Michael McDermott
at...

1-25-08

We've all heard the adage "Don't judge a book by its cover"...I just didn't know there was another that said, "Don't expect a venue to be filled with people simply because the parking lot sports more cars than most dealerships".  Of course, to be part of a very small audience means being treated to something of a private show, which is actually quite desirable from the attendee's perspective.  From the flip side, when "attendee" more accurately describes the audience's population than the word "crowd"...well, for the performer taking the stage, that desirability is...uh -- not so much.  That said, you can see from this shot of only about half the (both sides equally) empty club that Michael was in for a bit of a tough night...

Frankly, though, you'd never know it from the energy with which he invested Prince's, "The Place of Your Man" -- a song he's played at various Midwest venues in recent years, but one I'd never been privileged to hear before myself.  Needless to say, I was glad to finally get this opportunity -- and sorry for all those absent who didn't know what they were missing!

"on a lonely Friday night..."

Next came "Grace of God" -- or rather it began...only to be interrupted when the accompanist of the prior act got up to take a bathroom break.  Unwilling to give up such a major percentage of his audience, Michael stopped and demanded, "Hey, where you goin'?"  That matter settled as Nick once more took his seat, this lovely song commenced...

"The sun came up this morning as I was laying myself down..."

And, by the time he shared the dark -- indeed threatening -- theme of the songs that followed, I suspect no one would have risked Michael's ire again -- the first of these being "Murder in the First Degree"...

"My veins they roared, flowed with a venom..."

...and the second the truly discomfiting tale of mayhem, "Cal-Sag Road"...

I've got to admit, after that, the regret-tinged "Mess of Things" sounded almost like a bit of light comic relief!

"The sweet Kentucky rain hit the New York street..."

Understandably, a bit of forgiveness, hope and cleansing proved a welcome change -- here shared in the form of "Where The River Meets The Sea"...

..and the musical recognition that after hitting such a low point, there can only be "One Way To Go"...

"A voice from above, it answered with love...

"But are you ready to hear?"

A group of requests came next, the first a beautiful discovery from Michael's myspace page and its weekly Monday Morning Madness.   And, "I'll Tell Her When I Land", despite a slightly rocky start (given this was its unplanned debut) sounded even better live than on that "manic" web jukebox...

"'Twas a beautiful day...

"here in 15A..."

Of course, "Wounded" sounded great live, too -- and as if it, too, were being shared for the first time -- just as it has every time I've heard it at shows over these many years...

"I will implore...

"this dirty sky for rain..."

While Michael had planned to end on that note, yet another shout out from the "crowd" resulted in one final tune -- and a bit of commentary about its "antagonist".  Sharing this -- uh, multi-talented -- woman (who, in addition to playing bass) once appeared in "the worst movie ever" (or maybe two if you count that portion of Michael's life in addition to the less than prestigious Howard the Duck), yet he found a silver lining in the relationship to share as well.  Her father had been a star in the (much more than) wee bit better film, East of Eden,  and on this evening Michael showed off the very boots he'd worn while playing James Dean's brother.  Good to hear there was at least a small bit of compensation for ending up in the "piss poor shape" described in "Still Ain't Over You Yet"...

Of course, a true artist knows he's proved a great success even if he touches just one person with his art.  And, yes, the fact photos were desired to preserve the memory indeed attests to Michael's having succeeded admirably on this night...although he most certainly doesn't look convinced.  Then again, I suspect he was thinking something more along the lines of "I hope she gives my hat back...with ticket sales like this it's gonna take years to buy another one!"

Little did he know the very next night would feature not one, but two sold out shows...which probably helped assuage that fear -- while underscoring the ups and downs that characterize a traveling minstrel's life.

To wrap up this one show, however, I can only add (along with yes, I gave back the hat)...

As always, 

Thank you, Michael

(and don't ever let "nights like these" 
stop you from coming back SOON!!!)