I don’t consider myself a reviewer, I just know what I like and what I don’t. My weekly blog usually consists of what I would go see each night of the week around town but like most everyone I have an opinion, I just don’t necessarily feel I need to share it with the whole world all of the time.
(The below pics are mainly videos, I’m not sure why they aren’t showing up that way.)
The following are a few of the brightest moments for me this week. Thank you Nashville.com for supplying the press passes, it was a great week to be in Nashville.
Check out my previous blogs for information on my favourite moments from Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
On Thursday night I found myself at Winner’s Bar & Grill which isn’t where I originally started out but I found myself in need of some of the country music I knew and loved growing up and when I was still in love with country music. I found it at a couple of rounds at Winners. I caught the second half of a set with Richard Leigh who as I walked in started singing his Reba McEntire cut “The Greatest Man I Never Knew” then in the next round “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” and finally one of my favourite Dixie Chicks songs “Cold Day in July.” Jamie Teachenor was also in the round and I loved his Jerry Lee Lewis cut “You gotta rock if you’re gonna roll with me”.
I stuck around for the following round because one of my favourite singer/songwriter’s was playing. Lisa Carver played a song I used to cover on cruise ships called “I’m Old Enough To Be Your Lover”. I used to see her play at the Broken Spoke and knew she would be playing with the “big boys” eventually. Lisa said that Pam Tillis just cut this song and it will be on her next album. It’s about time!
Click here to view the embedded video.
Marcus Hummon was also in this round and he played his Sara Evans and Darrell Scott co-write, “Born To Fly”. And the highlight of this round for me was his performance with a song he and his son Levi “Make It Love”
Click here to view the embedded video.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Jason Matthews performed his Julie Robert’s cut “Break Down Here” which was also a treat for me!
I cut out early because Gary Nicholson, Lee Roy Parnell, Mike Reid and Greg Barnhill were playing the Rutledge. I arrived just in time to hear Lee Roy play “That’s my story and I’m sticking to it” but the highlight for me was his performance of both “Love Without Mercy” and “I”m Holding My Own”. I also enjoyed the camaraderie between these four, obviously long time, friends. Gary’s “The Upside of Lonely” was a hit and also a fun jab at Leroy and his multiple marriages. But I can understand, the man just seems to get sexier with age…sorry but it’s true. Although I’m not sure whether I missed Mike Reid play his Bonnie Raitt hit, “I Can’t Make You Love Me’ or whether he just didn’t play it, I did get to hear Greg Barnhill play his Trisha Yearwood hit “Walkaway Joe”.
Jen Foster & Bart Herbison at Tin Pan South 2013
Friday night I was back at Winner’s to see Jen Foster, Granville Automatic and Nicole Witt. Someone yelled out during Jen’s song “Taking Bob Dylan” that it was the best song he had heard all week. Jen is a great singer and songwriter and I found it pretty special that NSAI president Bart Herbison attended this show when there were so many he could have attended. I also really enjoyed Granville Automatic’s “Never on a Sunday”
I cut out early as I had tickets for TedX Nashville Saturday morning and I have to tell you the performance by Mike Ferris of Mary Gauthier’s “Mercy Now” at 9:30 am was absolutely stupendous. I believe he said it will be on his next album.
I dragged my butt out to one last show Saturday night. My good friend Charles Alexander had put together a round with Gabe Dixon, Alyssa Bonagura and sister duo Adelee & Gentry. By far this was one of the best rounds I saw all week. I had never heard Charles live and was truly impressed by his voice as well as the unique life experience he brings to his songwriting as a Malaysian born immigrant living in Nashville with both “America” and “Immigrant”. Adelee and Gentry had some very sweet singable songs with that delicious sister harmony. I was, however super psyched about seeing and hearing both Alyssa Bonagura and Gabe Dixon and neither were a disappointment.
Alyssa Bonagura was all smiles through everyone’s performance, she seemed very genuine and even loaned her guitar to the two “youngins” to her left when their guitar went wonky during one of their songs. She played or sang along whenever appropriate on other’s songs and was never obtrusive. Alyssa’s songs were all fantastic but her performance with guest Jessie James (a duo they are calling ”Jackie Blue”) and the song she’s had great success with via a Lowe’s commerical “I Make My Own Sunshine” were definitely my favourites.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Gabe Dixon finished off the set with a request from the audience and sounded great on Hard Rock’s acoustic piano which was needless to say a little out of tune. Straight up honky tonk but Gabe called himself a purist and I appreciate him all the more for being one. FYI all that noise in the background was Jessie James and her crew (I’m just saying…)
Click here to view the embedded video.
Carol Jane Buttenham moved to Nashville in the early 2000′s to pursue a music career as a country singer/songwriter. Falling out of love with the performing career and in love with the city, the people and the music, Carol started a weekly music blog ”Carol’sChoice” to get to know the wordpress blog platform and improve her online marketing skills to help her various clients in her booking and marketing business.
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