Gig Report: Kinda Sorta at Lark & Owl Booksellers

[Danny O Danny]

Well, I've played at house parties and backyard keggers, in pizzarias and nightclubs and strip joints, in churches and coffee shops and concert halls, but until tonight I had never played in a bookstore. It was fun!

Here in Georgetown, TX where I live there is a local independent bookstore called Lark & Owl, that my wife and I enjoy browsing around in. Recently I heard that they were having some financial struggles, so I contacted them and offered to perform for free and try to get folks we know to come support them. They don't normally have live music, but they enthusiastically agreed.

This seemed like a good setting to perform as a duo, my wife on keys and vocals, me on guitar (on a couple of songs), bass (on the rest) and vocals. We do all original music in a style I call "Jason Isbell meets Kate Bush". We did two sets of our songs. The audience seemed to really like us and the owners asked if we would come back and play there again. They had a good night of sales, which was what we had hoped to accomplish. The environment suits us, so it looks like we'll be coming back to do it again. Maybe bookstores are the type of niche venue we should target in our booking efforts. Go figure.

 

[JRA]

excellent!

 

[GretschWretch]

Man, this is the kind of "good works" gig I could support every day. Only trouble for me is, the only bookstore anywhere near me (Re-Collected) is a used bookstore with such huge inventory that there is barely room for the proprietor, never mind band or audience.

 

[TeaTime]

I can't think of a non-harsh way to say this.

The bookstore is having financial troubles? Sure, unfortunately that seems likely enough. As a heavy reader I hate seeing that industry struggle.

Also, performing musicians, especially those doing original music, are having financial troubles.

Will the bookstore be setting up at band gigs, making no money, to support bands?

Certainly not. We pay the caterer. We pay the bartender. We pay the bookseller. But the musician should just be happy to do what they do.

 

[Ralph Manak]

Danny, this is excellent, and just the kind of community-building needed in these times. Check out Bird and Becket, located in the lower-key Glen Park neighborhood of San Francisco. Eric, the owner, has been supporting musicians, and vice versa, for a long time.

Bird & Beckett Books & Records – Home of the Bird & Beckett Cultural Legacy Project

birdbeckett.com

 

[Danny O Danny]

I can't think of a non-harsh way to say this.

The bookstore is having financial troubles? Sure, unfortunately that seems likely enough. As a heavy reader I hate seeing that industry struggle.

Also, performing musicians, especially those doing original music, are having financial troubles.

Will the bookstore be setting up at band gigs, making no money, to support bands?

Certainly not. We pay the caterer. We pay the bartender. We pay the bookseller. But the musician should just be happy to do what they do.

Interestingly, several of the people who attended as a result of our mailing list and social media promo told us they never knew the place existed, despite living in the same town. Those same folks also effused about what a great place it is. As another commentor wrote, it's about building community, and independent bookstores are primo "third place" settings for fostering community.

My wife and I are comfortably retired. For us, performing our music is a labor of love. I don't mind in the least giving away our performance to a place we appreciate and support--in fact, it is meaningful to us to be able to do so.

 

[sean_on_bass]

I can't think of a non-harsh way to say this.

The bookstore is having financial troubles? Sure, unfortunately that seems likely enough. As a heavy reader I hate seeing that industry struggle.

Also, performing musicians, especially those doing original music, are having financial troubles.

Will the bookstore be setting up at band gigs, making no money, to support bands?

Certainly not. We pay the caterer. We pay the bartender. We pay the bookseller. But the musician should just be happy to do what they do.

But surely musicians can donate their time, right? gotta look at the bigger picture here. sometimes providing a free service is still good for business in the long run.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Oh, cool. I'd be honored to play in a bookstore. Books are the literal manifestation of free speech. Great stuff

 

[Michedelic]

Well, I've played at house parties and backyard keggers, in pizzarias and nightclubs and strip joints, in churches and coffee shops and concert halls, but until tonight I had never played in a bookstore. It was fun!

Here in Georgetown, TX where I live there is a local independent bookstore called Lark & Owl, that my wife and I enjoy browsing around in. Recently I heard that they were having some financial struggles, so I contacted them and offered to perform for free and try to get folks we know to come support them. They don't normally have live music, but they enthusiastically agreed.

