As a songwriter and performer it's very important for me to listen to a lot of music. Even better is to go experience one of my favorite artists live. We all know that creativity begets creativity. It is always passed on somehow. A process that has been going on probably since Jubal first picked up the penny whistle. We inspire each other, it's as simple as that.

On Saturday night I had the privilege of watching truly one of the world's best blues and roots artists perform at the Kelowna Folk Club. What a great experience to see Eric Bibb perform! For me it was once again a study in what a great singer/songwriter does. It's about so much more than just singing or playing a song well. It's more involved than just mastering some riffs and emitting some on pitch sounds out of your mouth. Eric Bibb didn't just sing the songs, it was more like they kind of erupted out of him. I got the sense that there was not a cell in his body that was not totally involved in delivering the music. Maybe there were some muscles and nerve endings that were busy doing some side work, I am not sure, but you sure would be hard pressed to figure out which ones they were. This guy sounded and looked completely immersed in the art of telling the story through music and for those fortunate enough to be sitting in that room, the vortex created was pretty much irresistible.

This is why it always seems slightly self-abusive for a lot of us singer/songwriters to stand on a stage in some restaurant where only 3-4 people in the front row are paying attention while the rest are regarding you as background music for thier conversation. I mean, you gotta do what you gotta do sometimes but for me that scenario has always been a joy-killer. Is that slightly narcistic? I dunno.

Anyways, as I watched Eric Bibb, I was reminded that being a singer/songwriter is not about singing a song so much as it is about being the song.. sounds cliche and knd of sappy. But you know I think it's true. I don't ever want to be a performer that just comes out and sings some songs. I have been to concerts like that... great songs but who's the cardboard cut-out out up there flailing away? I think it should take even more investment than that. You have to share who you are with a crowd of strangers. If you can't do that you are not worth your weight as a good songwriting artist. It is a special skill to be vulnerable AND engaging. ( It is possible to be vulnerable and not be engaging or the other way around too.. but that seems empty to me)


Anyway, I'm still learning and I want to keep it that way.