I think back to before I took my first sound job and how limited my taste in music was back then. I only cared for the particular genre that I was playing at the time and had a very narrow view of other music.

That was quite some time ago, before I even played an instrument. Back then, I was just a lead singer. Sure, every band that isn't entirely instrumental has a singer, but lead singers are a special breed.

I can best illustrate my point with this joke: "Q: How many lead singers does it take to change a light bulb? A: One, but he simply holds the light bulb while the rest of the world revolves around him."

But very fortunately for me, I became a live sound engineer about 20 years ago. Having been taught at an early age that nothing is worth doing unless you are willing to do your very best, I quickly learned that when I'm onstage, I'm an artist. But when I'm at the mixing console, I am a technician. My job as a sound man is to take the sound of the artist on stage and spread it around the room.

My concerns in that respect are comfortable volume and clarity. When a sound man is at his best, he's not changing or embellishing the sound of the artist, but merely making sure that the audience gets a comfortable and true representation of the artist's music.

When asked who I work for, I often say: I work with the artist, I'm paid by the promoter or venue owner, but I work for the audience. Ultimately, they are the consumer of the product the artist produces. I am the distributor of that product, but once it goes into the listeners' ears, it belongs to them.

My years as a soundman have taught me to appreciate music and musicians of a wide variety of genres. To do a good job, a soundman has to have the ability to have no genre preference. I remember my experience as a metal singer and the surly, rude sound engineers that I sometimes had to work with that just didn't dig what I was doing. When I took my first sound gig, I promised myself not to be that guy.

Lately, I've been in a state of semi-retirement when it comes to music. My best friend ("Kung Fu" Jerry Beale) and I still do the occasional acoustic gig.

We have a rehearsal space that we refer to as "The Padded Cell", are writing new songs, and are looking for a drummer, but it's more of something we love than a career. We both have day jobs and a great deal of demands on our time, but a couple of times a month, you can find Allnightkungfu playing some place in Mount Pleasant.

The same thing goes for sound work. After the stage at A Dough Re Mi went away, I cut back to fill-in work. I worked the Awendaw Green Festival but for the most part, I haven't been doing much in the way of mixing for quite some time.

So I was excited when the nice folks at the recently re-opened Village Tavern called to ask me to fill in for house engineer Harrison Ray when he was out of town on Saturday, Jan. 22. Ray has installed a state of the art sound and light system that is easy and comfortable to run.

That night's entertainment was a very special line up of beautiful lady singer/songwriters. Starting off the night was 11-year-old Hunter Johnson, with two original songs. It was a thing of beauty to watch this young lady overcome any nervousness she may have had. Her second song, "Feelings Are Overrated", conveyed the feelings that someone her age would have, but the lyrics were articulate and well-thought-out beyond her young age.

Up next was Elise Testone. She has been a regular fixture on the scene for a few years now. Her songwriting is well conveyed by her full and emotive voice. She has the ability to convey a wide range of emotion while her voice remains melodic and beautiful, even when conveying sadness or anger.

Third in the line-up was Lily Slay. Soulful, bluesy folk is the best way I can describe her sound. Her songs are mostly upbeat with a charm that is both nostalgic and modern at the same time.

Then Jordan Igoe took the stage. The best word I can use to describe her is contradiction. Petite and beautiful as she is, her words often pack the punch of a bare knuckled heavyweight's fist. Her songs don't hold anything back and are full of uncensored feelings, and yet, very often the music is upbeat and bouncy. She always holds my attention, and her songs keep me hanging on for the next word or phrase.

Olivia Conner and Laura Bevins were up next, first Conner with Bevins backing her up, then vice a versa. Both have beautiful voices with well-crafted tunes with guitar, mandolin, piano and a special guest Dobro player.

To finish off the Lady Singer/songwriters showcase, Jamie Resch took the stage. Here there was country, folk hillbilly music from a beautiful young lady, with a special guest appearance from country music songwriter and Village Tavern bartender Mac Leaphart.

Throughout the night, these ladies jumped onstage with each other, offering backing instrumental and vocal help to each other. Resch on drums, Igoe on the piano, Conner with backing vocals, Testone on guitar and vocals, Bevins on mandolin, Slay providing ooohs and aaahs. Then they would trade places. No matter what the configuration, it was clear that they were all intent on bringing out the best in each other. And that they did!

When I left, they were all jamming with Leaphart. It seemed that after putting on a four-hour show, they just couldn't get enough.

Speaking of Leaphart, he and his band will be at The Village Tavern this Thursday with special guest Danielle Howle. Aside from being the resident artist at Awendaw Green, Howle is a very unique and talented performer who has opened for the likes of Bob Dylan and the Indigo Girls, just to name a few. This is not a show to miss. It starts at 9 p.m.

Until next time, be nice to each other and support live music.

(Stu Johnson is a local muscician. To read and comment on past columns, go to www.moultrienews.com. To get your establishment listed in the East Cooper Music Scene, email Stu at allnightjohnson@gmail).