My first time...
The first time I played piano and sang in front of an audience was at an open mic, held in the basement of South Quad at the University of Michigan. The memory is so hazy now that I’m only 50% sure that it’s not a dream that I’m blurring as reality. I remember rehearsing Elton John’s “Your Song” for weeks, I remember the mic being a little bit too “hot,” and I remember there being a second song I had prepared but decided not to perform in the moment.
There is no record of this event, and I don’t think I told any of my friends about it, because I just wanted to perform anonymously.
The second time was less than a year later at a charity concert at the Michigan League with my buddy Joel on drums (yes the Joel - future drummer of The Finer Things.) I remember hastily scribbling the complete lyrics to all the songs on 3×5 cards right before going on stage because I was so worried I’d forget a verse.
This time, my brother pointed a shaky DV camcorder at us, so I actually have this performance on YouTube (albeit unlisted) but you can watch it if you have the links 🤫
Well one thing leads to another and soon enough I was lead singer in a band (as aforementioned - The Finer Things)
I sang at my Aunt’s wedding
And my friend’s wedding
and then my own wedding! (Still my most viewed YT video 🚨🚨🚨)
omgosh am i…?
Anyway, this is all an entirely long and documentarian way of saying “Playing Piano & Singing Is Important To Me” and perhaps always will be. Which is why, even though I’m having a blast producing music at my computer using all manner of instruments, samples, and devices to fully exploit the sonic potential of my songs. At the end of the day it still matters to me that I can sit down at a piano and play.
“Bones” for solo piano.
❤️❤️❤️
(P.S. if you haven’t checked out my latest single “Wool & Fur”, links here. This is gonna be awesome on solo piano!)