Bluebird, Rock Heroes and Gospel

Sometimes I can't stand this town.

No, I haven't fallen out of love with Nashville. It's just that I tend to have what some would consider a "happy problem", especially this time of year. There's just too doggone much going on at the same time around here. These past couple of weeks, I had to make some tough choices about shows and events I really wanted to go to. Others, like the Songwriters Festival, I had no choice but to say no to because I have a home purchase on the horizon at month end and some things had to be done (in fairness, the mandatory homebuyers class was fun, though). What all this means sometimes is little sleep and even less free time...but I guess I thrive on this sort of thing when it all comes down.

I took in a most enjoyable round at the Bluebird last Thursday. I met Gary Talley at Randi Perkins' recording session a while back, so I thought I'd check him out. Again, this was one of those evenings where you go to hear some you've heard of but end up being also blown away by folks you hear for the first time. In that category were Corley Roberts, Susan Anders, Joe Truman and a guest vocalist Susan co-wrote a song with, Natalie Tidwell. All of these artists brought something strong and unique to the table and as a fan of strong vocals, I have to say this was one of the best rounds I've been to. You can find everyone on MySpace, so do most definitely track them down and give them a listen.

On Sunday I had to say no to two other invites and skip out of church early to do one of my "double header" gig runs. I found out that one of my 60s rock heroes, Al Kooper, would be doing a book signing at Borders. In 1977, I bought the first edition of his very funny memoir, "Backstage Passes". He's updated it twice since then. I had all three editions of the book with me, and Al was gracious enough to autograph them all. Al took questions about his career and the book. It was fun to see people there who had some of the old vinyl albums I did and who were knowledgeable enough to ask good questions. I've been a fan of Al's since I was 13...the first Blood Sweat and Tears album and the early Blues Project albums along with Al's solo work helped get me through my nerdy teen years. I noted that it was great to have the opportunity to share that with him through the internet and events like the book signing, and I asked Al if he's heard many similar comments from fans about how his music impacted their lives. He said that he did benefit from getting regular e-mails from fans and many of them have made his day...proving once again that even if you are a rock and roll legend, encouragement is important. It was a thrill for me to be there--thanks to Beverly Keel of the Tennessean for getting the word out on this.


My second event of the day was a "mini-Homecoming concert" with many of my friends from the Gaither videos: Woody Wright and his wife Vonnie, Reggie and Ladye Love Smith, Stephen Hill, Mike Allen and the legendary Ben Speer (and a cameo from his sister Mary Tom). It's been quite a long while since I've seen Reggie and Ladye and Stephen, so it was great to hear and see them again. Much like the concerts that were part of "Mark Lowry's Senior Trip", it was a "living room" type atmosphere with group sings and mini-sets from each artist. It was fun (and you can always count on that when Woody's around!), musically excellent, uplifting and encouraging. I also met two very dear people who, like me, had lived in Minnesota--Mary and Gary, who sat up front with me. I felt a lot of love that evening. These are the kinds of concerts I like--no pressure, no fan drama, where you can just go and love these folks and everyone will get loved back the same.

Even though it's hard to have to make choices sometimes about what to do when everything happens at once, I really do love this town and all the opportunities to do what I love.

Allison Lynn Single Release Showcase, Edgehill Cafe, 6/9/08

OK, this is going to sound corny and an obvious cliche to some, but I am here to tell you that in this case, it is absolutely true: I am a real big fan of Allison Lynn.

This precious and gifted young woman, and dear friend, debuted her single release, "Shepherd Of The Hills", from her new CD "Real Big Fan", at Edgehill Cafe before an appreciative crowd of friends and supporters, including her sweet mom and dad who drove all the way from Toronto for the occasion. Joining Allison for this evening were her equally talented husband, singer/songwriter Gerald Flemming, and another upcoming Southern Gospel soloist, Tara Jackson.

The evening reminded me how skillful God can be at putting people together. Allison and Gerald moved to Nashville over a year ago from Canada, on a three year artist visa. She and I most likely met online first as fellow bloggers while I was still living in Minnesota. You most likely know and love her acclaimed "Adventures of a Starving Artist" blog, started during her first year at Stamps-Baxter School (for which she now works). I was occasionally doing Gaither concert reports on my websites, and as I recall, we ended up meeting at a Gaither show. Tara and Allison met on the Shoutlife site, where they became friends and fellow artists.

