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Written by Harry Cherkinian, Contributing writer
May 6, 2010
The cover of Scott Malcom’s latest CD.
Scott Malcom is sitting on stage at Milwaukee Gay Arts Center, his back to the large picture window looking out onto South Second Street. While he warms up on his keyboard for the evening’s show, life passes by behind him. Passersby turn to look at Malcom and the crowd forming to hear him.
“I love how people come and they listen and they enjoy (my songs) so much, “he says. “I try to cater to my audience. But I only do it my way.”
Inadvertent references to Frank Sinatra aside, Malcom has developed a following singing and playing piano his way. It all began with an impromptu karaoke performance in December 2003 at the now-defunct Mosaic bar on Downer Avenue. The owner liked what he heard, so much so that he told Malcom to pick any night to play. That turned into a steady Friday night gig for Malcolm, whose day job is teaching elementary school.
“It was a stab in the dark,” he recalls of the spontaneous singing. “I began playing and some of the people in the place started to come back week after week.”
Now, six years later, some of the old Mosaic regulars have turned out at MGAC’s intimate space to hear Malcom play original works off his CD “Shine” (2005) and his recent second release “Irrational Disposition” (2009), Both are available at www.scottmalcom.com.
Malcom is known to PrideFest attendees for “Stand Up,” a song he co-wrote with Tori Fixx, Corky Morgan and Yolanda Roth. “Stand Up” debuted at PrideFest’s opening ceremonies in 2009.
As the start time nears, more people show up, all known to the singer/songwriter. “I feel like I’m performing in my living room,” he tells the enthusiastic crowd. “You’re kind of like family.”
Malcom’s family also includes his partner of four years, Steve, a chemist. The two own a home in Bayview. Steve is busy selling tickets and helping out with last-minute needs.
When Malcom started out, he only played instrumentals. There was no singing whatsoever. “I wanted to always sing pop songs, but I never had anything to sing about,” he says.
That all changed when his relationship of 12 years ended – the main reason he’d moved to Milwaukee. “Sometimes you have to get your heart broken to write a song,” he says.
Has that changed?
“Oh yeah!” Malcom says, breaking into a smile.
For the next two plus hours, Malcom delights his fans with original numbers that many of them know by heart. Some are upbeat, some serious and sad; but no matter the melody, Malcom is as comfortable with the group as they are with his earnest, down-to-earth approach and his rural Georgia accent.
“If I make a mistake, just go with it,” he jokes throughout the night. But he rarely does. Instead, he tells stories, usually with a humorous twist, like the time he played the song, “Funny, which is ironically titled since it has quite the opposite effect.
“I was playing this song one night at the Mosaic and four ladies sitting there drinking their beer said, ‘you can’t ever play that song again,” he says. “They had tears streaming down their face.” Which of course, elicits peals of laughter.
This evening Malcom throws in a few cover songs: the Leonard Cohen favorite “Hallelujah,” beautifully rendered (channeling Jeff Buckley’s arrangement), as well as one of his favorite performers, Madonna and an early hit of hers, “Borderline.” Played in a jazzy, free-form style, the song takes on a whole new sound minus Madge’s 1980s synth pop stylings.
By evening’s end, the audience lingers to congratulate Malcom before heading back out to the street life on South Second Street.
“I have an awesome career and I get to perform,” Malcom says. “I have the best of both worlds.”
