I absolutely LOVE to play on the computer! It's fun to look things up on the internet, play games, be creative, and of course write blog posts; just don't ask me to explain any of the technical stuff. I have NO idea about most of how a computer works, how to fix things, you name it; thankfully I have a son who's very knowledgeable about these things. Something goes wrong, all I have to do is ask him to fix it for me; or at least figure out what's wrong. Then I can get back to all the fun stuff.
I'm not even sad that I have an older computer; as long as it works, and does what I need it to do, I'm a happy camper. I've had my current computer for six years now and I don't foresee getting a new one any time soon. As long as I'm still having fun, I'll stick with what I've got.
We all have one of those days sometimes. Other times it's one of those weeks. That's been me this week. I'm sure it will pass; all things do in time. For now though, instead of my normal little Muppet like caricature, this is the Muppet I relate to:
You may not recognize the name "Eric Paslay", but it's fairly certain you've heard his music.
While Paslay is new to the public as a singer, as a songwriter he's notched several hits with other artists. For instance, Jake Owen's "Barefoot, Blue Jean Night"; the Eli Young Band's current single, "Even If It Breaks Your Heart"; and Love & Theft's "Angel Eyes". Paslay has also had album cuts by Lady Antebellum.
As a singer, he's released two singles of his own, "Never Really Wanted", and his current single, "If the Fish Don't Bite".
On July 21, 2012, Paslay brought his music to the crowd at Duke's Bar & Grill in Portland, Oregon. Though while talking to the audience, Paslay seemed very laid back; when he played, he gave every song his all. He told those in attendance about how the songs were written; where he grew up, (Texas), and several other things, all while performing with his band. At some point he mentioned things are bigger in Texas, and that he was a leprechaun from that state. This was in reference to his 6' 4" stature and bright red hair.
Though the crowd at Duke's was small for a Saturday night, those in attendance were definitely enjoying themselves and the music Eric Paslay had to offer. Here's hoping this young man sees even more success in the future.
You may not recognize the name, 'D. Vincent Williams'; however if you've been a country music fan for any length of time, you've probably heard his songs.
For example, "I'm Movin' On" by Rascal Flatts:
Or, James Otto's "Just Got Started Lovin' You".
How about "Hands of a Working Man", by Ty Herndon?
D. Vincent Williams had a hand in writing all of these hits, as well as many others, for various country artists.
The evening of July 17, 2012, Williams performed at least part of the above songs, plus others, for the crowd gathered at the Bing Lounge. Even before the show began though, Williams could be found wandering amongst those in attendance. While the audience dined on catered food, Williams made the rounds, introducing himself to each guest; asking names and answering any questions people had.
One person asked what the "D" in his name stood for. I didn't catch the whole conversation, though I did hear that "Vincent" was in tribute to some of his family members. The "D" is for David, which is his first name.
When it was time to start the show, Williams and his band were already onstage and ready to go, instead of waiting in the green room to be introduced. The show itself seemed to be a continuation of what had been going on earlier; with great music thrown into the mix.
To say the least, Williams, (and his band, for that matter), is very warm and personable. Almost from the start it felt as though Williams had been a long-time friend. He talked, joked, and told stories like he'd known everyone there his whole life. As he told the audience at one point, he and the band like to have fun; they check their attitudes at the door.
If song writing weren't enough, Williams is a singer as well; which is why he was at the Bing Lounge. After landing a record deal almost immediately after hitting Nashville, he saw the deal fall through, and turned to songwriting instead. The same thing happened to Williams again a few years later, and he stuck with songwriting after that, until Keith Steagall convinced him to record his own music. Steagall is known for working with some of Nashville's best artists, most notably Alan Jackson.
During his Bing Lounge performance, Williams showcased the vast variety of music he writes and performs regularly. As he explained, he wanted his album to show all sides of him. He wanted each song to be able to stand alone, yet mesh together to make a strong album from start to finish. From the performance given, it's safe to say Williams has achieved, if not exceeded, his goal. As one person said, every song Williams did was a winner; there wasn't one song the person would skip on Williams' new CD.
