Tag: brandy clark

A brilliant showcase from Lori McKenna and Brandy Clark

October 1, 2023 in Reviews, Songwriters

By Paul T. Mueller –

There’s a belief in some quarters that everything coming out of Nashville these days is formulaic dross, but Lori McKenna and Brandy Clark put that idea to rest in their Sept. 28 co-headlining appearance at Houston’s Heights Theater. The 90-minute show, the first on an 11-date tour, amounted to a two-person guitar pull that drew heavily from the singer-songwriters’ recent releases. Taking turns performing their finely crafted songs, McKenna and Clark rewarded the capacity crowd with a brilliant showcase for their writing, singing and playing, with some bonus comedy thrown in.

McKenna, who lives near Boston but spends time writing in Nashville, is a master at capturing the nuances of human emotions and experience. She performed several songs from her new album 1988, including “Happy Children,” “The Old Woman in Me” and “Town in Your Heart.” There were older favorites as well – “People Get Old,” a wistful but clear-eyed look at aging; the rueful “All the Time I Wasted on You,” and the sad and haunting “Halfway Home” – the last performed, she said, at the request of one of her Texas fans.

Clark featured songs from her self-titled fourth album, produced by Brandi Carlile and released earlier this year. She paid heartfelt tribute to a beloved grandmother with “She Smoked in the House,” while “Northwest” was a love song to her home state of Washington. One of the biggest moments came near the show’s end, with “Dear Insecurity,” recently featured as a duet with Carlile during the Americana Music Association’s annual awards show. Clark’s fine older material included the regretful “Who You Thought I Was” and “Pawn Shop,” a ballad about broken dreams, both from 2020’s Your Life Is a Record.

The ”encore” consisted of one song each from McKenna and Clark, each of which became a hit for a more mainstream Nashville artist. The two alternated verses on “Girl Crush,” written by McKenna, Hillary Lindsey and Liz Rose, and recorded by Little Big Town. Clark closed the show with a rousing rendition of “Mama’s Broken Heart,” a co-write with Shane McAnally and Kacey Musgraves that found success with Miranda Lambert.

McKenna and Clark got excellent support from guitarist Cy Winstanley and bassist Vanessa McGowan, transplanted New Zealanders who also perform as Tattletale Saints. Louisiana native turned Nashvillian Brandon Ratcliff opened the show with a six-song solo set that featured his strong songs, excellent guitar and vocal skills and engaging stage presence.

Review: Marty Stuart, John Prine and “Songs That Tell A Story”

September 26, 2019 in Nashville music

By Ken Paulson –

Throughout his performance last night at the Country Music Hall of Fame, Marty Stuart emphasized the unique nature of the concert, saying “This is never going to happen again.”

That’s true of course, because this was the final evening of Stuart’s Artist-in-Residence series, but it would be a shame if the Country Music Hall of Fame doesn’t find a way to create a new role for him, something along the lines of Ringmaster in Chief.

Stuart brought three rings of entertainment and insight to the Hall of Fame over the past three weeks, showcasing everyone from Chris Stapleton and Emmylou Harris to go-go dancers.
He and the Hall staff masterfully put together three distinct evenings and then populated them with extraordinarily talented people.

Last night was no exception. The theme was “Songs That Tell A Story” and Stuart’s guests included John Prine, songwriter Dallas Frazier, Brandy Clark and Doug Kershaw.

Among the highlights:

Dale Jett (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum)

Stuart’s first guest was Dale Jett, the grandson of A.P. and Sara Carter of the Carter Family. Jett’s back-to-basics performance was a revelation, particularly welcome in a week in which America is caught up in the history of Country Music via Ken Burns’ documentary. Jett did one of his own songs about compassion, pulled out a rarely heard A.P. Carter song about a cyclone killing children at a local school and then joined Stuart for a robust “Sunny Side of Life.”

Stuart and the Superlatives performed a breathtaking rendition of Marty Robbin’s “El Paso,” a song the band worked up for Grady Martin’s (he played guitar on the record) induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Great harmonies and guitar work throughout.

Dallas Frazier and Marty Stuart(Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum)

Legendary songwriter Dallas Frazier delivered his classic “There Goes My Everything” in fine voice. He explained that the song was inspired by Ferlin Husky’s divorce. Husky had the publishing rights on the song, so his pain was eased a bit when it became a hit, Frazier noted.

Brandy Clark(Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum)

In a night filled with music veterans, Brandy Clark was the newcomer and more than held her own. She told of seeing John Prine at the Americana Music Honors event at the Ryman a few years back, and how after he received an extended ovation, Prine said he wished he was “who you thought I was.” That led to Brandy’s song of the same name and a soaring, resonant performance.

