“YOUR FIRST DRUG” LIVE AUG. 25 SULLEN ACOUSTIC
“YOUR FIRST DRUG” LIVE AUG. 25 SULLEN ACOUSTIC
September 2, 2011Mp3 file
DAVE CAHILL – “YOUR FIRST DRUG” (SULLEN)
Live August 25, 2011 at Pearly Baker’s in Easton, PA
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When I was about 18 years old, I began performing solo acoustic shows anywhere I could. Back then I did not sing, and to be honest, singing always scared the mixolydian out of me. After a few years of playing live shows as a solo musician, I began to develop a unique style that continues to evolve to this day. I performed for people from all walks of life. From enthusiastic dive-bar drunkards, spitting with excitement, exclaiming that they love what I do, and belligerently asking me to have a beer with them, to wealthy have-it-alls telling me all about their “connected” uncle who would get me a record deal with one phone call. Every show had its characters. There is quite a varying assortment of human beings on this planet, each with a complex array of thoughts, feelings and personality traits. I feel very fortunate to have met so many great people through performing live, encountering each other in some of the most bizarre circumstances imaginable. Regardless, I continued to perform my solo act and eventually began singing in 2008. I will admit, I was pretty terrible at first. I had no formal training or ever tried doing any sort of proper vocal muscle exercise in my life. I did not have a clue as to how to sing, or what to do, and still don’t to this day. I just knew that I could write a great song, and that I had more than enough to say about this world and my place in it. I could feel my fingers twitching with excitement, anticipating the inevitable beginning of a new chapter in my life and in the songs I write.
Fast forward to today and I still perform my solo act, although nowadays I spend most of my musical time with my band, THE ALMIGHTY TERRIBLES. I only perform solo occasionally, but you can always catch me performing solo at least once a month at Pearly Baker’s Alehouse in Easton, PA. This recording of “YOUR FIRST DRUG” is from my most recent performance at Pearly’s on August 25, 2011.
I thought this night was interesting, although I do admit, the lack of enthusiasm from the crowd made me worry a bit. I was very excited for the show leading up to the moment I began playing, but I was extremely exhausted from the amount time and energy I spent that week at my day job. The crowd was a little loud, and not too many seemed to be paying attention to what I was doing or saying, except of course for some of the die hard friends who come out to almost every show. These friends always know how to make me feel like the songs are the only thing that matters at that time. Makes me feel a little less marooned standing up on stage, alone, with my guitar and numerous, malfunctioning foot pedals. The great friends that constantly come out are by far the best part about performing. No words can describe the feeling I get when I hear some of them singing along to word I wrote. It is really a special feeling. I also appreciate how they enjoy the songs enough to come out to dozens and dozens of live shows. It is for that reason that I try and mix things up constantly on stage by implementing improvisation and spur of the moment guitar trickery. What can I say? It’s fun.
Anyway, for whatever reason that evening, I decided to perform “YOUR FIRST DRUG” at half the tempo that I usually play it at. I never tried playing it that way before, but as soon as I hit the first few notes I was immediately entangled by a deep connection to the song and the very moment at hand. It was like a dark, subtle fog that blanketed 
the room, and all I could see in front of me was waves of murky clouds, tumbling one after another in front of me. They enchanted me with their transparent, querulous dance. When I opened my eyes, a strange, geometric pattern of dark purple puzzle pieces made of light utterly engulfed my vision as I strummed the last note, and sang the final three words of the song. Something strange and mysterious happened during those eight and a half minutes, sadly, I don’t even think anyone else in the room had any idea about what had just happened. At least it was recorded, I hope you enjoy it.
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