The SmittyG Experience @ Club Next - 5/21

[SmittyG]

Thursday, May 21st, 9pm
Club Next

Well, after three years of reading my crap about my solo project, and several false starts, it is finally going to happen. I dropped the Narada Weeps name to get away from my history with loops and electronica--this is more based in traditional jazz and fusion. Thanks to getting members of Mystery Machine and Quicksand Avalanche to join up with me, I've put together a show that I think will prove unique and entertaining. I will have several of my compositional sketches as the back drop for some improvisational explorations [damn; I'm glad I'm typing this instead of trying to say it], I've pulled in a couple of jazz standards from Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock that I enjoy playing, and then Andi is going to front the group with a selection of jazzy and soulful numbers that will be different from what you have heard her do before. Also, just so you can truly say that you have experienced all that SmittyG has to offer (well, musically, at least), I'm going to do one of my solo bass pieces--don't panic, I'll do the short one.

To everyone of you who has said "I'm looking forward to it" or "I can't wait" or "I'll be there" just to have me self-destruct one more time, I'm so sorry you had to wait this long for it to happen. However, I am hoping that, if you can find it in your heart to give me just one more chance, you will find that it has been worth the wait for me to do it my way.

[John Goforth]

Proud of you bro! I'll be there. Sounds like you've got an outstanding group and repetoire there! This is worth waiting for.

[Sami]

I have nothing else on my calendar, yet...I'm planning on being there.

[kindra68]

i'm not gonna say i'll be there, i'm gonna wait till the 20th to make sure
9pm? damn thats close to my bedtime!

[SmittyG]

9pm? damn thats close to my bedtime!

Mine too. But that's the rock-n-roll* lifestyle.







*I wanted to say, "but I'm playing jazz," but was reminded that the jazz cats normally played from midnight to four or five in the morning. Uh, okie, dokie then; I'll do the rock-n-roll version.

[SmittyG]

Well, it's getting close to that time.

[SmittyG]

Tomorrow night is it. I actually thought I would be freaking out or some such by now. For some reason, I'm rather cool about the whole thing. I guess all of the internal head drama that I had to go through to get to this point has left me with nothing left but to just shut the hell up and play. So I guess I will run with that plan.

[SmittyG]

Had a last minute shift in personnel and Jimmy Joe Akin, drummer for New Jack and the Rippers, will be joining me on keys. The cat can play it all and has a great ear so I'm looking forward to seeing where he takes my musical ideas.

[BluesDawg]

Best wishes on the show, my friend...sounds like a good time will be had by all.

[SmittyG]

Thank you. I'm looking forward to finally getting the ball rolling.

[SmittyG]

Well, tonight is it. Nothing left but to just do it. I'll let everyone know how it goes.

[K.Z.]

Well, tonight is it. Nothing left but to just do it. I'll let everyone know how it goes.

I hope it goes well for ya'll, especially because I'll probably attend.

[SmittyG]

Hope you can make it. Quite a few musicians have expressed in interest in checking this out. Since I have stated up front that my plan is to rotate different musicians in and out of the lineup instead of forming a standing band, a lot of the musician community has expressed an interest in seeing how I am going to run the show so they can decide if they want to be part of the circus or not. I'm hoping a lot of folks are inspired by what they see and hear to take the stage with me down the road.

[SmittyG]

I would like to thank all the staff at Club Next for treating me so well and being so supportive of my musical endeavors. No matter how far out I get, they are always willing to have me back for another try. My thanks and love to my friends who came out to show their support (and all the well wishes from those of you who could not make it). As always, thanks to my main man Roj; he made sure that I sounded great—I never have to sweat the tech side of things when I have him backing me up. Finally, a very, very special thanks to Jeff Green, Jimmy Joe Akin, and Scott Lent for joining me on stage. It is one thing to head for the edge of a cliff when you are the one leading the way and know what’s coming; it’s is a totally different ballgame to charge for that same cliff just because someone asked you to. I would have never finally got my show to the stage if not for their courage and their trust in me.

[kindra68]

I think you deserve a big ‘ol w00t!
(And all the other guys too)