We tried an experiment up at Don Quixote’s Music Hall last month, and the consensus is that it was a successful one. I write a fair number of story songs. I’m also a fan of storytelling. So we decided to do a co-bill with local teller Erica Lann-Clark. After a few practices, it evolved into a collaboration we titled “An Evening of Stories and Story Songs”. Erica took the first set, and our band backed her up on each tale, either improvising music or tagging each story with a specific song. Here’s a clip of the story “Chiquitin”, mixed with the Bob Dylan song “I Shall Be Released”:
Click to watch on YouTube
Our band took the second set, doing story songs off my two CDs. Here we are with “High and Lonesome” off my CD “Spotted Mule and Other Tales”:
Click to watch on YouTube
We filled the room, and everyone (band, teller, audience) had a blast. After the fact, I heard from more than a few folks who were sorry they missed it. We’ll be doing this show again, on June 16th, at the Corralitos Community Center. Check my Shows page for tickets and reservation info.