Tin Pan South: Songwriting Legends Take Douglas Corner Stage for 10th Straight Year

Wednesday, First show at Douglas Corner

Rob Crosby, Angela Kaset, Bret Jones, and Allen Shamblin

Report from MCAU Contributing Writer Wil Comstock

            These guys have been playing this show at Tin Pan South for at least the last 10 years. I have made it to six of those shows. I never tire of the old tunes, and I look forward to the new ones.  

            Rob Crosby is one of the reasons I started listening to Country Music in 1990. The first time I came to Nashville in ’91, I saw him perform at Douglas Corner. I just love this guy. Rob started with “Somewhere Down the Line”.  Second time around we heard “Till the Last Shots Fired”, a hit for Trace Adkins that was originally recorded by Merle, Willie and Ray Price but never released. Rob loved the Beatles and was excited to write with Carl Perkins. He went to his house and saw all the pictures on the wall of Carl and the Beatles. Perkins was 6-foot, 2-inches tall. Paul looked short standing next to him. When Rob mentioned this to Carl, he said, “Yeah, he’s just a little bitty fella just like you are!” Rob swallowed his pride, and together they wrote the driving “A Mile out of Memphis”.  The crowd also enjoyed hearing the Eric Paslay hit, “Friday Night”.  Rob stays current by writing with younger writers. He laughed, saying they often call him “sir”.  He invited newcomer Tyler Fillmore to the stage to sing their co-write, “Change the Station”.  We all shed a tear on the Martina McBride cut “Concrete Angel” and agreed heartily on Rob’s “One More Day to Try”.  

Rob Crosby (Photo by Wil Comstock)

            Angela Kaset is one of Nashville’s greatest treasures.  It was worth going to this show if I only heard her first number, “Peace in this House”,  a melodic tune written to her children.  We all smiled during her song “Jesus with the Light Brown Hair". Things are not always as they appear.  She also sang her theme song “At this Stage of my Middle Age”, which was recently put on hold much to her surprise.  She did one of my favorite songs, the classic Lori Morgan cut “Something in Red”. The inspiration for the song came one March day when she was driving along interstate 40 and saw the first green of spring.  She closed with “You Fool”, written in the style of the American Songbook.  Hey Lori (Morgan)... are you looking for another number one?

Angela Kaset (Photo by Chuck Whiting)

            Brett Jones used to play football for the University of Georgia, and sometimes that energy comes through his songs like his first number, the Jason Aldean cut “Crazy Town”, a tune about living in Nashville.  Brett is a people watcher. One day he saw a couple who looked like the nursery rhyme Jack Sprat.  He started thinking and wrote “Something for Everybody”. Ten years ago, Jones had his life all figured out. He bought land in Wyoming near a lake, bought a boat, and figured he would spend a few months each year up there fishing and writing.  It worked out for a couple of years until his girlfriend told him she was pregnant. Now all that is left of the boat is the Billy Currington hit, “That’s How Country Boys Roll”. He reminisced on life and the passing of time on the tender “Your Last Day of Being Three”. Brett always wanted to write a song for his brother who was killed in Vietnam. He finally did it, writing "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away". It was eventually recorded by Justin Moore. It's a sentiment everyone who has lost someone dear can relate to.  

Brett Jones (Photo by Wil Comstock)

            Songwriter Hall of Famer Allen Shamblin dedicated the night to Merle Haggard, who had passed away earlier in the day.  Allen said the first time he saw Merle was in a small Texas club where he sat about 15 feet away from him.  Shamblin then segued into “What I’m For”, written with Marc Beeson.  He had us in stiches singing “I Like Frogs”, who along with Allen, do not like Biology! His next song sat on the back burner for six years before he and co-writer Tom Douglas took another look at it. They cleaned it up, and Miranda Lambert recorded “The House That Built Me”.  Allen’s love for his great-grandfather led him to write “He Walked on Water".  He sweetly sang the song in his boy-like way, eyes closed, rocking his body, and touching our hearts once again.  How lucky can a guy get than to hear two of his favorite songs played by the songwriter in one night?  Shamblin made that happen for me when he played his huge hit for Bonnie Raitt, “I Can’t Make You Love Me” (Kaset did previously with “Something in Red”).  Allen said he doesn’t often play other peoples songs.  When he first started playing guitar as a kid, he was often told his rendition didn’t sound anything like the original.  But he took a chance and closed the night with the Haggard tune, “Sing Me Back Home”.  We were all glad he did.

