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."

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.

NSN Ben Cyllus; Paris DeLane

This week we welcomed a new friend from here in Nashville and an old friend from Chicago. Ben Cyllus comes to us in Nashville by way of Detroit. He also spent a few years in Texas before moving here. Ben, who grew up in Michigan, returned there to record his independently-released debut "Cinnamon Matinee." Joined by songwriting partner John Howard on guitar, Pete Ballard on steel, Mark Sentle on drums, and due to an injury, filling in on this night on bass was Allen Bennet who has written with Ben. The set:

Caught In The Rain
Should've Been
Cry Later
What's In A Name
Rhinestone
Main Street (Bob Seger cover)
Maybe The Moon
Come Along
Right Girl
Traffic

Our old friend from Chicago and the band Sonia Dada, Paris DeLane held court in the second half of our show. Looking dapper in all-black, he serenaded us with his astonishing voice. Several songs were from his first solo album "The Learning Tree" and some apparently from the upcoming one he's working on now. The set:

Worlds On Fire
You're Lookin' Good
Rainfall
A Patch Of Blue
Beautiful
Ready Ready
The Ballet Of The Bulls

NSN Bekka Bramlett; Shemekia Copeland 4-19-09

On this night, we got long overdue return visits to NSN by two fantastic second-generation musical artists who are both dynamic singers, Nashville's own Bekka Bramlett and New York's Shemekia Copeland. Bekka was first up, sharing her birthday with us! Bekka is the daughter of of the legendary Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett. Momma Bonnie was in the audience, and before the night was over, on stage, too. Bekka grew up in a home where Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Jimi Hendrix and other rock royalty might turn up anytime as house guests. Since she was 17, she's been making records, writing songs, and touring worldwide with some of the biggest names in music history. In the 90's she spent several years as a member of Fleetwood Mac. She's one of the most respected and in-demand singers in Nashville. Her set:

Love's In Need
Cry Baby
Skeletons
Everybody
Superstar (with Bonnie Bramlett)
I Can See Clearly Now
Never Ending Song Of Love

The last song was a tribute to Bekka's late father Delaney Bramlett, a cover of the great Delaney & Bonnie hit from the 70's. The stage was covered with special guests and friends joining in, including once again, Bonnie.

The second half of the show was given to the daughter of the late Texas blues guitar legend Johnny Clyde Copeland. Shemekia Copeland is a blues-rock force to be reckoned with herself. She's opened for the Rolling Stones, headlined the Chicago Blues Festival and other festivals around the world. She released her first album when she was 19. The critics raved and they've been raving ever since. Earlier this year, Shemekia released her fifth album, "Never Going Back," and her set was sprinkled with a generous helping of songs from it:

Sounds Like The Devil
Dirty Water
I'm A Wild Woman
Salt In My Wounds
Born A Penny
Never Going Back To Memphis
Big Brand New Religion
Who Stole My Radio
Ghetto Child
It's 2AM

NSN Jason Eskridge; Darnell Levine 4-5-09

This week we got into some of the soulful side of Nashville music with two of it's top purveyors, Jason Eskridge and Darnell Levine. Jason was first. He's served as a studio vocalist for Lyle Lovett, Jonny Lang (who was in the audience), Marc Broussard and many others. He's toured across the country and abroad and recently released his second studio project, which is a new six-song EP. The set:

Time
Everybody...Nobody
Get Together
Home
All That Is You
Love Grows Old
Shower The People (James Taylor cover)
Jav's Song
The Music

Jason stuck around as backing vocalist for Darnell Levine. Some call Darnell's music soul, some say jazz, some say inspirational, but whatever you call it, it's all just good music. He's also just released an EP which is his second studio recording. It's called "Journal Entries." The set:

Shrink Me Up
Monique
Nothing Like Friends *
High And Dry
Red Yellow Green
So Nice To Be Loved
Use What We Got

That's all we had time for on air, but they weren't done, and after the broadcast, the 3rd & Lindsley audience got treated to:

Breakthrough
What A Difference A Day Makes
Superstition (an extended jam on the Stevie Wonder song that included Jonny Lang and morphed into...) Thank You (for Letting Me By Myself Again), the old Sly Stone classic.

