I hate to say it, but it appears the Mad Donna’s show has been canceled. The host, Garth McDermott, has parted ways with Mad Donna’s, so the December 9th gig is no more. However, he did contact me about playing Tuesday, November 24th at Nuvo Burrito, so you’ll still have another shot at seeing me play here in Nashville before 2010! The show starts at 7 pm and apparently this place makes crazy, awesome, non-traditional burritos. Come on out, grab some grub, and enjoy the tunes!
Come out to Paducah, KY!
October 23, 2009 By View Comments
Me and my new group, The Intrepid Travelers are playing in Paducah, KY tomorrow night at Etcetera Coffee. If you’re around there or nearby, join us for a fun night of singing, stories, and friends. Here are the vitals:
320 N 6th St
Paducah, KY 42001
We play at 7:30 pm, see you there!
New Pics – Common Grounds Show
July 22, 2009 By View Comments
Anna took some pictures at the Common Ground show in Lexington. Check out my new hat and tell me what you think!
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Music Monday – So Easily @ The Intrepid Traveller Cafe
June 29, 2009 By View Comments
I’m going to start posting concert footage on Mondays and hopefully, I’ll have enough to continue doing this ad infinum. These will be the good, the bad, and the ugly, I’m not holding anything back from you.
I’m starting with my set from The Intrepid Traveller Cafe in Cookeville, TN. I was fortunate to play this delightful venue just before they shut down last week. Here’s So Easily:
Intrepid Traveler and Capalanos
June 14, 2009 By View Comments
Michael Estok and I have played two shows in the past two weekends. They were the same show really, just in two different places. The Intrepid Traveler Cafe in located in Cookeville right across from the Train Depot. They were having an awesome car show right outside the cafe as we got the evening started, which helped populate the intimate cafe. In total, we had about 24 people and got great positive feedback from everyone. I debuted a new song, Alle, playing a 12-string Alvarez I borrowed from my Uncle Gary. We highly enjoyed hitting the Steak and Shake with my sister, Katie and her friend after the show too.
Capalanos in right off the square in downtown McMinnville. Unfortunately, we happened to get booked the weekend of Bonnaroo, so most of our audience opted for the mega-festival rather than our smaller local show. We had 8 people attend, but they seemed to enjoy it. We even had a killer harmonica player, Steve, who sat in on a song each for Michael and I and he killed!
Here’s my set list from both shows:
- Alle
- Not This Time
- 11:11
- Don’t Leave Me, Sunshine
- About Last Night – with special guest at Capalanos, Steve
- Digital Love
- Fantasy World
- So Easily
The saddest part of theses two concerts was the news from each that they are considering closing soon. People of Cookeville and McMinnville: you have to support your local venues! You really don’t know how good you have it, so get out there and support the venues and the bands!
Bongo Java Storytelling
May 12, 2009 By View Comments
Once upon a time, a wildly creative musician named Christopher Joel came up with a another idea. Instead of just playing a concert, he decided he would write a story and play his songs as part of the story. Of course, the local villagers all said he was just crazy. He worked on his story day and night for months, locked away is his workshop. He finally emerged beaming proud of his latest creation and couldn’t wait to show it off. He scheduled an evening at one of the local pubs, Red Tree Coffee, with plans to share his new show. The owners were dubious at first, but had always had a soft spot the for the wacky ol’ Christopher Joel.
The evening came and he performed his show. The villagers laughed, cried, and even sang along when invited. They all cheered the ending and clapped vigorously after he finished. They liked it so much, they demanded he do it again. Alas, the pub was closing, so he would have to do another day.
Christopher Joel was hopeful that other villages would enjoy his new storytelling concert show, so he talked with another pub, Bongo Java, about doing his storytelling concert. They agreed and he scheduled a performance there for May 16th, 2009 at 7 pm. They informed him they would charge admission of $6 for people to come see his show. Christopher Joel told all his friends and family about the show and hoped they would come…
Christopher Joel Plays 12th & Porter
January 16, 2009 By View Comments
I played the William Smith Orchestra Writer’s Night last night. Casey Frazier (I mentioned him a few months ago) played a showcase at the beginning of the night, then the William Smith Orchestra did it’s thing. We writers played into the night and I was the ninth one on the list. We were only supposed to play one song, since so many writers showed up to play, but a few people didn’t get the memo. I followed the rules and only played Fantasy World, but shamelessly promoted my upcoming EP.
It was loads of fun and I’m really glad I got to play. The stage and sound at 12th & Porter is to be envied by all. Below is the video we shot with my new Flip Mino HD. Check it out!
Lessons I Learned from a Writer’s Night
November 3, 2008 By View Comments
Here are a few things I learned from playing the writer’s night at Douglas Corner Cafe Wednesday night:
- Never sing depressing songs, even if they’re your “best ones”. You wouldn’t believe how many people sing slow, sad, cut-my-veins-so-I-can-die-bleeding songs. Play something happy and fun. My new friend, Joy Lewis, did this brilliantly. As I told my wife, she has a potty-mouth, but her songs were both funny and fun – and kept us all laughing and thoroughly entertained. Joy: why don’t you have recordings!?!?
- Visual songwriting is a good thing. I read a songwriting book a few years ago. I wasn’t sure what I’d learn from it, but I thought I’d see what they had to say. The writer explained in one section, that writing in pictures captures people while the song is being performed and keeps them interested. This is so true. The song about with the line “I shoulda built a bar in the back of her truck, because she drove me to drinking” illustrated it brilliantly and had me picturing Cheers in the back of an old Chevy.
- Drink something while you’re listening to the other artists. This one applies to my performance. For those who don’t know, I have an insane range. I’m not bragging, I can just just sing high notes easily. After all the depressing songs, I decided that I should play “Don’t Leave Me Sunshine”, since it was happy and fun. It’s also the highest thing I sing. If you don’t have anything to drink for two hours, your throat gets really dry and your high notes come out like you’ve been hoarse for a week. So drink something!
- Tip your waitress, even if you don’t get anything. I know I sound like a lounge singer, but it’s true. Take care of the staff and they take care of you.
- Never make cat calls while the drunk guy is on stage. Yes, folks, we got a strip tease. No, it wasn’t Allison Emry, the cute 19-year-old songwriter, but the 40-something, apparently-toasted host of the show. He did a duet with one of the writer’s and the aforementioned Allsion gave him cat calls. Not good. So he proceeds to loosen his tie. Then unbuttons his shirt. Then he called Allison on stage and dirty danced. Thankfully, his wife’s presence in the back of the room prevented him from going Full Monty (but obviously not dirty dancing…). It was the last thing I saw, as I left shortly after. At least he had a good tan and I got a good story.
- I need to practice. The real highlight of the evening was Casey Frasier. He’s in his early twenties and has already been a staff writer here in Nashville. Talk about feeling outclassed. Then he sang. You could tell from the first verse of his first song that he’s a pro and was clearly better than everyone there. After that, I just wanted to go home, locked myself in our guest room and play until my fingers bleed and my throat can’t produce a sound. Then take a five minute break and do it again.
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