Dear blog,
Long time no see! Yesterday, I opened for Del Water Gap, which was so surreal. I think I will be sitting in this feeling for a long time, but let me say it is a great feeling. Last night may have been one of the happiest of my life! There was a lot of preparation and a bit of stress before the show. Something that I think made it special was that I played four songs I'd written in the last three months. I had a lot of passion for the music I was playing, and that made performing really excited. I'm also so grateful to have had the opportunity to perform with my close friend and collaborator, Maura McMahon. We were able to play a song we wrote together together on stage for our friends, peers, and fellow Notre Dame students. That was so incredible.
At the end of my song stoplight, I sang teenage dream over the outro, and immediately everyone started singing along. That was such a special moment and something I will never forget. It was so fun and I couldn't stop smiling.
I played a song called "tanlines" that I just finished less than a week before the show. This was perhaps the song I was most nervous about, and when I started playing, everyone pulled our their flashlights. That was the first time people had done that for me, and it was a core memory for sure. I was so happy and grateful for the support both from my incredible friends and also from strangers. That moment really rocked. I took a mental picture I wish I could frame, and then I just soaked it in.
I finished with a song I wrote over Christmas break called "Portugal." I was super excited for this one, as it's a pretty hype song and a favorite of my friends who have heard it. The crowd really seemed to like it, and that made me feel really glad both that I had created something good and also that I had created something people enjoy. After the show, five or six people came up to me and asked me when I was releasing "Portugal," which was great to hear, and which also motivated me to get the song out!! I'll get on that!
Most of all, I'm filled with gratitude for this incredible experience. Thank you to the Student Union Board of Notre Dame for having me as an opener. Thank you to Del Water Gap for Notre Dame. I got to meet the band after and they are all such gracious wonderful people. Thank you to everyone who came--both friends and strangers--it was so special and I felt the support.
I'm making a lot of music these days, so stay tuned.
All the best,
Libby Garnett