NSN Lynne Timmes; Tom Hemby Band 3-29-09

This week another two great talents from Nashville. First at 8 was Lynne Timmes. (It's pronounced like "Timmy's"). Based both here (a house in Spring Hill) and in New York, she's had her music featured on several network TV shows and she was involved in every step of making her debut album "Human," writing, producing, mixing, mastering and performing. Lynne's set:

Not The Girl Next Door
Human
So Serious
I Must Be Crazy
Storyboard
Once And For All
Perfect Day
Summer's Gone
Can't Wait
What's The Matter

Her band was Keith Carlock on drums, David Santos on bass, Michael Whttaker on keys and Tom Hemby on guitar.

At 9, it was time for The Tom Hemby Band. Tom's been in Nashville since 1978, been an active touring musician and an award-winning (Grammys and Doves) guitarist, producer and songwriter for a who's who list of artists. While waitng on bass player Adam Nitti to arrive from a delayed flight, they launched into a ten minute jam on an old Jeff Beck song (with David Santos sitting in) before getting into their own set of extended jams. On the air, there was only time for three more on the setlist:

Greasy G
Afro Funk
Puddin'

Adam arrived in time for Greasy G, and Keith Carlock stayed on drums and Michael Whttaker on keys. Post-broadcast, after a short break, the jamming went on into the night. One of those shows where you had to be there.

NSN Chuck Cannon; Lari White 3-22-09

On this night it was two of Nashville's finest songwriters who just so happen to be husband and wife. First up at 8 was Chuck Cannon. A Nashvillian since 1984, he's written numberous number ones and collected many BMI "Million Air" Awards. He played a bunch of songs from his new CD "Love & Money," which he and wife Lari co-produced. Chuck's set:

Poison
Money
Loose Change
Money Don't Matter
Bet Yo Mama
Messes
Boyfriend (a new, unreleased song)
Strange *

At 9, Lari White took over. She's been in Nashville since graduating from the University of Miami. She's been a major-label recording artist, gold award winner, Grammy winner, hit songwriter and record producer. "Green Eyed Soul" is her latest CD. Her set:

Right Here Right Now
Let's Keep It Together
We Got It Goin' On
Nothin But Love
Eden Before The Fall
High
Who's To Blame (a new, unreleased song)
Loved Right
One More Time

NSN Eli "Paperboy" Reed; Green River Ordinance 3-15-09

Tonight we had two emerging acts that made for both a soulful and rockin' night! First up, from Boston, was Eli "Paperboy" Reed. He may be white and he may be from Boston, but make no mistake, Eli is a soul man! The reputation for firey live shows with his band The True Loves is well-deserved. The set:

Intro
Ooo Wee Baby
Stake Your Claim
Getcha Back
Easier
Break Every Heart*
Time Will Tell (new, unreleased song)
Satisfier
Love Of A Man (new, unreleased song)
Foolin' Myself
Take My Love With You

Our headliner, Green River Ordinance is a "new" band that's just beginning to break out nationally, even though they've been together for a long time and are fairly famous in Ft. Worth, Texas. This group got started when they were literally just kids, and for a long time, they played clubs they couldn't legally get into! All grown up now, they're signed to Virgin Records, their new CD "Out Of My Hands" is out and we've been playing the song "Come On" from it on Lightning 100. It was one of the highlights of their rockin' set:

Getting Older
Out Of My Hands
Sleep It Off
Goodbye L.A.
Learning
Come On*
Outside
Here We Are
Endlessly
On Your Own

Monday morning, the two Josh's from GRO, guitarist and lead vocalist Josh Jenkins and guitarist Joshua Wilkerson, got up early and came down for a bonus "in-studio" performance on our morning show with Mary Brace. The rest of the band is Jamey Ice on guitar, Geoff Ice on bass, (yes, they are brothers), and Denton Hunker on drums. Nice guys all, they were hoping to head home for a couple days off before heading to the South By Southwest Festival in Austin.

