AmericanaFest 2023: Thirty Tigers Annual Gospel Show and Brunch Features Newcomers

By Wil Comstock

MCAU Contributing Writer 

The 11th Annual Gospel Brunch: Presented by Thirty Tigers

Sept. 23 at City Winery 

     Most folks have learned that if you want a good seat and be done with your chicken and waffles before the show starts, come early! 

     Australian DJ Henry Wagons emceed the program for the second year in a row, why does this guy annoy me so? 

Lauren Housley

     I must say from the top that I missed not seeing The McCrary Sisters and their band this year. I understand that change is good, and others need to have the opportunity. But why mess with it if it’s not broken?

     Highlights from the show include Maggie Antone’s “Departed Angel,” a song written for her cousin, who passed last Christmas. And her straight-to-the-heart rendition of “How Great Thou Art.” 

     Texan Pug Johnson treated us to “I’m Gonna Change Myself Today” with a little bit of twang and a litle bit of sincerity. 

     Logan Halstead, who was born in Kentucky and raised in West Virginia, sang “Angel on my Shoulder” with his rich baritone voice. 

     Canadian artist AHI asked us to let him come into our hearts and knock out the cobwebs. His “Danger” is a tribute to those who have died from an act of senseless violence. 

     AMA Emerging Artist of the Year Adeem the Artist performed “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” and ‘I will Burn in the Fire.” 

     Parker Milsap set a prayer of gratefulness that is used by Michigan indigenous nations to music. He came up with the beautiful “Now We Are One.” I especially enjoyed his number “Before the Curtain Closes” in 6/8 time. 

     Lauren Housley from Yorkshire, England, brought her band the Northern Cowboys. I knew it was going to be good when a trumpet and sax player were among the band. She had the audience swaying on the numbers “It’s the Only Way,” “High Time,” a song about the environment, and “Be Good to Me.”

     All of the performers returned to the stage for the Grand Finale “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” trading off verses as the Cowboys accompanied. 

     Did I mention that I missed the McCrary Sisters this year?

Text by Wil Comstock

Photos by Chuck Whiting

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Indigo Girls, Compass Records, and Awards Show Highlight Day Two of Americana Fest

Chuck’s Diary: Day Two of Americana Fest 2022

Instagram and Facebook: @Chuck.Whiting and @MusicCityArts 

 “We don’t write songs together… We arrange together.” Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls. (A fascinating interview with one of America’s legendary pop duos… hotdogs and ice cream on Nashville’s Music Row… live musical performances and parties at the Hutton and City Winery. Wednesday was a full day of activities at the Americana Music Fest. The Indigo Girls told their life/career stories during a special morning panel discussion at the Westin. They were later honored as recipients of the AMA’s 2022 Free Speech Award. Around noonish, we took in a series of performances at Compass Records, including the wonderful Chastity Brown and the duo Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley (the best musicianship I’ve heard in a good while). Compass always serves up complimentary hotdogs, chips and beer. Later, we took in a series of Texas-style showcases at the Hutton hosted by State Fair Records. We were especially impressed with Nathan Mongol Wells, whose songs were brought to vivid life by tight players. We arrived at City Winery just in time for the 10th Anniversary Happy Hour and a performance by the vibrant Kyshona. We missed the toast, but still enjoyed a glass of champagne with a delicious piece of chocolate cake. This year, we decided to stay at City Winery for the Official Viewing Party of the 21st Annual Americana Honors and Awards. I’m so glad we did. I always see someone I know. This time it was Lisa Aschmann (who seems to be at several events at once). She introduced us to two fellow singer-songwriters, whom we ended up spending the evening with. Speaking of the awards show, one can’t go wrong watching performances and banter by the likes of the Fairfield Four, Brandi Carlile, Lyle Lovett, Chris Isaak, Allison Russell, the Indigo Girls, War and Treaty, the McCrary Sisters, and more. Robert Plant made a special appearance to honor fellow musician and friend Buddy Miller. The show was emotional at times, with the honorees giving heartfelt acceptance speeches. Americana Fest is just getting started… More music tonight!) #ChuckWhiting #ChucksDiary #IndigoGirls #AmericanaFest #Americana #AmericanaMusicFest #Music #Art #Arts #Nashville #MusicCityArts 9-15-22

Americana Music Fest: Garrison Star, Beth Nielsen Chapman, and The Brother Brothers Rock Nashville

Americana Music Fest

City Winery and Mercy Lounge, Friday (Sept. 24, 2021)

By Wil Comstock

MCAU Contributing Writer

 

NASHVILLE — I had heard of Garrison Starr, but I had never heard her sing. What a powerful voice full of soul and raw sincerity. She’s also a great storyteller! 