Though Williams is classified as a country musician, he definitely isn't just a country singer. His songs are tinged with a bit of everything from pop to rhythm and blues; still staying true to the country genre. After a particularly soulful number, KUPL's Danny Dwyer told Williams it was like listening to a mix of Marvin Gaye and Ray Charles.Yet another audience member was reminded of the Charlie Daniels Band while listening to another Williams tune. I found these diverse comparisons interesting, especially since *I* heard a mix of two other artists; The Zac Brown Band and Phil Vassar. Especially Phil, when Williams was playing keyboards. Yet, even with the comparisons, Williams' writing and singing are strong enough to give him his own unique style and sound.
D. Vincent Williams' single that will be released to radio later this month is called, "Down By the River". As with the other tunes, Williams explained how the song came to be written. In addition, he was telling how he wants to have a song that's a classic, like Alabama's "Mountain Music", or "Fishin' in the Dark" by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. He wants to be one of those artists who has a song that's still popular 25 years, or more, from now. I'm thinking his dream might come true from the sounds of "Down By the River".
Of all the shows at the Bing Lounge in the last two years, D. Vincent Williams' performance was definitely one of the best ever. If this man comes anywhere near where you are, go see him, you won't be disappointed!
Those who know me know I have a natural curiosity about almost everything. No matter what it is, if it captures my attention, I want to know more.
Most of the time this means going on the internet, and searching for what I'm looking for; even if it's for no other reason than settling my curiosity. This usually results in searching for something that leads to something else, then something else again; until I've strayed from the original thing I was looking for, yet still connecting everything in the long run anyway. The way I've always described it is, it's like pulling a loose string on a sweater. You start pulling it, and the sweater starts to unravel; the more you pull, the more it's pulling apart. After awhile it becomes more than curiosity; it's also,"how far can I go before I hit a dead end?"
For the most part I can usually find the information I'm looking for on the internet. For other things though, I either don't have good luck, or it's something that I wouldn't be able to find on the internet. Sometimes it's something that needs to be asked of a person specifically. Depending on the subject, I have several people I turn to to satisfy my curiosity; including Earthquake Jake.
To be honest, I think the bulk of my questions go to Jake; sometimes on a daily basis, and more than one at a time. I'd list here the types of things I ask, but the list would be way too long, so I won't. Suffice it to say, I think there are times I'm probably worse than a kid asking questions; and I think Jake would agree.
Like I told him though, in a way I'm just getting him prepared for when Declan gets to that age where everything is, "why"? If Jake can deal with all my questions, I'm sure by the time his son starts asking questions, he'll be well prepared. Heck, at this point it's a possibility Jake will be over qualified! What can I say; I'm always happy to help, even if it means asking millions of questions!
Other than knowing the obvious, she's a country singer, (which is why KUPL was hosting the performance), I'd never heard of Kelleigh Bannen. In addition, I'd had a crazy week or so going on, and hadn't had time to do any research before Bannen performed in the Bing Lounge Thursday, July 12, 2012. In reality, this worked to my advantage, because I went in to the concert with no preconceived ideas.
Unlike most country singer/songwriters, Kelleigh Bannen didn't have to move to Nashville to start her career; she's grown up there. Because of this, she was able to stay close to family while following her dream of becoming a country star.
The crowd in the Bing Lounge that evening was small; though, like any true artist, Bannen played as though the room was packed. She told stories of growing up, the current radio tour she's on, and a lot about herself, in between songs; and of course told about the songs and how they came to be.
Brannen was excited to let everyone know that her single, "Sorry on the Rocks", will be hitting radio stations Monday, July 16, 2012. Bannen also explained that, while singles are released to radio, what matters is if a station "commits" to playing the song. In Bannen's case, KUPL is the first station in the entire United States to commit to playing "Sorry on the Rocks".
After her performance in the Bing Lounge, Kelleigh met with those in the audience, to sign autographs and have photos taken.
While most artists meet people, ask their name, how they liked the show, etc., Bannen took the experience one step further. She took the time to ask people questions about things *she* wanted to know. For instance, Kelleigh asked me what my current favorite songs on the radio were. I told her that was funny, because I'd just posted a couple blog posts about my current top ten favorites. I told her some of them from that list, and let her know I'd be writing a post about her Bing Lounge show as well. It was like talking to someone I'd known forever, rather than someone I knew nothing about before that evening.
I felt bad that not more people were there to hear this talented young woman; those who missed the concert may well have missed an opportunity to see a future country music star.
