December 2022 Gigs

I have finally arrived at the end of 2022 and its long slog of endless gigs! I can’t remember exactly how many I ended up doing but I think around 80. That’s 1.5 a week, but crammed in from April-December… Too many in hindsight but I have learned a lot about what it takes to be a great live performer and entertainer, rather than just a musician.

I think back to the best gigs of the year and it’s clear what sets them apart; the quality of the musicians I am playing with. I have a handful of drummers in mind that play so well it allows me to do my guitar thing with total ease. I have enough to think about with harmony, melody, band leading, live sound etc. that I don’t need to be thinking about how the drummer is out of time or using an inappropriate beat. The audience dance to a beat from the drummer, not my strumming guitar so it’s great when the drummer nails it.

Looking to 2023, I aim to do fewer but higher quality gigs. Gigs where the drummer helps me out, gigs where the bass is in the right key, gigs that aren’t 5 hours away. It’s all fun and games and make for great stories to pass on to my students and friends. Oh, and hopefully try not to get stuck in any more ditches…

See you when I see you, 2022.

Lewis