Middle-Aged Songwriters That Are Better Than Ever

Notes on the "Amplified" Songwriters-in-the-Round Show
Bluebird Café, May 5th, 2009
Too bad if you missed this show. It was a classic in my book. Mary Gauthier(Go-Shay), David Olney, Cam King, Jon Langford and Robbie Fulks, supported by a couple of mighty fine guitar pickers whose names I never could catch. I liked the other three writers but I was there for Gauthier and Olney so that’s where my attention focused. Tommy Womack, an artist I have only discovered in the last couple of months (shame on me), was attending the show, and I was fortunate enough to meet him afterwards. I include a little info about that meeting. FYI, I made the notes below after riding back home that night from Nashville, arriving at 4:00 a.m. I didn’t want to lose the vibe. Hope I captured a little of what the night was like for you. Here goes:
Mary Gauthier has a light that pulses from within her. If I could read auras, hers would be blinding. Here we are in this tiny listening room, packed to the gills with people, seven singer-songwriters and supporting musicians in the round, and Mary just shines. Her ability to command a room is no small thing. I wonder if it’s strange how much pride I feel. It’s as though I was her older sibling in another life, and now I get to see her blossom and grow into this incredible, incredible artist. I think she at her best when it is just Mary playing that blue Taylor, little bit of support from another musician or two, and that’s it. Mary’s work is so good on it’s own that trying to dress it with too many accoutrements is akin to screwing up a good basic recipe with fussy additions. Leave her work unadulterated, and you have something classic and beautiful. She amazes me with her insight, her ability to condense a plethora of words and images into a single line. Yes, I am biased. I am a huge fan and hope to bring many people who fall within my six degrees into the circle of Mary’s gift of song. My favorite Gauthier song of the night: "Sideshow".
David Olney is the master craftsman. No song is an ordinary ditty. Every piece is special, and you can’t help but feel privileged when you hear David perform his songs live. He is the consummate showman, knowing just where to go in a songwriter’s round, although later on he said it wasn’t easy to follow Mary. As I told him, he danced with beautiful elegance and grace, playing songs that tell their stories with their symbolic hands around your throat. You don’t go to the bathroom if David Olney is playing; you know you dare not miss a syllable. He never disappoints and, apparently, he doesn’t slow down. He has so many new projects coming up that I can’t keep track. It’s as thought he has actually thrown a saddle on the little mustang and taken off on a wild ride, leaving those of us who want to experience it to try to keep up. Good luck keeping up with David Olney. Personally, I don’t think it can be done. My favorite Olney song of the night: "Jerusalem Tomorrow".
Tommy Womack is one cool person: brutally honest songwriter at times, published author, and lifetime learner. He’s big stuff, Peeps, really big stuff. I kept hoping if I stood close enough, some of that mega-creativity would rub off on me. We’re chatting outside when I have a moment a realization. By the time I’m talking with Tommy, I’ve had four, five cups of caffeine, and I’m not used to it. My brain catches up to the fact that my mouth has been running amuck for who knows how long. By then, it’s too late to shut it up. The mouth has grabbed the proverbial bit and is galloping at a dangerous pace. The brain does it's best to slow it down by making a big circle. That works. Hallelujah. Lord only knows how much I blabbered, and about what scintillating topic(s). Anyway, I’m listening to his music every chance I get these days. Can’t listen to it in the background. I have to be able to tune in and absorb it. He’s the real deal, worth any investment you can make, be it time, money or both.
What a night! What a perfect, perfect birthday present.