Chris Janson @ 12th & Porter 8-7-09

The first time I saw Chris Janson was @ Tootsies back in about 2005. He wasn't even 21 yet & he was performing on the main stage @ the most well known honky tonk on Broadway. His version of White Lightning w/ his harmonica playin' won me & my friend over right then & there.

Ever since then, I have seen him many times in town & also saw him open for Shooter Jennings in Birmingham & Chattanooga. Chris used to play @ 3rd & Lindsley monthly & these were some of my favorite shows of his. He still does play monthly @ Puckett's Grocery & Restaurant in Leiper's Fork, which I believe is the area he lives. I have heard that the Puckett's shows are acoustic & he may have people join him onstage to swap some songs, but I have yet to make it to a show of his there. His concerts are some of the most entertaining that I have ever witnessed. I believe Chris has the stage presence & talent to eventually make it big...& I'm not sure why he hasn't yet.

This time @ 12th & Porter was the first time I had seen Chris in a while. He has been touring w/ The Davisson Brothers Band in the West Virginia area alot this year. It seemed to me that he did more slower songs @ this show, whereas he used to play more rockin' ones. I don't remember hearing "Freak", which is one of my favorites of his harder edge tunes...& believe me it has plenty edge.

I enjoyed most all of the new songs I heard, however I missed not hearing the old ones that I expected to be jammin' to...."Shoot Off The Locks" & "Tight Jeans". In addition, I do believe I missed out on his usual 15-minute plus harmonica solo & "follow my lead" w/ his guitar player this time around. Chris, if you happen to read this.....bring 'em all back buddy!

As usual, I look forward to the next time he is playing in town & I am definitely going to make it out to a Puckett's show in Leiper's Fork. Go here to get a taste & check his tour dates:

http://www.myspace.com/chrisjanson

Drive-By Truckers @ Cannery Ballroom 8-6-09

First of all, I'll have to say that I enjoyed DBT much more this time than the first time I saw them. The first time I saw them was @ The Tennessee Theater in 2006 & I'm not sure if I didn't dig them because I was on the very front row & that shit was LOUD (& I love loud music)....or if it was because I didn't know any songs @ all. Either way, it had to do with not being able to hear the lyrics. I enjoy going to see bands live that I've never heard a whole album of before, but their first live show didn't win me over. Since that show, I have become a big fan of Isbell's solo work & listened to more of DBT's songs.

I'd have to say my favorite songs would have to be Carl Perkins Cadillac & 3 Dimes Down...& I just happened to get some video of both of these songs.

In short, I came away from this show with a new appreciation for DBT & will more than likely attend again.

Since I don't know too much about the ol' DBTs, I asked Skinny Cheese to add a lil' & he said, "4 times seeing the Truckers...first time hearing Carl Perkins' Cadillac live...well worth it!".

Set List:

Feb 14

Women Without whiskey

George Jones Talkin' cellphone blues

Carl Perkins Caddy

Great Car Dealer War

Sinkhole

Self D Zones

Hell No I ain't Happy

Marry Me

Houston

Opening Act

Checkout time in Vegas

A World of Hurt

Ghost to Most

Home Field Advantage

Daddy Learned to Fly

Lookout Mtn.

E--3 dimes down

E--Buttholeville

E--Shut up and get your ass on the plane

E--Puttin' people on the moon

E--People who died

Kill Nashville Pop @ Douglas Corner Cafe 8-6-09

I heard from a friend that Ray Scott & Daryle Singletary were going to be playing @ Douglas Corner Cafe & I had another show to go to later that night (Drive-By Truckers @ Cannery) & it was also on 8th Ave. ..... so why not double down?!?

As I walk in the entrance, a girl was telling me that the show was free, but they were selling stickers (see picture @ top of this blog) that she was holding. Of course, I bought a couple because of many reasons - I liked the slogan & agree, they got Ray & Daryle to play a free show for them, & I liked the slogan & agree (yeah, that was my main reason, ha). Teresa Farris was onstage as I walked to the bar & I saw Ray in the back by the bar also. After getting a beer, I grabbed a table & got settled in to enjoy the show. Teresa did a couple classic country covers. Ray Scott took the stage next & was introduced by the event organizer Larry "The Rev" Shell.

Ray did a mix of his old & newer songs & seemed to have a pretty good crowd there to see him & they sported their Ray shirts for the event & sang along with all songs.

I've liked Ray Scott & his music from the first time I saw his video for "My Kind of Music". That song is so true & I can relate to it very well. However, I also felt that his whole first album was great. I have his second album, but have not listened to it as much because it didn't grab me like his first one did. With that said, I believe that Ray Scott was a great selection for the first meeting for the movement called Kill Nashville Pop.

Daryle Singletary was another good decision to have perform. Former WSM DJ & Grand Ole Opry announcer Keith Bilbrey introduced Daryle.

Daryle also did mostly classic country covers. Jim Ed Brown joined Dayle onstage for "Pop a Top".

