After a two-year break, it was time to get back on the live wagon, to make sure the wheels were still securely attached. So I jumped at the library’s invitation.

I had planned to play all composed pieces, but it finally dawned (at the last rehearsal) that this was involving too many guitars (four, including the 12-string and the acoustic), so I cut back to the usual two and revamped the program, allowing for a couple of improvised flings.

So I ended up with three pieces from The Separate Ones, two from the next solo album, one from the album after that, and the two improvs. I used just the two guitars, apart from the synth line in Radha’s Tears.

The minimum success threshold for a live show of mine is pretty basic: no power outages, no blue screens of death, no screaming feedback, and no crazy blue notes. So… on this day we’re all good.

Actually, it was one of the better shows. The live take on Sirens of Maya is so pleasing that it may replace the finished studio recording on the next album.

Submerge/Emerge (part of which closes this highlight clip) is free with all Memory Palace digital pre-orders. A download link will be emailed. This ends on Release Day (Dec. 8), though the download link will be good until all pre-purchasers have confirmed receipt.

I was so chuffed at how Emerge turned out – thanks to its improved structural re-arrangement at the last rehearsal – that I recorded the studio version last night. Six guitar parts, and no looping – all the repeating parts were played through. This allows for variety in phrasing and processing, and liberates me from the metronome.

Concert day wasn’t the best day for photos, but here’s one before:

and one during:

Program:

First Day Apart

Fading Angel

Improv 1: Glittering Depths

Radha’s Tears

 

Rebuild From Memory

Sirens of Maya

Improv 2: Submerge

Emerge