect.

In the key of D major, the ii-2 chord, E minor, transitions nicely to the V-5 or A Major chord. The vi-6 or B minor chord moves well to the vi-6, E minor and then to V-5 or A. The iv-6 is common in the D - Bm - G - A - D or I - vi -IV - V - I progression.

So, the next time you're struggling to find that 'different' chord or one that may better match or support your melody, try the ii-2 or vi-6 chord. It might just be the one.

See how adding 2 and 6 give you 5 chords to use in a song?

Note: This works in any key. I chose the key of D major for example only.

www.myspace.com/davidderbes
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www.davidderbes.blogspot.com

Crowd Pleasing...and what do I know?

This year I was reminded by two separate audiences that “simpler” music is appreciated and applauded. The first occurrence was while playing percussion in a slightly unusual (in its programming) symphony concert when a last minute pick-up polka group received a measurably greater audience response compared with the symphony’s performance of The Hungarian Rhapsody. I shook my head in disbelief. Not frustration or anger, just shocked to find this unrehearsed, simple music to have the crowd roar with approval.

The second time happened only a few weeks ago at an open mic event at The Lazy Dog Coffeehouse, Minersville, PA. There were about 40-50 people there at the time. Approaching my third or fourth performance there, I asked my wife and teen daughters if I should play “I Love My Truck”. Of my 30 plus songs, this is probably the one song my family knows by name. It is a corny and hokey song and those few who have heard it, enjoy it. Also, this song had been highly criticized by a few fellow songwriters in the songwriting forums. It was called, trite, lame, too direct, and too simple. Yet, some folks really like it. I’m happy to report that my audience loved it. They sang, clapped and hollered here and there. Of about 12 songs I’ve played at the open mics, this song received the greatest applause and comments. The other songs received a positive audience reaction, but not like this song. Oh, sweet sounds to my ears when the audience responds like this to a song. Oh, how sweet it is when it is the first time they hear a new song and it is not from some well known artist or songwriter. Read on for more of why they could have responded as such.

I debated playing “I Love My Truck” in front of an audience for about a week. I had a “plan of approach” in the event I did choose to play the songt. This plan gave the audience the heads up that this would be a corny song coming. I told them they’d either love it or hate it. Finally, I also told them to feel free to sing along. I did not give the title of the song and began my singing. I rarely give the audience anything more than a song title. Because I gave them a small amount of lead in, but no title, I figured they’d listen. I did the first verse and could feel them listening and watching. They heard me sing about a woman. Then, bang with the chorus! “I love my truck, made in the red, white and blue. I love my truck, it gets me to seein’ you.” Once the first line was sung, I could hear and see their reaction.

I knew they might respond this way and I wanted to take advantage of it. I planned that if they did, that I would vamp on the A chord after the chorus and invite them to sing with me. I gave them the simple lines and we sang the chorus again. I then took them through verses and choruses. Sold. Mission accomplished.

What did I learn again? The audience likes to have fun and listen to fun songs. The music need not be complex, fast or flashy. I politely tricked them and they loved it. “I Love My Truck” is one of the simplest songs I’ve written. It’s a three-chord country song. It is a clever song, even if it is corny. I reflect on the comments made by some, few songwriters and now laugh. For two years, I questioned the use of that song. Now? I reflect that I am an audience inspired and driven artist/songwriter. I want my audience to be there, feel the experience and join in. I want to keep things interesting, musically and lyrically. I shall work for the balance of all things.

When I left the open mic that night, I was told I’d have to do play the song again. When I came back the next week to the open mic, the management and those returning audience folks wanted to know if I was doing the song again. As a simple, unknown songwriter from nowhere, I can handle that. Smiles. Did they like it again? Yeps.

Here is the piano version of "I Love My Truck" The guitar version hasn't been recorded.

www.myspace.com/davidderbes

www.soundclick.com/davidderbes

daderbes@yahoo.com

Coming off a dry spell

I’m coming off of a dry spell with my songwriting. The last song I finished was a guitar/vocal piece titled My Job. I performed it a few times at The Lazy Dog Coffeehouse and it was greeted well. For approximately two weeks, I had no new ideas, the old ideas seemed boring and I played a few musical ideas on the piano. (some of the piano ideas are cool but the one is going on a year without lyrics. All I have for that one is “people come, people go….they close their eyes and they don’t really know where they want to go…. how could they know?….how could they know? Ok, where do you go with something like that? This is why it is a no where song.

Last week I had at least four to five new ideas and hooks come to mind. It was a great feeling because I couldn’t find the switch earlier. I jotted down the ideas with hopes that something would click further. This week brought two or three new ideas and one jumped for me.

This new one is a guitar/vocal. I’ll call it ‘love and money’ for now. The creation came as a line to a verse. I found something else for a chorus. I found my hook. The little challenge I found was that I thought the melody in my head was the same for the verse and the chorus. (I don’t always write with an instrument around.) I have a pretty good idea how I want the chorus to sound musically. I have a strong chord progression for it. Verses are much looser but I have a decent concept in my head.

Lyrically, this new song, has direction but the storyline had some different paths available. Today I realized that my first written verse is probably a good second verse. I hear that happens often. This might be the first or second time I’m experiencing this type of a change. I also am leaning on taking the last half of the original first verse and making it a bridge.

So, here’s where I’m at with ‘love and money’. I need a second half of the second verse. It will come and I’m not forcing it. I rarely force a song lyric. it might take me a few days actually because I like to let lyrics settle before I do much more. My draft is probably like many songwriters third or fourth draft.

The dry spell came and went. The song I’m working on is the last, fresh thought. Let’s see where it goes.

Dave

www.myspace.com/davidderbes

www.soundclick.com/davidderbes

daderbes@yahoo.com

Open Mic at the Lazy Dog Coffeehouse

I never make New Year's resolutions. This year, I wanted to take my songwriting efforts live, to an open mic or other, similar event. Hey, I did it in January!!! Now I can coast through the year. Smiles.

The Lazy Dog Coffeehouse, Minersville, PA opened for business during 2007 (http://www.lazydogcoffeehouse.com/). I heard good things about this small place. It was amazing how they changed the outside of the building. The inside is even more dramatic. Not only did they offer live music during the weekend, but they began an open mic/karoke on Thursday's. In early January, I made a visit to my first open mic and told myself "I can do this." I spoke to the event leader, David, and planned to stop by the next Thursday.

My first night at the Lazy Dog Coffeehouse went pretty well. I played three songs and was incredibly nervous. I found it amazing that I was as I have played publicly for decades. I can only believe that my nervousness is because I was playing solo guitar and singing original music. The crowd was welcoming and applauding. The crowd is always like that. They're great and plentiful. There isn't much original music being done on Thursday's, often I am the only songwriter there. It makes for an interesting mix of karoke and original music.

I'm thankful I have this new opportunity nearby. All the staff and owners of the Lazy Dog Coffeehouse are wonderful and encouraging. They love music and are dedicated to ensuring there is an outlet for the music and arts. The open mic/karoke is hot right now and is drawing a variety of patrons and entertainers. I'm pleased to be a small part of it. I'm loving it. If you're in the Pottsville/Minersville area, check it out. Send me an email or message to ask if I plan on playing that week.

www.myspace.com/davidderbes

www.soundclick.com/davidderbes

daderbes@yahoo.com