She told us that she grew up in Mississippi and went to an evangelical high school. But she was tired of hiding her sexuality and decided in the mid-90s she could no longer live in the deep South. So she moved to LA! The first person she saw was a guy with very long hair, wearing a pink bikini, riding a bicycle!  She told herself, “Hey, I’m going to be alright.” She then sang us her love song to LA, “Downtown Hollywood.”

 

Starr said she grew up surrounded by music in the church but felt so much hate and prejudice there. She got to the point where she didn’t want to have anything to do with it. Then a few years ago, she realized she wasn’t going to let them take Gospel away from her. Garrison started writing and co-writing Gospel-influenced songs again. One of the first ones she wrote was “On My Way to Forgiveness.”

 

Starr brought out Chris Pierce to join her on the swamp gospel “Bones.” Teaching us the lyrics to the chorus first and encouraging us to sing along, “Ain't no chain gonna hold you down, Ain't no grave gonna hold you now, Yesterday done came and gone, Ain't it time to bury them bones.”  

She then brought out Sean McConnell, and the three of them harmonized on “The Train that’s Bound for Glory,” a song written for her grandfather. She closed duetting with McConnell on the soaring ballad “Nothing Without You,” which brought everyone to their feet.  

Next up was Beth Nielson Chapman. I knew something good was up when I noticed a full band, two background singers, and a trumpet player coming on the stage at various times to do a sound check. Previously I had only seen Chapman on guitar and keyboard. Tonight was different! She announced that she and the band would be playing as many songs as they could from her upcoming album “Crazy Town.”  The tracks were completed just five days before the pandemic hit Nashville.

 

When Chapman launched into the upbeat “All Around the World,” I knew I was really in for a special treat. You could feel the energy from the stage. Beth said Keb’ Mo’ called her up one day and said, “I need you over here to help me finish a song. The result was “Put a Woman in Charge,” a fun, yet serious song about the mess that men have made of things. All of the songs were stellar. My favorite was “Welcome to Heaven,” a song she wrote with Kimmie Rhodes and Mindy Smith dedicated to John Prine. Having gone through cancer himself, Prine heard Chapman had been diagnosed.  He gave her a call and said, “I heard you got Cancer.” She said, “Yes.”  He ended up coming over and spending the afternoon with her.  A true friend.

 

After Chapman’s set, I walked over to Cannery Row to hear The Brother Brothers at Mercy Lounge. Identical twins David and Adam Moss are originally from Peoria, Ill., and formerly based in Brooklyn, N.Y. They now live in Nashville. Their sound is timeless, reminding me of the Everly Brothers and Simon and Garfunkel. Their humor brought up memories of the Smother’s Brothers.

 

The brothers, Adam Moss on violin and David Moss on guitar, opened with “Colorado,” a song for a friend who was bound to break his girl’s heart. Their lyrics are simple and fresh, often laced with scenes from nature. Their “Ocean’s Daughter” is a cry for the environment we are destroying.  

David borrowed Adam’s guitar and Adam picked up the cello for the haunting “Banjo Song.” The singer asks the banjo player why he doesn’t play anymore. “It’s just no fun” was the answer, having lost his drive to entertain himself and others. 

David introduced “Frankie,” saying this is a song about real estate. The lyrics are about a bartender talking to a customer about how much has changed since the gentrification of the neighborhood. The old crowd is gone. They couldn’t afford to stay in their homes when the taxes were raised. This reminded me of what is going on in Nashville right now. 

The Moss brothers closed with the mournful Peter Rowan classic “Angel Island” about a gold prospector who leaves his Chinese bride on the island while he is gone for years chasing his dream of becoming rich.  One day he returns to find her gone.  

Looking around the room, I could see the honesty and sincerity of The Brother Brothers was felt by everyone in the room.  I hope to get the chance to see them again, soon!

 

 

Americana Music Fest Spotlights Pete Muller and the Kindred Souls, Raye Zaragoza, and Keifer Sutherland

Americana Music Fest 2021

 

City Winery, Thursday (Sept. 23)

 

By Wil Comstock

MCAU Contributing Writer

 

                  NASHVILLE -- I love harmony, so I was excited to see Pete Muller and the Kindred Souls, who all sing.  With Muller on Keyboards and lead vocals, Missy Soltero on percussion and lead vocals, Martha McDonald on violin, and John Wooley on guitar, we hear a throwback to the California sound of the '60s.  Lots of energy and harmony exude from this band. 

                  The numbers that grabbed me were “Just Trying to Find My Way” and “This Ain’t Me.”  The former is about trying to get through the craziness of today’s world. Muller said there used to be three major news networks, and they all pretty much said the same thing.  Today we have cable and a ton of networks and they are all saying something different!

 

                  In researching the band, I learned that Pete is a hedge fund manager and quantitative trader with Morgan Stanley. He also graduated with honors from Princeton in math!

