Gigs, Work and it's Evolutionary Path

Last year I was gigging my ass off.
Beginning around January I started playing at two places in Pomona on an almost weekly basis. I made some friends, expanded my musical repertoire and had a load of fun.

Somewhere along the line I decided that I needed to find the next level in the journey. Actually, it was when I went to see Beppe Gambetta in the basement of a guitar ship in Covina called The FretHouse.
I saw what I wanted. And a way to achieve it. Solo playing, or at most a duet.
Work. Travel/tour. A nice living as well. In some cases, a very nice living, indeed.

When I was a kid I remember having conversation about our musical souls...would we dress in makeup ala Kiss? Ask me again...please.
My musical soul has encompassed anything that has allowed me to to play in front of people.
Not that I consider playing for an audience to be "selling out."
There are a few musical genres that do not interest me whatsoever. However I would think long and hard before turning down a gig with Kanye West or Lady Gaga.

But to play my souls desire, in front of people in the way I want to deliver it - that would be a wondrous gift indeed.Playing on a weekly basis in little backwater dives was step one. This'll be a firm step two.

Many of my compositions have been fusion pieces. Not for lyrics.
So for the last few months I have been testing two paths. Lyrical pop music...easy, simply orchestrated  pop tunes. The other has been a trek back to roots, so to speak.
Phil Cohen introduced me to the blues in 1970, on a Gibson acoustic guitar.
So I have been listening to the usual assortments of classics, trying to recapture what Phil had in one short weekend showed to me.

John Lee Hooker and Chicago blues, Muddy Waters for the Delta.
It was a brand you could achieve with a guitar slung across your back ala Johnny Guitar.

Room 5 Lounge and FretHouse would be two easy and logical places to begin.
Time to try a new thang.