Well, at least to me and the rest of the university - that famous and infamous week off of classes has finally begun. I'm extremely ready for it.
This year for Spring Break, I'm off to visit my aunts and uncles in the Northeast. I'm flying to New York City to stay with my Aunt Tammy and her beaux John and to visit my Uncle Lee. Then midweek I am taking a train down to Connecticutt to stay with my Uncle Dan, Aunt Rachel, and little cousins until Sunday. I haven't seen Aunt Tammy in maybe a year and a half and haven't seen Aunt Rachel since Thanksgiving two years ago, so it's a good opportunity to drop in and say hello.
Today, due to some booking and other issues, will just be a commute day for me, so my flight leaves later tonight for La Guardia. I'm hanging out at the airport writing to you right now, but that is boring.
Let me instead take you back momentarily to last night for a little bit more interesting of a story...
I had a full, free night before I had to leave and (what I thought would be) an early flight the next morning, so I had already left the university and was staying in Birmingham. I didn't want to waste the opportunity though - surely there was something cool and fun to do in town.
So I stumbled upon a concert thing downtown. It said that Matthew Perryman Jones and Hannah Miller were playing at The Dark Room. It didn't cost much, so I decided I would go.
I called the venue's phone number and got the personal voice mail of someone named Caleb. Part of me wanted to believe that it was a wrong number, but I figured that maybe he was the manager or something. When he called me back, I asked about tickets options and found that there were still spots available. I remember reading 75 people or something like that, so I figured it wouldn't be too difficult to be one of seventy-five late arrivals to get tickets, so I asked him to make sure I would get one. I got directions, thanked the gentleman, and headed down.
When I got there, it took a while to find the spot: I was directed to a little appartment building where I had to buzz in to get him to open the front door. After winding my way around the top floor hallways a while, I showed up at the front door to room 509 where a piece of paper told me that I had arrived.
Turned out that the 75 people were the most possible that the venue could hold.
These photos that I got with my cell phone aren't especially great, but I hope that they convey the ambiance.
I believe the correct term is "House Show" but whatever it was, it was relaxed, peaceful, and intimate. Just you and the music. Sit back on the couch or lay down on the pillows on the floor, holding your loved one dear while Matthew and Hannah sing.
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| Caleb welcoming everybody to the performance. |
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| Hannah Miller, performing her first song of the night |
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| Hannah and Matthew playing together |
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| Hannah Miller |
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| Matthew Perryman Jones |
The candles and little lights set a kind of mood lighting that perfectly suited the singer-song writer style of the two musicians. People chatted and hung out while the house music played and as soon as the artists were ready, conversation quieted and everyone gathered close to hear them play, like school children at story time. It was so personal and close, it made me feel like this is the way that music is supposed to be heard. She wasn't playing for 40,000 others and me. He wasn't making jokes for stadium seating. It was like a talent show at a family reunion. She knew some of the people in the crowd. He was good friends with the couple sitting next to me. They played their hearts out for no one but the twenty/thirty odd people in the room. I won't lie saying that I felt a little bit criminal taking pictures and videos because the whole evening had such a close, special feeling.
Of course, the best part was the sound.
Hannah Miller kicked off the night.
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| Here's Hannah sitting on the pillows in front of my couch while Matthew prepared. |
She is a nice girl. I talked to her a little in the intermission between her song set and Matthew's. It was just like meeting somebody at a little social event. I enjoyed her company and she told me a little bit about her music career and the time that she has spent as a musician. She seems to really enjoy it, and loves the artistic aspect of it.
I wish I could go on - she was amazing.
I was able to get some videos of a few of her performances, but I thought that this one was the best. This is a song from the EP called Doubters and Dreamers that she is releasing soon. The song has the tagline for the album, but I regret that I have misplaced the actual name of the song. If you want to find out, I think she'd appreciate you looking up her album. Anyway, I thought you guys might appreciate hearing how awesome she sounded from my perspective.
After an intermission, Matthew Perryman Jones stepped across the moat of pillows and into the little stage circle.
I ran into Matthew during intermission and briefly introduced myself. I had been clued in on everything about him by the lady who shared my couch, but having never heard any of his work, I had to awkwardly admit my ignorance. I asked him what kind of music he played and he admitted that he simply didn't know. I really enjoyed my encounter with him though. He was very open and friendly, humble, and a little bit shy and awkward, but with an evidently big heart and a love for life and beauty.
How can I describe his music? You can hear how much he loves it. That I will say.
Later research found that he has done a lot of songs for TV shows like Grey's Anatomy, One Tree Hill, Kyle XY, and more. There is a simple beauty to his sound. I had two favorite songs of his by the end of the night. My absolute favorite was one that was he wrote for his wife, called "Megan's Song". He said that she had been having trouble sleeping, so he wrote it to try to help her and it was passed down to each of his daughters. I did not record that one and I think that that is better. It was a little bit too specially to be recorded.
However, my other favorite was "Oh Theo". It was inspired by Vincent Van Gogh.
He talks a little bit about it in the introduction to this video, and he says that it's on the EP he is releasing soon...
A little bit after the show, I told him that I decided his music genre is just music.
It was an evening of just listening to music and...people. After the music stopped, Caleb thanked everyone and we hung out. I talked to Matthew about...life?...and had a really pleasant one on one with him. Later, when I was helping them break down and pack up, I met and talked to Hannah's husband as well, about college, careers, family, and what we love to do.
Oh well, guess I'm a bit of of a conversation bug.
I still can't get over how great that felt as a way to just listen and enjoy music. I highly recommend it.
I have to go soon - in a little bit I will be soaring over city lights and tiny toy cars.
Just another step in my adventure. Just what I do.
I'm Jonathon and this is my life.
http://hannahmillermusic.com/
http://mpjmusic.com/
http://birmingham365.org/org/detail/220173011/The_Dark_Room
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