Boom!

                                      A night that lifted spirits for all who were there!

     We were finally there to set things up for the evening. My son Eric Erdman is a musician and this would be a special evening we had looked forward to for a while. The place is called The Listening Room and its located at 78 St Francis St in Mobile, Alabama. 

     The Listening Room is an intimate setting with dim lighting and only a lamp shines next to the performer to point you in the right direction. The musician will take a moment to speak about the song, its origin or the inspiration that gave birth to the song; then they will perform it. Most people like that because they feel more connected to the song if they understand what the songwriter was trying to express. This kind of opportunity is a dream come true for a songwriter. 

     Most local gigs are booked at bars and restaurants that include lots of noise and distraction. Many times it feels like the artist is just background noise for the screaming and frivolity of the place. Sometimes it appears that many people are screaming louder so that they can be heard over the music. I’ve been at many shows where people screamed louder if the musician tried turning up the volume so they could be heard. I have also been to shows where people were playing pool in close proximity to the stage and now the musician is competing with the actual game and verbal activity associated with a game of pool. It is very frustrating for the musician who, I am certain feels frustrated. It is often like a Catch 22, they need to play gigs to make enough to pay the bills, but the gigs are sucking out their soul and spirit. 

     A place such as The Listening Room is a beacon of light in a mighty storm. It is a ray of hope to stir the musician and allow him or her to remember why they make music. It will boost the spirit and feed the soul like nothing else.

     The show that night began with an opening act by Hannah McFarland. She played a set from 8:00-8:30pm of cover songs. Hannah is young and gorgeous, yet she seems right at home on the stage and has one of the most beautiful voices I have heard. She has a great career ahead of her. She did a marvelous job and the crowd loved her. I heard some people say they would be looking to see where she is playing and going to see her again.

     Eric took the stage and played to the “sold out” crowd. It is a small venue, only holding 54 people, though we had a few more that were happy to just stand in the back. Unfortunately, many  had to be turned away due to lack of space. The show was wonderfully received as everyone applauded vigorously after each song and sometimes during the song. There was a standing ovation at the end, making it a stellar night.

     The Listening Room is small, yet it is very BIG to those who write their own music and want to have it heard by others. It is very BIG in boosting the spirits and morale of true musicians who love what they do for a living. I want to thank Jim Pennington, the owner and operator who makes very little for his efforts. He does it for the musicians and his love of original music. Jim, you are an angel.