NSN Keaton Simons; Tyrone Wells 3-8-09

A couple of west-coasters were our guests tonight. First up was multi-talented Keaton Simons, who grew up in L.A., has been singing and playing since he was a kid, and decided to make music his career by the time he was 14. Keaton had an album ready to release in 2004. You may remember us playing "Currently" from it on Lightning 100 back then, but the label folded before the retail release, so it never made it into record stores. It wasn't until last year that the way was clear for him to release a new CD. Appropriately, he named it "Can You Hear Me?" Keaton's set:

Misfits
Without Your Skin
Nobody Knows
Currently*
Masterpiece
Unstoppable
Mama Song
Radioactive
Good Things Get Better*


Our headliner, Tyrone Wells, was paying us a return visit, two years after first appearing on NSN as an opener. That was when his first major-label release "Hold On" was out. We played a song called "What Are We Fighting For" from it on Lightning 100. Keaton's new album is called "Remain" and you're hearing the song "More" from it on Lightning 100. Tyrone's set:

Need
Sink or Swim
Falling
Baby Don't (with Keaton Simons on guitar)
Looking At Her Face (solo, and by request)
Ain't No Sunshine (solo)
Hate Song (solo)*
Wondering Where You Are
Remain
Sea Breeze
More / All Is Said & Done*

Spotted in the audience: Local Lightning artists Josh Hoge and Curtis Peoples, who both wound up on stage before the night was over. Josh was just on NSN 3 weeks ago, and he also played "Ain't No Sunshine" that night. When Tyrone launched into it, Josh leaned over to me and joked "What? Is this becoming a Nashville Sunday Night standard now?"

NSN Mando Saenz; Jedd Hughes 3-1-09

This week we had a couple of guys who started life in other countries and have wound up in Nashville making music. First up was Mando Saenz, born in Mexico, raised in Texas, and a guitar player since he was 11 years old. Since relocating from Houston to Nashville, he's co-written with Will Kimbrough, Kim Richey and other of Nashville's finest songwriters. Mando's set:

Road Unwound
Wrong Guy
Pocket Of Red
In The Back Of Your Mind
Breakaway Speed
Seven Dollars
All Grown Up
Colorado
Pittsburgh

Then it was time for Jedd Hughes, who grew up in Australia, and also found his way to Nashville by way of Texas. Jedd's another one who's been playing since he was very young. Pretty quickly after moving to Nashville, he landed a gig playing guitar for Patty Loveless. Jedd's set:

I Want You
When You're Close
Big Blue Sky
Hollywood
Hold On (Tom Waits cover)
Scatter Brain*
I Only Ever Tried To Make You Smile
Baby Don't Do It
I Wish You Were Here
Pass You By*
Lay Lady Lay
Kill My Blues

Spotted in the audience: old pal and former Warner Brothers promotion man Gene Dries, who ironically was the guest on tonight's lead-in show on Music Business Radio. It was wild to be listening to him on the radio driving in to the show and then running into him at 3rd & Lindsley! Gene's a big fan of Jedd. Also spotted: Local Lightning artist Beau Stapleton (ex-Blue Merle), who's no stranger to NSN, and was also a guest a few weeks ago on Music Business Radio.

NSN Ian McLagan; Pat Buchanan 2-22-09

This was a night of two of rock's finest musicians, one a top-notch guitarist and the other a legendary keyboardist. First up was Pat Buchanan, a Nashville institution since moving here in 1993, making a return visit to NSN. He's in demand as a session guitarist and staff songwriter and even won the ACM for Guitar Player of the Year on 2006. But we know he's really a rocker, not country, and as usual, his firey playing and his set list tonight proved it:

Co-co-nut
The Luckiest Girl
Genius Of The Universe
Every Time You're With Me
Under The Sun
Baby Blue (Badfinger cover)
Christina
Smile On My Face
Atomic Fireball

When they finished, I told Pat that went by too quickly and he said yes, it seemed like about ten minutes instead of forty. But Pat was glad to give way to one of his idols, the great Ian McLagan.
Ian, or "Mac" as he's often called, is a genuine dyed-in-the-wool rock & roller, a member of the great bands Small Faces and The Faces. Over the past 4 decades, he's toured and recorded with rock royalty like The Stones, Dylan and Springsteen just to mention a few. It's his electric piano playing on The Faces' "Stay With Me" and The Rolling Stones' "Miss You." It's his hammond B3 on "Itchycoo Park," "Maggie May" and "You Wear It Well." He lives in Austin, Texas now and in recent years has been carrying on his genuine rock and roll with his group The Bump Band, which currently includes Jud Newcomb on guitar, Don Harvey on drums and Mark Andes on bass. Mark has his own impressive resume. Nashville fans will remember him from Firefall, Heart and several other great groups. Ian McLagan and the Bump Band is about as close as you can get these days to seeing The Faces themselves. This night proved to me that even though The Faces was filled with legendary names like Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood and the late Ronnie Lane (who Ian obviously had great affection and admiration for), Ian McLagan must have been the soul of that band. I kept thinking all night if Rod Stewart would just cover Ian's songs, he'd make an album all rock & rollers could love again. The setlist:

