I first met Doug Shaw on May 13, 2022, when he played Tubby’s on a bill with Prison and Weak Signal. It takes something special to play solo, introspective acoustic guitar music in a room full of people there to see massive, overdriven, electric guitar music from the likes of Paul Major and Mike Bones. But that’s what this set was, captivating and transporting. He came up to me after the show and asked about getting a copy of the recording. He said he had felt really good on stage and was really happy with the performance, and that he might want to do something with it, so I gave him my email address and never heard from him again.
Eight months later, Doug was back at Tubby’s. This time, he was opening for Garcia Peoples. Tom introduced us, and he immediately started talking about the recording from back in May, and I promised to reach out to him again. From that point on, for the rest of the night, Doug was basically my best friend. It was like we had spent decades hanging out in bars and venues together.
After the show, I gave him my cell phone number. I had a feeling email wasn’t present enough for him, and that the immediacy of text might be more effective. And for the next four months, we exchanged texts – a lot of texts. They were alternatively hilarious, sweet, and frustrating. He was hesitant about releasing it for reasons I didn’t fully understand. I had mixed the set back in May and found it incredibly powerful. There were vague concerns about the amount of reverb on the vocal, whether anyone would listen, and whether it was worth it.
Somewhere in here, I recognized a pattern I’ve known in other artist friends. Undeniable talent that had a hard time getting out of its own way to let people see it. I stuck with it and kept texting him. I even remixed it at least 3 different times and, full disclosure, one of the mixes had no changes, just to see if it mattered. I don’t remember which version of what mix finally stuck, but on May 5, 2023, he released it as “Sleepy At Tubby’s”.
And then I never heard from Doug again.
In the past few days, as memories of Doug have poured in, I have come to realize that in similar situations with friends I’ve known a long time, I wouldn’t have been as persistent about seeing this recording released. I would have prompted them a couple of times, then moved on, assuming they were “just not into it”. It saddens me to think of the things the world has been denied just because a friend didn’t try a little harder.
It’s clear that Doug didn’t lack for people who loved him. But no one is immune to wanting to feel loved. Maybe I should have sent a random text to say hi or see if he was going to be coming back up to Kingston to play. Maybe I should do that now, with all the people I love who I haven’t spoken to in a while. Maybe we all should.
The recording below is the set Doug played on January 14, 2023, opening for Garcia Peoples. This is the first time anyone not in the room that night will have heard it. I present it to all of Doug’s friends and family with love and gratitude for the art he shared with the world, and as a lasting document for future generations to discover.
Safe travels, Doug.
Download and stream for the Live Music Archive:
Doug Shaw
Tubby’s
Kingston, NY
2023-01-14
Source: MBHO 440 + SDB > MixPre3 > SD (24/48) > Adobe Audition/izotope > Audacity > FLAC (lvl8)
Recorded and produced by kliked
Thanks to Tubby’s FOH engineer, Wil, for the patch!
- Requiem For Rashad
- Harmonizer > ???
- Cheated Death/Smoking Ghost
- The Chalice
- Apparitions Clear
- Come Smoke
- Alliance [Robert Wyatt]
RIP Doug Shaw
Opening for Garcia Peoples
Thanks to Jesse Jarnow and Andy Cush for the setlist help.
Support this excellent band:
https://highlifehighlife.bandcamp.com/album/sleepy-at-tubbys
Support the venues bringing you interesting music:
https://www.tubbyskingston.com/music-calendar
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