Songwriter Gets Intimate

By Broadside Correspondent Patrick Wall

Honest music in an intimate setting was on display Friday night as Pat McGee took the stage at the Johnson Center Bistro.

Program Board was responsible for organizing the concert, something the group enjoys putting together, according to Concert Chair Kristen Byrne.

There were no fancy lights or equipment to be found, just quality songwriting in an open and warm setting. This is fitting for the performer, since for McGee, playing live is about being true to the music.

“I've been doing it for so long that I just want to be honest and not put on a charade,” he said after the show. “I want to be known as a songwriter first and a singer and a guitar player second.”

McGee played from his catalog of songs spanning his 15-year music career. His brand of folk rock and pop drew a sizable crowd of all ages.

“We never do anything like this,” said freshmen Muriel Vinson, who had heard about the show and decided to stop by with fellow biology major Rebecca Kagan.

McGee relished the chance to play in front of a captive college audience.

“It's sometimes pretty rare to get students to come out, so it was cool,” he said.
McGee is no stranger to the area. He grew up in Annandale and formed The Pat McGee Band in Richmond.

“This area is familiar to me, big time,” he said.

The show was McGee's first time playing at Mason since the Black-Eyed Peas played before him at Mason Day a decade ago.

“It was before Fergie was in the band,” McGee said.

The performance showcased the breadth of McGee's songwriting abilities. He and his fellow musicians jangled to the radio single “Beautiful Ways,” vibed to the jam-rock tune “Passion,” and rocked out to “Lost.”

Onstage, McGee was accessible and humble. He took requests, told stories from the road, and revealed the stories behind the songs. His brother even joined him onstage for a few numbers.

As for his future plans, McGee is recording a new album which is scheduled to be released at the end of the year, and is re-releasing his 2007 album, These Days.
For the local singer-songwriter, his goal is clear.

“I want people to walk away thinking that [the music is] unique, it's original and honest… Hopefully they go away believing in it,” he said.

With a live performance like the one Friday night, it's difficult to feel otherwise. In an era where style comes before substance for so many musicians, a show like the one Pat McGee played proves that there are still artists out there playing for the right reasons.

Mcgee and company are currently on a U.S. tour and will return to the area in June for a show at the Alexandria Red Cross Waterfront Festival.

To learn more about Pat Mcgee Band or to listen to some of their tracks, visit the band’s official Web site www.patmcgeeband.com.

Also available on their page, is the band’s most recent album These Days (The Virginia Sessions), which was released independently in 2007 and features tracks the following tracks "Guess We Were,” “I Don’t Think I’m Listening,” “Elizabeth,” “Come Back Home,” “All Over You,” “Maybe It’s Time,” “The Hand That Holds You,” “You Want It All” and “End of October.”

A full listing of concert dates is also available on the band’s MySpace page at www.myspace.com/patmcgee.