I Will Follow
I'm Hot You're Cool *
You're My Girl
Date With An Angel
Loverman
Glad & Sorry
Little Girl
Never Say Never *
A Little Black Number
You're So Rude
Spiritual Babe
Little Troublemaker

After we went off the air they played three more, including finally, an unplanned "Cindy Incidentally," one of my all-time favorite Faces songs. Ian answered the questions about the rumours of a Faces reunion this year, by saying he doesn't know what will happen, that they rehearsed and it was fun, but he doesn't know what will come of it, he's still waiting for the phone to ring. Meanwhile, he's happy to be making great music with The Bump Band, and that's a good thing for all of us. Rock on, Mac!

NSN Serena Ryder, Josh Hoge 2-15-09

Just back from the Sunset Sessions music conference in San Diego, where I saw 30 live acts in 3 days, I was a little travel-weary, but still excited for this night's NSN show. I had just seen Serena Ryder for the first time out there on Friday night. She's a Canadian artist who won the Juno Award last year for Best New Artist and is newly nominated for the 2009 Juno for Artist Of The Year. I spoke with Serena out there and she was familiar with 3rd & Lindsley, having visited here in the past, and was looking forward to doing our show. The set I saw at Sunset Sessions was Serena with her full band and it rocked, but for this NSN, she was going to give us a much more intimate performance, totally solo, just her and her guitar. That was a twist that kept it interesting for me, and Serena was very entertaining in this setting, with some good stories between songs from her new album "Is It OK." The setlist:

Dark As The Black
All For One
Sweeping The Ashes
Little Bit Of Red *
Truth
Brand New Love
Weak In The Knees
What I Wanna Know
Sing Sing

I told Serena that now that you guys have seen her like this, she needs to come back later this year with the full band, so hopefully that can be worked out. Next up, we had a return visit from our hometown boy Josh Hoge. He grew up in a great musical family here in Franklin, TN. His grandfather was a jazz musician and his father and brother are both rock singers. Our audience is quite familiar with Josh's older brother, Will Hoge, who I spotted in the audience before the show. Will has spent the last several months recovering from a terrible motor scooter accident. I asked him if he was going to jump up on stage tonight and he joked that he didn't know how good he was at jumping yet. But as Josh told us near the end of his set, Will is just about all the way back and will be doing some shows starting in the spring. Will is quite a rocker, but Josh's musical sensibilities lie more in the rhythm and blues precincts. He did start out rocking pretty good with the two opening songs, especially "Take It Or Leave It," before settling into his familiar R&B groove. Josh is another artist who's hugely entertaining between songs, great storyteller and a jokester, and he managed to pull off the whole live broadcast without engaging in his passion for cussing! With a bunch of songs from his new album "Everything She Was" behind him, the last song on the setlist was "Ain't No Sunshine," the Bill Withers classic that Will has recorded. So, I thought this might be the spot were brother joined brother on stage, but not tonight. It was just a huge shout-out from Josh to Will, thanking him for turning him onto the song, which is now one of his favorites. If you weren't there, you missed it, because that one happened after the broadcast. Here's the whole setlist:

Try
Take It Or Leave It *
Beautiful Distraction
360
Sarah Smile (Hall & Oates cover)
Stay Away
Shadow
Butch Cassidy
Space
Keeps Getting Better
--
Ain't No Sunshine (after the broadcast)

NSN The Gougers, Toby Lightman 2-8-09

A large audience decided to blow off another boring three-plus-hour Grammy Awards telecast to come see some good live music on this Nashville Sunday Night. It was an acoustic night with The Gougers making their first appearance on our show, and Toby Lightman making a return visit. Up first were The Gougers from Austin, Texas. We had just the two singers/guitarists/songwriters from the band, Shane Walker and Jamie Wilson for an intimate night of their mix of country/rock/folk/roots music. Their set:

Mocking Birds
Lil' Too Rough
Devil's Words
Ordinary
Manheim
Dusty Shoes
Wayfaring
Jet / Trail
Everybody Knows

New York-based singer/songwriter Toby Lightman first played NSN back in 2006, when her album "Bird On A Wire" was out and we were playing her song "Holding Me Down" on Lightning 100. Her return visit came in support of her new album, her first independent release, "Let Go." It was just Toby all by herself with her acoustic guitar, but she was poised, confident and entertaining. She was happy to see so many in Nashville come out to support her. Toby's set:

