KG Checks In: December Shows / Todd Snider / About That Song
Greetings from an extremely mild Autumnland in Tennessee–right now we’re in that particular phase in the front yard where the big ash tree has dropped all its leaves, but the cherry is still hanging on, to leaves that are now a glowing, almost iridescent yellow. But: it’s been suggested that I keep this short and sweet, so I’ll try. But is that what you want?
December Shows
Coming up next month, some shows in the Midwest before that Santa guy comes around again. As always, check the venue sites and socials for details:
THURSDAY 12/11 MAGIC DUST: THE SONGS OF DAVE MOORE ENGLERT THEATRE, IOWA CITY
This is going to be a great night! (Now officially SOLD OUT) I’m joining Jeffrey Foucault, Iris DeMent, Greg Brown, Pieta Brown, Bo Ramsey and many others to celebrate the songs of Dave Moore, an Iowa institution and a beautiful soul. Look forward to seeing you there!
FRIDAY 12/12 THE MUSIC BOX ROCKFORD IL
Solo show! Been a bit since I’ve been to Rockford; please get those advance tickets and come out!
Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/3rj746my
SATURDAY 12/13 FITZGERALD’S BERWYN IL
Returning to my home-away-from-home, the mighty FitzGerald’s, for a solo show over in the Sidebar. This is a FREE show! But make reservations to get a table. Reservation link: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/saturday-evening-in-sidebar-w-fitzgeralds-sidebar-tickets/14634813
FRIDAY 12/19 LEFTY’S DES MOINES IA
A special end of the year band show, with Steph Graham and Jim Viner! And the fantastic Matt Woods opens! Don’t miss it!
Ticket Info: https://www.leftyslivemusic.com/events/kevin-gordon-w-matt-woods
SUNDAY 12/21 THE BLACK ANGEL IOWA CITY IA
Last show of the year, an intimate solo show at my new favorite venue in I.C.
Tickets: https://the-black-angel.square.site/
Todd Snider
Todd left this mortal coil late last Friday night. I’m going to have a lot to say about my friend and partner in crime, so I’ll hold off for now. But it’s been a tremendous shock to those of us on the east side of Music Business City, and to anyone else who’s a fan.
About That Song: Marion
Sometimes writing songs, for me, is a way to process grief and loss. I’ve done it many times: If You Will, 24 Diamonds, and Goodnight Brownie Ford are a few I can think of right now. Marion, from my latest album, The In Between, is another.
My first job was bussing tables at a French bistro sorta joint in Monroe, LA, called Charley’s, Ltd. My stepdad was a manager there. What a place! My fellow employees were a curious bunch of misfits, criminals, and eccentrics: a bartender who only went by one name, Blaze (obviously on the run from something), the chef an old Navy cook from NY state who ran the kitchen with two African-American matriarchs, Miami and Lily Fae, none of whom suffered nary a fool. A suave tanned omnisexual dude with black moustache from California, manager Joe Kelso (alias, anyone?) who was up to NO good. Clientele consisted of the well-heeled: aged widows with wrinkled hands and huge diamond rings, lawyers and their staffs often taking a two-martini lunch off into three and beyond, and a group of regulars from the gay community; this was my introduction to so many things. I swear, you could write three novels about this place! Quite an education for me, and I am forever grateful for it. Anyway, Marion was a waiter there; he was from Franklin Parish, LA, just like my stepdad. I based the character in the song on him, though the real circumstances of who he was and what happened to him were too tragic and complicated to stand up in a song. So, in a way, the song ended up being more about that time (the early 80s), and about a character moving through it. Internally it’s still a song about the guy I knew and loved, but externally it had to be something different.
You can hear it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIu30EI_seI
Bandcamp Friday is coming up, December 5th! Watch for something to drop!
It’s a weird and beautiful world; stay safe out there!
kg
KG Update: Bandcamp Friday / Simple Things / Magic Dust
Hi friends,
Happy October! Though it may not feel very Octoberish yet where you are . . . .
Bandcamp Friday
Today, Friday October 3, is another Bandcamp Friday, when Bandcamp waives their usual cut of sales revenue for the day and passes it along to the artists. On my Bandcamp site you’ll find “official” and not-so-official releases, and other merch. Check it:
https://kevingordon.bandcamp.
Shows
Just a couple of local solo shows coming up–
Saturday 10/4 Eastwood Fallfest Nashville 2pm
(Honored to be playing our neighborhood’s 3rd annual festival; it’s free, and there’s lots going on. Location has moved this year–to Chapel Avenue, between Greenwood and Roberts.)
Friday 10/17 Eastside Bowl (Low Volume Lounge) Madison TN 7pm
(I’ll be workin’ it out solo in the front lounge at ESB–maybe trying a new song or two!)
I’m also proud to announce that I’ll be a part of a very special night in Iowa City, Magic Dust: The Songs of Dave Moore, honoring the songs of the great Dave Moore. With Jeffery Foucault, Greg Brown, Iris Dement, Pieta Brown, Bo Ramsey, Kris Delmhorst, Joe and Vicki Price, Erik Koskinen, and Dave Zollo. Thursday, December 11, at the Englert Theater. Tickets are on sale and going fast! Here’s a link:
Hope to see you there!
About That Song: Simple Things
“Simple Things” was the first single from my latest album, The In Between. I often refer to this one, in the spirit of comic absurdity, as my second “pandemic hit.” I started writing it in early April, 2021. Here’s a scan of the first draft of the lyrics–
I kept working on the lyrics up until I recorded the final vocal track, over a year later. Some songs will tell you that they are “singles”–and expect a certain approach to the craft when you’re writing them. This was one of those. Keep it short: two verses, not three. A straightforward attitude with the lyrics. Using weather as a kind of a metaphor helped keep it from getting too sentimental–and I liked how it’s something we all live with, and live in. Like the plague we were all dealing with then (and still do, to some extent). I came up with that instrumental intro not long before we recorded it; and instead of a potentially self-indulgent solo section in the middle, Joe and I decided on using it as a breakdown, a breath (and musically very similar to the intro–repetition being a good thing in songs like this). And how about that harmony vocal?! Luella came in and nailed it. I am so grateful to live in a town where so many super-talented people are. And to count them as friends means a lot to me.
Got a question or a comment? Email me: kevingordonmusic@gmail.com
Love,
Kevin
Mid-August Update
Hi All, I visited family in Des Moines for a few days recently, and retrieved the guitar that got lost there back in June. (I’ll be telling that story on my social media very soon.) Used to be a 12-hour drive from Nashville, but since it’s now all 4-lane except for one 20-mile stretch, you […]
June Tour Starts Friday
KG June Tour Starts Friday! Hi folks, Just a reminder from the desk here at KG Central–the June tour starts this Friday, June 6, in St. Louis. I’ll be traveling with drummer Martin Lynds and bassist Ron Eoff, in the smoldering minivan we know so well. Here’s a list of the dates; we are still […]