Allen Shamblin (Photo by Wil Comstock)

 

 

         From now through April 10, Music City Arts Network will be posting coverage and tweeting out messages about this year's Tin Pan South songwriting festival. Follow us http://www.Twitter.com/MusicCityArts and http://www.Facebook.com/MusicCityArts. Please share your TPS experiences with us.

Douglas Corner Shows Touch Hearts on 'Tin Pan South's' Second Night

'TIN PAN SOUTH' REPORT

Day Two: March 25 (Wednesday)

         For these two MCAU writers, the quality of day two measured up to the first night, but in a different way. The shows we attended on Wednesday were beautiful, eloquent and less produced, offering a living room-like acoustic feel with playful camaraderie. Douglas Corner is perfect for these kinds of shows with songwriters (most of them good friends) facing each other as they perform in a square-shaped pattern. The give-and-take is warm, friendly and down-to-earth... a pleasant treat for the music lovers and fans who surround them.

Rachel Thibodeau and Blessing Offer Celebrate after their
"Tin Pan South" show at Douglas Corner on March 25

First Show (Early Show at Douglas Corner):  

         The first show featured Rob Crosby, Allen Shamblin, Angela Kaset, and Brett Jones.

         Angela Kaset kicked this round off with her Lorrie Morgan hit, “Something in Red”.  Why does this song always make me cry?  What a slice of life, so honest and true.  She reflected over her life with the tender “Jesus with the Light Brown Hair”, later joking it was inspired by the Stephen Foster song “Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair”.  Kasset said writing was therapy as she introduced “Sunshine Through the Pain”, which was inspired by the losses the Nashville Music Community has suffered this past year.  She caused a little controversy when she sang a line from the tongue-in-cheek tune "More For Me": "Give up what you've got and they'll be more for me”. Crosby interrupted, saying, "It’s a song about Republicans!" He later confessed, “My father would say it’s a song about Democrats. I guess you could look at it from both sides.”

         Brett Jones (I mistakenly thought I was going to see Brett James but was not disappointed!) had us all rockin’ on His Jason Aldean hit “Crazy Town” (inspired by all of the changes that have taken place in Nashville over the 25 years that Jones has lived here).  I was a little insulted, but smiled, when Brett said don’t look for any country boys in New Jersey as he related an experience he had there while introducing “That’s How Country Boys Grow”.  But I got over it and enjoyed his 2009 cut by Billy Currington.  I hope Brett gets over it too!  Everyone listened intently as he told us that his brother’s name is on the Vietnam Memorial in Washington. He then segued into “If Heaven Wasn’t so Far Away”, a tribute to his brother.  He had us belly laughing and shaking our heads on “Monkey with a Blue Tail”, an upbeat cut from his “Cowboy Sailor” album.  The inspiration from this one came one Sunday when his wife dragged him to church to hear a boring preacher. His eyes were on the 4-year-old in front of him coloring a monkey with a blue tail!

         Any bill that has Allen Shamblin on it is going to be great. I love everything he writes and no one puts more heart into his songs than he does. I remember having tears in my eyes the first time I heard co-writer Marc Beeson perform "What I'm For" several years ago. It was just as moving when Shamblin sang the line, “You don't have to guess what I'm against if you know what I'm for”.  Can it get any better?  By the way... Pat Green cut this song.  We all related to “The House That Built Me”, which won a Grammy for Miranda Lambert.  To celebrate the 25th anniversary of his first publishing deal, Allen decided to write a children’s song “I Like Frogs” with the line, “Just like me they hate biology!"  Six months after he signed his deal, he was told his option was coming up and he would be dropped if he couldn’t produce a song that was a potential cut.  At an all-time low and thinking of returning home, he turned on the TV and a preacher was pointing his finger at him saying, “There is someone willing to give up on their dream... the last stretch of the race is always the hardest.” Allen took heart and wrote his first number one, “He Walked on Water”, a song we all hope to hear Randy Travis sing again.  Allen closed by saying, shortly after moving to Nashville on Dec. 31, 1987, he had no money, no job, no friends, and he prayed “God help me”.  He then said “God has answered my prayer” as he closed with “I Can’t Make You Love Me”.

