all About the music
Live Shows
What Kind of Music is it?
What Kind of Music is it?
I've been playing live for 40+ years. These days there are 3 options: ...Acoustic: Just myself and my guitar......Acoustic Duo: the same but with my playing partner Mark Thacker...and what I do most often these days, One Man Band (see the video at the top this page) which is playing guitar and singing to over 1000 professional backing tra
I've been playing live for 40+ years. These days there are 3 options: ...Acoustic: Just myself and my guitar......Acoustic Duo: the same but with my playing partner Mark Thacker...and what I do most often these days, One Man Band (see the video at the top this page) which is playing guitar and singing to over 1000 professional backing tracks. The last option gives you the sound of a full band for the price of just one entertainer. And since everything has a beat, it's great for dancing and partying as well as just listening. I pride myself in playing what a given audience wants to hear at any given show, rather than playing off a locked in set list.
What Kind of Music is it?
What Kind of Music is it?
What Kind of Music is it?
I initially grew up listening to the music of the 1960's, which was a time when you could hear a broad mix of genres on the radio....often on the same station! The "hits" of that decade were a diverse blend of rock, folk and folk rock, country, pop, Motown, standards by the crooners, singer-songwriters and Gospel. All of those varied ge
I initially grew up listening to the music of the 1960's, which was a time when you could hear a broad mix of genres on the radio....often on the same station! The "hits" of that decade were a diverse blend of rock, folk and folk rock, country, pop, Motown, standards by the crooners, singer-songwriters and Gospel. All of those varied genres influenced me over the ensuing decades, and in my live show today I play a mix of all those genres (really!) spanning over six decades: from the 60's all the way up to recent hits! I'm also a songwriter and have written or cowritten more than 50 songs. My albums include this broad mix of music as well.
Recordings
What Kind of Music is it?
Recordings
I was blessed to work at Sweetwater for 17 years and record a number of albums while there with some truly amazing musicians. A number of these are available for download or streaming on sites like Apple Music, Amazon Music and Spotify. There are quite a few solo albums, as well as three with my partner Mark Thacker. I now have my own
I was blessed to work at Sweetwater for 17 years and record a number of albums while there with some truly amazing musicians. A number of these are available for download or streaming on sites like Apple Music, Amazon Music and Spotify. There are quite a few solo albums, as well as three with my partner Mark Thacker. I now have my own studio and continue to release albums. See my newest, Folk 22.....and watch for The Great Road, coming late spring of 2023 with a blend of brand new recordings along with remixed tracks from earlier projects not currently available for streaming. Want a CD? Contact me at jeffmcdonaldmusic@gmail.com
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A LIVE GIG
What Artists and/or Songwriters are you likely to hear in a three hour show?
I have over a thousand professional and unique backing tracks (check out the promo video at the top of this webpage to get an idea) so the list is extremely varied. But on any given night, you are likely to hear a tune or two from any or all of this extensive and diverse group of artists and writers: Elvis, Johnny Cash, The Beatles, Gordon Lightfoot, John Prine, John Stewart, John Fogerty/CCR, Hank Williams, The Temptations, Frank Sinatra, Patsy Cline, The Four Tops, Jimmy Buffett, Bobby Darin, Van Morrison, Kris Kristofferson, Randy Travis, Don McLean, Jimmy Webb, Glen Campbell, Smokey Robinson, Billy Joel, The Rolling Stones, Jim Croce, CSNY, Steve Goodman, James House, Danny Flowers, JJ Cale, Woody Guthrie, Arlo Guthrie, Marc Cohn, Otis Redding, Alan Jackson, Michael Jackson, The Eagles, Linda Ronstadt ...... and that's just a very partial list.
The point is it's a huge variety of genres and music and there's something there for everyone.
How about the sound at the show?
Having worked at Sweetwater for nearly two decades, as you'd expect I have an outstanding pro sound system, microphones, and a number of unique and great sounding Martin guitars.
I also use a TC Helicon harmonizer which somehow magically allows me to create live back up harmony vocals in real time! So when you add the harmony, the pro backing tracks, and live guitar and lead vocal, your venue or party truly gets the sound of a full band for the price of just one entertainer. Pretty good deal, right!!
Do I take a lot of breaks?
In an emphatic word: NO!! I'm doing this because I love it and want to really engage the audience in a fun and fulfilling evening of entertainment. Taking a bunch of 15 or 20 minutes breaks over the course of the gig kills the momentum I'm trying to build, so most nights I either play straight through or only take one five minute bathroom break. Bottom line: I'm a hard worker who wants to please the audience and the person who booked me.
First booking discount and partial Money Back Guarantee (really)
The first time I play a venue I offer a 20% discount to minimize the risk for you of booking someone who hasn't played your venue before. And, if you are not satisfied with the job I do that first gig, I'll drop the rate for that show an additional 20%. I want you to take a chance on me and am confident you'll be pleased. (Note: This does not apply to Private parties.)
