By Wil Comstock, MCAU Contributing Writer
Sept. 9 (Tuesday), 3rd & Lindsley
The Isaacs:
Rushing over to 3rd and Lindsley from the BMI Rooftop Party, we surprisingly grabbed a decent seat. Not that I stayed in my seat for long. Once the Isaacs hit the stage, I was on my feet up front near the stage. This group is comprised of matriarch Lily and her three children: Ben on upright bass, Sonya on mandolin, and Becky on guitar. The band is rounded out by the addition of Sonya’s son, Ben Bowan, on guitar. Lily’s parents, who were Polish Jewish Holocaust survivors, moved Lily to New York when she was 2 years old.
Their tight bluegrass gospel harmonies brought a smile to everyone’s face. They shone on numbers like “Rocks,” Accentuate the Positive,” and Lauren Daigle’s “I Believe.” Ben was featured on a song he penned about the Bible that laid in the back of the drawer, always there when you need it. He’s a great writer. I hope to hear more from him.
This family closed with an A cappella version of Chicago’s “You’re the Inspiration.” Just heavenly, and something you would expect from a family that has been harmonizing together all their lives.
Darrell Scott:
This guy has written songs for Sara Evans, Kathy Mattea, Brad Paisley, and Garth Brooks to name a few. This Kentucky-born, California-raised musician opened with “The Ballad of Martha White.” He is one heck of a blues guitarist. I’ve heard some of his folk ballads but was not aware of his virtuosity playing the blues. Damn! He even did a blues cover of “Folsom Prison Blues!”
Picking up the acoustic, he asked us to sing along on the beautiful “Hallelujah.” This is the side of Darrell which I especially love. Singing “It’s the Whisky that Eases the Pain” and “Out in the Parking Lot” drew recognition and admiration from the packed house.
He called his brother Don up to the stage to sing a ballad he wrote about one of the men who used to work for their father, “Uncle Lloyd.” A man who lost his family and treated the Scott boys like his own. Before his closing number, he called two more of his brothers on the stage, Dale and David Scott. The three of them harmonized on “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive,” my personal favorite.
Charles Wesley Godwin:
This West Virginia native had us in the palm of his hand with his first song, “Minor Imperfections.” His comforting straight-forward voice is convincing. This is someone you can trust, someone you’d like to have as a friend. He mentioned he first came to Nashville in 2013, catching a show at 3rd and Lindsley. The first time he played here was in 2021 when 129 people showed up. But when he played at this venue in 2022, it was sold out!
He treated us to a new song he recorded the day before, the hymn-like “Hallelujah High.” I think he has another hit! Crowd favorites included “Hardwood Floors” and “Family Ties.” Charles Wesley Godwin has arrived. If you haven’t heard him already, check him out.
(A great start to the festival! Check out our stories, posts and photos on Instagram and Facebook @MusicCityArts, as well as our blog at www.MusicCityArts.net or www.MusicCityArtsUpdate.com.)
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