So what's a formula for a successful House Concert.
1. Find bands that fill your soul
2. Invite your like minded music fiends
3. Forget the rest, if you have music & friends nothing else matters.
****
Some of you may have noticed some repetition to a Root Down In The Shadow House Concert. But if a musician fills your soul, why would it be a bad thing to repeat? Max García Conover, is one of those artists I will gladly go see everytime he comes through, even if it happens to be in a living room or backyard of a friend. Haunt The House, who are coming this Saturday, is another one of those artists. But hey, when you find something that works; stick with it.
Last Friday we had a special show in Fishtown. Max had a Thursday slot in Nashville for Sofar Sounds and a gig Saturday in Mt. Holly, NJ; so of course a Philly house show made sense. Why not?
Filling out the line-up were William Doobies & Dan Weirauch of New Sweden and Mike Batchelor of Kettle Pot Black.
Mike started things off with a quick set. He's got this wonderful soft spoken voice, yet can fill the room with his songs all at the same time. He has expressive tales that are typically songs of family and love and are best heard among friends in an intimate space. One beautiful song brought out a few tears. Another brought a few giggles, as he covered "Foolish Games" One fan tried to play the, "who's song was that", but we all knew it was Jewel.
New Sweden was next. Currently going through some line-up changes, Dan & Billy played wonderfully stripped down versions of some New Sweden songs. The great thing about a house show is the intimate showcasing makes little things like playing normally five piece arrangements with two people totally okay. Any missing parts are totally moot, as the chance to experience the songs in a new format shows off new aspects. Some of the versions are the closest to their origins coming from Billy's head to the guitar the first time, bringing out another layer of honesty to the area's most straight-forward, pull-no-punches writer.
Check out this stripped version of "Frying Pan" by New Sweden
New Sweden — Live at Leo's from Michael Batchelor on Vimeo.
Finally, Max García Conover took the stage. With this being his fourth house show this year in Philly this one was given a twist to be extra special. A normally talkative singer, he gave extra time to the stories he told for a special Storytellers style house concert set. With this being my eight time seeing Max in the last two years, you would think some of the stories may be repeats, but he took extra care to give new nuggets and gems with his tales.
"Eddie's Wine" took on a more special meaning, as some of the Weathervane supporters and producers were in attendance at this house show, as they were at the Shaking Through event when the song was given vibrant life with Birds Over Arkansas behind him.
"Never Will the Same Thing Do" was probably my favorite story. Max does songs each week and puts them up on his site. He described how they take about three days on average to do them and the Patrons help make it possible. While the support does not mean like or dislikes, this one particular song he felt he was the only one that actually likes it. Check it out and share it if you think you might like it too!
Max García Conover — Never Will the Same Things Do from Michael Batchelor on Vimeo.
1. Find bands that fill your soul
2. Invite your like minded music fiends
3. Forget the rest, if you have music & friends nothing else matters.
****
Some of you may have noticed some repetition to a Root Down In The Shadow House Concert. But if a musician fills your soul, why would it be a bad thing to repeat? Max García Conover, is one of those artists I will gladly go see everytime he comes through, even if it happens to be in a living room or backyard of a friend. Haunt The House, who are coming this Saturday, is another one of those artists. But hey, when you find something that works; stick with it.
Last Friday we had a special show in Fishtown. Max had a Thursday slot in Nashville for Sofar Sounds and a gig Saturday in Mt. Holly, NJ; so of course a Philly house show made sense. Why not?
Filling out the line-up were William Doobies & Dan Weirauch of New Sweden and Mike Batchelor of Kettle Pot Black.
Mike started things off with a quick set. He's got this wonderful soft spoken voice, yet can fill the room with his songs all at the same time. He has expressive tales that are typically songs of family and love and are best heard among friends in an intimate space. One beautiful song brought out a few tears. Another brought a few giggles, as he covered "Foolish Games" One fan tried to play the, "who's song was that", but we all knew it was Jewel.
New Sweden was next. Currently going through some line-up changes, Dan & Billy played wonderfully stripped down versions of some New Sweden songs. The great thing about a house show is the intimate showcasing makes little things like playing normally five piece arrangements with two people totally okay. Any missing parts are totally moot, as the chance to experience the songs in a new format shows off new aspects. Some of the versions are the closest to their origins coming from Billy's head to the guitar the first time, bringing out another layer of honesty to the area's most straight-forward, pull-no-punches writer.
Check out this stripped version of "Frying Pan" by New Sweden
New Sweden — Live at Leo's from Michael Batchelor on Vimeo.
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| Max García Conover- Photo by Dan McGurk |
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| Photo by Mike Batchelor |
"Eddie's Wine" took on a more special meaning, as some of the Weathervane supporters and producers were in attendance at this house show, as they were at the Shaking Through event when the song was given vibrant life with Birds Over Arkansas behind him.
"Never Will the Same Thing Do" was probably my favorite story. Max does songs each week and puts them up on his site. He described how they take about three days on average to do them and the Patrons help make it possible. While the support does not mean like or dislikes, this one particular song he felt he was the only one that actually likes it. Check it out and share it if you think you might like it too!
Max García Conover — Never Will the Same Things Do from Michael Batchelor on Vimeo.
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