Blog – Page 47 – Paul Melancon

10 May, 2002

Well, you certainly can’t say Dallas doesn’t love you now, Mr. President

I met again with Daemon Records on Wednesday. It was to talk about a plan for playing out of state. I made it clear to them from the outset that I have no problem with going out of town, but that there was no way for me to do it with a band in tow. They said that wouldn’t be a problem. None of this will begin until September, which is the release date (the 17th) that they’re shooting for. So I won’t even start making calls until next month, really. Also, having the plan is no guarantee of it working… the main problem being that I am completely unknown out of state (in state to an extent), so I have to get the shows booked first. Daemon is going to include a cover letter so it’s clear I’m one of theirs, which will carry a little weight.

I am a different situation for them than they have done before, it seems, and some things are still up in the air as we start the whole thing moving. They don’t normally do booking, but have been talking about possibly starting because they have a lot of connections through artists they have and others that are associated with them. So it’s possible that may be something they do for me, making follow up calls on the press kits to clubs or possibly more, or not. These are all things that will be worked out once Amy gets back next week from Europe. There’s still no contract on any of this, so neither of us is beholden to each other, but work is beginning anyway.

For those of you who are interested and out of state, this will be a mainly southeastern thing at first. I’ll be taking Fridays off and doing two-city jumps on the weekend, possibly taking off Thursday and doing three cities. The main cities involved:
Athens, GA
Augusta, GA
Asheville, NC
Chapel Hill, NC
Charlotte, NC
Columbia, SC
Chattanooga, TN
Knoxville, TN
Nashville, TN

Also, Louisville, Tuscaloosa and some Florida cities, though I was sort of warned off Florida as not being great for touring. No offense to those of you in Florida. Depending on how things are going I could be heading further out, up to Virginia and out to Austin, TX. Also there are still the possibilities of opening slots for other Daemon Artists, which could put me in New York or Boston on one shot deals. I think.

It was really just sort of a strategy talk, the only definite being those first two weekend jaunts, which I need to try and get scheduled around the CD release.

It’s a strange feeling, this whole process. I am excited and leery all at the same time, and my mood is hard to gauge, even for me. I suppose I am too paranoid or jaded to give in to the thing when nothing is actually happening at the moment. That first weekend out on the road will be very strange. But I am cautiously excited about the prospect. I’ll be on the road alone, with my laptop, a million CDs in the car, and a copy of That Thing You Do! to watch in the hotel when I get frustrated.

I want it to work out. I really do. I can taste it.

Everyone can have their shot to find out just how freaking shy I am in person! woowoo!

2 May, 2002

1 May: Atlanta

1 May – Eddie’s Attic (Atlanta)

I knew going in it might be a little rough, because I haven’t played a straight acoustic show in a long time. And as I’ve said too many times, I don’t feel like I have a very good acoustic show. My playing is okay, and usually my voice is good. I just don’t think I bring anything especially compelling to an acoustic show. I can’t come across as one of those very serious “explain the motivation behind each song beforehand” people, just because I don’t really even write songs like that. I frankly just don’t know how to put on an acoustic SHOW. The show was sort of a reinforcement of that belief. I thought I did okay, my voice was good for the most part. I got sloppy near the end. I just didn’t feel like it had much life to it. I know this is something I need to rectify, because I’m about to have to start going out of state with this show. It needs something, apart from just being a little more in pocket. I just don’t know what, yet.

I was much more depressed about it immediately afterwards, which is why I wasn’t in a rush to talk about it.

I found out something kind of interesting Saturday… I was talking to John after rehearsal, and he was talking about a show 6X did last summer, and if I’m right I think it was one of those Daemon showcases at Criminal Records. Anyway, apparently Amy Ray came up to Rob at one point and said “you’re playing with Paul Melancon now, aren’t you?” I think she got my last name wrong, actually, but that’s not uncommon for me. So Rob corrected her and said yes, and she said something to him about me being very talented.

I had no idea they had been keeping up with me to that extent.

One other thing… a few months ago I found out about an Elvis Costello tribute CD that John Brodeur was putting out. John is one of the more familiar people in the weird little power-pop community online. He also performs; I think he’s based out of New York. Anyway, I sent an email asking for details (I’ve never talked to him before, mind you) and it turned out the deadline was pretty short, and there was no way for me to pull it off because I was rushing to get my own CD finished at the time. So I let it go. But this weekend I got an email out of the blue from him asking me to play a show in July (in New York, I assume) that he’s putting together, a tribute show, I guess to coincide with the release of the CD. I’d be playing 2 songs, Costello songs. I haven’t answered him yet, because I’m giving serious thought to the idea of flying up and doing it, staying overnight and coming home. I should be able to pay for it out of what is now my tour support savings, I think I could probably get a cheap-ish flight.

25 April, 2002

another meeting

I had a meeting with Daemon Records Wednesday after work. It went well. All of the questions I had were answered in the affirmative. There’s no contract on the table at the moment, that waits until Amy gets back from the Europe tour in May. But as far as the label is concerned, unless I say “no” at that point, we’re all set, and they are beginning work right now (since a lot of this involves different scheduling). The release date they’re shooting for is September 17.

Depending on how they think a release is going to do (and the ability of the artist to play out of town), they make their plans accordingly, and will make plans for a more local release or a larger release. The plan for me is a national release.

It’s okay, no one needs to tell me they could be full of crap. I understand that. I’m simplifying details a good bit. I am aware of different people on their roster, know their stories (good and bad), and am making my decisions accordingly. But this is pretty much a done deal, and I feel good about it. It’s not some magical career thing, but it puts me in a position I haven’t been before, and gives me a chance to use it.

Before I went to work Monday I had almost worked myself into being excited, and work managed to completely crush it out of me. Having this meeting in the middle of the week was a good thing, it may have saved me for the rest of my work week.