The typical 7-step process of when someone sweetly asks if I’ll do a solo gig:
1. ‘Sure! Thanks, even!’
2. (Exist)
3. Week of gig: ‘Right… that gig is this week.’
4. 3 days before gig: ‘What am I gonna play? …Nah, dude, not that—do something not-lame.’
5. 2 days before gig: Come up with bodacious setlist. Try practicing it, but mostly it was comically only possible on paper. Mostly.
6. Day before gig: Largely settle on setlist, then spend day trying to memorize lyrics to bunch of songs I’ve never performed, while doing something considerably beyond me i.e. playing harmonica.
7. Day of gig: Continue trying to memorize stuff, swap a song last minute, forget I’ve forgotten to account for not having a stitch to wear/figuring out if my gear is at all ready/commute/setting up. Set concludes, and I recall concept of oxygen, consider merits of ‘phoning it in’ next time, and invariably repeat.
While I’m eternally incapable of adequate preparation, I’m genuinely pumped for this one tomorrow at Green Bay UFO Museum Gift Shop and Records! Leaning into solo act liberties, I’ll be playing some MUDDY UDDERS, The Priggs, and solo tunes I’ve never performed solo or (in some cases) live at all, some covers I’ve never tried to play, and even a brand-new, recorded-but-yet-to-be-released Matty Day original.
And hot damn, a huge reason why I wanted to do this show was so I could open for Lightning Factory, who I’ve maddeningly never gotten to see before. Yes, on the same night as 6 planets align in the sky, for the first time, I will align with the 5 members of this righteous GB act.
Do hope you can make it! No cover, but pop a few pence in the pail if you please. Your man’s on at 7:20. All ages, but feel free to BYOB.
-M’att Ittaggen
Matthew t Day 