         I first started listening to Country Music in 1991. One of the first albums I bought was Rob Crosby’s “Solid Ground”.  I’ve been a fan ever since. Rob’s first song was the Trace Adkins' cut “Till The Last Shot’s Fired”. It begins with the Civil War Battle of Nashville, moves to World War II, and ends with Vietnam and Afghanistan. “No we can’t come home till the last shot’s fired." Everyone clapped and sang along on the chorus of “I Want to be Your Friday Night" (cut by Lady Antebellum and Eric Paslay). You could hear a pin drop when he played “Concrete Angel”, a song about child abuse that Martina McBride brought to number five.  Rob closed with a song he wrote with Carl Perkins and Dottie Moore, the energetic “Mile out of Memphis”, a duet by Paul Simon and Carl Perkins (a song that stayed in my head all night).

-- Wil Comstock, MCAU Contributing Writer

 Second Show (Late Show at Douglas Corner):

         I arrived at Douglas Corner in a rather anxious mood. The night before, I was thrilled by the big-show mix of beautiful voices, guitars and percussion at 3rd and Lindsley. But now my thoughts were on the whirlwind of the day's events. The lovely J.Karen Thomas (who died Thursday) was in her last days of battling a serious illness, and various busy personal challenges cluttered my mind. I needed to be touched and encouraged... moved by messages of love, hope, togetherness and friendship. The evening of heartfelt performances by Jamie Floyd, Blessing Offor, Mark D. Sanders, and Rachel Thibodeau did just that... with "a little bit of country, a little bit of rock 'n' roll, and insatiable accents of R&B, jazz and pop."

         Stevie Wonder is one my favorite artists, so hearing the multi-talented Blessing Offor soulfully sing about love and togetherness was a true blessing. He began his set with a jazzy number called "Star Gazing", delighting the audience with his souring, wandering vocals and expert guitar riffs. His funkiest number, "Bad", was playful and fun... accented with masterful "dobro'n" by Josh Matheny. Tender moments came after he moved to piano. The sultry and romantic "Grow Together" encouraged us to "put (our) roots down", and the gospel-like ballad "This Is Life" (with lovely dobro accents) revealed how a loving relationship can "keep you going in the dark". The song that resonates with me the most though is "Fingers". The gentle tune included the memorable lines, "My fingers are always looking for yours... Tell me what your fingers know." Of course, wise-cracker Mark D. Sanders had to "ruin" the performance afterwards (and prompt a few laughs) by saying he was going to write a song about his wife giving him "the finger". Oh well... Not everyone is a quiet romantic like me.

Blessing Offor

         I loved every song that Jamie Floyd performed. The clarity and power of her vocals came through immediately on the bluesy, knock-out number "Casino". I was deeply touched by "The People You Knew", a song co-written with Bostonian Lori McKenna. How do you feel when you "can't call someone anymore... not (knowing) what we're missing." As I listened, I thought about potential friendships that never happened, romances that never materialized, and the deaths of friends and family members who touched my life. Her background vocalist boyfriend, Dave (sitting to her left), joined Jamie on the delightful "Trouble Get Me Off Your Mind", a song featured in the Dolly Parton movie, "A Country Christmas Story". She closed her set with "The Blade" a tune co-written with Marc Beeson and Allen Shamblin. I can still hear her singing the stinging words, "You caught it by the handle... I caught it by the blade". Unfortunately, we all get hurt sometimes. What can we learn from it?

Josh Matheny's dobro
playing was outstanding

         Piano writer Rachel Thibodeau was very apologetic when she walked in late... seeming to have just stepped out of the shower. She has an exuberant, happy-go-lucky personally (with humility) that works well in a Douglas Corner "living room" environment. "I haven't performed in a year, so I'm very nervous," she told her songwriting friends and the crowd. Her charm made an occasional flub refreshing... encouraging songwriters like me to stop worrying about every note and to just have fun. Her gentle rendition of "Where Do We Go From Here" came to life with the aching cry of Josh's dobro. She introduced "I Give It To You" by thanking Martina McBride. "I was at a crossroads when I wrote it," she told the crowd. "I didn't know that Martina had the song. She told me she had been listening to a rough, taped version for three years." Rachel held her 5-year-old daughter on her knee briefly before performing the Billy Currington hit "Directions", the song that "bought" her house.

