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 139th epic edition of East Side Storytellin’! Like the 138, I repeat … 138, 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’ 139. Let us begin, again.
The first featured artist of the night is a mutual friend of 2 of the coolest artists who are doing the most for Nashville’s literary scene in Lance Umenhofer and Robyn Leigh Lear. This lady, not Robyn or Lance, is currently studying at Austin Peay State University for her Master in Arts of Teaching while doing her side hustle gigs like every other artist I know in Nashville making it happen. Originally from Atlanta, studying history and religion at Georgia State University, she left that gridlock traffic to get in the flow of April Gloaming Publishing and her own creative adventures. Usually focusing on op-ed/editorial pieces, she has been working on creative nonfiction a lot lately so I was extremely excited to hear some of her new stuff. Joined by a good number of quality friends and fans, The Post East was filled with love and attention for the wonderful and always awesome Shawn Eiko.
Unlike most of the published authors who have walked on stage in the past, Shawn strolled up to the podium with a work so fresh off the printer and so close to the heart with family history come alive that it was naturally a different buzz in the air than usual. Equipped with her own version of creative confidence, Shawn wasted no time while jumping into an original piece of work that everyone in the room could tell and feel meant the world to her. It was an honor to sit and listen to such a special timepiece.
Shawn’s story was based upon her ancestors who were living their traditional roles and battling a personal crossroads decision in July of 1945. A story mainly about a daughter and her parents, surrounded by theater, dance performances, military chaos, dual religions (one being illegal at that time and place), potential marriage and life-changing decisions, the always “should I stay or should I go” question, and all happening during a moment in time that might just be the biggest and most impactful period in world history ever, this story was just as big as the bomb that drops at the end of the reading. I can’t imagine how therapeutic it must have been for Shawn to have researched, revisited, and written such a personal and epic piece that involved stories from her family, but I could see how great it was for her to share it with family and friends on this given show. It takes a lot of guts to be an artist, to create and share your creation, but it takes even more guts than usual to share work that is directly reflective of your family. I can’t thank Shawn enough for sharing her art and her story. I look forward to reading and hearing more of her work down the line, as she continues to find her voice on paper. If you want to hear her voice online, listen to the reading in the recording link below.
Our featured music of the night is mutual friend of one of the coolest people we have ever met in Molly Martin. This lady, not Molly Martin, has already written a few hundred songs before turning 20 and has received ASCAP’s Robert Allen Award for excellence in songwriting, been a WNYC’s Battle of the Borroughs Queens Champion, Folk Alliance International Executive Director’s Choice Artist, and Falcon Ridge Folk Festivals’ #1 Emerging Artist. She’s been playing guitar since the guitars were as big as she was. A fan of Queen, The Beatles, Beach Boys, and Simon & Garfunkel, this New Yorker turned Nashvillian is always ready to rock your faces and hearts. #ampedforannika in the house, it was a true honor to introduce the former kingpin of the band Still Sapphire, I’m talking about the unforgettable and extremely talented Annika Bennett!
Annika, an artist and performer pretty much since birth, was exactly where she wants to be while on stage in front of friends (and knowing that the show was being recorded so her mother could listen to it later). Her first song that repeated the lyrics “what happened to missing me?” several times was a perfect transition for me after listening to the effects of the dropping of the bomb in Shawn’s story. Annika’s voice is what I imagine what angels sound like. It appears on the scene like a soft breeze, slowly filling the room with a sense of calm and hope (almost like when you catch a smell of chocolate cookies baking in the kitchen down the hall), and it holds your attention in a safe place like a caterpillar in a cocoon. When each song ends, you long for the cocoon you were just in, but you feel better than ever and changed for the better … wanting more life.
Annika shared a song that she wrote honoring her sister, fellow Still Sapphire legend, after a recent phone call about some adversity she recently went through. It was respectful, truthful, and such a wonderful tribute to a sister she admires more than most. But then again, every song that Annika writes and sings has that authentic appeal to it. Her stories have a lot of depth, and she makes sure she takes you through them at a pace that allows you to explore every second and emotion in every single one. If you like volume and speed over everything else, Annika’s music is not for you. If you appreciate slowing things down so that you can feel and see and think about how you feel in a given moment, then she will be one of your new favorites. I kept telling Tom several times in between the songs that I was amazed by the brilliant subtle chord and scale changes throughout each of the heartfelt songs. She does it as smoothly as The Beatles and as beautifully as Patty Griffin. If you can’t tell, I’m a new big fan. Take a listen in the recording below, for yourself.
After Annika finished singing, Shawn came back on stage to share more insight about how they both got into the arts, how they met some of their best friends and creative counterparts, and to inform the rest of us more about why they do what they do. As always, it was honest, refreshing, and inspiring to myself and everyone in the room. And what kills me even more with this pairing is that they are just getting started. These two have done so much in their lives so far and will do far more than they can even imagine going forward. You should listen to the recording below, do the research online to read more and follow what they are doing now, and stay tuned for everything in the works going forward. There will be a lot of great things for both of these two good humans going forward. It was an honor to spend time with them.
So here it is, the edited recording of East Side Storytellin’ 139, the show that featured Shawn Eiko and Annika Bennett at The Post East on Tuesday, October 2, 2018. Please enjoy and share this recording and recap over and over with all of your family and friends and fans of Still Sapphire. You’re welcome.
Before I say goodbye for this round of fun, I’d like to give a big round of thanks for Shawn and Annika for sharing their stories, talents, and time with us.
You can read more of Shawn’s OvulNation here – waxingandwaning.org
You can listen to more of Annika’s music here –
www.annikabennett.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’ 140
Tuesday, October 16
at The Post (1701 Fatherland Street) at 7pm
reading- Marla Faith
singing- Jesse Correll
That said, that’s all for East Side Storytellin’ 139 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. I repeat, please remember to be nice to one another out there. Thank you and goodnight.
Much love,
mE