The Goalpost.

I'm practicing my ROCKING OUT. I've sung jazz, cabaret, blues, bossa nova, country, hip hop, trip hop, gospel, jump blues, and soul. But not much flat-out, balls-to-the-wall ROCK. And karaoke doesn't count.

I'm absolutely convinced I can do it. So... now I gotta do it.

The first song out of the gate for Shine is Show on Broadway / How We Do It Downtown. The "Show on Broadway" part is syrupy sweet, legit Broadway singing - Sweet! Except that's not my part. That's sung by a character named Violet.  Shine's job is to come in, absolutely roaring drunk, and lay down a screaming hot rock vocal before she passes out flat on her face.

I've done this show several times, and never quite achieved that alcoholic-with-her-finger-in-a-light-socket, full-tilt-boogie, Janis-meets-Tank-Girl electric boogaloo slide that the song needs.

Here's a sample:  It was recorded in 2009, after completing the first run of SHINE at the Waterfront Theatre.  This track was recorded as a demo, and not really intended for public consumption. Think of it as rehearsal:  http://soundcloud.com/cassking/broadway-downtown-2008

Recently, our producer friend Walter Winston O'Neill (himself an amazing vocalist) had one of his friends (I'll get her name, I promise!) record a version of "Downtown" that blew me away and also scared the shit out of me. Here it is:   http://soundcloud.com/cassking/broadway-downtown

Again, a demo track and not for public consumption but HOLY SHIT. Listen to her go! Whatcha got there is a real live New York rock singer! I throw the horns at your rock mastery, sister!

I don't want to sing this song like her, but I've been given a challenge:   *emulate* what this singer is doing.  So: first emulate, get strong, try on different styles, find my own interpretation. That's what I'm planning on doing with this blog.

Here's me, taking a shot at EMULATE:  http://soundcloud.com/cassking/downtown-aug711

I absolutely can't describe the discomfort I feel in posting this, (Hello Humility! Welcome!) Y'all know, like any other performer, how much I like to look AWESOME. Well, this take is not that.  In a nutshell: I'm trying too hard.

The thing that IS awesome, the thing I am proud of, is doing it.  I am here. The goalpost is there.  Go.