PLAN C: Songs In The Key Of Guilt

November 25, 2018 12d Comments

My first band was called Gumption Trap. It was the worst band name in rock ‘n roll history. You’ll never find Gumption Trap on the t-shirt rack at the town square of Hipsterville.

We played Lollapalooza in the summer of 1996. We were hired to run The Chill Tent. We brought everyone we knew from the New York Underground. A few weeks later, all of the bands we invited had a show of their own. We weren’t invited.

When I asked why, a guy told me this, “The problem with you, Greg, is you’re a fan who wants to be treated like a peer.” It stung! But he was right. So I decided right then and there to drop the idea of ever being a peer and move through life like a fan.

Cuz to Hell with that guy!

My next band was called Hideous Underwear. It was a comedy rock duo. We played the open mics in the East Village of New York City. It was a blast, the most fun I have ever had. But my family got into trouble in Chicago and I had to go home. I had to help.

Despite my best effort, I couldn’t fix the problem in Chicago. It cost me all of the momentum I had been building in New York. So it goes. I stole that from Kurt Vonnegut. He understands. He said it was okay.

Thanks, Kurt.

I jumped into the Musical Improv Program at Second City. I loved the experience and the people I was lucky enough to perform with but they were writing songs to be funny and I wanted to write songs with an emotional center. So I began hitting open mics on my own.

At the time, Max’s Deli came into my life so I moved back to the town of my youth, Highland Park. It felt like a curse, since my younger-self vowed never to return. But my older-self had to eat the vow. Turns out, vows taste like chicken.

I treated Highland Park like Punxsutawney, the town from Groundhog Day, in that I was going to use every opportunity to get things right so I could be liberated. I had no idea how dangerous it is to have liberation as your intention.

It worked. It worked too well. Google “Greg Morelli Max’s Deli.” Get back to me. Tell me what you think. Oh, and enjoy the songs. Looking back, I can hear myself working through something, trying to laugh at the overwhelmingness, mostly failing but giving myself a break.

We can all use a break.

12 thoughts on “PLAN C: Songs In The Key Of Guilt”

  1. You should definitely run for Mayor of Highland Park. You could sing all of your speeches and dance around the stage doing cartwheels. Every shirt you wear should have a target on it. Wear lipstick. Blue hair. Make Kanye your press secretary. I want to run the department of defense for Highland Park.

    1. My name is Mike Kordova and I hear Greg likes to fart in a jar and smell it a few weeks later.

      1. It used to be jars of FIREFLY FARTS which taste like the dreams of refugees stretching from Honduras to Bergen-Bergen but then I graduated to jars of MAGA FARTS which taste like the regrets of border agents stretching from San Ysidro to the docks of the SS St. Louis.

        I like how you flirt with me, Mike Kordova. It’s sexy! You make Anti-Semitic White Supremacy fun.

  3. Joe Bonamassa is a famous country singer. He’d love your music. You two should tour together. Reach out. Make it happen. Happy New Year. I love “Plan C.”

  4. Sir Elton John is my favourite musician of the world. I think you two should spend the year playing together in Las Vegas. You were born to rule Las Vegas! You’re like The Grey Seal, a precious song by Elton John Song, in that you’re playful & hard to understand but I have to say I absolutely love “Plan C.” Congratulations on such a genre bending album. The world awaits you…

  5. Plan C is my favorite song. Less God More Gravy is a hit waiting to happen. When are you touring? Great stuff.

  6. Interested in HARD ROCK? How about Kiss band? They are on a tour in 2019 all across USA. Your music would go great with these acts. Get in touch…

  8. Carrie Underwood is my favourite country singer. She is a young, beautiful and charming woman in her 30’s. Her voice takes me away from all troubles of this planet so I can enjoy my life and listen songs created by her. I think you should tour with her. Plan C is making the rounds in Country Western Circles. We LOVE it!!!

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