So, thanks to Derek, Live365 and soundmaster Jed, the audio of the Walkingbirds live at Fray Day 5 SF is now available for your listening enjoyment. Jed did an awesome job with the audio work, considering the challenges of alternating spoken word and acoustic live music from the same two microphones all night.

Listening to our performance is both exhilarating and cringe-inducing. We don’t really get warmed up until the third song or so, and I totally, completely forget the words to “Brickyard Bend” in at least two places (listen for the parts where I go “mrphrmmmhprhm.” Ha ha ha). And my awkward, in-between-songs patter sounds like I’ve been practicing to be a radio talk show host, or perhaps DuffMan.

But there are some really nice moments. I really like the way “Gravel Road Requiem” came out. Plus, there are two of Laurie’s songs, “On Your Side” and the closing tune “Fall Off the World,” which you probably won’t hear anywhere else, and those are our strongest performances of the night. Not bad for two people who haven’t played live in two years.

I really love playing live, no matter how much I suck at it. I love open mic nights like Fray Day. There’s no pressure to pack the house, and the people are there to listen. It should always be that easy.

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