Thank YOU, thank YOU, thank YOU. Hello Again! Welcome to another wonderful collaboration between East Side Story and The Post. Let me be the first to officially, whole-heartedly welcome you to the recap and recording of the 129th epic edition of East Side Storytellin’! Like the 128, I repeat … 128, previous shows East Side Story has put together, we all decided to take a break from our busy schedules all over town in order to sit back and relax and get everyone cultured up just right in the form of a Nashville writer reading from original prose, followed by an amazing local musician performing and talking about their original music, and then a round-up creative conversation with all featured guests of this event to talk about their individual journeys and personal ties to Nashville. Without further ado, fulfilling the entertainment portion of your day, this is the recap and recording of East Side Storytellin’ 129. Let us begin, again.
Before I get started, per usual, I want to give an extra thanks to Tonya and Chris at The Post for making special arrangements and going the extra mile for our show to have a space amidst the challenging times of an election day. Because the weather was so beautiful, we were given the chance to rediscover some of our earlier show highlights during our time at Mad Donna’s by celebrating Nashville arts outdoors. The pollen was low, the spirits were high, and the sun and shade was just right with perfect lighting and the cutest of nooks for us to cozy our props together for one of the most refreshingly honest pairings of artists to date. So, with those thoughts of gratitude out of the way, on with the show as planned!
The first featured artist of the night is someone who uses her voice and creativity and everything she is, really, to inspire, humor, provoke, and remind all that we are all deserving of happiness and love. She’s been heard around town at Poetry in the Brew, A Night of Free Speech, Writings on the Wall, An Art Affair, Flatrock Café, The Literary Jazz Festival, and more. She has said that she was born into an Earthly form to help those near and far. Starting with the near and later broadcasting this recording to those afar, it was a big honor to introduce the likes of my dear friend, the talented Kat Marsh!
Before the show, Kat was really busy. She was doing some live social media feeds to drum up some friends to attend and also editing what she wanted to share to the great outdoors versus the usual reading inside. Point being, she was in her zone and on her game. When the kickoff whistle blew, her game went from being in the zone to a whole other level of awesome. She paused for a brief moment and then she began.
It was as though Kat took a deep, collective breath for the entire city and then let it out. She introduced herself to the fellow Earthlings and then she didn’t stop until she was finished. She was calling all readers and healers, calling out all bullies and meanies, and basically spitting rhymes that were as easy to follow as Dr. Seuss yet were deeper than those you find in the “good book.” While most of the city was busy with entertainment and sports (the sport of voting, as it were … or not voting at all, as the low polls suggested), Kat was simply telling it how it is. An easy string of connections, from finding answers at home or picking them up on the streets to being shouted at in sexist ways or ways the sexists want girls to change, the reading was completely honest and spellbinding. Did I mention that it happened in what felt like one breath? You really need to take the trip and listen to the recording below to know what I’m talking about when talking about what Kat is telling. She is a master guide.
Then the music tuned us all up and into another great mood altogether. Our featured music of the night is one of the most honest songwriters I’ve encountered in Music City. He is always open and direct about longing, loss, and the hope of redemption. His warm, gritty baritone is at times weary and emotion-laced, bringing to mind artists like two of my favorites, Otis Redding and Van Morrison. He is influenced by anything that’s got soul and his main interests today are writing and singing songs, new people and places, biscuits and gravy, and chocolate milk. Alongside his good friend Ben DeBerry (one half of the future East Side Storytellin’ group The Danberrys), the weather and the listening crowd gave a well-deserved, warm reception for the one and only Scott McMahan.
Scott jumped right into song and set. He strummed a tune that talked about always looking around the corner for someone else to blame, never doing what they wanted, going around in circles. It was a solid reflection of the world I’ve been witnessing from others as of late on and off of social media. It was comforting for me to hear someone see something similar in the world that I’m seeing. And, just like that, Scott dove even deeper. One not to ever shy from the tough subject matters life gives us to see, he followed up his intro song with one about a dying dead man named Victor, a stranger on the street who is no unforgettable. That’s the thing with Scott’s music and stories, he smacks you in the face and heart with all caps LIFE and you’re never the same, for the better, afterwards.
Scott and Ben were a wonderful pair together. They don’t try to outshine the other in any song, finding the best accents and contributions that they both can add to the brilliant tales that Scott has comprised, and the results are something raw, rough, and filled with hope in the most unassuming places that you’ve tried to find it in. One of those was a song about Brushy Mountain Prison, and then the other, inspired by Kat’s honesty, was the last minute addition to the set with a song about “I never asked …” With a sudden notion that the last song would indeed be the last song of the night, Scott and Ben left us with the beautiful “Let me stay the night,” Scott’s big hit in Belgium (don’t Google that though).
After the music and the sun set, the street lights and the leftover natural light cast the perfect shade onto our final conversation between the featured guests. As always, both Kat and Scott were honest and open about their individual pasts and unique experiences. But this session was definitely including some of the darkest memories and highest personal achievements that I can recall anyone sharing. I expected both cases from already knowing how these two articulate life in their art and everyday conversation. Scott shared the love he has been given by so many great friends from the Nashville experience (some in the crowd) and also the lessons he’s learned with his ongoing struggles with mental illness. He not only starts important conversations that few are comfortable to have, but he also keeps the dialogue going strong so that as many people can learn about mental illness as possible and not just regurgitate well wishes out of a classic textbook. Meanwhile, Kat is phenomenal at everything she says and does. Like the 15 minute breath, I could listen to her and Scott talk and sing about their journeys until the cows come home and then some. Point being, I feel very fortunate to know them both and call them friends. The least you can do to help your day is to listen to the entire show below and see how it hits home for you to become a better person. I know I am, after hearing these two.
So here it is, the edited recording of East Side Storytellin’ 129, the special night when Kat and Scott took us to Nashville church outside at just the right time and day, Tuesday, May 1st, 2018. As usual, this took place at The Post East. This recording just may change your life. Do yourself a favor and listen to and share it over and over with as many people you know. Thank you, and enjoy!
Before I say goodbye for this round of fun, I’d like to give a big round of thanks for Kat & Scott and Ben for sharing their stories, talents, and time with us.
You can read more about Kat’s work here- lrdrkat.com
You can listen to more of Scott’s music here – www.scottmcmahanmusic.com
You can listen to this show, edited, soon, alongside the previous shows too, on our website, www.eastsidestorytn.com, at our In Our Own Words Tab – see here – www.eastsidestorytn.com/in-our-own-words
I’ll keep the gratitude going for Tom Eizonas, my lovely wife and most talented artist in Emily Harper Beard (efharper), and everyone that came out live to support the show … and to everyone who has helped continue to spread the word and support the show online afterwards.
Last, but certainly not least, I’d like to give one last shout out to Tonya and Chris for making The Post so welcoming and positively life-changing for the East Nashville community at large.
Our next show will be
East Side Storytellin’ 130
Tuesday, May 15th
at The Post (1701 Fatherland Street) at 7pm
reading- Bryan Byrdlong
singing- Bill Eberle
That said, that’s all for East Side Storytellin’ 129 and another fabulous event at The Post with East Side Story at the helm. Thanks for coming out and sharing the good word and giving some love to all of these great Nashville artists and our creative ideas. Please remember to be nice to one another out there.
Much love,
mE
