Lutz City of Templemore (05.01.19)

It seems that each time I perform at Lutz City of Templemore, it's on a stage I'd never seen before, and it's always amazing. Photo by Trouble Streeter.

My first show in the month of May was held on May 1, at perhaps the most beautiful and inspiring place in all of Second Life, which is at Lutz City of Templemore. Before I tell you more about that, let's talk about the date itself.

International Workers Day (aka May Day)
One thing I should mention before delving into this topic: I am not a Communist. Reading back that sentence just made me feel like I've been transported back to the 1950s and am testifying before a congressional committee. But it's true. While I am a left-leaning liberal who believes in certain aspects of socialism, at the end of the day I'm just another asshole capitalist like most other Americans. That having been said, the concept of worker's right are, to me, a very important aspect of human rights. A few simple ideas that we completely take for granted -- things like having weekends off work, or limiting the typical work day to eight hours, or not allowing young children to work -- only happened as the result of labor unions forcing these issues. It's impossible to argue that these concepts have not been to the benefit of humanity, and have spread from the USA to many countries around the world. You'd better believe that I support these rights and restrictions on how companies would otherwise treat their employees.

The Actual May Day (aka Beltane, Kevadpüha, Vappu, Calendimaggio, and Many Other Names)
Going back to antiquity, May 1 has been celebrated as a springtime holiday in many countries and cultures around the world. Oddly enough, much like the USA doesn't use May 1 as its Labor Day (which is instead the first Monday in September), we also don't have any specific celebration of May Day here either. This is a celebration of springtime itself. It's slightly different from place to place, but the event itself is generally pagan in origin. And really, what a great date to express the enjoyment of nature itself here in the northern hemisphere! The start of May often has lovely weather. It just feels like a good time of year to be alive... and speaking of life, in most places, there are all the signs of renewal and rebirth that remind people how life continues on. I can imagine that the people of ancient cultures were given hope and optimism each time they saw the new flowers blooming, the birds hatching in their nests, and the overall idea that things will be okay. I can fully get behind this kind of celebration.

Getting Back to Templemore
So, it was May 1, spring was in the air, and I had a show to do, and I was happy about it. As I mentioned not long ago, after a dearth of shows toward the start of the year due to time conflicts and other issues, it's been kind of cool to be back on what is for me a heavy schedule of live music performances. I wouldn't want to do that all the time, nor would my schedule and time demands allow it. But I've done three shows in the past five days, and it's felt really good to explore different areas of my musical material at each event.

Templemore has been around for awhile, but in several different incarnations. The current one -- and probably my favorite -- is called Lutz City of Templemore. The sim's main designer Luis Lockjaw, a guy who I definitely consider a friend, named the place after Garrett Lutz, who was a regular part of the Templemore community before his passing at a regrettably young age due to ALS. Garrett had expressed to me his respect for my covering the band Sun Kil Moon, so I make it a point to do more of those covers each time I play there in tribute to him. Also, it's really appropriate music for the vibe of the place, which is why I'd been playing that music there in the first place.

People enjoying (hopefully) my set of indie/art music at Templemore. Photo by Triana Caldera.

My view from the stage. Photo by Trouble Streeter.

Me, in pixel form, playing tunes at Templemore. Photo by Triana Caldera.

The beauty of Luis's designs at Templemore cannot be overstated. Photo by Triana Caldera.

When I play Templemore, I put together a set list that's very different from most of my shows. You'll find little in terms of comfortable and familiar material. I tend not to play songs there that most people know, which is risky as a performer. But really, it's one of those situations that I know what's right for the place, and I can only hope that some of the people who show up for my shows there can appreciate and enjoy what they're hearing, even if they've never heard it before. One exception, as shown in my set list below: if I have a song I've never done before by an interesting artist whose vibe fits the feeling of Templemore, I'll happily do that there. Hello, Bowie.

One more note about this venue... it's not "a" venue. It's a full sim that is continually added to and modified. It's very common for me to show up for a gig there and find myself at a stage I've never seen before, and each time there's something incredibly cool in its unique detail. My May 1 show was in an outdoor setting, standing on a small stage set up in an overgrown clearing with decaying bleachers forming the backdrop. Like all of Luis's builds, it blew me away from the moment I arrived.

Lutz City of Templemore set list...
Among the Leaves (Sun Kil Moon)
Loading Zones (Kurt Vile)
Things Behind the Sun (Nick Drake)
Don’t Let It Pass (Junip)
We’re Your Friends, Man (The Bevis Frond)
Falling Down (Zak Claxton)
So. Central Rain (R.E.M.)
*Moonage Daydream (David Bowie)
Lost Cause (Beck)
Half Moon Bay (Sun Kil Moon)
Wildflowers (Tom Petty)
Big Yellow Taxi (Joni Mitchell)
How Soon Is Now? (The Smiths)

*Indicates the first time I've performed this song in SL.

Big thanks to all who came out to hear me rumble the Templemore stage, with special thanks to the following who helped support the show!
Tyche Szondi, Diana Renoir, Rusty Seisenbacher, Triana Caldera, KaraMariah Resident, Trouble Streeter, my lovely manager Maali Beck, and Templemore's team of Bee Blackrain, LaurieC Resident, and the amazing Luis Lockjaw!