Shawn Mullins

10Apr08

I saw Shawn Mullins last night at Joe’s Pub.

My good friend Paul once said something to me when he was living in Brooklyn last summer; that he wouldn’t NOT go to a concert(s) just because he couldn’t find someone that was interested to go with him. Considering his eclectic taste, and mine for that matter, and the fact that we are both pretty much on the same wavelength as far as being music-nuts is concerned, it stuck with me.

I’ll be honest – and I feel guilty about this – I am not sure if I lost the music “thing,” fell out of love with it for a few years, was uninspired, who knows what, but I haven’t been to too many shows since college. I dunno where the obsession went. The ones I have been to haven’t given me the magic feeling they used to. Even seeing Ellis Paul didn’t hit me like it did back when. Which to me is sad. Very sad. And I’ve been aware of this and I’ve been sensing the lack of…something…I mean music usually catapults (my) emotions quicker than just about anything. I guess the point in explaining this is that I am back. And like Paul taught me to do, I will do this on my own if I have to. I don’t quite care anymore. Either you’re with me or without me on this one:)

I am ready for this industry yet again…

So on that note, Shawn Mullins just blew me away with his performance last night. I am SO amazed at how simple his guitar playing is and how he basically just sticks to the first 3 frets with no apologies. He will play G, C9 and D over and over and over and over and skirt brilliant songs right around ‘em. He’ll pick perfectly. There’s not a single note he doesn’t take care of, is messy with, doesn’t respect. It’s like he’ll take the simplistic and make it sound more complicated. Like a great athlete makes their sport look easy. He does his guitar the same way. It was awesome to see that – and it makes me believe and be reminded that there are people like he and Lori McKenna out there who are songwriters first and musicians (guitar players) second. In that order, and they let you know it when they perform.

Shawn Mullins seems modest, thankful, and grateful to be doing what he does. He is absolutely worth a ticket. And way more than just the one hit Lullaby guy. He’s got a new CD called Honeydew, and many more to boot. Some amazing writing to “listen” to. Go go go. Here’s All in My Head:

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