ON Jan 24th I’m going to play a “Words and Music by Dan Wilson” show at Room 5 in Hollywood. These “Words and Music” shows are a chance for me to play songs I rarely get to play, and to talk a little more than usual about aspects of songwriting and my path as an artist. The last one was fun for me and hopefully interesting and/or inspiring for those of you who were there, and I’m excited to do it again.
Last time around at Room 5.
Your comments in advance of that show really helped me shape the show. (You can see my “decorated set list” for that gig HERE. A lot of your comments are incorporated into the art.) What would you want to ask me at a show like this? I’m thinking about a possible theme for the gig, but maybe you have a better idea. See you there! (Show and ticket info here.)
Playing the part of the band will be multi-instrumentalist Brad Gordon.
Buy tickets soon, because it’s a small place.
Words and Music by Dan Wilson
Thursday Jan 24th
Room 5 - 8pm
12:05 pm on 1/9/13
Some questions for your show: First, I have followed your work since about 1986 when I happened to hear you at some Minnesota festival, and you blew me away. I consider you a song writer in the purest sense, with little no affectations or adornments, and no particular genre. I could listen to your songs, then shift to Carly Simon, Lerner and Loewe, or Franz Schubert, and see a straight lineage of intention — to communicate an honest emotion. In my opinion, you can do no wrong. At any rate, that sets up the questions. Do you struggle with the thoughts of, “If I were a little more country, or folk, or rough-voiced, a little less melodic or poetic, etc…?” And do you feel writing with other established artists partially answers that and enables you to leverage your skill through the addition of various “adornments?” Is there a personal reward in it that differs and perhaps exceeds the individual effort? In general, I would just love to know how the song writing process works in regards to these joint projects: for instance, are you ever surprised by how the song changes through the voice of others? At any rate, thrilled to be attending this concert. I was just passing through LA on work from DC, and I feel ridiculously lucky. I haven’t seen you perform since about 1989. Crazy. Never in the same place and the same time.
12:11 pm on 1/9/13
Oops, did not mean to go public with these comments?
1:35 pm on 1/14/13
we’re very excited to see the show! Since it is still January and people are thinking about their lives at the New Year, (and since my birthday is 3 days after the show) can I please request Free Life? I’m spending my fReE LifE oN lOvE…
Thanks for giving the world your music!