SESSION SHENANIGANS
The studio guitarist’s guide to happiness and personal fulfilment, as related by our session ace. This month: A Song, A Smile, A VAT Invoice.
I attended a benefit concert recently in London’s unfair city. It was for a uniquely worthwhile cause and featured a number of permutations of musicians and drummers. There was also a heady mix of stylistically varied vocalists. Much effort had been expended in organising the event, replete with top-class sound reinforcement, professional video and intervallic beverage offering. There had even been rehearsals in the days prior to the event. All in all, a logistical headache considering that all concerned were providing their services for love, not lucre. While it’s true that the event itself transcended the music, I still came away disappointed with one aspect of the proceedings and consider that the following may have relevance for my demanding readership. Both of you. The principle takeaway that I, er…took away from the gig is that programming in a concert is paradoxically frequently overlooked, but absolutely vital.
I remember Bruce Welch recalling that when The Shadows started out they believed that they were in Show Business. Pop and rock music were in their infancy and many doubted their longterm viability. Hence the suits, the cheesy grins and the legendary ‘Shadows walk’. They were there to entertain. While not advocating an immediate appointment with your local made-to-mohair tailor or tuition at the Arlene Philips House Of Hoofing, here’s how to increase the chances of there being the same number of patrons at the conclusion of your gig as were present at the start. First, take a peek at your set list. Divide the tunes into those in Major and Minor keys. Aim to alternate between the two. Next, pay attention to tempi. There are no hard and fast rules but you could open the show with something relatively ‘up’ and accessible and move forward from there.
There is also the notion of ‘feel’ or ‘groove’. Tunes may have the same speed but can sound
