Amy Grant and Melissa Etheridge Rock the House During AmericanaFest

 By Wil Comstock

MCAU Contributing Writer

Americanafest Tuesday Evening at the Station Inn, 9/15/26

     Leaving behind the sweat and heat of the hopping BMI Rooftop Party, Chuck and I headed over to 3rd and Lindsley. I prayed for a free parking space on the way over. We grabbed the last one on the side of the building! Then, we were offered the last two seats in the venue!

     After introducing ourselves to the nice people at our table, Aubrie Sellers took the stage.  The woman next to me showed me her phone. I read “Daughter of Lee Ann Womack and Jason Sellers.”  Well, what do you know about that!  Sellers is part of the new wave of Country artists. Her edgy songs mixed with traditional country vocals set her apart from the pack.  My favorites were “Far from Home” and “My Love Will Not Change.”

     Next up, Amy Grant. Although I’ve seen her in the round in the last 20 years, this was the first time I saw a full set of Amy’s during that time period.  I joined the crowd at the foot of the stage.  Yes, I’ve been a fan since Grant’s first album.  She reached back into her catalog, opening with “Nobody Home” and “Walk on Water.”  Up front, the sound wasn’t too good, more than a little disappointing.  At 65, and after open heart surgery and a serious bike accident, Amy seemed contemplative and reflective.  A quieter woman than the one I saw on arena stages so long ago.  Except for her number one hit “Baby Baby,” most of her set came from her new album “The Me that Remains.”  I loved the ethereal “Beautiful Lone Companion” and the song she wrote with husband Vince Gill, “Until We Get It Right.”  If I headed for home at this point, I would have been filled to the brim.

     Reaching for my phone and opening the AmericanaFest app, I found that Maggie Rose would be next.  I was not familiar with her, but let me tell you, I will not forget her!  She commanded the stage. What presence, what vocals, what a dress!  Her mix of classic rock and blues reached back to the sixties but was every bit in the present.  It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I sure liked “I Could Get Used to It” and “In This Life.” The house was on its feet when Melissa Etheridge walked out during “Poison in My Well.”  Their voices blended well and lifted the song to a new level.  I’ve got to pick up one of Maggie’s albums. You should too!

     What can I say about Melissa Etheridge that you don’t already know?  Powerful, sassy vocals; a gunslinger on guitar; and a Kansas native living in sunny California.  She set the mood for the evening opening with “Don’t You Want a Woman.” Lawd girl!  All of the numbers were from her new album “Rise,” except for the last song.  I could hear every lyric and every word she spoke.  That doesn’t happen much for me anymore.  Although I have several of her albums, I gained a lot of respect for her as a lyricist tonight.  She used direct, open and honest words to convey her thoughts.  She was funny and in a surprising way, quite endearing.  Highlights for me were “Matches” with Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” sandwiched in the middle.  And the closing number, “Come to My Window.”   What a night!

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AmericanaFest: Tuesday Night at 3rd and Lindsley Brings Standing Ovation for the Isaacs

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.

(The Isaacs perform at 3rd and Lindsley)

 

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.

(Darrell Scott performs at 3rd and Lindsley)

 

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.)

(Charles Wesley Godwin performs at 3rd and Lindsley)