Turn the Page – Runaway Dorothy

January 17th, 2009 - by Eddie

Audio, Indie, Singer-Songwriter, Turn the Page

It was Charleston, SC and we were booked to play the Holy City Cold Heart Revival. We had played the festival the year before and this year it was even bigger than the last. It was cold outside for a lowcountry fall night and inside the venue was decked out like we were under an old-time revival tent. Alumnus of the band Whiskeytown were onstage sound checking and other bands were loading in via the back door. I had one guitar and a bag full of harmonicas with me and that was it. Due to some scheduling problems the band was unable to make the journey down and I refused to cancel even if it meant that I would have to do the show alone.

The line-up for the evening kicked off with a local band that was HIGH energy. I believe they were called the V-Tones. They were great. I sat at the bar with a Bud and enjoyed every minute. Next came another Charleston favorite, The Kentucky Shoes. Again a huge band with a big sound. It was starting to dawn on me that every band that was there that evening was gonna have a huge sound and I could not compete with that. I had to think of something or my set was gonna be everyone’s bar and bathroom break.

I had gone to see a friend the week before in her Broadway debut. As I sat in the balcony with the VP of marketing for the show, Christine, the lead, came out for her first song. She was fantastic and had the audience in the palm of her hands. Later on in the show the VP leaned over to me and commented that Christine was having vocal problems and was only singing at half tonight. I hadn’t noticed at all. She also said to notice how everyone was one the edge of his seat. She knew that she couldn’t sing out so Christine performed as if she were in a tiny room and made everyone come to her.

I knew right then what I had to do. I needed to completely change my approach for the evening. I would redo the set list. Include all our more intimate numbers and drop the tempo on our other songs. I would bring them to me.

When it came my turn at bat I walked on stage, said hello and broke into a set full of intimate heartbreak. I never sang above a whisper and they loved it. They moved closer and closer, I sang lower and lower. I delivered my songs as if it almost hurt to say the words. I finished the last song, packed up my guitar, and walked off stage. A few moments later I had people coming up to me and saying how much they enjoyed my set. A little while later a dear friend in the crowd approached me after overhearing Caitlyn Cary of Whiskeytown saying to her band that world needed to hear my songs.

This was one of my favorite shows I have ever played and every time I step on stage I try to deliver the same level on intimacy even when it’s the full band. I want the audience to feel like they are on stage and intertwined with the songs.

-Dave Parnell