Gig Diary: Hazy Shades

Another back-to-back weekend of gigs. With any luck, last week's workmanlike tromp at Jitters has blown out the cobwebs for a stellar night at the Leaf. It's Greatest Hits, plus a plentiful smattering of jazz...

SET I

Sweet Thing (Van Morrison)
Don't Get Around Much Any More (E.K. Ellington)
My Baby Just Cares For Me (Nina Simone)
Night & Day (Cole Porter)
The Walking Song (J. Fear)
What Is Life (Geo. Harrison)
Werewolves Of London (Zevon)
The Whole Of The Moon (Waterboys)
Tracks Of My Tears (Smokey Robinson)
Every Little Kiss (Hornsby)
Earn Enough For Us (XTC)
Join Together (The Who)

SET II

Winter Song (Lindisfarne)
These Days (Browne)
It Might As Well Be Spring (Rodgers & Hammerstein)
Purple Jesus (J. Fear)
My Favorite Things (Rodgers & Hammerstein)
Cinnamon Girl (Neil Young)
Downtown (Petula)
I Wish I Were In Love Again (Rodgers & Hart)
After The Axe (J. Fear)
God Bless' The Child (Lady)
Angel Of Harlem (U2)
Walking The Long Miles Home (Thompson)
Ring Of Fire (Cash)
Lullaby Of London (MacGowan)

Like I said, not a huge number of surprises, here, and only a couple of new songs. I always feel like there's a lot riding on a Leaf & Bean gig; it's a step up from Jitters, with a better scene and a more appreciative clientele—so in planning these sets I lean on (a) solid, proven material, and (b) more pop standards. Some gigs are good for screwing around and experimenting, but I don't feel as comfortable doing that at Leaf & Bean—if people are coming out specifically for a good night of music, and not just for a cup o' joe, then I feel obliged to deliver.

So I'm feeling pretty good: I've been working out my banter in a sort of index-card kind of way—I'm not married to any particular phrasing, but I know where I'm going with it—and I think this set list takes you on a journey such that you know you've been someplace, and taken a few twists and turns, but it all makes sense in the end. It's The Usual Suspects, rather than a David Lynch movie—or, worse yet, Audition (in any sense).