I have this theory, untested since I don't play with the frequency of even a part time player (and certainly not as much as Notes plays), but I believe an audience will enjoy and appreciate anything performed at the highest level. Thus I have never succumbed to the popular notion that you have to play radio hits. That notion is what results in a Stairway to Freebird with a side of a Brown Eyed Girl named Mustang Sally. I will not play "that list" in a feeble and transparent effort to endear myself to an audience. I will play what I want to play, and I am going to have a band that plays it SO WELL that they will have no choice but to adore us for what they are hearing. And it will include about 20% of my own writings.

Drivers really loved the Corvette and the Firebird. Should every car maker have tiptoed down the party line and make one of what every other car maker is already doing, or is there something to be said for being unique?

To be honest, I don't even know what's on the radio in 2021. I have not listened to a radio for at least 15 years. Other than the artists that make the news for reasons outside of music, I can't even really name many of them. Simon mentioned that Billy Eyelash person/thing whatever that is. Lady GooGoo.... an of that I avoid. Now take me down the Average White Band and Earth Wind & Fire path, I'm there. Note though that this is also my basic personality. I don't concern myself with other people's opinions too much. I am right, and I feel sorry for people who are not smart enough to know I am right. I have been taken to task SO often for my attitude toward audiences, that attitude being that when you are in a place I am playing, you are on MY turf, and in this arena if you are not a player, I am better than you. When I am in your accounting office, or your welding shop, or your decorating design firm, you are better than me. But this stage, this is MY domain and you don't tell me what to play. Your role here is to sit and listen and be amazed at how good we are. (And we WILL be great or I will not be involved in it! Therein lies the reason why I can't keep a band. We rehearse until I say it's right. There is no "good enough" in music. There is "great" and "suck". Nothing between. But that "attitude" topic is for a different thread. And I have plenty of it!)

On topic, sit and drink your gin and tonic and marvel at how good my band is. That's your role here. Harsh? Yep. But I myself am harsh, and extremely hard on myself. I missed an exit point on a song 2 gigs ago because with no monitor I didn't hear the out cue. I wanted to go offstage and drink a cup of poison. But as usual, that's just me.