The "Adam Marsland  Was Here" tour landed in my living room on Tuesday
night. We had an invite only living room show and had around 35 adults at
the show and a handful of 8 children or so (which is capacity!).
    When Adam first arrived, it was clear he had a very rough day of travel
(and unexpected car problems).  He understandably looked fatigued when he
arrived.  I must confess, I felt a minor concern of would he have any
stamina left for the night.  Silly, silly me.  My lord what a night it was!
I know I can be prone to hyper bole when I've had a great time but nothing I
say will be overstated (scouts honor). In fact, let me toss in an email from
a friend of mine who attended the show and is someone who has been to many
concerts and living room shows prior to this one.....

Steve & Mary,

Thanks so much for the invitation to your concert.  What a treat!  As I 
said to Adam before I left, it was the best show I've seen in 10 years. 
  Not an exaggeration, I really enjoyed his music, wit, and talents.  It 
was a pleasure to see him in such an intimate setting, thank you, thank 
you.  I'm going to try to send some folks over to his show tomorrow 
night.

Best,
Wynne


Well Wynne, sum up the night very nicely.  Adam brought his guitar, keyboard
and an amp.  This allowed for great variety in his wonderfully nuanced
performance.  Adam very generously played two sets. He first played a show
featuring his own material plus two covers (Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and
"James K. Polk"). Some of the songs he played included "Portland", "Married
Yet",  "Ludlow 6:18",  and more.  Near the end he played the achingly and
beautifully moving "The Foghorn".  He then asked me what I like to hear and
I requested "Ginna Ling" (and he delivered a stirring rendition).  He closed
with "Big Big Yeah" and had the crowd singing along on cue with gusto.  We
were all eating out of his hand well before this. 
   The break in sets was given to allow those who needed to leave a chance
to duck out and especially those with children to go home and put them to
bed.  I expected a good portion to leave per child care issues, as it was
getting late by my neighborhood's standard (the streets are empty post
8:30).    However, few left and for the most part only those who had to
left.  It was a wonderful surprise to me but they were clearly under Adam's
spell.

I should mention here, as many of you know, Adam not only delivers when
singing and playing but he has great presence while performing. He is
clearly in his element on the stage (or in a living room for that matter).
Additionally, he is clearly very bright with a spontaneous wit that is side
splittingly funny. What more could one want?  

Well, how about starting the second set asking me for what else I like to
hear and he then obliged by playing the wonderful "December". 

More?

Well, how about more cover tunes?

As Adam promised he played a second set comprised of his famous
"stump-the-band".  As many of you know, Adam would ask for song requests and
then he would play the song or a song he knew by that artists.  His flair
for comedy continued while introducing, chiding and even while playing some
of the songs listed below. I could comment on all of them but will on a
select few.

Beatle's: "Hard days Night" and "Help", They might be Giant's "Ana Ng",
Danny Elfman's "Weird Science" (a laugh out loud fun highlight), Billy Joel
"piano man" (funny as hell), Van Morrison "Brown Eyed Girl" (Both, very good
and funny with Adam's faux "filler" Morrison voice), Joni Mitchell's ("Free
Man in Paris" I'm not a huge Mitchell fan but this was a killer song per his
guitar work and vocals), Replacements (duh, can't recall the song), Harry
Chapin's "Cat's in the Cradle", Johnny Cash's "Folsom prison blues",
Aerosmith's "Dude, looked like a lady" (had to see it to believe it), Three
Dog Night's "Joy to the World", Neil Young's "Old Man" (I think I've got
that right), Cat Steven's "Peace Train", Dan Fogelberg's "Age of Innocence"
and he closed via a democratic vote with Elvis Costello's "Alison" (that
just blew people away). I know I missing a few he covered and it's killing
me.

He was only stumped twice but gave a valiant try (Ben Fold Five and Peggy
Lee).  The Peggy Lee was from Emma my 8 year old daughter. Adam, not sure
you knew who did it but when the night was over it was my daughter who
turned Peggy Lee's "Fever" on the CD player for all to hear.  She a quiet,
sweet little girl but, my what a rascal !  Getting in the spirit of things
I'd say.  ; )  

Anyway, my neighborhood and friends are still buzzing over the show. A great
evening that I will never forget.  

So a double plug. 
Catch Adam when he comes to your town.  Do not miss seeing him on this tour.

If you ever have a chance to host him for a living room show, I can't
recommend it enough. To me an artist's ability to communicate his or her
music to an audience is a mix of talent, confidence, comfort and the ability
to form a momentary relationship with the audience and continue to adjust
with this audience. Adam has all of this and shows it with ease.  The real
deal.
   Finally, I must add the beauty of a living room show (as has been
mentioned many times)  is in the intimacy it allows for. However, It also
gave us a great feeling of community with our friends, neighbors and family
for one very special evening.  

Thanks so much Adam.  I hope we can do it again sometime.

Oh, One more thing...
 Adam's bumper sticker teases "looking for 25 new fans".  Well, he got that
many and more in one night here in Minneapolis. 

Best, Steve