So Natural To Love
Don't Wake Me *
Fairweather Boyfriend
Milk & Honey
Better
Devils & Angels
Use Somebody
Colors
Front Row
One Day
I'm Gonna Break His Heart *
Slippin'
Love Is All Around
Let Go

NSN Casey Driessen, The Duhks 2-1-09

It was Superbowl Sunday and the TV's were on. We guesstimated we'd get underway about an hour late at 9pm and go 'til 11. Many times the Superbowl gets boring long before the end, so we were ready to get going with the show as soon as we could, but wouldn't you know it, this year it came down to the final seconds. Finally, we got on at 9:15 and it was worth the wait. Casey Driessen is a Nashville-based fiddle player who is much in demand as a sideman for Steve Earle, Bela Fleck, Jim Lauderdale, John Mayer, Blue Merle and many others, opened. He's a bold musical explorer and when he steps out on his own, he does it with his group he calls the Colorfools, and we had 'em tonight, showcasing songs from the Grammy-nominated CD "3D," and a new one coming later this year.

Hummingbirds
Sugarfoot Rag
Uncontinental Breakfast
Conversation With Death
Rose Tea
Jerusalem Ridge
Flexible Helix


Then it was late, but no one was leaving and the crowd kept growing for The Duhks. Great Nashville musicians like Bela Fleck, Gabe Dixon, Beau Stapleton and others were in the audience to see and hear this great Canadian band. Since their last visit, they'd added a new vocalist, Sarah Dugas, and her brother, Christian, on drums. Nashville producer Jay Joyce, who was also in the audience, produced their fine new album "Fast Paced World," and the vast majority of the set was songs from the new record:

Mighty Storm
Fast Paced World *
Adam's 3-Step / This Fall
New Rigged Ship
Toujours Vouloir
You Don't See It *
95 South
Death Came A'Knockin'
Ship High In Transit (listed as S.H.I.T. on the written setlist-ha ha)
Les Blues Cadien
Whole Lotta Love

The whole band showed off on that surprising, hard-rockin' yet bluegrass flavored cover of the Zep classic and Sarah unleashed rock vocals on it that would've made Plant proud.

NSN Diana DiGarmo; The Gourds 1-25-09

This was a night of great southern alternative country-rock. First up was Alabama-born Diana DiGarmo, famously the runner up on season 3 of American Idol, and who filmed CMT's "Gone Country" series in 2007. Now relocated to Nashville, she's released an EP called "Unplugged In Nashville" and is working on a new album for 2009. We got a preview tonight:

Pause
Find Me
Pieces
Yesterday's Makeup
Growing Pains
Thank You
I'm Gone
Like I'm Not Even Here

Then we got some good-time, honky-tonkin' alt-country from The Gourds. Out of Austin, TX, they're perennial favorites at the South-By-Southwest festival and have a new album called "Haymaker." Their set:

Country Love
Lower 48
New Dues
Luddite Juice
Blanket Show
Honeysuckle
All The Way To Jericho
Bridgett
Hey Thurman
Better Way
Country Gal
Fossil Contender
Labor
Pine Island
Pack

NSN Stephanie Chapman; Ashley Monroe & Trent Dabbs 1-18-09

We had great Nashville-based talent in both halves of this show. First was Stephanie Chapman, who recorded her album "This Song Is To You" here, with some of Nashville's best musicians playing on it and produced by the legendary Ray Kennedy. Her set:

Long Hot Summer
This Song Is To You
Unknown Legend (Neil Young cover)
Steely Dan
Drinking Cup
There
Cowboy I Tried
Train Of Love (Johnny Cash cover)

Then came an interesting team up of two Nashville artists who've had considerable success on their own, were fans of each other's music and had written together in the past. They took it to the next step, collaborating on a studio recording that has come out as a self-titled EP. Ashley Monroe & Trent Dabbs played these for us:

I'm Coming Over
See Right Through *
Laying Low
When The Day Is Done
Angeline
Everything I Wanted
Now That I Know *
Gone
Drink For Two **
Shine

NSN Ben Sollee; The Spring Standards 1-11-09

Two unique emerging acts for this NSN. First, from just up the road in Louisville, KY, came Ben Sollee, named by NPR as one of their Top 10 Unknown Artists in 2007. His set:

Teach Me Baby
A Few Honest Words
Prettiest Tree On The Mountain
A Change Is Gonna Come
I Can't
Bury Me With My Car
Crazy
Panning For Gold
It's Not Impossible
Only A Song

Then a trio from New York who are all songwriters and multi-instumentalists and create a sound you might expect from a band twice their size. James Cleare, Heather Robb and James Smith are an energetic three-part harmony force called The Spring Standards.

