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 155th epic edition of East Side Storytellin’! Like the 154, I repeat … 154, 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’ 155. Let us begin, again.
The first featured artistof the night is a writer, musician, boat builder, carpenter, deckhand, dishwasher, husband, and father, but tonight he is featured because of his writing. A Tennessee native of Memphis, he has always gravitated to water. In 2000, he and his wife moved to Maine where he undertook a 2-year apprenticeship in traditional wooden boatbuilding. Eventually, one of the boats he made was taken down the Mississippi under oar with his family. After a good bit of time living in North Carolina, New York, and New Orleans, he eventually moved back to his home state. Not to ever be called lazy, he not only continued to work with wood, music, and boats, this guy also found time to co-found the Tennessee Association of Vintage Baseball. You may have followed him or heard his music under the name Trapper Haskins & the Bitter Swill, but tonight we are here to celebrate his writing. His writing has appeared in national publications including Sports Illustrated, WoodenBoat, and American Songwriting, but I was most excited for him to read from and talk about his project titled Chasing Twain. It was finally time to check in, reconnect, and help share the story and reflect with my friend Trapper Haskins.
Admittedly a little nervous about premiering an excerpt of Chasing Twain in public, it didn’t take long for Trapper to get into his element. Usually hitting a stage with his guitar and some friends, Trapper asked Jack about five minutes after first meeting him and his gear if he’s like to collaborate in the reading by playing some guitar in the background. What is usually a quick mic check for the featured author turned into about a ten minute reading soiree with the musical stylings of Jack gripping the small audience who got to the café early and all heard something near perfect from the first word. Trapper had skillfully parked the actual boat he built and took on his journey outside of the parking lot at The Post for all to see, as he propped his oars on the wall and posted himself up near the podium and an excellent listening crowd. There we no seatbelts provided, but it felt like everyone was buckled in for the ride to come.
And then Trapper set sail. He set the scene as one that would have suspense, tension, and a twinge of mystery. One never can truly predict the weather or who they will meet or how a river can and will change your life, if you let go to the moment, but Trapper’s words and tone put the clearest picture of his adventures that I’ve heard from anyone in quite some time. He basically dropped us into his boat around the first few miles entering Mississippi. Bringing an East Nashville flavor to the mix, he threw in a character by the name of 3 Crowes. There was mention of a Cat Island at one point, but that was as sweet as it got. You could hear my writing pen drop when Trapper spoke about his new not so friend on the river asking Trapper and his wife if they were packing any weapons. When met with the answer no, 3 Crowes basically pulled out his 22 and unloaded his racism card as well while telling the couple they should protect themselves from the loads of colored people in the area (though it was written in more vulgar lingo). Point being, the content and danger of the moment was brilliantly matched with the melodic instincts of Jack Silverman as the maestro of the cinematic score blending in with Trapper’s tale. Every note reflected on and reflected out just the right sentiments that made Trapper’s already enlightened words have the ability to glow at night. To me, it felt like I was hearing a scene from the Johnny Depp movie Dead Man combined with the feel of a classic Twilight Zone episode narrated on the river by Rod Serling. You can experience it for yourself and tell us your comparisons after listening to the entire show in the link below.
Our featured music of the night is someone who has been at the epicenter of most of my Nashville experience the past ten years. The former Managing Editor of the Nashville Scene, originally from Cleveland Ohio, this guy studied English and American Literature at Brown University and eventually became one of the most well-versed students of the Nashville independent music scene. After leaving a massive void of his positive presence in the Nashville media scene, this man is now self-employed and making some of the most fresh music he’s ever played. I typically don’t pair the writers and musicians of these shows with each other in mind, often I don’t even know what they will perform, but I specifically wanted this instrumentalist to play beside Trapper’s adventure on the Mississippi. I’m sure you if you close your eyes a time or two listening to this set below that you can envision a wild trip on a river … or not. Either way, welcome to the otherworldly sounds of my friend Jack Silverman.
Usually found around town playing with at least two others, and after finishing a reading set like no other alongside Trapper, Jack kept his solo seat and gear in place, ready to launch us into the river or into the great unknown space. Specifically, after my intro, as you’ll hear below, Jack told the audience to prepare themselves for their orbit around Saturn. It may have been far out from the start, but Jack is never one to be far off of anything cool. Jack also briefly told the crowd that a longtime dream of his has been to be in a house band in a lounge of one of Quentin Tarantino’s movies. I’d say that The Post would pass too many codes for said setting, but the overall vibe was set and gauntlet was thrown. We were strapped into Space Mountain and ready to go.
As Jack kicked his pedals and picked his chords, he was like a one-man band conductor representing a musical river not unlike the one Trapper floated but with a new tributary to take just about every other measure of time. It was such a fantastical trip. With elements of Phish but more sophisticated and singular focus, I felt like I was on a melodic guided meditation. The ultimate writer, Jack saved his words for transitional talk in between song trips, letting the audience fill in the spaces between his notes with their own words and thoughts in their head. It was both refreshing and inspiring. There was a lot of gravity present in the musical moment, but it was the kind that made you feel grounded, safe, and secure to go anywhere you wanted to go. It was a ticket for personal freedom of thought and vision. It was everything music is meant to do for you. Again, you can take the trip yourself by clicking the link of the show below.
Jack finished his set with an outstanding original version of the classic Star Spangled Banner. I thought it bridged the new and vintage American baseball link and feelings between Jack and Trapper. But after the final note was played, I pulled over a stool for Trapper to sit alongside his new captain Jack and we three took another side river route of conversation altogether. Trapper spoke from the heart about how the river project bought him closer to his own story and to a place as a richer family man. Jack elaborated on his personal insights gained for being in the scene and soul of Nashville creativity and Nashville’s overall song since arriving in the late 90’s. I felt honored to speak with them both, and I also felt like I was speaking with two spiritual elders who flat out just get what community and what this life is all about. Pun intended, they both go with the flow daily, wildly pursuing their dreams and projected purpose, and they don’t waste time fighting the current unless it’s to protect the truth. If you can dig that concept, you’re gonna love this show recording below (worth me saying for the 3rd time).
So here it is, the edited recording of East Side Storytellin’ 155. This show took place at The Post East on Tuesday, June 18, 2019. It was something extraordinary to witness with two extraordinary artists in Trapper Haskins and Jack Silverman. You now have the privilege and the honor of being able to listen to this show and share it with others as many times as you wish. Enjoy it!
You can experience more of Trapper’s writing & music here-https://trapperhaskins.com
You can read more about Jack’s Nashville story here- www.theeastnashvillian.com/jack-silverman
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’ 156
Tuesday, July 2, 2019
at The Post (1701 Fatherland Street) at 7pm
reading- Annette Sisson
singing- Ashley K.
That said, that’s all for East Side Storytellin’ 155 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