Musically, the evening was very special. Gerald Flemming, who did a strong set of secular originals of his the night before in a "Writers Night" segment at the Bluebird Cafe, did three of his spiritual songs, the bluegrass favored "Church Song Broke Me Down", "Halleluia, I Remember", and "Never Wait Until Tomorrow", a beautiful song inspired by a column Erma Bombeck wrote after learning she had cancer. As a writer and vocalist, Gerald is one to watch for in this town.

Tara Jackson combines strong stage presence with a lovely and powerful voice and testimony. She sang three songs from her self-titled debut CD: the upbeat, crowd-engaging "God's Got a Word For You" (soon to be a radio single), "Except For Grace", which she introduced by mentioning her work with the Bridge ministry to the homeless in Nashville, and her current radio single "Wonder Working Power". (By the way, I first "met" Tara online as well and finally met in person last year also.)

Allison's set was a great showcase for her album. Her vocals were as spot on live as on her CD. I love the old time jazz feel arrangement that many of her album tracks have...I learned to appreciate that style by listening to "A Prairie Home Companion", so this CD's got a strong appeal for me. Her theatrical skills served her well and enhanced her performances of her self-written "Do You Want to Be My Neighbor In Gloryland"; one of my favorites, "Wedding At Cana", based on the Biblical wedding feast (and I love the hook of "save the very best for last" in that song); "Sin Ain't Nothing But the Blues"; "Faith Will Take You Further", and the title track "Real Big Fan" (written by Gerald). The song of the evening's celebration, "Shepherd of the Hills", will be getting some airplay on Solid Gospel radio, thanks to positive fan feedback.

I've followed Allison's career for a couple of years and watched how she carefully laid the groundwork for all the great things she's accomplished thus far here in Nashville. (Among other things, I also had the honor of having her sing at my baptism last fall.) To be able to watch someone at this career stage make progressive strides and have them welcome you along for the ride is what I find most fulfilling, most real and most true about the artist support I've been blessed to be a part of since I've been in Nashville. It's also a big reason I'm blessed to be a part of this town.

Tokens Episode #2- Lipscomb University 5/27/08

You may recall my rave review here a couple of months ago about the first Tokens show taping. I was thrilled to hear there was another episode to be done. I don't think it took me a minute to get on the phone and reserve a ticket after getting the e-mail.

This second episode's theme was "Jubilee: Land, Greed and Grace". As with the last episode, the music, the readings, the brief interviews and the sketches all tied in with the theme, this one being of land ownership, wanting more and experiencing reconciliation.

As also last time, the music was spectacular. House band the Sinai Mountain Boys, led by Jeff Taylor with Buddy Greene, Aubrey Haynie, Byron House, Pete Huttlinger and Chris Brown, provided several of the show's high points. There were many outstanding musical moments, like:
- Well, anything Buddy Greene does. Pair him up with the amazing Jeff Taylor, who managed to get in spoons, accordion and tin whistle all on one song he did with Buddy ("Little Beggar Man") and you've got a blockbuster combination, no matter what musical genre they're diving into.
- The "Class and Grass" segment, featuring the string portion of the Annie Moses Band along with the Sinai Boys on an Appalachian medley consisting of Aaron Copeland's "Hoedown", "Simple Gifts" and a few other influences. It brought the house down.
- Aubrey Haynie's "broke bow" style fiddle solo
- A beautiful acapella song which was a prayer for children, sung by Uncle Dave's 4 (Paul McClung, Daniel Rushing, Paul Smith and host Lee Camp). It was a perfect reflection on an interview before this with author Melissa Fay Greene on her book "There Is No Me Without You", about an Ethopian woman's efforts to rescue her country's children. The group later backed Hope Miller on a Jean Ritchie song.
- Solos by singer/songwriter Julie Lee and Native American performer Bill Miller, who was particularly compelling using his music as a tool for healing and reconciliation.

The Tokens Radio Players (Merri Collins, Barry McAllister, David Fleer and Lee Camp) were back again with a reprise of last show's popular "Dear Preacher Man", and skits supporting the show's theme, "Gimme More" and "How Much Land Does A Man Need?" by Leo Tolstoy (complete with dialects).

Also tying in to the show's themes were short interviews with folk musicologist Mike Seeger (also brother of Pete) and Rod Dreher, author of "Crunchy Cons", a crtique of consumerism.

Everyone got in on the closing number, "Mary Don't You Weep". One of those magical moments where the audience and performers became as one.

