‘I don’t like the idea of people thinking that songwriting is all that painful a process. I have a lot of fun with it.’

Within seconds of talking to pat mAcdonald, one can immediately tell that they are speaking with a deeply enigmatic man.

When asked how growing up in Green Bay affected him as an artist, he responded with a chuckle, saying, “How did living on Earth affect me as an artist…you might as well ask me that.”

Further illustrating the fact that he is a man who takes his time to ponder over a question, he added, “I’d have to think about it for a couple of hours and write an essay.”

The 55-year-old mAcdonald made his mark on the music industry in the mid-‘80s when his band Timbuk3 released the hit single "The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades.” The song, which quickly became a pop-culture artifact used in countless films and commercials, seems miles away from sound that emanates from mAcdonald’s solo albums.

The artist’s solo career is marked by guitar strumming that hits the listener deeply, Dylan-esque harmonica interludes and a voice that seems like it’s seen everything the world has to offer.

mAcdonald takes pride in the fact that his most recent albums closely resemble the sound of his music when played live. “In the Red Room” is a live recording of a set at a corner bar in Sturgeon Bay. The sound exudes a beautifully raw honesty. He enthusiastically refers to the album as a “document.” He’s also proud of the fact that it was the first time he was able to place his live sound on disc.

His most recent album, “Troubadour of Stomp,” expands on the sound of “In the Red Room,” while adding a layer of polish. While much of what we hear on the album was recorded in studio, a certain few elements were added in post-production.

Sounding like a world-renown chef discussing preparations for a feast, mAcdonald related, “I added a touch of tambourine here and there, maybe some shaker here and there, you know, a couple of hand claps and some harmony vocals.” The enthusiasm in his voice is quite evident.

When asked about his writing process, mAcdonald admitted, “I wake up with a song idea, grab my guitar, and write it before I get out of bed.” Much of “Troubadour of Stomp” was written in this form. Regarding tracks off the album, mAcdonald divulges with a chuckle, “A lot of those songs were written naked.”

While discussing the satisfaction gained from finishing a song, mAcdonald equated the entire process to that of a crossword puzzle. However, he also added. “A song has got something a little more…something you can celebrate a little bit more than a crossword puzzle.”

On the inside cover of “Troubadour,” mAcdonald describes the year he wrote the album as one filled with, “heartbreak, catastrophe, rage, insanity, love, then forgiveness, a time of marital collapse and saving an old bridge.”

Despite this, he still attests that, “I don’t like the idea of people thinking that songwriting is all that painful a process. I have a lot of fun with it.”

Over the past few years, mAcdonald has also been actively involved in the Steel Bridge SongFest. The first fest was held in June of 2005, and it revolved around a group of musicians attempting to repair the Michigan Street Steel Bridge in Sturgeon Bay.

Held every summer since then, the fest has been continually raising money that has been allocated for repairs. In 2007, SongFest featured performances by mAcdonald, as well as Jackson Browne, Eric McFadden and Jane Wiedlin of the Go-Go’s.

When asked about the bridge, mAcdonald cheerfully described it as, “A classically beautiful monstrosity that is a unique piece of engineering…a centerpiece for all of Door County.”

mAcdonald is obviously a busy man, and the next week is packed with local performances. mAcdonald will be performing for Martin Jack Rosenblum’s American Popular Music 102 classes on Nov. 8. He is also performing on Nov. 7 at Linneman’s Riverwest Inn at 10 p.m., Nov. 9 at 10 p.m. in the Cactus Club in Bay View, and on Nov 10 at the King Club in Madison. The two latter performances are also going to feature music by University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee graduate student melaniejane.

mAcdonald cites Bob Dylan, Tom Waits and Ricky Nelson as some of his major influences. After listening through his library of music, it’s safe to say that his sound is created from equal parts of admiration for those before him, and originality that will no doubt be emulated by those who will come after him.

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