The Dead Weather @ War Memorial Auditorium 7-30-09

The day of the show I get an email from Third Man Records telling me that I was one of ten people that they selected to have an early entrance into the venue about 5 minutes before everyone else. I was very excited about this opportunity because I thought it would benefit me by getting to the merch table first & then get a spot in front to get some great pics. However, this was not how it worked out for me. The email didn't list what time the doors opened, so I called Ticketmaster and they said it would be 6:45. I got there around 6:30 & saw people walking out w/ Hatch Show Prints! That was good news & bad news....glad they stayed true to Nashville & used Hatch Show for the posters, but I didn't get to use my early entrance. It wasn't a big deal really though, because I was able to get a couple Hatch posters & go back & chill @ my place for about an hour. I asked the Screaming Females merch table what time they went on & the bass player was standing there & told me 7:45. On the way back to my place I stopped for a quick pic on the steps of War Memorial.


The Screaming Females were interesting & I enjoyed most of their set. The lead singer mentioned in her softest voice that she was very excited about opening. That voice was very different than the one she used to sing and she could play the hell out of the guitar.




While Screaming Females were playing I noticed the Green Day drummer walk out from backstage. I heard another member of Green Day was there, but I didn't see/recognize him. They had a show @ the Sommet Center the next night. I also recognized many of the Third Man Records crew throughout the GA crowd on the floor.


The Dead Weather took the stage and commanded attention from everyone throughout the show. I had been looking forward to photographing this band for a while, especially Alison. She has a stage presence & intensity that is unmatched by any female singer I've witnessed before. She is the frontwoman of this new band & it seems she has no problem throwing her weight around & struttin' her bad ass stuff! She definitely shares the spotlight w/ Jack, however she holds her own very easily.


Alison manhandled her mic stand & jumped on the monitor to get her point across in her public Nashville debut. Her mannerisms & moves on stage are very entertaining & a photographer's dream.....(see for yourself)

Set List:

I definitely hope they decide to have another show here in Music City......maybe @ the Ryman?!? (hint hint...like The Raconteurs did after their 2 night stand @ The Cannery last year)

Barefoot Justice @ Second Fiddle 7-22-09

I came across a blog yesterday on Nashville Cream (http://blogs.nashvillescene.com/nashvillecream/2009/07/missin_adjectives_barefoot_jus.php)about a band that's had a warm reception around town (Second Fiddle/Fiddle & Steel). I decided to go to Second Fiddle yesterday & see for myself because you just can't beat FREE live music, especially on Broadway (suck it 6th St./Austin). I got there w/ about 45 minutes left of their set.



In the words of Ray Scott, "That's my kind of music!"......here's the setlist:



Dr. Hook - Cover of Rolling Stone

Strait - Amarillo By Morning

Hank Jr. - Dinosaur (request)

Bryan Adams - Summer of 69

DAC - You Never Even Called Me By My Name (request) [while the requestee leaned in his lap & between he & the bass guitar]



(2 friends sat in on guitars for 2 songs - Jason & Jeff, I believe)

Keith Whitley - I'm Over You?

Waylon & Willie - Good Hearted Woman



Seger - Night Moves [favorite song, great harmonies]

Allman Brothers - Soulshine


I will definitely be back to see them. If you wanna check em out, you can go here: http://www.myspace.com/barefootjustice. They don't have any more Nashville dates listed, but it shouldn't be long until they will be back to Second Fiddle.

The Black Keys @ Forecastle Festival in Louisville, KY 7-10-09

I'm a tad bit late on this blog, but here it is. I went to see The Black Keys @ Forecastle Festival in Louisville, KY this past Fri. night (7/10). I saw them last year @ The Ryman briefly, but left after about 6 or so songs. The reason I left is because I heard from friends that Hank III was going to be playing @ Layla's down on Broadway. If I would have known that he was going to have a standing Wed. night gig for the next 6 or so weeks, I would not have made that decision. Therefore, since making that decision I told myself that I would make the trip if The Black Keys were somewhere close.

This was my first trip to downtown Louisville, so when I got there I went to check out the 4th St. Live area. Grabbed an appetizer of Fried Green Tomatoes Oscar and a Maker's Mark w/ Ale81 (regional to KY soft drink that tastes like ginger ale) @ the Maker's Mark Bourbon House & Lounge. Twas definitely a good choice all around and a good start to the night.

There is a live show every Fri. night @ 4th St. Live. I looked at the schedule of performers and it looked to be mostly new country acts. Wonder why Nashville doesn't have anything like that? The new"Live on the Green" music series that is starting in Nashville in Sep. is comparable, but it is not the same type of setup w/ bars & patios like 4th St. in Louisville. I believe that Broadway should be blocked off and stages should be setup either in front of Sommet like CMA Festival or right in the middle of damn Broadway. There should be plenty of country acts (old & new) in town to fill the calendar. Ok, enough of that thought.

On to the show...Pretty Lights were finishing their set as I approached the main stage. I was able to hear about 3 songs & I must say I was diggin' it. The group consisted of a DJ and a drummer.

One of the few negatives I experienced during the trip & @ the festival was the requirement to buy beer & food tickets. I'm not sure why beer is sold this way, but I do know it always cuts down on my beer consumption for some reason.




The Black Keys were as bad ass as I knew they would be. It is hard to believe that all that sound is coming from just 2 guys! The crowd grooved w/ the duo the entire performance. They played for abut 2 hours w/ what seemed like a longer wait for an encore.

Set List:

(trying to find it - wanna help?)

I am very much looking forward to the recently announced Dan Auerbach show here in Nashville on Nov. 21. I wish it were going to be @ The Ryman, but @ least he's coming to Music City....was beginning to think we may be left out!