bluebird cafe

[Greg adkins]

Hey gang...

The bluebird was a lot of fun on Sunday night.. I appreciate the kind wishes and emails you guys sent along. It really meant a lot.

I decided to play my 3 songs that sounded the most like they could be country radio hits... since the Bluebird is known for being a place where country songwriters are discovered, I figured this might be a good approach. I played "Little", "Old Radio", and "I See a lot of You in Me". It was a mellow little set but I thought it went pretty well and the audience response seemed to be very positive. Of course, I was playing right after a guy who asked the audience if they wanted to "get nekkid and rock". Seriously.

I think next time I'm really going to shake things up... do some keyboard stuff and a talking blues. That is, if there is a next time. I have to call this morning to find out if I can go back... the bluebird has a really intricate system of scheduling that I won't go into but it's quite unique. The long and short of it is that every time you play there, there is a secret judge in the audience who is scoring you... you call the Tuesday after you play and find out if you can come back or not. Talk about adding on pressure.

Anyway... it was fun. The Bluebird really isn't my scene in that most of the people playing there are trying to become Nashville country songwriters... I'm really not, but the Bluebird is so well regarded that I'd be crazy not to take the opportunity to play there. Also, it's a fantastic place to play... both times I've been it has been standing room only with a line waiting outside to get in all night... there's a girl at the door counting the capacity to keep them legal with the fire marshal... each time someone leaves, someone else can come in. So it's always a full house... but even better than that, they actually listen. There's no talking allowed in the Bluebird so you actually have the captive attention of a packed room. For a songwriter, it doesn't get much better than that. It's good stuff.

I've got a lot of shows the next few weeks... looking forward to seeing some of you out on the road!

- Greg

[Sean without an H]

That sounds so cool! I don't think I've heard about any other coffeehouse that operates quite like that... I would kill for a no-talk rule at some of the concerts I'd like to see (yes, I'm a poor newly-married man... this means no Patty Griffin or Jars of Clay, even if they're in Austin =( ) I watched some videos from Jill Paquette's performance there back in April... were you there that night? (I know it's a long stretch, but hey...) . I didn't know if she frequented such a place, or if you even know of her music. She's a great singer-songwriter and I can't seem to track her (or her new album) down anywhere online.

Sorry for the tangent, but Bluebird brought that to mind. Here's to hopin they want you back... what was the result?

[Greg adkins]

I'll be back in July.

- Greg

[sharon]

[whipple]

Many congratulations.

[meriam]

That is so exciting!!! So what happens next? I remember you told me one time that each time you play there you play a little more. So.... details, man, give us details!



P.S. How many comments do I have to make before I can get rid of the "flippin' stud" title?

[Greg adkins]

I'm not really sure exactly how it works. I know that after you have played writers night four times, you are eligible to play a 2 hour "in the round" show with 2 or 3 other writers... but that's not guaranteed. So... based on playing every 7 months, I'd be eligible for that around oh... March 2008 or so.

It's cool though... it's a fun place to play and a great crowd so I'll keep going back as long as they'll have me. It's also a great excuse to go to Nashville which is always a great town... probably the only place we would leave Knoxville to move to.

- Greg