Vox Pop (6/29/06)

New York, NY

In the days leading up to my first Brooklyn gig, a return of sorts to my roots (both of my parents grew up in Brooklyn), I was more nervous than I'd ever been before a performance. My last appearance had been in late December at Sidewalk, and I'd spent the self-imposed hiatus recording new material and gearing up for the beginning of my radiology residency. Six months is a long time, longer in fact than any break I'd taken from music since the '90s. To compound my trepidation, I had recently ended a two-month stretch during which I'd neglected my guitar completely. By the time I reacquainted myself with my Taylor, my chops were decidedly rusty and I'd forgotten a few songs entirely.

I went to the movies in the morning to settle my nerves a bit, but as the hour approached, the skies darkened, literally and figuratively. The skies opened up and drenched the City, making the commute to Brooklyn that much more of a hassle. To make matters worse, news of the death of a close friend arrived by phone as I was gathering my gear. After debating whether or not to cancel the show outright (I decided to press on after much deliberation), Bill arrived and we hit the road.

Vox Pop is in my grandparents' old neighborhood, so my uncle and aunt came by for old times sake and to show their support. Michelle Kaufman was kind enough to make the trip with a friend and Anna Delios managed to make it all the way from Brazil! It turns out Vox Pop is kind of a hole in the wall with only a hint fo a stage and an amp that passed for a sound system. Still, it has its charms.

Bill soundchecked for me by playing a couple of songs, including Dave Matthews' The Song That Jane Likes, which left the small audience considerably impressed. I'm working on getting Bill involved in the music again, so you'll be seeing him again.

I had a set list, but as usual, I mostly ignored it. I broke out a few of the new songs, including Musical Chairs, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., and It's Been A Long Time, and I pulled out Set You Free and Light Me Up for the first time in a long while. After so many months away from the music, even the old songs feel new. I entertained a request for Tracy Chapman and threw in covers by Elvis Costello (of course), Simon and Garfunkel, and Tom Petty before indulging Michellewith Billy Joel's Vienna. I'd never played it live before but I sang along with the record enough times as a kid to know my way around the tune. I'd had it by then and was eager to get back into Manhattan.

Thanks so much to everyone for coming out! I had a blast and I promise to book some shows this summer and fall. Be on the look out!

Setlist: Musical Chairs (debut)/The Beauty Pool/Set You Free (first since DTUT: 1/6/04)/Alison (Elvis Costello cover)/Crossroads (Tracy Chapman cover)/Cloud 9/Pretty Girls/Charlene/Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (debut)/Kathy's Song (Simon and Garfunkel cover)/Painted Myself/Snapdragon/Reunion/It's Been a Long Time (debut)/Walls (Tom Petty cover)/Light Me Up (first since The C-Note: 4/25/05)/Vienna (Billy Joel cover)