Thank YOU for visiting this page, hello, and welcome to another spectacular edition of East Side Storytellin’. Because we are counting and we make every single one count, it’s important for me to remind you that this is our 51st show! Like the 50 previous shows we’ve put together from East Side Story, we’ve all arrived at this spot, here and now, to get y’all 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, this is the recap and recording for East Side Storytellin’ 51. Let us begin, again.
The first featured guest of this evening was one of the most appreciated pre-East Side Story artists from the standpoint of my household. A few years back, not too long ago, this young lady brought her amazing character, work ethic, professional manners, and beauty forward to help a little creative movement in their own right called magpie etc, teaming up with Nashville fashion guru Rhiannon Guillet to help put on quite the shows. Since then, she has taken time away from the catwalk, carrying with her that same impeccable sense of character, work ethic, professional manners, and beauty towards performing through her words. She is a Pushcart Prize Nominee and member of the Lucille Clifton Collective and studies at MTSU’s Writer’s Loft program. Her poems have appeared in Sisterhood, Southern Voices: Volume 8, Southwestern Review, All the Livelong Day: Motif Anthologies, Volume 3, The Raven Chronicles, and Nashville Arts Magazine … to name a few with more on the way. She is a rising star in the bright Nashville poetry spotlight, and I was honored to have her start and liven up this final show of 2014. It was a jam-packed house of artists that helped give a much anticipated and deserved warm welcome to the stage for Tiana Clark.
Tiana didn’t waste any time. She put her wine glass on the floor beside the podium and hit the ground running with words that moved everyone in a space where so many were packed together that it was difficult to literally move. The crowd was so close, and combined with the powerful energy brought forth by Tiana’s insight and ideas that swayed the crowd towards her, I felt the scene came off as something similar to a school of fish going wherever Tiana’s flow took them. Basically, she was dropping mad life knowledge that took us all to school. She talked about her family, society, race, the times and world we live in, and did so effortlessly but with bravery on her sleeve. She knew she was in front of an attentive and appreciate, but don’t let that take away from the fact that Tiana never holds anything back from sharing her truth and unique view of the world she experiences on the daily.
After she dissected a lot of current newsworthy issues within her art, she took a second to show much love to her mother and their relationship. As a fitting early Christmas gift from a daughter to a mother, I’m sure there were a few happy tears shed from the crowd after so much sentimentality and honesty and love poured from the speakers over the crowd (directed all on one very proud mama). Once again, I don’t do enough justice with these recaps because you honestly had to be there to get the full effect of everything that came together this particular evening (note to yourself: don’t miss these shows!).
And then, as if she just took the microphone moments before, she dropped her final words of thanks for the crowd, the show, and everyone who has helped her to date, picked up her wine glass, and took a seat by her loving husband and family and friends. It was the perfect set-up for the musical stylings of the night.
The featured musician of the show was also a multi-talented artist within any medium she so chooses to give her mind, heart, body, and soul into. She plays several instruments, looping sounds in between like magic, and combines constant melodies and wonderful stories with few words. Talk about poetry, her music has been described as a surrealistic pillow, a soothing place for the physical weight of one’s head while supporting the stream of visions excited in the listener’s relaxed, unconscious mind. I first found out about this gem of a human when I was doing research on Float Nashville and stumbled upon an epic festival that this artist was a part of with that company last year. In fact, you should do yourself a favor and do some similar research to learn more about that business and this artist when you finish this page (you’re welcome). Back to this show though, all of the blinking lights and focus fell justifiably on the majestic that was the one and only artist that goes by the name of Deli.
Deli kicked off her shoes, took a seat in front of her peddles of sound shifting wonder, lifted her guitar to her lap, and set sail into the great sound. The guitar playing skills were fine tuned, but she did everything so calmly and in such a relaxed manner that the music she played instantly drew a meditative painting over the room. It was perfect for reflecting on my own life and times (I can only speak for myself, always, although I’m sure I’m never alone in saying these things), and it was even more perfect (if that is a possible phrase that makes sense) for reflection on everything that Tiana had recently shared to everyone. Point being, it was perfect.