John Prine (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum)

Prine received another warm welcome last night, with many audience members aware of this recent medical setback and grateful for his return to the stage. After his opening song “Egg and Daughter Night,” the always gracious Stuart complimented Prine’s guitar-playing. Prine, not known for his guitar work, seemed taken aback and said “I’ll show you if you have five seconds.”

Best bets: 2014 Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival

March 22, 2014 in Americana Music, Festivals, Nashville music, Songwriters

By Ken Paulson

Tin Pan South, the world-class songwriters festival based in Nashville, begins this Tuesday in Nashville, and as usual, the line-up of talent is rich and diverse. It’s a particularly well-curated festival, so there are no lame rounds. That said, these shows caught our eye:

Tuesday, March 25

Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne at the at the Listening Room Café, 6 p.m.

Brandy Clark’s 12 Stories is one of the best albums of the past year, fueled by striking and down-to-earth songwriting. Her songs have been recorded by Band Perry, Kacey Musgraves and Miranda Lambert. Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne teamed with Musgraves for her hit “Merry Go ‘Round” and won a 2014 Grammy.

Critter Fuqua, Chance McCoy, Chuck Mead and Holly Williams at the Station Inn, 9 p.m.

BR5-49 veteran Chuck Mead has a terrific new album called Free State Serenade, Critter Fuqua and Chance McCoy are members of the Old Crow Medicine Show and Holly Williams is the very talented granddaughter of Hank Williams, who released the fine album The Highway last year.

Wednesday, March 26

Jessi Alexander, Josh Kear and Striking Matches at the Hard Rock Café, 6 p.m.

We admred Jessi Alexander as an artist, but she’s really hit her stride as a country songwriter, including the much-honored “I Drive Your Truck.’ Josh Kear has had similar success, including writing the monster Lady Antebellum hit “Need You Now, and Striking Matches is an engaging duo whose songs have shown up on the Nashville TV show.

Thursday, March 27

Jim Lauderdale and friends at the Station Inn, 6 p.m.

This minimalist listing is all you need to know. Lauderdale, an icon of Americana, works and plays with some of the best in the business.

Friday, March 28

Buzz Cason, Austin Cunningham, Alex Harvey and Dickey Lee at Douglas Corner, 6:30pm
There’s some pop and country history here, with Dickey Lee, who recorded “Patches,” Buzz Cason, who wrote “Soldier of Love,” Alex Harvey, who wrote “ Delta Dawn” and Austin Cunningham. And it’s not all oldies from the veterans. Cason has a brand-new new album called Troubadour Heart.

Later at the same club at 9:30 you’ll find 3-time Grammy winner Ashley Cleveland, Dave Coleman, Suzi Ragsdale and Bill Lloyd, power pop and country artist and songwriter, and occasional contributor to Sun209. We’ve had the privilege to work with all four, and they’ll deliver a great show.

Saturday, March 29

Sony Curtis, Mac Davis and Hugh Prestwood at the Bluebird Café at 6:30 p.m.

One of our favorite past Tin Pan South shows featured former Cricket Sonny Curtis, Mac Davis. Jim Weatherly and Bobby Braddock. This year’s round looks just as promising, with Hugh Prestwood joining David and Curtis.

Curtis is one of our favorites, a rock pioneer who grew up with Buddy Holly, and went on to write songs ranging from “I Fought the Law” to “Love is All Around,” the theme to the Mary Tyler Moore show. I don’t think anyone else can claim they’ve been covered by the Everly Brothers, the Clash and Joan Jett.

Of course, this is all just a start. This is a festival that also features Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Marcus Hummon, Leigh Nash, Kevin Welch, Kim Richey, Bob DiPiero, Shannon Wright, Gary Talley, Dave Barnes, John Oates, Craig Carothers, Larry Weiss, Phillip Coleman, Tony Arata, T. Graham Brown, Brett James, Rivers Rutherford, Jeffrey Steele, Tom Douglas, Eric Brace, Peter Cooper, Tim Easton, Bill Anderson, Steve Bogard, the Stellas, Amy Speace, Jason White, Leslie Satcher, Larry Gatlin, Tommy Lee James, Erin Enderlin, Jack Sundrud, Karen Staley, Luke Laird, Lee Roy Parnell, Sarah Buxton, Kate York, Sherrie Austin, James Otto, the Kinleys and many more.

Full details can be found at Tin Pan South’s website.

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