This seemed like a good setting to perform as a duo, my wife on keys and vocals, me on guitar (on a couple of songs), bass (on the rest) and vocals. We do all original music in a style I call "Jason Isbell meets Kate Bush". We did two sets of our songs. The audience seemed to really like us and the owners asked if we would come back and play there again. They had a good night of sales, which was what we had hoped to accomplish. The environment suits us, so it looks like we'll be coming back to do it again. Maybe bookstores are the type of niche venue we should target in our booking efforts. Go figure.

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I'm quite familiar with bookstore gigs. There's been an indie place in Denver, Mutany Information Cafe, that had been located in a longtime hipster enclave that apparently is being gentrified (South Broadway), so they are moving to nearby Englewood…

Mutiny Information Cafe - Home

Mutiny Information Cafe, 2 S Broadway, Denver, CO 80209

mutinyinfocafe.com

A friend of mine, who splits her time between sax and drums, had played there in two different music projects.

Then in LA, in the 90's, the old Borders chain would showcase appropriate up and coming major label acts. I don't know if you knew who the Innocence Mission, Sam Phillips or Jason Faulkner were, but I caught them in that setting as free promo events.

So, Jason Isbell meets Kate Bush? You should check out this newer British quintet, The Last Dinner Party. They're touring the US right now. Very dramatic stuff, impressive musicianship.

 

[Danny O Danny]

There's been an indie place in Denver, Mutany Information Cafe, that had been located in a longtime hipster enclave that apparently is being gentrified (South Broadway), so they are moving to nearby Englewood…

Cool! I grew up in Denver (70's and 80's) but left in the late 90's. I used to love Tattered Cover when it was in Cherry Creek. My sister lives in Englewood. I'll mention Mutany Information Cafe to her.

So, Jason Isbell meets Kate Bush? You should check out this newer British quintet, The Last Dinner Party. They're touring the US right now. Very dramatic stuff, impressive musicianship.

I love The Last Dinner Party. I definitely hear some Queen influence in their music.

 

[Michedelic]

I love The Last Dinner Party. I definitely hear some Queen influence in their music.

Plus a lot of Sparks(they covered "This Town Ain't Big Enough…")and Florence & the Machine. Their keyboard player is brilliant…hell, the whole band(and guest drummers)is.
Another solo artist somewhat in that realm is Aldous Harding, but she pulls from slightly diffferent sources, and is a bit more understated(let alone eccentric). I've seen her live twice now, with another show coming up. Such an interesting experience, twice in two different venues the crowd was so reverential and quiet that you could hear the hiss coming off the PA.

 

[lark_z]

I lived in Georgetown for 6 years (Sun City), I've been to Lark and Owl more than once. My given name is Lark for whatever that's worth, ha. Nice gesture on your part, lets hope they stay solvent.

 

[bassbrad]

Music and book stores are some of my favorite places, having worked in them most of my retail life.

 

[Danny O Danny]

I lived in Georgetown for 6 years (Sun City), I've been to Lark and Owl more than once. My given name is Lark for whatever that's worth, ha. Nice gesture on your part, lets hope they stay solvent.

Hey Lark, Sun City is where my wife and I currently live. We've been here for about 4 years.

 

[Gopherbassist]

Wow, very cool! I hope the little boost from this is a step on the right track for them. I love book stores. There are only two local ones where I live, one which only does new, and one which only does used. I try to support them both, because they're a benefit to me and the community.

I can't think of a non-harsh way to say this.

The bookstore is having financial troubles? Sure, unfortunately that seems likely enough. As a heavy reader I hate seeing that industry struggle.

Also, performing musicians, especially those doing original music, are having financial troubles.

Will the bookstore be setting up at band gigs, making no money, to support bands?

Certainly not. We pay the caterer. We pay the bartender. We pay the bookseller. But the musician should just be happy to do what they do.

There's nothing wrong with supporting a community member with a need by using skills and respurces you have. In this case, the skill is music performance, and the resource is a network of music listeners. This gig was done "pro bono," which we often see used to mean "for free," but is Latin for "for good." There's nothing wrong with doing something good for someone.