Deli, to me, had elements of her sounds like a young Erykah Badu … but better. It was innocent and pure, but complex and made me feel like she was on another level that we wanted to go to meet her there and she was looping the melodic formula of the songs in a manner that allowed us to take that trip with her as our guide. No, I’m not on drugs as I type this nor was I in the crowd. But it was, as this entire show was, transcendent. To say I highly recommend you catching a performance and learning more about each of these featured bad ass women artists in the future is a complete understatement.
Anyways, I do feel the need to apologize that we didn’t have time to set up the equipment more properly to allow for Deli to do more looping (again, she’s a genius = listen to her stuff online). With that said, I’m not sure how the show could have been better. When the music faded and I had the chance to ask the ladies a few questions for closure to the performances, each said some very enlightening answers. I’ll let you listen more for it in the recording below, but Tiana talked a good deal about bravery within her writing process and performance while Deli spoke earnestly about the topic of vulnerability and how that opens doors to art that isn’t there without it being present. It was/is some very deep, awesome, and profound stuff to behold, remember, and practice for each of us going forward into the new year.
That said, this was a great transitional show in a lot of ways. One, it was the final show at Mad Donna’s, for reasons mentioned below of where we plan to go next. Secondly, it was a show that had so many Nashville literary rock stars and leaders in the writing community that it all just felt right. The Nashville literary scene, even more so with the poets, are so close and supportive for everything everyone does that I have no doubt that we will collective move mountains with the talent, strength, and spotlight that is in the making to help shine THE light on everything inside and beyond for Nashville.
Before I sound too crazy here, I’d now like to present to you the golden opportunity to listen to the edited version of East Side Storytellin’ 51. You can listen to it countless times by just re-clicking it, over and over, and you can share it with as many people on and off-line as humanly possible. In fact, why don’t you share it with as many people as you can and let me know how many humanly possible is. There might be a prize for the winner. Either way, enjoy this prized link right here and now:
Before I say goodbye for this round of fun, I’d like to give a big round of thanks for Tiana Clark and Deli for sharing their stories, talents, and time with us.
You can read more from Tiana Clark here – www.tianaclark.com
You can listen to more from Deli here – www.facebook.com/delicolortempo
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/
I’d also like to show much love to Clay Brunton for the beautiful artwork for the prints made by Kevin Anthuis at 5 Points Digital Imaging (http://5pdi.com) to celebrate tonight’s show- seen here=
I’ll keep the gratitude going for Tom Eizonas, Otis James for my wicked cool hat, 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.
I’d like to give one last shout out to the crew at Mad Donna’s for allowing us to celebrate East Side Storytellin’ for over a year. We may be back in the future, but it’s time to announce the next step on our journey.
The NEXT East Side Storytellin’ event will be …
East Side Storytellin’ 52
Tuesday, January 6th, 2015
Riverwood Mansion (1833 Welcome Lane)
7pm
reading- Walker Bass
singing- Kirabelle (http://kirabellefrabotta.com)
East Side Storytellin’ is trying out something new for the next couple of months. Every story needs revising, right? East Side Story has partnered with UnBound Arts to bring a limited edition run of Storytellin’ at the Riverwood Mansion. They still have the usual rigmarole planned– part book reading, part musical performance and author/musician interview. However, they’re spicing up the menu a bit, with Chef Debbie Sutton of 8 Lavendar Lane Catering. Sutton is crafting special meals influenced by each evening’s readings. They’re bringing these stories to life, one bite at a time. Check out this supped-up version of Storytellin’ through March. Email chuck@eastsidestorytn.com or unboundartsnashville@gmail.com to see about purchasing tickets. 1833 Welcome Lane.
OR purchase your tickets and share with friends here- https://www.eventbrite.com/e/east-side-storytellin-tickets-14892378505
And read more information about the location and Need to include the following links too-
That’s all for East Side Storytellin’ 51 and 2014. Thanks for coming out and sharing the good word and giving some love to all of these great Nashville artists and our creative ideas. Feel free to visit me at East Side Story (1108 Woodland Street, Unit B) for all of your literary holiday gifts, and please remember to be nice to one another out there. Thanks and good day your way.
Much love,
mE
not 1 BUT 2 for the road (a great send-off for 2014, not 1 BUT 2 for the books):
