This sort of tour had never been
attempted before by a pop music artist who had
achieved some level of national recognition, and
I was told by many of my cynical associates within
the music industry that my idea and tour itself
would fail.
THEY WERE WRONG! Now many other
musical artists are doing Living Room Concerts.
And I am proud to have played some small part
in breaking new ground... In any event...IT'S
TIME TO HIT THE ROAD AGAIN.
I've decided to resume/continue
the House Concert concept on a more or less regular
basis, doing shows primarily on weekends when
it's much easier for working folks to promote
these intimate concerts in their own homes. Weeknights
just don't seem to work as well as weekends for
a concert as everyone's got to get up early the
next morning to go to work! I find that after
being part of a Living Room Concert experience,
most music lovers tend to prefer these sort of
personalized shows, and in fact, actually enjoy
them more than most concerts they attend that
are held within the strict and often "uptight"
confines of the "typical" nightclub
or concert venue...These shows are loose, and
fun, and very memorable...especially for ME!
I do solo acoustic concerts that
last nearly three hours and they are "request
only" sets. The audience calls out the songs
and I do my best to entertain them... I am honored
and grateful to have become close friends with
most of the good people who have sponsored these
concerts, and these warm friendships have brought
great joy into my life.
Testimonials
Knoxville, Tennessee
I think the most powerful thing about the living
room venue, was the bravery Pat displayed in shedding
the elevated stage, wall of blinding lights (if
you have ever been on stage, the lights create
a glare that usually renders the audience invisible),
and security of immense sound systems and a backing
band. Alone with an acoustic guitar surrounded
by couches and chairs, Pat had nothing to suport
him except his considerable talent. When his sets
came to an end, he was instantly accessible and
just another aging adult comparing stories about
family life and dealing with an evolving pop culture.
I seriously doubt many accomplished performers
have the self-assurance to deal with people on
that kind of level. - Chuck Thomas
Neptune, New Jersey
When my wife Linda and I bought and moved into
our new home a few months ago, our imaginations
did not allow us to fully envision what actually
occurred here last Saturday night. We always knew
we wanted to do something special; something out
of the ordinary for our "housewarming"
party. We knew any housewarming had to include
three basic things: our closest friends, great
music, and good food. Our learning about Pat`s
"Living Room Tour" happened to coincide
with the planning of this party. We felt that
hosting one of these shows might be just the thing
to do to really warm our house and sort of give
a "present" to our friends that they
would never forget. Well, as it turned out, we
were all treated to an experience that surpassed
our expectations. When Pat broke into "Only
A Memory" to start things off, we knew we
were in the midst of something very special. Everyone
in the room sang the chorus with Pat. It almost
sounded "hymn-like." It was great. Now
we have always been big fans of The Smithereens;
particularly of Pat`s writing and the group's
pure rock `n roll sound and obvious influences.
Hearing Pat sing and play these songs on his acoustic
in their barest and most honest form however,
took them to another level. Out of the many highlights,
that included our friend Joe playing guitar along
with Pat on (a very bluesy) "The Blues Before
and After," "Blood and Roses,"
and "A Girl Like You;" one particular
moment stood out above the rest. We anticipate
hosting Pat again sometime along the way. We hope
he continues his "Living Room" tour
for years to come. We thank you Pat, our friend.
- Linda and Ralph
Knoxville, Tennessee
The thing I thought was really cool is the instant
transformation he would undergo the moment he
opened his mouth and sang. Perhaps this happened
only in my head, or perhaps it is a blend of reality
and my head, but I was amazed by how his voice
shifted into "smithereens mode." If
your eyes would have been closed, you would have
thought it was 2 different people. Way cool. He
has cultivated a vocal style that is his own and
he has control of it (even with a cold, for crying
out loud). He brought back some cool memories
for me and I had no idea I knew 75% of their stuff
just from KROQ airplay! Sheet bruda, dat was coo.
- Scott Spaid
Austin, Texas
Hey Pat. I have been meaning to drop you a line
and tell you how great your show was at the Cactus
Cafe in Austin a few weeks ago. You have one of
the most unique voices in music and your songs
are timeless. Thanks for coming down. - Todd