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
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