Where Did You Go
True
In The Underground
Goodbye Midnight
Trouble
Premonition
Nowadays
Skyline
Drowning
Your Lie
Little Bug

NSN Emily West; Dave Pahanish 1-4-09

We started the new year of Nashville Sunday Nights with two acclaimed and upcoming Nashville-based singer/songwriters, Emily West and Dave Pahanish. Emily, who had a successful single with "Rocks In Your Shoes" in 2008, and is working on her full-length debut, was first:

Bullet Proof
Mississippi's Crying
Enjoy The Ride
Rocks In Your Shoes
Annie's Got A New Gun
It Doesn't Matter Anymore
I Hate Love
Blue Sky
That Kind Of Happy

Dave Pahanish has self-released several albums, including his latest, called "Nashvillian." He's gotten rave reviews from the likes of Performing Songwriter, ABC News, CitySearch and others. His set:

Did You Love
Right Back Atcha
Brighter Days
What Am I Waiting For
Divine Everlasting Love
Completely Yours (with Emily West)
Without You
The One That Got Away
Do You Believe Me Now
I Will
This American Life

NSN Curtis Peoples; Andy Davis 12-28-08

Our last show of 2008, brought us two fine singer/songwriters, San Diego's Curtis Peoples and Nashville's own Andy Davis. Curtis was up first:

Tell Me I'm Wrong
Exit Scene
One More Time
Heart Will Fall
Wake Up
Holding Me Down
All I Want
Back Where I Started

Andy Davis, celebrating his first full-band album "Let The Woman," was also one of the artists we spotlighted on the Ten Out Of Tenn Christmas CD with his great original Christmas song "Christmas Time." Now it was three days past Christmas, would he play it? We weren't disappointed:

Good Life
Earth & Venus
Chicago
Believable Doubt
At Last
Old Soul
Christmastime
Let The Woman
Black Keys
Brown Eyes

NSN Audrey Spillman; Sixpence None The Richer 12-23-08

This was a special Christmas Eve Eve broadcast on a Tuesday night, returning two of our local favorites to the airwaves, Audrey Spillman and Sixpence None The Richer. Audrey had last been on NSN in August, but tonight's set had a Christmas twist:

Find Us Here
Fade
Comfort You / What Are You Doing New Year's
What You've Been Doing To Me
The River (Joni Mitchell cover)
Tomorrow
The Ride
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Sixpence None The Richer had previously visited us twice this year on NSN, but tonight's show spotlighted their new Christmas album "The Dawn Of Grace." Steve Mason of Jars Of Clay guested on some songs. The set:

O Come O Come Emmanuel
The River
Maybe This Christmas
Wishing For This
Eternal Gifts (with Kate York)
Angels We Have Heard On High (with Kate York)
Christmas Island
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
The Last Christmas
Hard Candy Christmas
O Holy Night
Some Children See Him
Christmas For Two

NSN The Wrights; Gretchen Peters 12-21-08

Two great Nashville-based acts gave us a special pre-Christmas show. First up were the husband-wife team, The Wrights (Adam & Shannon). Their set:

Trouble *
I Cried
Good Luck Charm
Always Tomorrow
We'll Drink Money
Since You Left Me
Too Late Now
Miles For You
Teardrop Express *
Need A Little Hope In My Heart
Flying Home

Next up was Gretchen Peters, one of Nashville's best singer/songwriters. She's written for a wide range of artists, received multiple Grammy nominations for Song Of The Year, and recorded several acclaimed albums of her own. The latest is a new Christmas album called "Northern Lights." Gretchen's set:

Song For A Winter's Night
Coventry Carol
I Wonder As I Wonder
December Child
(Charlie's) Angels *
Waitin' On Mary
In The Bleak Midwinter
Careful How You Go *
Northern Lights
Christmas Time Is Here
Silent Night
On A Bus to St. Cloud
(play out) Charlie's Angels