write a setlist for a show because the songs I play depends on the interaction of show-goers. Now, I can’t see the reaction of those watching, so I make my setlists entirely by the way I feel. The closest thing I get to audience participation is a scrolling line of comments. While I’m playing, I can’t really look at them because I’m focused on the songs, but in between tunes, I can get a quick sense of who’s there who might want what song.”
Marin singer/songwriter Darren Nelson is a striking presence. He is plastered with tattoos, has a long and wild mane of hair, sports a scruffy, mountain man-style beard, and a heart-melting grin. In any given song, his expressive face may go from a wide-mouthed scream to a peaceful Buddha. His songs are lyrical stories telling of runaway convicts, drinking, love & heartbreak, and how a hard life can turn out to be a fun adventure. His onstage presence is both dynamic and genuine as he sets his focus on making epically awesome rock and roll with any one of his numerous bands that include Honeydust, San Geronimo, and now, the 421’s. The musicians in the 421’s are massively talented and seasoned players, and all of them have gigged around with Nelson for ages. Along for the musical ride is the epic guitarist Danny Uzilevsky (Honeydust, Koolerator), bassist Mike Anderson (San Geronimo, Maurice Tani), guitarist Tom Finch (Big Brother, Tom Finch Trio), and the smiley-est drummer of all, Rob Hooper (Koolerator/Carolyn Wonderland). It’s been about 5 months since Nelson got together with his mates in the 421’s due to Covid distancing. It was a joy for everyone to be together for the first time again during a live stream performance for The Backyard Sessions. “I missed them all so much, but when we finally got to The Backyard, it was such a reunion!” states Nelson. “We had to resist our hugs, but the smiles were uncontainable!” The Backyard Sessions is a new backyard live stream venue in Marin County that aims to host many local bands while providing high-quality video, sound, and production elements for live stream shows. In these strange times we live in, it’s the next best thing for musicians and bands to try to squeeze out a living on music-making, but it’s not the same as a live performance. “The live stream leaves a lot to be desired in terms of audience participation,” states Nelson. “I very rarely
write a setlist for a show because the songs I play depends on the interaction of show-goers. Now, I can’t see the reaction of those watching, so I make my setlists entirely by the way I feel. The closest thing I get to audience participation is a scrolling line of comments. While I’m playing, I can’t really look at them because I’m focused on the songs, but in between tunes, I can get a quick sense of who’s there who might want what song.”
2 Comments
At this point in time, most of us are experiencing a bit of the Lockdown Blues, and even though it seems as if we are coming out of it, we are entering back into a world that has changed drastically. It is sad to say that the music scene in the Bay Area may be in a state of a significant overhaul with massive shutdowns and closures of all music venues, bars, and clubs. Most of us have not gone to a live show since mid-March, and bands and musicians are struggling to find a place (and an income) in the new paradigm.
The future of our local music scenes is uncertain. Will we ever be able to gather in large groups again? Are small clubs and bars a thing of the past? Who knows? But the truth is, we still need live music in our brains, and we still need to rock and roll, so how do we do that when we can’t gather? Well, kids, welcome to the New Age of the music industry, Live Stream shows via the Internet. I like to say, “When the going gets wacky, the wacky people get creative and innovative.” It seems that the new version of a “live music venue” is in our own backyards, literally. Backyard (or garage, front porch or front yard) live streams are the new clubs, the lawn or patio is the latest idea of a stage and countless viewers sitting at home with their computers are the modern audiences. The simplicity of cell phone technology has made it massively easy to bring people together to experience music, now that’s what I call making the best of a bad situation. |
AuthorCarolyn McCoy Archives
August 2023
Categories |