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 88th epic edition of East Side Storytellin’! Like the 87, I repeat … 87, 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’ 88. Let us begin, again.
Oh, and before I get started, I should mention that this show’s serendipitous connection between the two featured artists is sports. Specifically, the sport of soccer found its way into this pairing. Again, I’ll mention that there is no formula for choosing which Nashville author is matched with the Nashville musician/band. As you’ll read and listen below, these two guys were meant to featured together. They were not only great soccer players, one of them playing professionally, but they also somehow coached the same player (albeit separated by time and location).
Our first featured artist of the evening is a retired scientist who immigrated to the United States after graduating from the University of Wales with a Ph. D in Chemistry. After retiring from a successful career in science, he became a soccer coach for several traveling teams and the TN State Soccer Association and became an inductee in the TN State Soccer Hall of Fame. You know, the classic Nashville fiction writer story. He became a writer and storyteller when he had enough of coaching and probably witnessed enough personal stories to fill an encyclopedia set. He is the author of several books, including Words Upon a Tombstone, More Words Upon a Tombstone, The Search for Kindronium 379, Rusted Rails, and The Garbage Sifter. You can purchase almost all of his works at East Side Story. Ladies and gentleman, I’m talking about the one and only Barry Jones!
Barry brought his lovely bride, friends, excerpts from several pieces of writing, bravado, and his killer accent to the reading. Packed and ready with all of the above, he didn’t waste any time on stage. And, like so many of the featured musicians who try new material for our show, Barry’s first story was a short story from the soon to be published More Words Upon a Tombstone. Titled Seeking Inspiration, it was a wonderful tale about a writer and finding personal and financial success and pitfalls in modern publishing. There were elements of religion, philosophy, media, culture, the process of writing, the process of publishing, and everything in between. It was a great tease for the new book and collection of short stories, and it was a perfect way to get everyone in the mood for this particular show.
He followed up Seeking Inspiration with an excerpt from his best-selling book The Garbage Sifter. To preface the reading, Barry gave a detailed synopsis of the book and what it entails. The set up was very relevant for the current Presidential primaries and general election, with a hint of Argentina. To preface this scheduled show, one of dearest supporters and readers at East Side Story, a person who has read a majority of the books we have, has told me that The Garbage Sifter is one of the top 2 books we have in our collection. Again, you can purchase it at East Side Story when you pay us a visit. As for the reading of The Garbage Sifter, Barry was top notch at presenting his research, process, material, and another tease to intrigue you to follow up on a purchase. Barry is a dynamic reader and writer, for sure.
Our featured musician of the night is a very special solo project of Nashville based-Minnesota raised singer/songwriter Peter John McKeown. On this particular night, the band included Peter, his lovely and talented girlfriend, singer/songwriter Andrea Lee Davidson, and a guitar (deciding to leave his somewhat usual loop pedal and other friends). Born in musically rich Twin Cities, Minnesota, he went to college in Chicago to play soccer and because Chicago was a city where busking was allowed. He did a lot of both. In fact, he had a stint with the professional soccer MN United FC! He broke his ankle, thankfully not his wrist, and jumped head and heart first into playing his music again. Peter writes philosophically minded indie-americana songs layered with beat-boxing, whistling, and various harmonies. Peter is someone who has attended and supported a number of East Side Storytellin’ shows in the past so it’s appropriate and about time we welcome him to the show’s family. I believe I first met Peter right here at The Post via Tonya awhile back so this evening came a little full circle for us. Anyways, point being, alongside Morningstar Arts, there was a packed room, filled with family and friends and new fans to support Peter and his wonderful project by the name of Woodferd.
Peter didn’t skip a beat or even say anything. He went right to his guitar and his song. The first one, took the show where Barry had left it and then Peter elevated it that much more. A song about feeling lost, but revealing that nobody is truly lost, I thought it was the perfect anthem for my dear friend Natasha (who was in the crowd, witnessing her final East Side Storytellin’ show before hitting the globe to New Zealand with her friend). I’m not saying Natasha is or feeling lost, but the melody of the first and then the second song, combined with the messages of not feeling lost and believing in life and letting go, it all just made sense and struck a deep chord with everyone in the room. The room was silent while Peter was anything but. It was really something magical to experience. At times, it reminded me of a show at The Ryman where I saw Damien Rice perform nearly a decade ago. It was this good.
Peter invited Andrea to the stage, and they shared a beautiful love song they had co-written together. What was even more touching than the song was how they recounted their first official date. They had met at The Post, enjoyed getting to know one another, and then they kissed. What happened after that, Peter feeling the need to throw up because of discovering he was allergic to something in the smoothie, was where the story became as unique and unforgettable as the song they shared. You can see the love in the picture below and also the recording at the bottom. Again, it was this good.
Photo by Chance Chambers
Peter ended the show with a few other stellar songs, one about Jesus that really combined his depth, insight, wit, and wordsmithing behind what makes Peter so great. But one of my favorite parts of the night was when he was eloquently sharing the backstory about his recently born, BRILLIANT, nephew, who inspired the final baby song of the night. You can hear it for yourself below. I think you’ll enjoy it.
But before I let these two guys go for the night, I once again had them on stage together to share their personal stories and inspiration for doing what they do. They were both in their element, going back and forth with tales of what makes them tick creatively and what have been some of their turning point moments in creating and performing the works they’ve made up to this point. There were several laughs, many smiles, and an overall heck of a night shared between everyone who was a part of East Side Storytellin’ (as you can see in this picture, and all of the pictures really).
So, here it is, the edited recording of East Side Storytellin’ 88, featuring Barry Jones and Woodferd (Peter McKeown & Andrea Lee Davidson) at The Post on Tuesday, August 2nd, 2016. Enjoy and share over and over again, as you wish:
Before I say goodbye for this round of fun, I’d like to give a big round of thanks for Barry and Peter for sharing their stories, talents, and time with us.
You can read more about Barry’s writing here- www.barryjonesstories.com
You can listen to more of Woodferd’s music here – woodferdmusic.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 WordsTab – 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.
I’d also like to show much love to Clay Brunton for the beautiful artwork online to promote the show.
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’ 89
Tuesday, August 16th
at The Post (1701 Fatherland Street) at 7pm
reading- Erica Wright (ericawright.typepad.com)
singing- Luke Amelang (www.lukeamelang.com)
That said- that’s all for East Side Storytellin’ 88 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.
much love,
mE
