She said, "You left without saying goodbye"
...
Man, maybe I just fall in love way too easy these days, but
Amber will make you want to fall in love with her; and so will the rest of the
band... I will admit, I had a couple/few beers at The Basement last night
before getting my Lyft on and heading home...Luckily, I didn't have to go into
work until Ten in the AM today.
But I remember every single emotion I felt while watching
those three bands; Somebody's Darling, Radiobirds and Dalmation...I was a gonna
remember all of their names. I will admit, I had to look them up just now, but
in doing so I saw the awesome shot of the first band I mentioned, and who's
singer I started off this article with a quote from, Amber.
Somebody's Darling is...breathtaking, and just like every
other band at the show last night, I would love to see them again as soon as
possible.
I host a tiny, little, incy-weency radio show about once a
month usually, called "The Green Hour"
So, for an hour a month, I sit behind a microphone, and
sometimes I talk into it (actually, usually most of the time I talk into it), I
play music...and a couple of weeks ago I got to perform my first interview on
the air, and it was awesome! Let me tell you...
I freaking loved it, and it couldn't have been with a better
band. I need to edit the clip and post it to the internet NOW. I messed up the
levels because I'm new to this whole thing, and I didn't go to school for it, but that's beside the point. Point is, I
just have luckily had the chance to get on the air and interview these
peoples...Amber and Nate from Somebody's Darling.
Usually I go on... and on-about environmental and/or societal
issues, but this particular show, all I did (pretty much) is hang out with
these band members and talk to them about music and life as musicians... yes, at one point, recycling was brought up, I will admit.
They invited me to their show...at the Basement...and I'm so glad that they
did...Amber kept up with me and reminded me that they were playing. Like I
would have missed it for the world!
They blew me away in the studio( when I got to interview them) just drums (well percussion), vocals and a
git-fiddle, but they freaging rocked it, and I messed up the audio, and my
little brother was listening too and he told me so! He and his buddy John
Salmon were listening (John plays in Jack of the Ville, his latest escapade)
and apparently John wants to be the next poison I interview. Beside the point, maybe, but the point is, Nate and Amber kicked butt acoustically, and their whole band kicked butt at the Basement.
I can't wait. I love it, this life. This life in Nashville. So perfect
for an eccentric guy like myself, so fond of the country and the lifestyle
accompanied with it, kayking, guns, etc...
...acoustic guitars.
I hope I do get to interview John and his band in the near future, but they will have some stiff competition in my book of memories. These bands all seemed like they'd been doing it, playing every chance they get, traveling to do so (if required), putting all their sweat and grit into the thing, this weird and wild force known as "music" and by others as "math".
So, I told Amber and Nate I would come to their show when I
interviewed them. I hinted at the possibility of writing something...they kind
of asked me. They gave me hope that I had something to offer in this regard. I
am grateful for their camaraderie. I have to admit...I don't believe I'd ever
even been to The Basement to see a show...seen the place a million times, or
the sign, but I felt right at home there. In fact, it felt even more like home.
It felt like exactly where I was supposed to be at the time.
I was all stressed. From life, I guess, work, and class.
Last class of the semester in Murfreesboro, to venue in Nashville, and I could feel my body loosening up as I sat in
the bar...found my spot and was able to see every body in the place. I kept thinking, I can't wait to relax so that I can quit clenching my jaw from just being stressed...
Amber
greeted me, like the old friend that I am, and I watched the first band as I
drank my Blonde beer which I soon realized would lead to two coffee-stouts and
a PBR in honor of my grandfather and everyone else in the bar,
pretty-damn-much.
My jaws loosened and my teeth unclenched shortly into the
second beer and the first bands first song...They...were/are....good.
Dalmation...I remember them saying they were from Macon, GA,
I believe I remember that correctly and it is apparently what is important. It
does seem significant to me considering their style. Their vocals sounded
almost exactly like Alt-J to me and their style reminded me of the Black Keys
or something along that line. I mean, they were great, and as they warmed up (
I mean, I remember thinking, they may flop, how could they top that last
song?!?) they got BETTER, like butter-better.
The singer came out of his shell and they all switched
places and instruments and I thought...man....I'm gonna get this wrong and have
way too much fun.
I could meditate and bring back every note they played, but
I figured I could always buy the records of these bands and just enjoy myself.
So, I drank a bit more beer and people-watched, but mostly music-listened and
was mesmerized by the talent and vibe in and of the place.
I came here to write about Somebody's Darling, but I have
come away with, to put it simply, a greater appreciation for my hometown. Bands
so good, in a place with not as many people as could be in there. I just
remember thinking, five bucks; five bucks and I'm watching and listening to
something of the caliber I view at places like the Ryman Auditorium and the
arena. No price can be placed on what I experienced last night.
The people rock. Simply and truly, and Somebody's
Darling....they really rock.
I was in a state (pretty much) of complete bliss and
awestruck during the entire performance. I could hardly take mine eyes off of
the band, and I will never forget how I felt watching them. I felt connected,
and to be honest, I felt a little bit loved-if not loved entirely. The crowd
was super-responsive, and the music felt so genuine and real; and man can Amber
sing!
She can really belt it, and every single physical movement
of Somebody's Darling (which is really fun to read/write by the way) was
calculated just perfectly enough for me to really be impressed at the musical acuity
of the group of young people. I mean, they's like my age, man!
They are rockstars! I feel bad they will ever grow out of
it, for their sakes. They have got to be at one of the most pivotal points a
team could find itself. It's the calm before the storm, the dawn...all they
have to do is keep the vehicle on the road and they can find themselves as
successful as the Rolling Stones. I would honestly rather see the show I saw
last night than go to the Stones, I think...at this point. It was so raw, so
genuine...so inexpensive. The words in the songs were fresh and creative as were the melodies, rhythms and chords progressions. These bands have had to take everything from the last two-million years and
present it in such a way that no one can tell the difference.
I will expect to hear music from each of the three bands on
Lightning 100, and hope that Lighting 100 picks up on my hints soon because I
hear a lot of the same stuff on that station and either, there are just three
really good bands I happened to see at The Basement last night who's stuff I
don't hear on Lighting 100 yet...or enough...or there is just a lot more really
good stuff out there that people need to hear!
I don't even have to say it, Radiobird was awesome. Like Radiohead and Freebird mixed together in a wineglass and I got to drink it and chase it with a Jack and Coke.
Each of
the bands felt like they'd been putting their hearts and souls into their work
for the last forever, without fail.
Creative sound, obvious skill and dedication, fearlessness,
compassion; all of these I witnessed in a dingy-esh bar in Nashville last
night, and I am so grateful.
I hope you get a chance to listen to each of the bands I
heard and have attempted to bring to your attention, and I will do my best to
keep up with the ensuing rage-fest by writing more about these guys and gal as
the careers progress hopefully to only the good places fame and fortune lead.
AND, AND, I'll say this.
Never give up on your dreams.
The folks obviously are not doing so anytime soon, and
never, not ever, should anyone even consider doing such a thing. It is a betrayal of the life
given to us by the almighty force of beauty, that which seems to have no name, or not such a name as I am able to pronounce
in this article right here, chy'all!)
