New Year’s Resolution: Form a Band, Play a Gig

All this year we’ve been checking in on four listeners who made Creative New Year’s Resolutions for 2014: an aspiring stand-up comedian, a lawyer who sidelines as a painter, a rock star who’s composing a musical theater piece, and a Kentucky sound designer and teacher who wants to front a band.

Gabriel Walker resolved to move from small town of Maysville, Kentucky, to Louisville, form a band, and perform. He’s just weeks away from achieving his goal — and exceeding it. Instead of simply covering standards from the American songbook, Gabriel and his collaborator Jenrose Fitzgerald have written five originals. Gabriel hasn’t quite gotten around to his goal of improving his singing voice, but he’s happy to let go of that one. “I found out I write much better than I thought I would,” he tells Kurt Andersen, “and I’m enjoying it so much.”

Gabriel Walker and his band will perform on December 20 at the Open Gallery in Louisville, Kentucky.

What’s your Creative New Year’s Resolution for 2015?
Declare it here.