 

                  There was a buzz going around about Raye Zaragoza, so I ran upstairs to the lounge to catch her set. I am so glad I did!  Zaragoza’s mother came to America as an adopted immigrant from Japan at 3 years old. Her father grew up in California and is of Mexican and Native American descent.  Raye grew up in New York City in studio apartment.

                  Without an introduction, she walked onto the stage with her guitar and opened with “I’m a Rebel Soul.”  She explained her last album was about identities, so she knew she had to write a song about her mother, and came up with “Change Your Name.”  Raye’s grandmother told her mother this before her mother left Japan.  Before she went on her first big tour, she was nervous. She took that nervous energy and turned it into “Warrior," singing “I don’t want to be nervous anymore, I’m a warrior."

 

                  Zaragoza talked about what it was like to grow up as a brown-skinned girl who looked different from the girls in the magazines, TV and  movies. From this she segued into “American Dream.” I read that Raye’s influences were Carol King, Joni Mitchel, Joan Baez, and Buffy Saint Marie.  She embodies all of them with kindness, poise and grace.

 

                  It was time to go downstairs to hear Kiefer Sutherland, a name familiar to us all.  This was my first time hearing Sutherland sing. He has a pleasing Dylan-type of voice without the rough edges. He accompanied himself on guitar and brought along a pedal steel player and a guitarist who also did background vocals.  Both fine musicians.

                  Kiefer opened with the fun “Tonight’s Rodeo,” followed by “Can’t Stay Away." He spoke of being in the studio recording the latter.  His friends were chiding and asking what girl was the song about. Sutherland didn’t answer.  His friends disappeared, and he was in the control room with his 13-year-old daughter.  She gave him a funny look and told him she knew what it was about. He said, “Okay, what’s it about?”  She answered, “That stupid bar across the street." Sutherland said none of his friends could figure that out, but here my daughter did! 

 

                  Kiefer discovered Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, and Johnny Cash as an adult.  He said Cash gave prisoners dignity by writing about prison, adding, “The first thing they take away from you in prison is your dignity.  I’ve never been to prison, but I’ve been to jail a few times so I ought to know!” “Shirley Jean” is Sutherland’s homage to Cash about a man in prison.

 

                  He closed the set with a number about one of his tours, saying, “It rained every single day, so I wrote a song about it called 'Chasing the Rain.'  I checked the Weather app to make sure it was still clear outside!"

 

 

Americana Fest: Bruce Hornsby Plays Dulcimer During Spectacular Show

By Wil Comstock

Music City Arts Contributing Writer

Bruce Hornsby and the Noise Makers

Thursday, Sept. 22 at  11 p.m. -- City Winery

High on the mercy and love from the “Mercyland’ show, I walked across town to catch Bruce Hornsby.  I was seated at a table with two other baby boomer gentlemen who had come alone.  We were a little perplexed as the stage was set for Hornsby’s show. Where is the piano!  What are all the dulcimers and the washboard doing up there?  We soon found out as Bruce and the Noise Makers took the stage.

Hornsby played dulcimer (there were three with different tunings) holding it upright in his lap.  Next to him sat the percussionist/washboard player extraordinaire, followed by the mandolin/fiddle player.  Behind them were the drum kit, which the percussionist used on a couple of songs, electric bassist, and the electric guitarist.  Form the first chords of “New Chair”, the sound was unmistakable Hornsby!  The rhythm patterns of Bruce strumming the dulcimers to the familiar Hornsby fills carried by the mandolin/fiddle player... the sound was all Bruce!   The man next to me commented that Bruce was beginning to look like FDR. Laughing, I told him he was right. 

I loved the Celtic arrangement of “Black Rats of London” and “M.I.A. in MIAMI”.  “Soon Enough” had me swaying and smiling.  Ricky Skaggs joined the band, playing mandolin for the rest of the set beginning with “Rehab Reunion”...  followed by the  fun “Who Do You Love”, the exquisite “Valley Road, and the classic “Pretty Polly”.  After Ricky entered, I leaned over to the guy next to me and said, “We not only have FDR, but now we have Ben Franklin”.  We all had a good laugh.

So what if I only got four hours of sleep that night!  This show was well worth sleep deprivation. The melodies are still running though my head carrying me through the day.       

Americana Music Fest: Henry Diltz and Pattie Boyd Charm and Inspire During 'Behind the Lens'

By Chuck Whiting

MCAU Editor

            NASHVILLE -- Some people are meant to be famous. They have a remarkable gift (something they love to do) and make themselves available for cool things to happen -- without pushing the envelope too hard. Photographer Henry Diltz is one of those people. It's almost as if he stepped out of the shower one day into rock 'n' roll legend. Of course, it wasn't as simple as all that. He just happened to be at the right place at the right time. When opportunity knocked, he said "yes".