Rachel Thibodeau cuts up with Blessing Offor

         I've seen Mark D. Sanders many times over the years, and every one of his performances seems better than the last. Mark is a class act... a humble guy who loves family along with an easy-going life of fishing and shooting the bull. He's an excellent storyteller and "jokemeister" who can get away with saying things someone like me would get slapped for (i.e. "My wife gave me the finger.") The audience was treated to hits like "Blue Clear Sky", "(This Ain't) No Thinkin' Thing", and "Heads Carolina, Tails California". The audience especially appreciated it when he was joined by his daughter, Sophie, on a new song they co-wrote called "Sailing On". "I love my children... all five of them," Mark noted with a smile. "My daughter asked me to write with her after she returned from the Peace Corps." The poignant lyric includes the lines, "It's hard to leave, but you go because you have to... Love can be a distant island." I was glad Mark left one of his best songs for last (one I definitely needed to hear that night). "I Hope You Dance" remains one of my favorite country songs. How many times have we shyly sat on a chair while others danced around us?

Like family... Great music and good times

         In retrospect, hanging out at Douglas Corner was the perfect thing to do on the second night of "Tin Pan South". I feel encouraged... looking forward to hearing more talented artists and writing more songs.

        

-- Chuck Whiting, MCAU Editor

All photos by Chuck Whiting.

See photos from the TPS Opening Party at the Roundabout at www.MusicCityArtsUpdate.com.

Do you have a "Tin Pan South" story/experience to tell.  We can only be so many places at one time. Please send it to us at Info@MusicCityArtsUpdate.com .

     Check out the "Tin Pan South" schedule at http://www.tinpansouth.com/2015/schedule.html .

'Tin Pan South' Displays Brilliance and Partying on Third Night

'TIN PAN SOUTH' REPORT

Day Three: March 27 (Thursday)

         "Tin Pan South" continues to fill Nashville's music venues with song, drawing thousands of music lovers from across the nation. Covering shows for MCAU on Thursday night (Day Three) were reporters Scott Johnson and Wil Comstock. They decided to take in the 6 p.m. show at Douglas Corner(featuring Rob Crosby, James Dean Hicks, Angela Kaset, and Allen Shamblin); and the 6 p.m. show at the Rutledge (featuring Barry Dean, Natalie Hemby, and Luke Laird).

March 27 (Thursday):

DOUGLAS CORNER (Early Show):

         There is something remarkable about Douglas Corner Café. At first glance, it seems like just another tiny music venue, but when you walk inside, you notice it has the “It factor.” It’s dimly lit interior with lamps hanging low establish a certain ambience that is rarely duplicated. This would be a great place to take a date but only if they were ready to listen and enjoy. The songwriters were gathered in the middle of the room at eye level. No stage was needed, as this was an intimate performance. It felt like you were having a group of talented songwriters over to hang in your living room for a jam session.

         The room was packed with creative energy. In fact, over half of the room admitted to being songwriters themselves. Special guests in the audience included legendary album producer Jerry Crutchfield (Tanya Tucker, Lee Greenwood) and Hugh Prestwood (songwriter).

Shamblin, Hicks, Kaset and Crosby

         The songwriters took turns in the round playing some of their most popular hits and telling the stories behind the music. A true highlight was hearing Hall of Fame songwriter Allen Shamblin talk about the iconic Bonnie Raitt hit “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” The lyrics ache with such vulnerability, and I’d easily put it in my Top 5 best written songs of all time. Shamblin happily shared the spotlight with 16-year-old songwriter Athena Koumanelis of Nashville. Shamblin said he met the teen before the show, and she mentioned that the song was one of her favorites to sing live. Koumanelis did a brilliant job singing and playing keyboards. The performance reflected the spirit of "Tin Pan South" – songwriters supporting songwriters. 

         Shamblin’s set included Miranda Lambert’s CMA Song of the Year “The House That Built Me.” The room was nearly silent as he performed the gorgeous song. He also achieved the same effect while performing the Randy Travis hit “He Walked on Water.” During the performance, he gave advice to aspiring songwriters.

Allen Shamblin congratulates
Athena Koumanelis

“My advice is to pray. Ask God for a good idea. I believe God’s got all the good ideas,” he said.

