Tim Stopulos

Uptown on May Day was one of those nights that just worked. It had plenty going against it - late on a Thursday night, storms brewing, sparse crowd, etc. As I'm sure I've mentioned in the past, for any show to be great, there has to be an energy in both the performer and audience, the whole of which is greater than the sum of the separate parts. As the performer on this night, I can tell you that, before the show, I wasn't fully prepared to live up to my side of the bargain. After sizing up the crowd, I figured they probably weren't up for bringing much to the table either. And again, a storm was a brewing. Ominous signs.

However, for whatever reasons, it clicked. I'm going to go ahead and give myself some credit, because nobody was feeling it at the beginning, but I just really wanted to play. So, contrary to what I had predicted, I wasn't holding anything back. And the fine folks at Uptown didn't seem all too interested at first. But as the night wore on, I think I started chipping at the audience's collective shell. By the second set, I was having a blast, and usually, that rubs off on the people watching. I can't speak for the crowd, but as for myself, this show far exceeded the expectations I had subconsciously harbored. Thanks to everyone who came - especially those who could stick around til the end!

Highlights.
1) Mario (people cannot get enough of that, it seems)
2) Normal (new original)
3) Too Close
4) Watchtower
5) Paul Simon Medley (only slightly premeditated)