            Diltz shared his incredible and remarkably fun stories during a show-and-tell "Behind the Lens" audiovisual presentation on Sept. 13 at Nashville City Winery during the Americana MusicFest. Before going on, I have to say that Jed Hilly and his staff have done a terrific job putting together one of the best conferences and festivals in recent memory. The "Behind The Lens" event proves that the AMF has grown up and then some.

Henry Diltz and his famous "Morrison Hotel" photo (Photo by Chuck Whiting)

            The photographer perched on a stool to the right of a large screen, sharing fascinating stories in sync with the passing frames.

            "I'm an observer," said Diltz, looking up at a photo of a beautiful girl in high heels pumping gas. "I also was a fan of cannabis".  His down-to-earth, good-natured talk drew applause and laughter from the audience.

            There were photos of Buffalo Springfield, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Michael Jackson, The Turtles, Jimmy Webb, Graham Nash, Blondie, George Harrison, and other superstars of the '60s and '70s.

            Diltz more or less got his start with a surprise album shoot for the Hollies. His notoriety grew when he was hired to shoot the Monkees for Tiger Beat. Other projects for the Partridge Family (David Cassidy), Linda Ronstadt (Stone Poneys), and Cream (Eric Clapton) followed. During the '70s, musicians were seeking him out for album covers, as well as hang time (as they still do). They enjoyed the company of a man who was somewhat like them. He could write and play songs, and he enjoyed smoking a little weed. He didn't force them into unnatural poses.

            All of his photos were amazing, but three stood out to me especially.

            * Joni Mitchell and Graham Nash looking so much in love during their tender romance in the late '60s. (Diltz spent a lot of time with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.)

            * An accidental shot of James Taylor leaning on a post in his early days. The shot was used as the cover for his second album, "Sweet Baby James".

            * The cover shot for the Doors' "Morrison Hotel". Diltz took the shot through a window into the lobby of a run-down hotel. But getting the photo wasn't easy. The hotel clerk ordered the band to leave when they began posing on a couch in front of the window. They obeyed but quickly returned (at Diltz's urging) after the employee left the room. The photo is one of the favorite items in his collection.

            What inspires me most about Henry Diltz is that he knew, hung out with, and made art with some of the greatest acts that ever took the rock 'n' roll stage. Yet, he's about as relaxed and charming as anyone you might meet. Don't push too hard, and let things happen naturally. Perhaps that's the answer for those of us who aspire to bless others with our artistic talents.

***

By Wil Comstock

MCAU Contributing Writer

            I couldn’t have been more excited about seeing Pattie Boyd. I was not disappointed. Model, actress, first wife of George Harrison and Eric Clapton. Sister-in-law of Mick Fleetwood and photographer extraordinaire.

            Pattie started her presentation by showing us her modeling photos.  She graced the cover of Vogue many times. Pattie explained that in those days the models did their own makeup and had to carry several outfits and wigs.  She noted, “Today they have all of that done for them, and they make an absorbent amount of money."  

Pattie Boyd talks photography at City Winery Nashville (Photo by Chuck Whiting)

            One day she went on a modeling interview. Later that day she received a call from her agent saying she got the role in the new Beatles film, "A Hard Day’s Night".  She said at the time, “But I can’t act.” How did I get that?"  Her agent said it was the interview she had gone on earlier in the day.  Pattie went to the wrong interview!   She did take the small part and met the Beatles during her train scene.  George Harrison asked her out.  On their first date, Brian Epstein accompanied them. While dating and later marrying Harrison, she continued to pursue her modeling career.  At the same time, she started taking up photography. George was a natural subject.  We saw lots of wonderful photos of George and Pattie with George. 

            While the Beatles were in Australia, Pattie and her sister Jenny, also a model, went to a Transcendental Meditation meeting  in London. She told George and the other Beatles about her experience when they returned. Paul learned that the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was going to be in London in two weeks. The Maharishi invited the Beatles to visit him in the foothills of the Himalayas. Pattie documented this time in India with stunning photos of the Beatles, their wives, and Donovan.  It was during this time that most of the "White Album" was written. Pattie explained that this was the last time she saw George totally relaxed and at peace.  

            Eric Clapton and George became friends and toured with Delaney and Bonnie. We were treated to lots of great photos of Eric and George. Around this time, George wrote "Something" for Pattie. Eric had a crush on Pattie, who at the time rebuffed his advances. Later, when she and Harrison divorced, she starting dating and later married Clapton, who wrote "Layla" and "Wonderful Tonight" for her.   Eventually, Eric and Pattie divorced, but she continued to take photos for magazines and later have exhibitions of her photography shown around the world.

            For more information about the Americana Music Festival, visit www.AmericanaMusic.org.