Whoever said the road has no lessons was obviously not paying attention. Or having too much fun. Either way, I've been playing around the place a bit recently and I've had some thoughts - some nuggets of wisdom if you will (definitely more healthy than actual nuggets).
Who knew Orange could get so chilly? I mean I did… so what I mean is - who would go to Orange so woefully underprepared (I would)… But hey, they sure dig songwriters and original music, which makes the cold worth it. The Vic, one of my favourite venues, hosted a killer "4 on the 4loor" last month and I was lucky enough to have a spot on stage. It's rare that someone comes up after the show to share how much they enjoyed the music, I wish it'd happen more - maybe you're scared that I'll start talking to you about it.... that connection with the audience is what I've always aimed for though, I'd like to think people are finding something in these songs.
And Bathurst, which outdid Orange for winterness (but again I knew this). Lesson learned: July is not T-shirt weather there, even in the middle of the day. On the bright side, they've got these awesome venues filled with people who genuinely appreciate original tunes. Playing at the Keystone felt like stepping into a scene from a Baz Luhrmann movie – seriously cool vibes. It's like tapping into your inner Greatest Showman, and who doesn't love a bit of that magic? (Yes I know Baz didn't make the Greatest Showman but whatever…)
The great thing has been the incredible new talent I've come across, there are insanely creative people everywhere - we should all get out more and show our support.
I recently joined the inaugural “Song Circles” – a gig with some of my favorite local musicians. We played each other's tunes, collaborated on some new ones... got a huge compliment from someone in the local scene I deeply respect, who said it was the best gig they'd seen in ages. Encouragement like that fuels this creative desire, and I'm pumped to see where it takes us.
Exciting times ahead as I continue to explore more of the regions. Can't wait to see what the rest of the year has in store.
Thanks for listening!