String Theories, Inbox Edition
A field trip to Athens GA, bluesman Chris Smither, and dazzling Maggie Rose!
Since I was last in touch a little more than a month ago, I’ve celebrated two birthdays - my own and my country’s. I have mixed feelings about the prospects for both.
I enjoyed good company - my family and old friends - at a Nashville Sounds game on the Fourth of July, but it was an anxious and upsetting Independence Day since we were reeling from that infamous debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump one week before. Everybody knows what happened. For me, confidence in Biden ultimately winning in November plummeted from just over 50/50 to somewhere around the soles of my shoes. I took a few days to think about the debacle and wrote this post about it. At the time I was agnostic on Biden dropping out, though that’s what my gut said. Then we had the surreal assassination attempt. And the GOP convention, which almost was held in Nashville (another dodging of a bullet).
As Biden dug himself in, I became more convinced than ever he’s making a colossal, historic, self-centered mistake not handing off the race and the White House to a new generation of Democrats. I think Kamala Harris could win and be an effective president. Of course I’ll vote for him if it comes to that, but I’m only going to have hope in my belly should he change his mind in the coming days. My natural flame of optimism is as dim as it’s been in years, and I just think this is all very unfair to the left and to America at large. Meanwhile, I’m just wrecked by half of America’s indifference to Trump’s lies and abuse and criminality - also by a press that has grown even more complacent and servile. On the other hand, England and France just defeated the right wing in elections, and I can only pray that we have the energy and the hidden reserves of patriotism to do the same.
Into the psychological void, more than ever, comes music. I’ve been on a happy roll. The book I mentioned back in February, my music appreciation/educational volume Musicality For The Modern Human, is entirely drafted. I took a week of stay-cation after July 4 to finish the last three chapters, and I got a zing of electricity and emotion as I typed the last sentence on Thursday. My conclusion popped out without any planning or foresight whatsoever and it felt right. They say we write to find out what we think, and I like what I had to think at that second. But I’ll just have to tease that until this thing is out in the world, and that will be a handful. I need a publishing plan, and I’m torn between self-publishing and seeking an agent/publisher. The former is faster with no support. The latter is more prestigious but agonizingly slow. I’ve started my research, even as I revisit the chapters to make sure I’ve said all I need to say and nothing more. I’m up for the journey, and after five or six years of on-and-off-again work, it’s amazing to have a complete 24-chapter manuscript. If you’d like a private peek via a website, or if you have book agent tips write me at chavighurst@gmail.com.
Shows? Of course. I returned to the Ryman to catch a night of its legendary summer bluegrass series, because the Steep Canyon Rangers were headlining with their relatively new singer/guitarist Aaron Burdett. Aaron’s a western NC friend, and I’ve been excited about his leap from regional songwriter playing clubs and festivals to touring with the Grammy-winning Steeps, including their very large shows backing up banjo man Steve Martin. Following a luminous set by Nashville’s amazing Lindsay Lou, the Steeps showed how they’ve grown as a band over more than 20 years together while also deftly integrating the new guy. Burdett’s lead on the Robbie Fulks song “Fare Thee Well Carolina Girls” saw the band walk on one by one to build the performance to magisterial and emotional heights.
In Nashville lately, Grace Bowers is the rising star prodigy you can’t ignore. She’s everywhere and on everyone’s lips, because of her reputation as a hotshot electric blues/rock guitar player who at just 17 years old has already played with the Allman Family Revival and on stage at Newport Folk Festival. I needed to form my own impression because I wondered if her adorable golden curls and media savvy were doing a lot of the work for her. But no, at a benefit concert she organized (bonus points) at Brooklyn Bowl, Bowers commanded the stage and her instrument. She’s inventive, playful, and magnetic, and we get to watch as she hits her prime years for growth as a musician. Her debut album Wine On Venus comes out Aug. 9, and I’m setting up an interview time with Grace.
Also of note, the Sam Grisman Project and the iconic Peter Rowan played the Caverns, our magnificent subterranean venue about 90 minutes out of town. Sam is David Grisman’s son and a striking bass player who does a great job recruiting fascinating musicians for his collective, including the bold-voiced Logan Ledger. They opened as the Project and then became Rowan’s band for the second set. He was in fine voice! And I caught the big rollicking East Nashville band Ladycouch at the relatively new and truly vibey venue the Vinyl Lounge on a Friday night. Alan Thompson and Keisha Bailey front the rocking jam ensemble, which on this night turned out with a full contingent of 12 musicians. Horns, two keys, the works. The mystical Jack Silverman Quartet opened. And all felt right with the world for a few minutes.
As I finish this bulletin, the stalemate in the White House continues. Donald Trump is acting like a messiah (with a tampon on his ear?). And everything’s quite unnerving. But I was kidding about myself. I’m 58, and life’s good. I hope it’s good for you too. Thanks for following along. Recent work highlights follow.
RECENT WORK
After years of wondering about it thanks to my teenage passion for R.E.M., I finally visited the legendary college rock town of Athens, GA for a whirlwind three days. I came back with this audio report and narrative. This is one of my bigger productions of the year so I hope you’ll give it a listen.
There are a lot of fine singers in Nashville of course, but my favorite pure voice in the past few years has been soul roots songwriter and band leader Maggie Rose. Her journey is as exciting as her pipes. It’s a story of a visionary who had to work extra hard to find her lane and her people, and now she’s won the backing of one of the most powerful indie music companies in town. I’ll be seeing her in a week at FloydFest in Virginia. Do not miss the albums ‘No One Gets Out Alive’ and her prior ‘Have A Seat.’
When I was discovering the world of fingerstyle blues and folk guitar in the early 1990s, a record store recommendation turned me on to Chris Smither. He was already a veteran northwest folkie by then, and he never stopped rolling. Now he’s marking 60 years as a performer, and not only was there a ton to talk about, he’s absolutely charming and full of life.
Here’s a fun one - the latest in my ongoing series about studio and stage musicians who make Nashville run and sound great. Meet Ellen Angelico.
Finally, my newest feature goes deep into the overlap of music, politics and religion. Bad for Thanksgiving conversation. Great for a Roots Radio interview!
Me Favorite Memes…
Follow my political thoughts and goofing around on Threads at @chavighurst.