Lee Camp was even more comfortable in his hosting role this time out. I've heard he is a challenging and excellent professor of theology at Lipscomb, but I'd say he's a multi-talented guy. He handled several roles well--he can sing and he was quite good in the humor skits...certainly as good as another radio host that comes to mind.

For only a second show, "Tokens" has got it going on like a program that has been around for a while. Its website is now up and running and will have segments from the shows posted. Right now there is no long term plan nailed down yet, but take note that there are two more shows planned this year:
9/30/08 - The Politics of Jesus
12/9/08 - The Christmas Revolution
You can sign up for the show's mailing list on the website to get ticket information.

Lee was grateful to have us all at the show...but I am the one who is most grateful to experience this wonderful happening. I am also grateful to be in this town.

In The Studio With Randi Perkins

This week I got a chance to do something I hadn't yet done here in Nashville: sit in on a recording session at Music Row. I've been in small and home studio settings when I recorded my audiobooks, but this is the first time I actually got to see first hand what part of a CD project recording session is like. I love knowing how things work and get created behind the scenes, so I was looking forward to this.

The session was for an upcoming release by singer/songwriter Randi Perkins (you've met him on my posts I've had here about the writer's nights he runs at Christ Lutheran Church in Nashville). On this evening he was getting instrumental tracks done for six songs. He had a great group of people supporting him: Rollie Mains (piano/keyboards), who is also an arranger, composer, orchestrator, producer; Gary Talley (guitar), a founding member of legendary 60's band the Box Tops; Dave Webb(bass), who has a long list of musical credits and most recently played with Sugarland; Justin Levenson (percussion), an in-demand studio musician, educator, performer and composer; engineers were Chris Rainwater and Jon Bufkin. Also documenting the session on video was Wayne Hall, known for video work with Big Machine Records artists.

I was really impressed with this group of folks professionally and personally. The musicians are all incredible players. They and the engineers really cared about the work they were doing and weren't satisfied until they got it right for Randi. Plus, they were just plain nice people who made me feel welcome (along with Randi's wife, Sandy, and son, Clark--also a musician!).

As a non-musician, I now have a much greater appreciation for the recording process that an artist walks through and will remember it every time I hold a CD in my hand by someone. I can tell you that Randi's project is going to be a nice one. You can hear live performances of some of the songs Randi cut studio versions of at his MySpace page. Take a listen to "North Dakota Farm Boy" and "The Last Harvest".

I enjoyed sitting in on the session. Thanks, Randi. And, I enjoy this town.

Brad Reynolds, Jill Parr, David Teems, Nathan Clark George, Bluebird Cafe 5/16/08

Almost one year ago, I went to hear Brad Reynolds at the Bluebird Cafe when he was in a round with Michael O'Brien, Morgan Cryar, and Sean Smith. As I noted in my post then, everyone was fabulous, but Brad and Sean, who I hadn't known of prior to that evening, took the night for me and their music had the most personally lasting effect.

Thus, I'd been so looking forward to this evening for quite some time. This time, it was Brad along with Jill Parr, David Teems and Nathan Clark George at the Bluebird with an evening of mostly contemporary Christian themed music. It was a great, supportive crowd which included many family and friends and fellow artists from the Indieheaven network...it was fun recognizing and meeting a couple of them.

Brad, who accompanied Jill Parr and played along with his friend David Teems, was as always excellent instrumentally and vocally, and humble and passionate in his faith. He did "The Locksmith" and "The Edge", which I remembered from last year, along with the title track of his fine "In the Real World" album. All night I thought to myself, "oh please, please, please, sing "Anyway" and "Choices". He didn't disappoint me...both those songs have found their way into my soul. "Anyway" most deservedly won Indieheaven's Momentum award for "Song of The Year" (and if you haven't heard it yet, go here and take a listen). "Choices" was co-written by Brad with Sean Smith--Sean will have it on his upcoming release.

Jill Parr, like many of us in Nashville, is a transplant, hailing from Michigan. How I loved this gal...a riveting redhead with passionate vocals and a very expressive, transparent performer and songwriter. I related to her on a few levels, particularly on "County Line" which dealt with her feeling as if she didn't fit in and struggling for acceptance. I would most definitely go and hear her again.

David Teems, a fine singer, songwriter, guitarist and author (of a devotional, "To Love Is Christ") provided much of the gentle humor of the evening. He joked about being ordained to marry couples but most of the marriages ended in divorce, and the challenge of being asked to write songs for weddings and coming up with them at the last minute (in the bathroom!). But when he got serious, he touched a lot of hearts with songs like "Love That Brought Us Here" and "There's Another Woman In My Life".

