I’ve got involved in acoustic nights at our local pub - I play guitar and harmonica, there are a couple of other guitarists and usually my BIL on a djembi. It’s very low key, and the pub can often be almost empty, but it’s a start (for the pub who want to jazz up a quiet night, and for me because I usually play/sing in church worship bands).
I play some Dire Straits, Crowded House, Clapton, Eagles, Elvis and Beatles, but I need some more ideas to add to the mix, because all my stuff seems a bit old (but they are sing-a-long favourites for people of a certain age - mostly over 40).
I have Newton Faulkners album, some good stuff on that, and maybe some Jack Johnson would be worth a crack.
Anything else?
Si
A lot of early radiohead translates surprisingly well to the solo acoustic guitar. (Mainly the stuff off The Bends, Fake Plastic Trees seems to be a perpetual crowd pleaser.)
Hmm, **Dylan ** and **Neil Young ** are always good for acoustic performances and get you using your harp.
The Violent Femmes, if you pick the right song. I think Kiss Off works very well as a solo piece.
The Pixies too, but you have to pick the right song. Here comes your man works as acoustic (but I don’t know about solo) Monkey Gone to Heaven I have always suspected would be awesome as a solo acoustic song, but I haven’t gotten around to trying it.
Jack Johnson is probably worth a crack as you say. (I am not a fan, but that doesn’t matter)
OH! Wilco. I saw Jeff Tweady of Wilco do a solo acoustic show a few years back, and he played a bunch of Wilco songs as solo acoutsic pieces. WILCO! Check out stuff off Ghost is Born (where he got a lot of his songs) Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is great too, but the songs might be a tad harder to make work for a single instrument.
Good luck, keep us posted.
Hope this helps.
Damn. Dylan and Neil Young were my first thoughts as well.
America – but maybe a bit too mellow to be considered rock
BB King and Muddy Waters for blues songs
Everly Brothers
Rod Stewart
Roy Orbison
Chuck Berry
Creedence Clearwater
Crosby Stills and Nash
Heart
Janis Joplin
John Mellencamp