where I ’ m trying to figure some things out from my childhood and make amends and apologize , just trying to resolve things in my life and work through some long-standing issues . So it ’ s not really an uplifting moment in my life or a happy , content period – it ’ s more like a transitional period .
IE : I ’ ve done the math , but I ’ m not sure it adds up . Is your fabulous dog Charlie still with us ? JH : No . Charlie died in March . She had cancer , and it took her down really fast – it was awful
TOBIAS MUSIC
Guitar
Showcase 3.0
3 Great Shows - Tickets On Sale Now All Shows at 8pm - Doors Open 7pm
Friday September 29th
Alt-rocker brings his jazzy cabaret show back to Downers Grove
Michael Gurley
Founding member of alt-rock bands Butterfly Jones and dada , Michael Gurley returns to Tobias Music .
Saturday September 16th
Award winning Delta Blues Artist Catfish Keith
Cutting-edge blues singer , songwriter and bottleneck slide guitarist Catfish Keith has established himself as one of the most exciting country blues performers of our time . Catfish ’ s innovative style of foot-stomping , deep delta blues and American roots music has spellbound audiences the world over .
JH : Yeah . It was pretty daunting once I got into it . I was thinking a bit like , “ Oh no ! What have I done ?” Because what he did is so good that I couldn ’ t even compare to that , so I decided to just do my own thing . And I tried not to look up any of his studio techniques because I didn ’ t want to psych myself out . Well , I did a little bit , but I really preferred to be ignorant when I was in the middle of it because thinking about that would have just made me confused , so I chose to just trust my instincts . Otherwise , I would have gotten sidetracked by fear or doubt . So for me , I preferred to be a little bit blind or ignorant of the originals when I was working on my versions , or it just got too intimidating .
IE : So you had this to busy yourself with during the pandemic . But did you also find yourself writing any new material ? JH : A little bit , yeah . Just little bits and pieces of stuff , but not really putting anything together . So that ’ s what I ’ m trying to do now – I ’ m working on originals more , in a more focused way . So folks can look at ( the ELO album ) as a palate cleanser or maybe a brain cleanser . And next for me is , I ’ m going to put together a new album of originals , which I ’ m writing , and it ’ s not gonna be uplifting really because I am not in that kind of headspace . So I ’ m in a place and heartbreaking , really . She stopped eating , and she was a dog who would eat anything . And she was almost 14 , and it just broke my heart . So I ’ ve got to wait a while before I get another dog – I just want a little time to not have to take care of something every day . And I loved Charlie so much , but whenever I traveled , I had to figure out what I was gonna do with her , and I would always worry about her being stuck at home in a new place with somebody else . So I ’ m just gonna wait a little bit . And I also don ’ t wanna go shopping for a dog – I ’ m hoping that fate will just bring a stray to me or something like we ’ ll just meet somehow , and it ’ ll all work out .
Appearing October 7 at SPACE , Evanston .
Saturday October 21st
Acclaimed English Guitar Wizard Adrian Legg
“ There are guitarists , there are axe-wielding maniacs , and then there are wizards . He has enough technique to do just about anything he wants , but also the sensitivity to honour the contours of a melody .” – Philadelphia Inquirer
Tickets for Guitar Showcase 3.0 by Phone 630-960-2455
Contact us for more information .
Tobias Music 5013 Fairview Ave Downers Grove IL 60515 ( 630 ) 960-2455 TobiasMusic . com
september 2023 illinoisentertainer . com 23