Good afternoon to all of you and welcome new mailing list members. Enjoy your free download (see below) of "Effort of the Spin", a blast from the past.
This week is Americana Fest. week in Nashville. I've been attending lots of workshops and I have to say each one has affirmed my belief that people really want to hear this music, these stories, these confesssions and the best way for me to make that happen is to keep doing what I'm doing: stretching out into the small towns in this red, white and blue landscape and sharing.
Americana/Roots Music is what I'm passionate about. I was reminded by Frank Liddell (producer Miranda Lambert, LeeAnn Womack) and Rodney Crowell just yesterday to keep my head down and do what I do. So there you have it.
I was so fortunate to be given a ticket to the AMA Awards Ceremony...thank you sweet Julie Grower.
It was wonderful. Shawn Colvin, Bonnie Raitt, Steve Earle, Jason Isbel, Jim Lauderdale and Emmylou all in the same room?!!! Also before the show started I spotted...
This is my crappy phone photo but can you see the red head? Wynonna!!!!
I wanted to share with you two acts that I saw and was just blown away by.
First was The Milk Carton Kids (they really are kids). They got up on stage in front of an old time microphone with their guitars and sang and played the way I think it's done best on the Ryman stage. They performed their song "Memphis" and you could have heard a pin drop. A standing ovation was the only response that would do. Check them out at the Milk Carton Kids
They're wonderful!
Another act that was outstanding was Parker Milsap. He sang his song, "Heaven Sent". Just lovely. Here are the lyrics and below a link to the video. He's got such a wonderful voice too!
Heaven Sent
Raise me straight and raise me true
Spent my days becoming you
Sunday morning, evening too
Sitting in your second pew
Torn apart, my spirits spent
I fell in love on accident
Wondered just what Jesus meant
When he said all love was Heaven sent
[Chorus]:
Papa I don't need a preacher
I ain't some kind of creature
From some old double feature
I just want to make you proud
Of the kind of love I've found
But you say it's not allowed
Say that its a sin
But it's how I've always been
Did you love me when, he was just my friend?
Tried my hardest not to be
I locked the door and I broke the key
Jesus died upon that tree
Daddy do you think he'd covet me
Red and yellow, black and white
We are precious in his sight
Why can't I sleep through the night?
Daddy do you think I turned out right?
[Chorus]:
Papa I don't need a preacher
I ain't some kind of creature
From some old double feature
I just want to make you proud
Of the kind of love I've found
But you say it's not allowed
Say that its a sin
But it's how I've always been
Did you love me when, he was just my friend?
Papa you're the one that taught me
By his strap he sought me
And with his blood he bought me
Daddy you're the one that claimed
That he loved me through the flame
Now why can't you do the same
Well I've been born again
But first I was born in sin
Did you love me then
Did you love me then?
Check out Parker singing it! Parker Milsap, "Heaven Sent"
Ok now I need to ask you something. I would like to know what kind of merchandise you'd like to see at my live shows and at my online store. We're moving into fall so I'm thinking hoodies but there's so much to choose from and I want to know what you want. Do you want coffee mugs, hats, water bottles?...I could go on. Please send me an email and let me know what you'd like to see. If you want it, I want you to have it! Write to me.
Today I'm headed over to Bobby's Idle Hour to perform in a round. My radio promoter, Bill Wence, put together a show for artists he represents. I'll join my buddy David G Smith for the 3pm round but rounds start at noon. If you're in town and you love hanging in a dive bar (the best kind), come join us. Thank you Bill for the invite.
I've added some shows to my fall schedule including one at The Akron Civic Theatre on Nov. 11th. Soon you'll be able to purchase your ticket atAkron Civic's site. We're working up a show just for this night, trying some new things and dusting off some old tunes.
I'm so sad as many of you are about the closing of the beloved Barking Spider Tavern. This is where I began my career in music, singing back up vocals for singer/songwriter, Craig Robertson. It's where I first sang "Green Hand". I'm going to miss it so. So I will not be playing at The Spider next Friday as scheduled BUT my Super Fans, Deb and Jen Lonzer have decided to have a Spider night at their home in Cleveland Heights and YOU ARE INVITED. There will be no cover charge. There will be a hat passed just like at the Spider, free beer (not like the Spider) and great music (like the Spider) in the beautiful setting of Deb and Jen's home. So if you had plans to come to the Spider, drive down the road a bit and join us at:
Deb and Jen's
Friday, Sept. 30
2889 Fairfax
Cleveland Heights OH
9pm
No Cover, mind the hat.
Bring a chair, bring something to eat if you like. Bring a friend!
So that's it for now. I hope you're all enjoying life.
DeChant Out!