Went back to an open mic yesterday. Here’s what I played.
- “At The Bottom of Everything” - Bright Eyes
- “Chapter 17: Westward Expansion”
- “Declaration”
- “Surprise Surprise” - Bruce Springsteen
-Paul
I played at an open mic last night. Here are the songs I played.
Jill gave me some good tips on refining my stage presence. Looking forward to next week.
Also, I’m asking people to help me come up with a list of artists I sound like. Any ideas? I’m thinking Counting Crows and Simon and Garfunkel.
-Paul
“Leaves (Fancy New Demo)”
A quickly done new recording of an old song. I thought about removing the second verse but felt it gives some hope to an otherwise melancholic observation. I’ll probably keep it as an acoustic track, but will add some background guitars.
-Paul
“Declaration (Fancy New Demo - 5)”
This song has received so many appearances on Fancy New Demos. I’m hoping it will finally be recorded in time for my next post on The Compass.
-Paul
“When Did You Know? (Fingertip Demo)”
Much like “Tourniquet Turnaround,” this was created in the final few minutes of FAWM. I think it alone of the four songs created that night could become a decent song one day.
-Paul
From The Archives: On March 16th, 2012, The Star Trek: TNG episode “The Outcast” marked the 20th anniversary of its initial airing.
The episode is particularly notable for being a bold, thinly veiled allegory for homosexual discrimination.
The J’naii, an androgynous humanoid race, once had two sexes, but has since “evolved” beyond genders. However, a small portion of the J’naii is still born with a “gender alignment.” These individuals subsequently develop an attraction to those who align with the opposite sex.
In “The Outcast,” Soren, a female-identifying J’naii born with an attraction to males, falls for Commander Riker, and he for her. When this is discovered, Soren is charged with perversion and brought before a J’naii tribunal where she (unsuccessfully) tries to defend herself and those like her.
Despite being penned a generation ago, the passionate, poignant excoriation uttered by Soren at her trial is, sadly, as necessary today as ever:
What we do is no different from what you do. We talk and laugh. We complain about work. And we wonder about growing old. We talk about our families and we worry about the future. And we cry with each other when things seem hopeless. All of the loving things that you do with each other - that is what we do. And for that we are called misfits, and deviants and criminals. What right do you have to punish us? What right do you have to change us? What makes you think you can dictate how people love each other?
[youtube.]
Are you aware of the fact that I’m on Bandcamp now? You can buy downloads and physical versions of my three EPs (Out With The Old, Fancy New Riley, Team Jadakiss EP). They are made-to-order; always fresh, never frozen.
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-Paul