Nathan Clark George is a self-described folkie at heart with an enviable lifestyle: based in Illinois, he and his family (with 5 children) travel all around the country. I particularly liked a thought-provoking song he did called "What If" which dealt with mistakes and observing Jesus, and a sweet love song called "You Make Me Smile".

Some of the Indieheaven members who attended this show noted how powerfully these artists of faith impacted the audience just by being who they were and by willing to be transparent and honest about themselves. Amen to that.

I've had some things to be thankful about this week...what was lost found again and this special evening of music. I love this town.

Nason Music Group Showcase, The Rutledge, 4/21/08

This past week was GMA (Gospel Music Association) week, which means plenty of showcases around Nashville. Literally fresh out of Gaylord Opryland hotel where I spent the previous weekend at Mark Lowry's Spring Fling, I dropped off my bags at home and headed out to the Rutledge for a noontime showcase of Christian independent artists, sponsored by Nason Music Group.

I was hoping that this one would be as enjoyable at the IndieHeaven CIA Summit showcase I raved about earlier. What that had in common with this one was the same drawing card for me: Sean Smith. I'll take any opportunity I can to hear him. As it turned out, like the CIA Summit showcase, I was introduced to many new wonderfully talented folks here as well. I scooped up every bit of promo and CD samples that the artists so generously left on tables for the taking.

The main artist showcased here was Christian Walker, who has spent time in Iraq leading troops. He is a fine vocalist and writer, and I enjoyed his sense of humor, particularly on the song "Elmer Thomas Park", about the place where he was dumped by four different women ("well, I never met Elmer Thomas, but man, I hate his park"...).

Sean Smith, accompanied by another guitarist and percussionist, did "Real", the title song of his current CD, which was great to hear in an acoustic setting. He also did the song he debuted at CIA Summit, co-written by Brad Reynolds, "Choices". Sean made sure I left with a CD of two advance tracks from his upcoming album which included this song and "Front Row Seat". Both of these songs have grabbed hold of my soul. I can't get enough of them. Judging by these two cuts, Sean is on his way to yet another perfect album. I can't wait.

The other artists also did two songs each: Jennifer Benson, a rock edged artist from Chicago; Chad Gentry of Evansville, IN whose day job is in the auto industry; Krystyn Leigh, winner of the female vocalist IndieHeaven Momentum award (easy to see why-great voice and stage presence); Stephen Andrew, a member of the Nashville Soul Choir; Carrie Marshall, a worship leader from Boston; Kyle Obermeier, a powerful singer/guitarist who helps underpriviledged kids with music in his Cleveland, GA studio; and Embassy Music Showcase winner Lance Stafford.

All of these artists had a personal testimony of how God has worked in their lives, some especially under some very difficult circumstances. Their music certainly blessed me and I pray they get many opportunities to serve and share their gifts.

Guitar BQ 6 - 4/6/08

After enduring nearly a full week of rain, the weather timely and appropriately became sunny and glorious just in time for the 6th annual Guitar BQ. This event is a larger version of Doak Turner's monthly 3rd Sunday songwriter potluck and get-together(Doak's Nashville Muse newsletter this week gives the count as over 450 in attendance). That for one thing meant tons more great food. The dessert section in particular was a sight to behold (since I don't do sugar anymore, that's all I did). You also had lots of barbecue chicken and pork, and several other dishes brought by attendees (my biggest weaknesses: the succotash and as usual, grapes).

It goes without saying but I'll say it anyway: It also meant lots more great music. I bounced around from place to place trying to check out as many of the rounds as possible. It was way too large for me to try to capture many new names, but let's just say I heard quite a few new talented folks. More people also meant more variety of instruments brought into the mix: percussion, an accordion, fiddles and mandolins found a place among the sea of guitars.

I had a couple of things to commemorate at this event. It was the official one year anniversary of my arrival here in Nashville, lock, stock and Geo Metro. I didn't get to town in time for last year's Guitar BQ, but last May I came to 3rd Sunday as a fly on the wall, hoping to find out if there was anything I could do to encourage songwriters here. I sure found out in a big way, and I cherish all the hugs I get and give from the many dear people I've met here who have allowed me into their world.

It was also the beginning of the retirement of the red hat, now that I've had a makeover with a new hairdo that is not compatible with hat wearing. I'll be looking forward to the photos taken of me and my new 'do (thanks as always, Kat!).

I love to eat, I love music and I love this town.