Thank YOU, thank YOU, thank YOU. Hello Again! Welcome to the recap and recording from another epic event at Riverwood Mansion. With Unbound Arts at the helm of another beautifully planned evening, let me be the first to officially, whole-heartedly welcome you to the review of the 56th spectacular edition of East Side Storytellin’! Like the 55 previous shows East Side Story has put together, we’ve all gathered together to get as many of y’all as humanly possible 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 was East Side Storytellin’ 56. Let us begin, again.
Wait! Before I begin with the show recap again, I should clarify a few things. Debbie Sutton and Eric Reed were on site formulating yet another dinner plan to be served to our esteemed guests and inspired by the conversations pre-show with the featured artists about their art and lives. Eric, on his way to being quite the culinary master, devised a four-course meal that made more of the guests raise their hands to change their ticket value to the food ticket than ever so far in our young tradition at Riverwood Mansion.
If you’d like to listen to Eric telling the crowd about the meal, in mouth-watering descriptions, you can listen to it here-
If you’d like to see the words, in the order they were presented and audibly served, set your sights on this menu:
1st Course– Andouille Sausage, White cheddar grits, and Tomato Jam
2nd Course– Field Greens, Apple, Candied pecans, Goat Cheese Mousse, and Molasses Vinaigrette
3rd Course– Sugar cane smoked brisket, Carrot purée, Charred cauliflower
4th Course– Devils food cake, Mint Buttercream, Bailey’s Caramel, Guinness Foam
Don’t lie. You’re mouth is watering and YOU are wondering why you weren’t there to eat this and this show up in person right? Well, don’t miss out on the fun next time. We gave you fair warning on all social media fronts. It was better tasting and better for you than loads of green beer … just saying.
Now, on with the East Side Storytellin’ show!
The first featured guest of this particular evening is a man of many talents. A multi-instrumentalist who has been a Nashville native for 25 years, this guy is one of the most memorable and fun-loving creative people you will ever meet in this city and that’s saying a lot with the list of memorable, fun-loving creative people living in this town. He is one of the founding members of the legendary rock band called the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, of which you may remember from the classic songs “If You Want to Get to Heaven” and “Jackie Blue”- to name a few. Since the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, this man has gone on to do a multitude of solo work, as well as heading up the groups Supe & the Sandwiches, Supe & the Sheetrockers, and The Garbonzos. Aside from his musical journeys, he is here tonight to share with us the written word about his creative escapades. He is the featured author tonight for his work called “It Shined: the Saga of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils”- the story of a classic rock-n-roll band told from within. You can buy a copy of his book at East Side Story, if you run over like right now (or drive … your call). Either way, it was a huge honor to introduce the likes of the man, the legend, and the artist formerly known as Michael Granda … It is always a pleasure to see him, but even cooler to get to introduce him and his art to others. I’m talking about SUPE!
Supe, never a stranger to gigs of any creative sort (whether playing music to thousands or reading from his countless stories on print or from memory to a mansion filled with good-hearted people), was a treasure as always. He arrived early and ready. I can’t say it enough. If you have ever met Supe, you’ll never forget it. He is always a 100% positive and ready to lift your days higher than they were before you saw him. If you haven’t ever met Supe, make it a point to do so.
Supe started the show with a story I could never tell. He read from his account in his book about the time he first met his first bass instrument teacher and mentor and partied with that same man, Sir Paul McCartney. It really did put any and all of my personal stories to shame. But, in the way Supe does it best, he invited the audience to take that trip with him down memory lane and feel as though we had been right there with them. Supe has many gifts, and making others feel like they are on his magic trip of a life right there with him is one of my favorites.
After leaving the Beatle, Supe talked about his experience with music business and how it tried to categorize his band’s hit song “Jackie Blue” into more Jackies of different colors. It was an enlightening tale for those of use who have never had run ins with the music business, and I’m sure it hit close to home with the second featured artist of the night- as he mentioned later in the creative conversation at the end of the night. That said, Supe finished his storytelling with the published essay about the time he met and had a literal run in with Sid Vicious of The Sex Pistols during the recording sessions for each other’s band. Needless to say, you just need to listen to the recording below and come get a copy of Supe’s book for yourself at East Side Story so you will believe everything I say here. Supe is a Nashville treasure. Supe is everything good about Nashville. Supe is Supe! And just about the time we were settled in for another round of stories, and possibly one about the time Supe ran from/for a political seat, he was ready to share the stage for the featured musician.
