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 149th epic edition of East Side Storytellin’! Like the 148, I repeat … 148, 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’ 149. Let us begin, again.
The first featured artistof the night is a dear mutual friend of East Side Storytellin’ alumnus Dana Malone. He, not Dana, is a native from Detroit, Michigan and a transplant from Chicago, Illinois. A Fisk University graduate (shout out Bulldogs). He is an award-winning writer, visual artist, and performance artist who focuses on cultural and social issues. He’s known to delve into the depths of the psyche and heart, so get ready for a great show that doesn’t stay on the surface. He connects with cultural symbols and spiritual matters, much of these from his African heritage. He taught poetry at the Frist Art Museum’s art appreciation Ekphrastic Poetry Program for the “Chaos and Awe” exhibition. One of his poems was converted into a dance performance at the Parthenon Museum, and his work has been published in journals, magazines, and anthologies all around. The list of poems and performances could go on for days, but we’ll talk about everything he wants to highlight later for sure. Currently working on a spoken word/poetry CD, another book of poetry, a film, and a tour for his play, Another Day, Another Dollar, we were lucky to have him take a short break from his time creating new awesome material to read with us. A man who brought his family, a few close friends, and a handful of new fans to the show, I’m talking about the one, the only, Henry L. Jones.
Henry had never attended one of our shows before being a featured guest. I say this, not out of keeping tabs, because he is a unique and literal artist who heard the name Storytellin’ in our show title and took it to heart. Instead of relying on his poetic prowess or masterful prose that he is used to reading from in other performances from his immense backlog of brilliant material that is always growing, Henry curated and shared a collection of family stories and moments dedicated to and inspired from his late father and his younger brother. It was more like spoken words than spoken word, and it was perfect to juxtapose the bright and big full supermoon that hung above and behind us all night. Point being there were powerful family forces apparent all around us, and the setting was just right for Henry’s personal and daring intentions.
I kind of felt like I was part of Henry’s family, by the way he rounded us together in the living room and stood up and proclaimed his interpretations of historic moments that shaped his childhood and relationship with others in his family. The stories came out effortlessly from Henry’s mouth, and they were so beautifully woven together in a way that allowed for each story to breathe and have a spotlight but also to help guide the overall story arc of love and life’s purpose with the philosophical question consistently posed by his father saying, “What are you doing?”
Whether it was Henry figuring out the secrets behind becoming a superhero, unlocking the windows of imagination with reality and self-teaching the art of human flight out of a second story window and surviving or coaxing his brother to take part in a yogi experiment that you have no choice to believe and run towards the moment (especially if you are playing the role of Henry’s father and running into the scene just before the disastrous climax calls for action), these were all some of the most grandiose and fun stories I’ve ever heard in my life. I was captivated, and I wasn’t alone. I really could’ve listened to Henry share these stories all night long.
But before he left the stage, he brought his collection of stories full circle to a moment where he was surrounded by the rain and his daughters playing outside. He thought of and felt the presence of his by then late father, and he asked the same question his father asked of him a million times. Instead of reacting like a stereotypical parent, Henry revealed what answer came to him out of the blue rain and shared what course of action he took next. I’ll let you listen to the entire story for yourself in the recording below, instead of telling you the entire plot, but I highly suggest you take the time to listen to this entire show below. It will make your heart smile, and inspire you to love everyone around you even more than you do at this moment. All we have is each other and this moment.
Our featured music of the night is a dear mutual friend of one of our favorite artists in the world, Cyndi Williams. This girl, I believe unrelated, is a real-life coal miner’s daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter from Eastern Kentucky. Now an artist calling Nashville home, she writes songs and fiction. She is the recipient of the 2011 Jean Ritchie Fellowship for Appalachian Writing and the 2017 Denny C. Plattner Award for fiction. A dual threat of creative mastery, we were honored to help her continue to celebrate her first album, When You Go, that was released this past January. Hot off the press and positive feedback, there was a roomful of applause for Tiffany Williams.talk about what the creative scene was like in your family when you grew up and what led you to writing and everything you’re doing today?
Tiffany was ready for this moment. She woke up with a small strain in her throat, but, like every great woman of today, she persisted. This is a big week for Tiffany. She has a huge show this weekend in Louisville, and being on East Side Storytellin’ afforded her the chance to practice for a huge out-of-state gig that will lead to more wonderful opportunities on this songwriting path and she was equally humbled and appreciative to join the East Side Storytellin’ family in her process.
And speaking of fortuitous serendipity, the theme of our program, the first song from Tiffany’s set was a beautiful story that involved personal discovery of what it takes to learn how to fly. I felt like it was a direct nod to Henry’s brother, Fred, and their attempt to take red caps and tighty-whitey’s to the skies like the Wright Brothers. Tiffany grounded her metaphorical flight and took off in another similar direction with more truths and somber, philosophical tales.
Tiffany mentioned in between songs that she has no happy songs. I believe her at her word on the surface, but there is something immensely rich and refreshing about someone being so open and honest and guiding an audience to the depths of thoughts and ideas that one normally doesn’t go to on their own. Side note, I noticed quickly into the set that the combination of her guitar playing style and her innocent, experience-rich voice reminded me of the first few albums I heard from Patty Griffin. I don’t just throw that resemblance out there for everyone, but the point being is that you really need to get on board and follow Tiffany as she takes creative flight.
Tiffany ended her set with the title track of her debut album When You Go. A song based on a true story that had huge implications in Tiffany’s family tree many supermoons ago, she said that she couldn’t sing it without crying the first time she shared it in public. She didn’t cry on this performance, but you could feel that many of our hearts were in the crowd. Like Henry’s stories, I really need to ask you to listen to the entire recording below to know exactly what I’m talking about above and below. These two artists are so wonderful and inspiring in everything they create.
It didn’t take long for the moderated conversation to hit a smooth groove of back and forth answers to single questions directed at both of our guests of the night. Tiffany and Henry, albeit from different backgrounds and upbringings, seemed to be on very similar paths of life and creativity. The more each of them passed the single mic to speak, it felt like the same voice or origin. I’m glad they sat down on the couch. Aside from the mic feedback up front, they were sharing a lot of substance with a great amount of life weight (in the best of ways). I can’t say thanks enough for these two friends taking time to be a part of this show, so do me a favor and listen to the show and share it with others in the link below.
SO here it is, the recording of East Side Storytellin’ 149. Recorded below the 3rd supermoon of 2019, this took place with Henry L. Jones and Tiffany Williams at The Post East on Tuesday, March 19, 2019. It was priceless, literally, and unforgettable. Enjoy it and share it with everyone you know. I know I’m a better person for experiencing it.
Before I say goodbye for this round of fun, I’d like to give a big round of thanks for Henry and Tiffany for sharing their stories, talents, and time with us.
You can listen to more of Tiffany’s music here –
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’ 150
Tuesday, April 2, 2019
at The Post (1701 Fatherland Street) at 7pm
reading- Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum
singing- Emily Justin
That said, that’s all for East Side Storytellin’ 149 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. Thank you and goodnight.
Much love,
mE