Angela Kaset also had an incredible set of songs. She thanked producer Jerry Crutchfield for taking a chance on her, admitting that her style is a bit different for Nashville. Her voice was reminiscent of Joni Mitchell and Carole King; therefore, I was immediately won over! Some of the biggest applause of the night came during her performance of the Lorrie Morgan hit “Something in Red.” Kaset’s feminism came into play several times during the night. “Against My Own Will” had a wonderful line about it being time to “woman up!” and “Peace in This House” (Wynonna) talked of balancing the demands of being a mother and wife.

A night in Music City isn’t complete without a special guest or two. The songwriters called Hugh Prestwood to the stage, and he indulged the crowd by telling stories about how record producer Clive Davis turned down the hit “Ghost in My House” (Shenandoah, Alison Krauss). 

Songwriters James Dean Hicks and Rob Crosby provided humor and infectious enthusiasm during the night by joking about guitar solos gone wrong. Hicks performed the moving “Jesus and Mama” (Confederate Railroad), the #1 hit “Goodbye Time” (Conway Twitty and Blake Shelton), and “Grandpa Told Me So (Kenny Chesney). Hicks admitted that a lot of his inspiration comes from driving and told a great story about being persistent to achieve your dreams. Hicks said he always wanted Merle Haggard to sing one of the lines to his songs, and he achieved that during a Blaine Larsen recording session. Crosby also had plenty of hits to play, including a gorgeous rendition of “Concrete Angel” (Martina McBride) that included out-of-this-world harmonies from the entire group. He had the biggest groove of the night with “Mile Out of Memphis.” He explained that he co-wrote the tune with the legendary Carl Perkins, and that Carl lifted him up during a dark time of his life. The song was recorded with Paul Simon on his last duets CD.

Angela Kaset and James Dean Hicks

This was a "Tin Pan South" show I’ll never forget, and now I have a new favorite musical venue. Thanks to Douglas Café Corner for a great night and fantastic atmosphere. Go see these amazing songwriters if you get a chance. You won’t regret it.

-- Scott Johnson, MCAU Assistant Editor

THE RUTLEDGE (Early Show):

         I had decided to cover the TPS show featuring Barry Dean, Natalie Hemby, Luke Laird and band.

         This turned out to be the "Happy Hour Show"... drinking and party songs with a thundering backup band. Working both full-time and part-time jobs, plus covering "Tin Pan South", I was looking forward to the kind of show Luke Laird put together last year with Natalie Hemby and Brett Eldridge: Three writers, three guitars and three wonderful voices whose every word I could hear. I was in for a surprise.

Barry Dean

          Natalie kicked off the party with the Toby Keith hit “Drinks After Work”, a song she penned with Laird and Dean. Barry Dean sang the uncut “Day Drinking”, a fun number with a catchy riff that he taught the audience to whistle on the chorus. We all sang along with Laird on the chorus of “Drink in my Hand”, the Eric Church single he wrote with Eric and Michael P. Heeney.  We were also treated to Dean’s “Mix it with Rum” and the Thomas Rhett cut “Sorry for Partying”, a song inspired by one of Rhett’s crew who arrived late to the bus one night feeling way too good and looking for a fight.

         Natalie introduced us to her lovely co-writer, Maren Morris, who joined her on the beautifully haunting ballad, “Who Told You There Was No Way Out” and the upbeat “Automatic”. Another highlight was Luke’s “Beat This Summer”, last year’s huge hit for Brad Paisley that he wrote with Paisley and Chris Dubois.

Natalie Hemby and Luke Laird

         Remember when you first came to town and got shushed at the Bluebird for talking during a song? No problem at this show. The back-up guitar god was playing riffs while the writers were introducing their songs. And if you spoke to your neighbor during one of the performances, so what? No one seemed to mind... ‘cause this was a party! 

-- Wil Comstock, MCAU Contributing Writer

See photos from the TPS Opening Party at the Roundabout at http://musiccityartsupdate.blogspot.com/2014/03/photos-tin-pan-south-kicks-off-on-march.html

Read our report on the shows from Day One (March 25) at http://musiccityartsupdate.blogspot.com/2014/03/day-one-tin-pan-south-brings-excitement.html

Read our report on the shows from Day Two (March 26) at http://musiccityartsupdate.blogspot.com/2014/03/day-two-of-tin-pan-south-filled-with.html

Do you have a "Tin Pan South" story/experience to tell.  We can only be so many places at one time. Please send it to us at Info@MusicCityArtsUpdate.com.

     Check out the "Tin Pan South" schedule at http://www.tinpansouth.com/2014/schedule.html.