Monday, June 22, 2009

NSN The Levees; Kevin Kinney 6-21-09

The Levees are Nashville-based Louisiana natives who, after backing some of country music's finest, wanted to musically express love for their home state, and boy, do they ever! This is Louisiana rock and roll at it's finest. The Levees are Adam Jones on lead vocals and trombone, Dan Cohen on guitar and vocals, James Cook on bass and vocals and Derek Mixon on drums. Their setlist included some songs from their self-titled CD you can find on their myspace page (theleveesmusic) and some that aren't on CD but hopefully will be someday:

Sugarcane
Louisiana Poor Boy*
Rich Man's Blues*
On Your Way Down
Hey Joe Wilson
Country Girl
Bless Your Heart
Last Fair Deal (a Robert Johnson cover)
Electric Shoes
Dance Like Nobody's Watching You

Kevin Kinney is of course, the longtime leader of Drivin' and Cryin' and sometimes solo artist and also has a group side project called Sun Tangled Angel Revival (or S.T.A.R. for short). Tonight was almost solo. He did bring along S.T.A.R. bass man Bryan Howard, and near the end of the set, called up The Levee's drummer Derek Mixon, who joined in on drums on songs he may have never heard before, but it was great!

40 Miles Of Mountain Road
Song For Me
Let's Go Dancing
Pre-Approved, Pre-Denied
Whatever Happened To The Great American Factory
I See Georgia
Broken Hearts & Auto Parts
Which Jesus? (w. Derek Mixon)
Straight To Hell (w. Derek Mixon)

Kevin did say during the set that Drivin' N Cryin' have completed their first new album in several years and so we should be hearing from that soon.

NSN Parachute; Andy Davis 6-14-09

The NSN debut from a hot new act from Charlotsville (Parachute) and a return visit from a Nashville favorite (Andy Davis). Parachute's members have been playing together since high school. They've toured extensively with the likes of O.A.R. and Matt Nathanson, played before over a million people in Times Square on New Year's Eve and had just spent the weekend down at Bonnaroo (not performing, just enjoying it) before this gig. Their set:

Ghost
For Liz (She)
Words Meet Heartbeats
Movin' Out (Billy Joel cover)
Mess I Made
Blame It On Me
She Is Love
Back Again
Under Control

Then a return visit from one of the original artists in the Ten Out Of Tenn touring group, the talented Andy Davis, who was with us back in December, just after Christmas. Andy's set:

Good Life
Earth & Venus
Hush Money (a new song Andy called his "angry" song)
Kiss It Goodbye (also a new song)
Believable Doubt
Union & 3rd
Beautiful Day For Bad News (written on the setlist as "BD4BN")
New History (another new song)
Let The Woman
Black Keys
Brown Eyes
Get Back (Beatles cover)

NSN The Wrights; The Greencards 6-7-09

A night of two outstanding Nashville-based Americana-type groups. Opening set was a return visit from The Wrights (Adam & Shannon), last with us back in December. (See 12-21-08 blog). Then a Grammy-nominated group formed by two Australians and a Brit in Austin TX in 2003 and who subsequently move to Nashville, known for their playing of American bluegrass with a worldly feel and for their incorporation of other genres.

NSN Amy Stroup; Serena Ryder 5-31-09

If you look back at my blog for the Feb. 15th show, you'll see this night included a promise fullfilled - a return visit from Serena Ryder, this time with her full band and electrified. But first was an outstanding singer/songwriter who grew up in Abilene, TX but is now Nashville-based. She's just released her 4th independent project, a digital album called "The Other Side Of Love - Session One." During her set, she was joined on 3 songs by another top Nashville singer/songwriter, Trent Dabbs. She opened and closed with my two favorite songs by her, which are on rotation on my personal Zune.

I Fell For You
I'm In
Leaving Tonight
Long Way Home
Come On Back (w. Trent)
Chin Up (w. Trent)
Hold The Light Up (w. Trent)
Orphan Clothes
Hold On To Hope Love

Then it was time for Serena Ryder's return. She played solo acoustic back in Feb. This time the whole band was in tow for electric versions of these songs from the multiple Juno Award winner:

Is It OK
Blown Like The Wind
Truth
Brand New Love
All For Love
Winter Waltz
Dark As The Black
Sweeping The Ashes
Why Can't I Love You
Little Bit Of Red
Weak In The Knees
Melancholy Blue

NSN Dave Pahanish; Ashley Cleveland 5-24-09

A night of two great singer/songwriters from Nashville, each celebrating new CD releases. First up was Dave Pahanish. His set:

Divine Everlasting Love
Right Back Atcha
Did You Love
Completely
Without You
What Am I Waiting For
I Will
This American Life

Then came Ashley Cleveland, who's been one of Nashville's top singers and songwriters for nearly two decades and has played NSN many times, but it's always a treat. It was special to see the classic Ashley Cleveland band lineup gathering on stage for this show. Kenny Greenberg on guitar, Michael Rhodes on bass, Reese Wynans on B3 organ and Chad Cromwell on drums is a lineup that just can't lose. They are the group that recorded the new album "God Don't Never Change," which celebrates vintage Black Gospel songs and the set included many songs from the new album and some past favorites:

Don't Let Me Fall
The Blessing
When The World Comes To An End
You Gotta Move
Rock In A Weary Land
God Don't Never Change
My God Called Me This Morning
Samson & Delilah
Keep Your Lamp Trimmed
Power Of Love
Higher Ground

NSN Backyard Tire Fire; Cracker 5-17-09

A rockin' night! Backyard Tire Fire is a hard-touring, alternative-country group from Bloomington, IL. They pull from folk, country and blues influences for their rootsy, road-ready rock. On one song during their opening 8pm set, they called up Johnny Hickman from Cracker to join in on guitar. At 9, it was Cracker's return to NSN. They helped introduce brash irreverence and irony to alternative rock and their power punk hits just as hard as it did when they started out 18 years ago. Led, as always by David Lowery and Johnny Hickman, they played a few songs off their new album "Sunrise In The Land Of Milk & Honey," alongside favorites like "Eurotrash Girl," "Teen Angst," "Low," and "Happy Birthday To Me."

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

NSN Rick Huckaby; Blue Mother Tupelo 5-10-09

Both segments on this night featured fine Nashville-based acts. First up was Rick Huckaby, born in Louisiana, raised in West Virginia, and living here in Nashville since 1996. He's played guitar, sang and written songs with Tracy Lawrence and others. He self-released his CD "Call Me Huck" on his own label, Headcoach. That name is a tribute to his dad, who was a coach. Rick's set:

She Gets Me High
City Life
My Bad
Sing It To You
I Got You Covered
Diggin' At My Scars
Can't Miss Kid
Call Me Huck

Then it was Blue Mother Tupelo, the husband and wife team of Ricky Davis and Micol Davis. They met at UT-Knoxville, found they had mutual interests in music, began performing there and eventually moved to Nashville in 1998. Their music is a unique blend of soul, blues and mountain music. Sometimes they perform as a duo, but tonight, celebrating the release of their 3rd album "Heaven and Earth," it was full-band configuration, which allowed them to rock out.
The set:

Always Lookin'
Heaven & Earth
Give It Away
The War
Goin' Down Midnight
Wandering Soul
Tupelo
Ramblin' Train
Hand In Hand
High In The Sky
Runnin' Around
Gustard Bellue

Spotted in the audience enjoying the show were some other great Nashville artists: Mac Gayden and Mindy Smith. Mindy told me we'll be hearing from her soon, as she has completed a new album. My sources tell me it'll be called "Stupid Love" and will be released on August 11th.