To quote R.E.M. - "...my kingdom for a voice"
Does anybody know that song from R.E.M.'s 1987 album Document called "King Of Birds?" I've been thinking of that lyric: "I am the king of all I see/my kingdom for a voice"
Starting on Saturday, I woke up with a hint of a sore throat and cold. These past few mornings I've awakened with it getting worse and worse. Tonight my throat is killing me, it's difficult to swallow, my voice is low and scratchy, and I my singing range spans about 3 whole steps somewhere around an octave below middle C.
And of course, my CD release show for the Best of the 20th Century album is tomorrow.
Now, I firmly believe in the old showbiz mantra "the show must go on," but if I can't sing, it's gonna be annoying and disappointing. This is kind of a big gig tomorrow. I can recall just about every CD release show for previous albums:
28 DAYS IN THE YELLOW ROOM, Christmas 1992
Well, this was my first album, so I didn't have a album release show. In fact, at the time, I didn't even know what an album release show was, or how to have one.
WHEREVER, Winter 1995
It was a full band gig with my musical pals from Portland...we played the 5th Street Beanery in Eugene, Oregon.
RECITAL, Spring 1997
Gunther Murphey's Irish Pub on Belmont in Chicago, opening for Dolly Varden, and with the Vardens themselves as my backup band!
SOUND THEOLOGY, Fall 2000
Full band super-show at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Oak Park, IL, with my awesome gang of Chicago musicians.
FIELD RECORDINGS, Fall 2001
This was a more low-key release, but I think I did something at Uncommon Ground in Chicago.
PRESENT, Christmas 2001
A Christmas bash at Uncommon Ground with Beki Hemingway.
STYX TRIBUTE ALBUM and EXTRA CREDIT, Summer 2003
My first big show as a Minneapolis resident, with a huge all star band (including my cousin Bruce!) at Bryant Lake Bowl.
PROTESTANT ROCK ETHIC, Summer 2006
Last Summer at Club Three Degrees....lame venue, lame draw, and kind of a lame show, but I had a great super-band, and it was my first show ever with a chorus of harmonizing backing vocalists (thanks Julie, Paul, and Joel!). We opened for the Fuller Still CD release gig.
BEST OF THE 20th CENTURY, Spring 2007
Well, that's tomorrow night...do you think my voice will return? I'm gonna drink more of this throat coat tea...nighty night.
Starting on Saturday, I woke up with a hint of a sore throat and cold. These past few mornings I've awakened with it getting worse and worse. Tonight my throat is killing me, it's difficult to swallow, my voice is low and scratchy, and I my singing range spans about 3 whole steps somewhere around an octave below middle C.
And of course, my CD release show for the Best of the 20th Century album is tomorrow.
Now, I firmly believe in the old showbiz mantra "the show must go on," but if I can't sing, it's gonna be annoying and disappointing. This is kind of a big gig tomorrow. I can recall just about every CD release show for previous albums:
28 DAYS IN THE YELLOW ROOM, Christmas 1992
Well, this was my first album, so I didn't have a album release show. In fact, at the time, I didn't even know what an album release show was, or how to have one.
WHEREVER, Winter 1995
It was a full band gig with my musical pals from Portland...we played the 5th Street Beanery in Eugene, Oregon.
RECITAL, Spring 1997
Gunther Murphey's Irish Pub on Belmont in Chicago, opening for Dolly Varden, and with the Vardens themselves as my backup band!
SOUND THEOLOGY, Fall 2000
Full band super-show at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Oak Park, IL, with my awesome gang of Chicago musicians.
FIELD RECORDINGS, Fall 2001
This was a more low-key release, but I think I did something at Uncommon Ground in Chicago.
PRESENT, Christmas 2001
A Christmas bash at Uncommon Ground with Beki Hemingway.
STYX TRIBUTE ALBUM and EXTRA CREDIT, Summer 2003
My first big show as a Minneapolis resident, with a huge all star band (including my cousin Bruce!) at Bryant Lake Bowl.
PROTESTANT ROCK ETHIC, Summer 2006
Last Summer at Club Three Degrees....lame venue, lame draw, and kind of a lame show, but I had a great super-band, and it was my first show ever with a chorus of harmonizing backing vocalists (thanks Julie, Paul, and Joel!). We opened for the Fuller Still CD release gig.
BEST OF THE 20th CENTURY, Spring 2007
Well, that's tomorrow night...do you think my voice will return? I'm gonna drink more of this throat coat tea...nighty night.
Comments
Great show last night. Yeah, the voice was scratchy, but the energy and venue made up for it! I hope you heal up soon. Btw, I *love* "King of Birds." Probably my favorite song off Document.