Hello everyone, and welcome to another great round of East Side Storytellin’. Similar to the 46 previous shows we’ve put together from East Side Story, we’ve all arrived at this spot, here and now, to get cultured up just right in the form of a local 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. Similar to our 2nd show in October of last year with Betsy Phillips and Old Hazelwood, this is another East Side Storytellin’ Halloweenish edition show. Keep all knives at bay and don’t look right you just yet, we’re moving forward with a spooky awesome recap and recording of an otherworldly evening of music and stories like none other in town or around this month. Without further ado, this is East Side Storytellin’ 47. Let us begin, again.
The first featured guest of this fantastical evening is an accomplished, award-winning costume designer, a super mom, and one half of a wonderful married couple that pretty much runs things at the successful and local J & J Printers, among many other things most would be satisfied with calling a worthy resume … but she didn’t stop there. The main reason she was asked to be here tonight is because she is most notably known beyond Nashville as an author of multiple works of fiction and nonfiction. You can read her trilogy titled “The Blood of Angels” (a novella series), “A Year and a Day” (only on e-book), and “Seven Times a Woman” (a novel you can purchase at East Side Story. Mixing fantasy with Nashville fiction, she is here tonight to share bits of her most recent hit, appropriately titled “Music City” (also found at East Side Story). “Music City” is an enchanting story where the muses inspire and faerie magic underscores every note sung in this town. A Nashville author like few others, I was honored to introduce a lady, dressing the part for the Halloweenish show more than anyone in the crowd by the name Sara M. Harvey.
Sara, with her little fancy hat, set up the stage with artwork from her good friend and designer of the art print for the evening (seen below) as well as Sara’s book “Music City.” Sara described the details behind the research and creative process of writing her latest work, sharing her excitement about the journey she took and those who buy the book will take along with her. As I looked around the comfy patio, I saw everyone smiling back to Sarah’s excited expressions and tales of preparing to write said book. I’m pretty sure that her description before reading alone got people amped to go back out on the town to see if they might catch a glimpse of her fictional characters.
Sara gave a reading of several excerpts from her most recent novel, each describing more action and character development of the main characters involved. The story was more than an adventure because Sara took the time to describe the details behind what a banshee can and cannot do. She left nothing unturned, but it was time to wrap up the segment just as she was getting to the heart of “the song” mentioned in the book. Sara did a wonderful job of building up her story and leaving it open for those interested to dive right in where she left off. You can listen to her reading below.
The second featured guest of the evening always approaches all of his endeavors with a sense of excitement, humor, and showmanship, also like few others in this town. Particularly relevant to the current holidayseason, he has been known to assemble a musical gang of zombies and has spent a lot of time dressing in disguise … all for good reasons. He’s always up to something creative, and he’s got a brilliant talent of making old sounds new. A songwriter, performer, concept artist, and founder of Very Entertaining Records, a native of Wisconsin, a film school graduate in Chicago, the mastermind behind the Hard Rock Zombies, and a musician that has written surf, polka, country, jazz, big band, hip hop, electro, and even a Halloween song. I believe I first met him at The Family Wash and he’s felt like family ever since = I married him and his wife, actually. Not what it sounded like, as an officiant, I chosen by our guest to technically married he and his talented wife. I’ve said it once or twice before when introducing other artists on the show, but this was the first time where it might have been trademarked on the bill (shout out to wordplay). People were moving in their seats to keep warm, but they gave screams, whistles, applause, and all of their attention to The One and Only, Bill Davis!
Bill felt at home on stage. He brought his cold beverage, along with his trusty guitar, took a sip, and then put it in his handy cup holder that he wrapped around his microphone. Bill was prepared.
After warming up with a few fresh tunes from his past, he got his guitar levels and fingers to keep up and match his soulful voice and lyrics in time. With humor and wit like none other in this town, Bill’s music had me smiling during the sweet and cracking up hysterically in the comic bits (#causethat’swhatyoudo). As I looked around during Bill’s song about hair, I was not the only one laughing out loud in my seat. In fact, I don’t think a single person could help themselves from having the best of times throughout Bill’s entire set. On one song, his Halloween song (“Boogie, Man), he even had the crowd making harmonic sounds and singing along at parts. In fact, near the end of his set, Bill invited his talented wife, Melanie, up to play and sing with him. She enticed the crowd to clap along with the final song, and everyone was better off than before the show because of the fun and skills that Bill shared with all of us. It was an honor, to say the least.
Because we weren’t rushed too much to leave, due to the weather or wicked witches circling above us, Sara and Bill stuck around for a bit to talk about their adventures to and inside of Nashville. Both were very sweet, had endearing things to say about Wisconsin (click recording), and shared an affinity for the Halloween season and costumes in general. I can’t write their words better than how they said it, so take my word for it and click the link below to listen to the recording that you missed in person.
So, without skipping a beat, here is the recording for East Side Storytellin’ 47 with Sara M. Harvey and The One and Only Bill Davis! Enjoy, over and over, and share with all your friends, over and over. Happy Halloween!
Before I say goodbye for this round of fun, I’d like to give a big round of thanks for Sara Harvey and The One and Only Bill Davis for sharing their stories, talents, and time with us.
I’d also like to show much love to Jonny Lee Park, Ethan Black, and J & J Printers for the holiday artwork and prints to celebrate tonight’s show.
You can read more from Sara Harvey here – http://saramharvey.com
You can listen to more from The One and Only Bill Davis here – http://www.theoneandonlybilldavis.com/about.html
I’ll keep the gratitude going for Tom Eizonas, Otis James for my wicked cool hat, and to my lovely wife 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.
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 –http://eastsidestorytn.com/in-our-own-words/
But we are not finished.
The NEXT East Side Storytellin’ 48 event will be …
Date- Tuesday, November 4th, 2014
Time- 7 pm sharp (Central)
Location- Mad Donna’s (1313 Woodland Street)- http://maddonnas.com
With words by poet Oni Woods (http://www.ounstoppablepoetry.com) and music by Boom Forest (http://boomforest.com), we will be celebrating our 2 year anniversary of East Side Storytellin’. Bring your mom, your friends, and those candles that never seem to blow out no matter how hard you try. Come celebrate with us, and many, many, more to come.
That’s all for the East Side Storytellin’ 47 show. Thanks for coming out and sharing the good word. Remember to be nice to one another out there. Thanks and good day your way.
Much love,
mE
