Manchester Solo
I did my first ever solo show outside of the US last night.
What a great experience.
Meat Loaf decided that he wanted to go to London a day earlier than scheduled so he and the rest of the band departed Manchester in the early afternoon and I was left on my own to twiddle my thumbs for the better part of the day until it was time for me to go over to the Night & Day Cafe for my show.
Originally I thought there was only four acts on the bill. Turned out to be six. Part of an all Acoustic Night at the venue. I had wanted to do some sort of sound check before the evenings festivities started at 8PM but opted to stay in my room a little longer and try and finish up a new song I was working on. I needed a few more lyrics so I could at least play it somewhat finished and not 'la la la' my way through any wiggly bits.
I got to the club around 7:45. Way too early. All I could do was sit around in the backstage area and look at lyrics I was sure to forget once I started playing.
The first guy on was a delightful young Lad from Stockton, just down the road from Manchester. I met him later that night and gave him some words of encouragement for doing his own songs. He might not have been great but I gave him credit for getting up there and trying. Thats how it starts.
About this time, some of the other performers started showing up in the backstage area off the Girls WC. One of who was named Randy Russo! No relation to either Meat Loaf band member.
She was accompanied by some tosser in a fedora who, while tuning his interestingly uncommon Lap Steel Guitar (Hey I know what will separate me from the others, I'll play a LAP STEEL! Then I'll be really COOL), made some flip comment about me being "that Kasseem guy who plays with Meat Loaf?" I replied that yes, I was him and "my name is Kasim, pleased to meet you."
Tosser with Fedora and Lap Steel: "So... like, ummm, what do you do with Meat Loaf? Are you like ... in his band or something?"
Kasim: "Yeah, I'm his Bass Player and Musical Director"
Tosser: "So, your just a side man then?"
Kasim: "Well ... I don't ONLY play with Meat Loaf, I play with many other artists as well." Tosser: "Right, as a side man."
Kasim: "Nice hat Jerkoff, go upstairs and make a fool of yourself will ya?"
He was there with Ms. Russo who was very nice. That they were both New Yorkers was interesting. Even if I did want to strangle one of them.
Now that I had my dander up, I was ready to wait another hour and a half before I would go on stage.
Anyway ... to make a long story even LONGER, I got on stage and once again, all was right in the world. I was at home. Well, not really home, but it felt good.
Thank you to all who came out in support of my first UK solo show. Thanks to Jay at Night & Day for allowing me a slot at the last moment and with any luck at all, I'll be back this way again in the not too distant future for a more extended run of these kind of shows.
I'll be posting some pictures taken over the last few days for you so, check back soon.
Kasim
What a great experience.
Meat Loaf decided that he wanted to go to London a day earlier than scheduled so he and the rest of the band departed Manchester in the early afternoon and I was left on my own to twiddle my thumbs for the better part of the day until it was time for me to go over to the Night & Day Cafe for my show.
Originally I thought there was only four acts on the bill. Turned out to be six. Part of an all Acoustic Night at the venue. I had wanted to do some sort of sound check before the evenings festivities started at 8PM but opted to stay in my room a little longer and try and finish up a new song I was working on. I needed a few more lyrics so I could at least play it somewhat finished and not 'la la la' my way through any wiggly bits.
I got to the club around 7:45. Way too early. All I could do was sit around in the backstage area and look at lyrics I was sure to forget once I started playing.
The first guy on was a delightful young Lad from Stockton, just down the road from Manchester. I met him later that night and gave him some words of encouragement for doing his own songs. He might not have been great but I gave him credit for getting up there and trying. Thats how it starts.
About this time, some of the other performers started showing up in the backstage area off the Girls WC. One of who was named Randy Russo! No relation to either Meat Loaf band member.
She was accompanied by some tosser in a fedora who, while tuning his interestingly uncommon Lap Steel Guitar (Hey I know what will separate me from the others, I'll play a LAP STEEL! Then I'll be really COOL), made some flip comment about me being "that Kasseem guy who plays with Meat Loaf?" I replied that yes, I was him and "my name is Kasim, pleased to meet you."
Tosser with Fedora and Lap Steel: "So... like, ummm, what do you do with Meat Loaf? Are you like ... in his band or something?"
Kasim: "Yeah, I'm his Bass Player and Musical Director"
Tosser: "So, your just a side man then?"
Kasim: "Well ... I don't ONLY play with Meat Loaf, I play with many other artists as well." Tosser: "Right, as a side man."
Kasim: "Nice hat Jerkoff, go upstairs and make a fool of yourself will ya?"
He was there with Ms. Russo who was very nice. That they were both New Yorkers was interesting. Even if I did want to strangle one of them.
