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 162nd epic edition of East Side Storytellin’! Like the 161, I repeat … 161, 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’ 162. Let us begin, again.
The first featured artist of the night is a young chap who has written for a host of outlets like the Christian Science Monitor, Gastronomica, Mother Jones, Salon.com, and The Oxford American (among countless others). He not only loves food, he loves to write about it too. He’s also worked in more kitchens than he cares to mention or think about too long. Originally from North Carolina, locally he’s written for outlets including the Nashville Scene, Nashville Lifestyles, and The East Nashvillian. A freelance writer and staff member at Watkins College of Art, it wasn’t hard to ask for and receive a big round of applause for the author of the must digest book The Hot Chicken Cookbook: The Fiery History and Red-Hot Recipes of Nashville’s Beloved Bird, our friend Timothy Charles Davis.
It seemed like the time and pre-show antics and preparations gave way to me having more than the usual chance to talk with the featured guests of the show. I dove right into this chance to meet and really get to know Timothy and Patricio. For Timothy, he shared his experiences with teaching, schools, art, the book and life business, and goals that he is about to make happen and the altrustic intent and motivation that is going into the formality of publishing his latest work in order to connect his stories and ideas with more people who need it. If that is coded too much for you at the moment, then you’ll get the entire picture once you listen to the entire recording or pick up his latest work once it is published sooner than later.
Timothy spent the first half of his set reading from a cool part of his first book that has a major emphasis on the story behind Prince’s Hot Chicken. Written at a time before KFC and other commercial thieves took a good idea and made money off it if in their own cheap way, I loved how the truth of those who work at Prince’s still rings true today. It was a nice little time warp of sorts with a very trusted narrator.
Then, after he put down the hot chicken, Timothy jumped into his latest work in progress currently titled The Karma Cookbook. Mixing personal stories with recipes and meditative exercises, and a variety of other tasty ingredients and love, I know for sure that this next project of Timothy’s is going to be a huge success in more ways than just money. It’s the kind of project that is built upon the best of life, and not about money or a specific taste in mind. It is something that helps everyman (and woman) find peace with what they are intaking and how they share it with the world. Insert whatever dish you want to order and I’m sure that Timothy will give you something in the next book that will leave you satisfied and asking for seconds. Again, if you don’t believe me, get a free taste test sample in the recording below. It is well worth your time and energy. I can’t wait to read and hear more on this note. But, like everyone, I must.
Our featured music of the night will be provided by young fellow who was born a few moons ago in Madrid. He plays guitar, sings songs, is friends with Scot Sax, and is an all-around good human. Influenced by blues, gospel, country, and garage rock, this guy has been working hard for over 30 years to create music that has solid emotional impact sprinkled with a dose of humor. He’s played with Charlie Pickett, once moved to Germany and signed to a label in Hamburg for a minute or two, and has done more things in the music business than I could recite in an hour. Instead of trying to do that, I’d rather just let the man play his music that speaks for itself. Once again, it was pretty easy to get a nice warm welcome and round of applause for the talented Patricio Johnson.
Patricio took his time when on stage. He made sure that he tuned up just right in order to be all right with his music and the audience about to digest it. He started his set with the title track to his latest record called You Gotta Be Quick Around Here, and it was baby bear soup on tone and tempo = just right. With a little help from his friend, once a heckler but always a showman on his own stage … Scot, Patricio gave us songs that rang like true poetry and authentic as a reading from a diary set to music. It was personal, truthful, open, raw, and awesome. Everything about Patricio on this night was perfect.
On stage, he gave off the look of a Spanish version of Johnny Cash in his spare time circa 1974. In song, he sounded like a wonderful mix of Rick Danko from The Band and Procol Harum (singer of A Whiter Shade of Pale). And every second in between those images, Patricio was simply Patricio. Meaning, he was/is brilliant.
In the process of talking with Patricio before the show and during the interview, he spoke candidly about his battle with depression and his attempt to metaphorically and actually kill the musician part of his person. The pain, the redemption, and the saving grace of Patricio’s story is now on full display in the recording below and for all those who listen to know and use in their own lives. This life isn’t for the faint of heart, and, lucky for us, Patricio is all heart (with a side of truth and talent to boot). I could recite the songs of his set to tease you into giving the recording below a listen, but you just need to take the time and do just that. You will thank me afterwards.
By the time the music ended, I had no choice but to bring another stool to the stage so that both Patricio and Timothy could sit, rest their legs, hearts, and bones, and take a deep breathe before giving us the rest of the goodness they had in store for the audience. Sure, like the other show, there was a good amount of laughter, smiles, small heckles from the crowd (Scot), and a sea of listening eyes and ears from the crowd, but something felt a little extra honest and vulnerable from the personal stories and tales of life adversities and overcoming depression and toxins than usual. The final result, this show was like a mix of an AA meeting, a motivational speaker forum, an artists’ talent show, and a documentary of learning from experts who have been there and done that and are about to do their best work to date all in one. It had everything but an encore, honestly.
I really can’t say thank you enough to Timothy and Patricio, but my way of saying thanks now is by sharing the link to the edited recording of the entire show, East Side Storytellin’ 162, that featured Timothy Charles Davis and Patricio Johnson at The Post East on Tuesday, October 1, 2019. It was unfiltered and as pure as you could ask for in any show. Give it a listen, or two. And feel free to share it with as many people as you wish. Like all of our shows, it’s free and worth your time and energy.
Before I say goodbye for this round of fun, I’d like to give a big round of thanks for Timothy & Patricio for sharing their stories, talents, and time with us.
You can read more of Timothy’s writing here-
www.watkins.edu/instructors/timothy-charles-davis
You can listen to more of Patricio’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’ 163
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
at The Post (1701 Fatherland Street) at 7pm
reading- Collins I Aki
singing- Mary Elizabeth Hilliar
That said, that’s all for East Side Storytellin’ 162 and another fabulous event at The Post with East Side Story at the helm. Thanks for coming out 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