The featured musician of the night was first recommended to me by our mutual friend Josh Johnson from the talented group Elenowen. From an outsider’s perspective, he is garnering interest and building his legend, much like Supe has done, as a man who writes songs from his heart on the outskirts of the society limelight- in a trailer in the woods between two towns you’ve never heard of. First performing at an age when most kids are focused on learning the alphabet, he has gone on to add Showtime at the Apollo, an opening gig for Brian Wilson, and a countless line of county fairs across the southeast to his list of growing accomplishments before he finished being a teenager. After moving to Nashville, it didn’t take him long to bust his music chops and find his voice even more so before getting married, moving to a farm on the outskirts of Dyersburg, and writing, producing, and recording a beautiful record titled Seventeen Acres. Since its release, it has been praised No Depression and Rolling Stone and featured on CMT. I was excited to listen to this guy live because I truly believe he will be the next name you will come to remember and appreciate for years to come. This man I’m talking about is Joseph LeMay!
Joseph took to the stage, grabbed his guitar and played a song called “Honey Bee.” It was beautiful and loving and insightful and so poignant. If you were there, it would be hard to forget it. If you weren’t, you’ll have to wait for him to sing it in person again. The recording had a glitch and didn’t catch the bee song. Yes, bad joke inserted here- it really does sting. I’m glad I was there to hear it live. But, then again, I could say that about every song that Joseph played and every story in between that Joseph relayed.
Joseph talked in depth in between takes about what inspired him and his life and his marriage and his writing and music making for his most recent release of Seventeen acres. I got one of the cd’s after the show. And let me tell you, after listening to it all the way through several times, it is truly one-of-a-kind. It is just like the performance that Joseph gave to the crowd at Riverwood Mansion. The way he perfectly blended the pace of life in the countryside inside his songs’ messages and tone of his stories in between songs (and the hunger with which he was staring down the food that his lovely wife was eating while he was performing) captured the essence of everything great about Nashville right now. Whether it was “Redwing” or “Molly My Girl” or “Crazy Woman” … we were sawing adios to everything else in our lives and going to Nashville to have ourselves a time (listen to the recording below and his cd and you’ll know what I’m talking about).
After the music faded, I was able to fetch the hearty dessert on the table still standing untouched so that our hungry friend Joseph could dive head and heart first into it. While he grabbed his fork, I grabbed the microphone and set the conversation sail with questions for both Supe and Joseph. You can hear it all below, but it was honestly one of the most natural interviews of the 56 shows so far. Both Supe and Joseph are kindred artists and have similar takes and journeys through their creative pasts, presents, and futures. They are both immensely grateful for the blessings of talent and soulful fortunes that are in their lives and they have a big love for the heart of what makes Nashville Nashville and not NASHVILLE (again, listen to the show and you’ll know what I’m saying). We are lucky to have both of them here and now.
Before I give you the recording and sign off for this round, I must admit that I always feel kinda selfish when I’m sitting in the front row by the stage for these East Side Storytellin’ shows. So much talent in every one. So much appreciation shared with everyone. I don’t spend too too much time planning the pairings beyond good vibes and suggestions from artist friends, but it always seems the case that I get to hear the messages in the stories and the songs at the exact moments I NEED to hear them in my own life for my questions and wants and thoughts. Without going into detail, let me just write that this particular show, in more ways than I can count or express, did just the same as before and more. For that, I’d like to thank all of the people that have helped these shows come together so far. Wow. 56 … and counting!
So, here is the edited recording of East Side Storytellin’ 56- featuring the stories of Michael SUPE Granda and Joseph LeMay. Enjoy and share it, over and over to the moon and beyond-
https://soundcloud.com/eastsidestorytn/sets/east-side-storytellin-56
Before I say goodbye for this round of fun, I’d like to give a big round of thanks for Michael SUPE Granda and Joseph LeMay for sharing their stories, talents, and time with us.
You can read more about Supe- http://www.supeline.com/
You can listen to more from Joseph LeMay – http://josephlemaymusic.com/
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’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 (www.5pdi.com) to celebrate the show.
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 the crew at Riverwood Mansion: the owner and chef- Debbie Sutton, the talented Eric Reed, also Shannon Hall Smith and Jennifer Anderson, for allowing us to celebrate East Side Storytellin’ in such a fun place and way. I’m excited to see what the future brings us all.
The NEXT East Side Storytellin’ event presented by East Side Story will be …
Tuesday, April 7th
East Side Storytellin’ 57
7pm at The Post East (1701 Fatherland Street)
reading- Linda Leaming (www.lindaleaming.com)
singing- Jesse Lafser (www.jesselafser.com)
That’s all for East Side Storytellin’ 56 and another fabulous event here at Riverwood Mansion with Unbound Arts. 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. Thanks and good day your way. I hope to see y’all at the bookstore sooner than later (1108 Woodland Street, Unit B).
Much love,
mE