Now that I had my dander up, I was ready to wait another hour and a half before I would go on stage.
Anyway ... to make a long story even LONGER, I got on stage and once again, all was right in the world. I was at home. Well, not really home, but it felt good.
Thank you to all who came out in support of my first UK solo show. Thanks to Jay at Night & Day for allowing me a slot at the last moment and with any luck at all, I'll be back this way again in the not too distant future for a more extended run of these kind of shows.
I'll be posting some pictures taken over the last few days for you so, check back soon.
Kasim
posted by Kasim Sulton at 2:00 AM
13 Comments:
Hi Kasim,
Lap steel - ACKK ACKK...Glad to hear that your show went well. Hope you get to do solo shows in the US some day soon!
Hi Kas :-)
Micheal was indeed very brave to get up there! He was definitely different. The other acts all blurred into one after that. Until you came on of course :-D
The show really was truly amazing. Even better than I could ever of imagined. You so have to come back and do some more here!
Loved "Listen to the pouring rain" An excellent verison lol. Also the short version of Bully! Only fault was the show wasn't long enough! Maybe next time they could scrap all the other bands and let you play all night :-D
Thanx for a truly wonderful night.
Deb
Thanks Deb,
You helped make it very special for me!
K
I couldn't add any more comments, as Deb has said everything :-)
Thank you very much for that great show! It was really worth the flight to Manchester!!!
Yvonne
I'll bet it was a great show !!!
I recall your solo performance in Los Angeles back in 1980. Seems like yesterday. I will always rememeber your version of Expressway To Your Love.
Didn't have much respect for that song until I heard you do it.
I recently aquired a turntable and have been enjoying your first solo album. That is lots of fun. The songs sound great and timeless.
So is there going to be a
re-release of that on CD,perhaps with the new label? BTW please tell VH1 staff that it's Sulton not Sultan for their version of your webpage. I'm sure it's tough enough trying to get them to say your first name right. I know my son has a hell of a time. But he has adapted.
Yes, come back to the States soon.
"Nice hat Jerkoff, go upstairs and make a fool of yourself will ya?"
Bah-Hahahaha!!!!!
Great show!
I really enjoyed the entire set! I really enjoyed Sometimes Love Is A Dangerous Thing! I had not (I don't recall) heard it before (though maybe). Only wish there was more time to do a few more songs!
Thanks for coming down and saying hi to us all afterwards, nice to meet you again - this time with a Camera (admittedly the batteries were flat, but I had a camera all the same - a step in the right direction!)
Thanks for a great show, a great personal show too!
Alex
(short ginger-haired guy)
Ok - those of you at the show (are you familiar enough with Kasim's work?) can you identify the "new song"? I have been waiting and waiting...to hear even a glimpse of a new song. I tried to get Kasim to give me the beat by patting it out on his legs and hum - but to no avail. I know I am hopeless.
So give me some insight into the style-sound-something?anything?
Kasim - a solo gig in the UK was cruel and unusual punishment - play in the US and we will be there!!
janet
Was a great solo gig at Manchester, thanks very much for remembering us in the UK, we have never had it so good here what with 2 Todd tours & now Kasim in 1 year.
Hope this is the first of many more solo gigs, with hopefully a London gig as there was quite a few fans who couldn't make the trip to Manchester
Hi, Kasim
Manchester... I wish I could be in there!
It must be so nice fans could enjoy only your play & singing. And, hope you feel great !!
Hope you'll play solo in other countries some day ... of couse, Japan, too !
Yumi
Hi Kasim,
I couldn't go to Manchester gig,what a disappointment! (A bit sorry for myself.) I couldn't take any more time off work....but sounds like you had a such great show.
I'll see you on Sunday at Chatsworth House and I'm really looking foward to seeing you.
Saeko
Hi Kasim,
Thankyou for the awesome show in Manchester!! and also many thanks for accepting my demo cd and being so gracious meeting us all after the show!..
I look forward to seeing more solo shows in the uk soon!! (let me know if you need some help with Midlands venues!!)
Graham
grahamclews.com
Manchester Solo... I've enjoyed reading your blog. I was searching for work at home opportunity in the uk sites. I have a home based business and I wanted some ideas and tips. I also have a blog, it is www.adminsupervisor.blogspot.com it’s new and it’s getting better all the time. Have a look if you want, but I'm moving house and have not posted in a while. I'll get back to it soon.
My other site is a work at home opportunity in the uk site. I recently decided to build my own income and I thought I searching for tips would help me become a better mentor.
Keep up the great work Kasim Sulton, I'll be back soon.
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