I believe that good things are coming…and here they are! Check out this recording of Graham Good at Beanstalk Music Festival!
When the universe tossed some lemons at Beanstalk, in the form of a COVID-19-related cancellation by Platform Stage performers High Country Hustle, Beanstalk said, “hold my Whiteclaw” and made acoustic lemonade by asking a current staffer and singer-songwriter, Graham Good, to step-in. Outfitted in a decoratively woven vest and women’s basketball shorts, Graham Good stepped up.
Graham performed two sets chocked full of mostly original songs. His songs radiate positivity, based on themes about believing in one’s self, the power of positive thinking, and a general reverence and curiosity about the human experience that is heartfully endearing. Songs like “Break Free”, which explores an existential crisis about a dead-end job, or “When I Get There”, which speaks of self-discovery through a transformative experience, all convey dutiful tributes to an artist humbly trying to understand what life is all about, coming across as inspiring and introspective without a hint of pretension. Even a song, like “Bullshit”, that at face value would seem negative, is still about the power of music and how it can help you tune out the noise of life. At its core, Graham’s music is very transparent in the kindest of ways; it’s all about positivity.
The set also treated the crowd to some solid covers. The first set contained a take on The Lumineers’ “Ain’t Nobody’s Problem” and the Eagles’ classic “Take It Easy”, while the second set contained a couple of interesting medleys. The first was in Graham’s original, “Believe In Me”, and featured a nod to the jam-funk world with a segment of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong’s “Poseidon” snuggled up next to a portion of Sheryl Crow’s early aughts hit, “Soak Up The Sun” – a parallel of songs about water and sun, fitting for the weather that weekend. The second was during a take on Tom Petty’s “You Don’t Know How It Feels”, featuring Magic Beans front man, Scott Hachey, on guitar. This medley featured a random spattering of pop classics, like Sugar Ray’s “Fly”, “The Joker” by Steve Miller Band, and “Aw Skeet Skeet” by Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz, to name a few, delivering on a final throwback before ending things.
Graham Good possess one of the most important aspects of a solid singer-songwriter: authenticity. He wears his heart on his sleeve, and you can hear it beat with every strummed chord and belted lyric. His voice is powerful, and his music is memorable. But the artist being a veritable troubadour is what touches the listeners’ souls and makes them believe in what the artist is saying, and lucky for us, Graham tells us “good things are coming.” I believe him.
Graham Good | 2022-06-24 | Beanstalk Music & Mountains Festival at Rancho Del Rio, Bond, CO
-= Set 1 =-
01. //Older Brother
02. Ain’t Nobody’s Problem (The Lumineers cover)
03. Get After Life
04. Livin’
05. Looking Forward
06. Break Through
07. The Moment
08. Take It Easy (The Eagles cover)
09. Mariah
10. Slumber
11. Grow
-= Set 2 =-
12. New Friends
13. Break Free
14. When I Get There
15. Believe In Me[1]
16. Down To The River
17. Bullshit[2]
18. I Know I Don’t Know
19. Buckle Up
20. End All Be All
21. Good Things
22. One Foot Out The Door
23. (Scott Hachey Setup Break)
24. You Don’t Know How It Feels (Tom Petty cover)[3]
Show Notes: These sets were performed on the second day of the Beanstalk Music and Mountains Festival. This was the festival’s ten year anniversary. These sets were performed on the Platform Stage. High Country Hustle was originally scheduled for both of these times but had to cancel at the last minute due to a COVID-19 related sickness. As a result, Graham was asked to fill in for both sets.
[1] “Believe In Me” contained a portions of “Poseidon” (Pigeons Playing Ping Pong) and “Soak Up The Sun” (Sheryl Crow)
[2] “Bullshit” contained a chorus of “You Got It” (Roy Orbison).
[3] “You Don’t Know How It Feels” contained “Fly” (Sugar Ray), “The Joker” (Steve Miller Band), “Shook Me All Night Long” (AC/DC), “Aww Skeet Skeet” (Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz), “Apple Bottom Jeans” (T-Pain), and “Starry Eyed Surprise (Dance All Night To This DJ)” (Paul Oakenfold) quotes.
Taper Notes: Mics setup on-stage DIN formation around 3′ DFC. Board patch & mix thanks to FOH Engineer Trea.
Thank you to Graham Good and Beanstalk Music Festival for being cool with taping/sharing shows. Go see live music and support your local musicians! #spacetapes
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