Oct 7, 2009

Singers of Twitter II

Darbucka is a venue like no other. It’s not the great food, the funky cushions and low tables or the fact that Steve Lawson plays his crazy and wonderful solo bass looping magic down there. It’s the silence. The silence of the room whose curtains and sofas eat every sound and the silence of the crowd who are there to listen, barely breathing. If it wasn’t so comforting it would be disconcerting.

Singers of what, now?

Let’s face it. Nobody’s going to turn up to a gig called Singers Of Twitter II at random. Everyone in the audience knew one of the performers. Which always makes for a friendly and fun gig. But not everyone knew us in real life. There were people there who only knew us from the ‘tubes.

I met @postdocal at the bar after my set. “You must know Steve, right?”, I said. “Nope, but I know some of your stuff and some of Steve’s from the net.”, she said.

People connect.

And that’s what it’s all about. People connect. The music has context. Three acts that would confuse the hell out of an average pub crowd suddenly seem normal, familiar. Lloyd Davis‘ ukulele songs are joyful and then breathtakingly melancholy. My musical tweets and quirky songs are surprising and funny. Steve‘s bass playing is phenomenal and engrossing. Lobelia‘s singing is stunning and sweet. We (and I mean the audience as much as the performers) are like a musical family enjoying an get-together around the piano. Except we’re only related by Twitter and the piano has morphed into a ukulele, two guitars, a six-string bass and a rack full of magical looping gizmos.

If only Lily Allen could have been there. She’d have loved it.

UPDATE: Quality video

@edent took a few videos at the gig. Here’s the Twitter song live!:

You should also check out Lloyd Davis and Steve Lawson playing All Of Me with uke and bass and Steve and Lobelia doing a wicked country version of You Spin Me Round with crowd singalong!

UPDATE: Beautiful feedback

I got some great messages after the show (Twitter can be such a happy place…):

_Jo_: Great eve at Darbucka listening to @ihatemornings performing songs to tweets, v amusing. Plus wine , nice grub and good company.
catstress: Home from fab night at darbucka – much fun & great to finally get to see @ihatemornings live…
guitartim: In more +ve news, loved the Darbucka gig tonight. @solobasssteve & @lobelia awesome as always, @lloyddavis uke-tastic, @ihatemornings genius
lobelia: @ihatemornings So lovely to finally see you play. You and @lloyddavis were on top form tonight! Such a fun night! x
solobasssteve: it must be said, @ihatemornings & @LloydDavis make for a top quality double bill. Glad to have them both on board for @officegigs :)
Louforyou: @guitartim @lobelia @solobasssteve @ihatemornings @_jo_ @j_ane @catstress THANK YOU for a special evening :-) #darbucka

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3 Comments, Comment or Ping

  1. Clinton Montague

    Shame I couldn’t make it – bit I couldn’t agree more. There’s nothing more I like than a crowd of like minded people. Somewhere you can go where you know it’s OK to speak to a stranger – and know that they’ll speak back to you.

    And to get this croud out over music? Well, I’m not sure anyone could beat that. A social media website bring together people who have never met to enjoy something where they all already kind-of know eachother?

    Genius.

    Oct 7th, 2009

  2. Miranda

    Wow, way to make those of us who couldn’t make it jealous…sounds amazing ;)

    On a more serious, less whiny (it’s early!) note–I agree with you and Clinton. It’s very comforting indeed to know that people who are connected in the most tenuous of ways (i.e. through a website) can still be galvanized into physical action (even if it’s just the action of leaving one’s house, taking the train, and showing up at an awesome gig with awesome performers), and can still form a warm, accepting, and creative community.

    It’s also, of course, good news for those of us too socially awkward to deal with people the old-fashioned way!

    Oct 7th, 2009

  3. Terence Eden

    Hi,

    It was a great gig, the I took a (shaky and blurred) video of the Twitter Song – it’s now on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yByz9NohWpc

    I also recorded a bit more of the gig which I’ll upload later.

    Cheers

    T

    Oct 7th, 2009