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| Anna Johnson, Live From the Living Room |
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| Written by John Abbott | |||
| Monday, 23 March 2009 07:05 | |||
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Anna Johnson recorded her new CD in front of a live audience Saturday night. I was lucky enough to score an invitation to the live recording session of, Anna Johnson Live from The Living Room at the Living Room Coffeehouse in Eau Claire. It was a wonderful experience and I have to thank Anna for inviting me, even after my lackluster previous review. I was able to see her in a new light, and I thank her also for that opportunity.
Stepping into the Living Room at 6:30pm for the 7pm start of the recording session was stepping into a packed house. Standing room only. The crowd was a mix of proud parents and siblings, friends, fans and coffeeshop regulars who have known Anna for years. Smiling as big as anyone was the owner of the Living Room, who had years ago given Anna some of her inital bookings.
I also wasn't sure just how sticky Anna and company would be on recording devices. I was loaded for bear for the experience. Sticky or not, I had every intention of recording the event. It was very cool to be there! As it turned out, had I left cameras and video recorders home, I would have been in the minority. It seemed like everyone was snapping pictures and the singers must have been nearly blinded by the paparazzi effect by the end of the evening.
Anna, though she confessed to nervousness, seemed outwardly calm. Her music was relaxed and easy. The sound quality was perfect. In front of a larger group of musicians than I had previously seen her, Anna's voice and lyrics were strong and distinctive. All in all, I got much more than I expected. As I had mentioned in my previous review , my complaint was Anna's conservative playing style. I was, in some ways, not looking forward to the live recording because I was afraid this effect would be compounded. I mean think about it, the worry of screwing up in front of not just your audience but in the recorded posterity for all time! As it turned out, this worry was totally unfounded. Who knows, maybe it was my ill gotten perception the first time. At any rate, I was not dissapointed.
Anna is a singer of melancholy songs. It's not all sadness, she has others, like her song of two old people living and loving in an old house. These happy nuggets are fun, well performed, and don't hesitate to bring a smile. But, it isn't until she gets to her songs of love lost, heartache and deep killing sadness that her voice, her heart, and it seems like her entire body and soul are exposed and
I am really looking forward to this new CD being available for purchase. Between taking pictures and shooting videos, I had a tough time concentrating on the music. And it did deserve my concentration. Anna talked with the audience and introduced each song. It should be interesting as well just how much is left in and how much is cut out. Will it really be a live, from beginning to end performance? There was one amusing point where Anna introduced one song, while beginning to plan another, much to the confusion and amusement of the rest of the band. She recovered gallantly and went on to play the correct song beautifully. So will this mistake make the final cut? Or, was it just an easter-egg of laughter for those lucky enough to have been there?
Sorry about the camera shake. The session started at 7pm and I hadn't had time to eat supper. When we got there, the coffee smelled so good I couldn't help myself. I had, what turned out to be, a fantastic cup of coffee (and made me long for an actual coffeeshop in Chippewa Falls). But, the caffeine seemed to boost immediately into my system. Combined with the lack of food, image quality suffered.
Anna Johnson is a student of music and performing arts at McNally Smith College in Minneapolis. She will next be playing in the area at Fischers on the Green in Altoona Wisconsin, on April 1st (birthday of Freak & Geek Chapter President, Joanna Dane) at 6pm. Visit her mspace page (http://www.myspace.com/annajohnsonmusic) for complete schedule.
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| Last Updated on Wednesday, 19 May 2010 21:07 |
I had never been to a live recording session. I had no idea what to expect. I didn't know if we, the audience were going to be silent witnesses, applauding enthusiastically only when our cue cards came up. Or, if we would be thrown out for sneezing. But, really wasn't like that. Instead, it was very relaxed time. Even to the point that audience sing along was encouraged. Though, I think most of the audience was too shy for any of that.
put out on the line. It is there the audience can feel the pain, come through it, and be happy for the experience.
