Concert Review: CMA Songwriters Series – Marathon Music Works, Nashville, TN – Oct 31, 2012
11 years ago Liv Carter Comments Off on Concert Review: CMA Songwriters Series – Marathon Music Works, Nashville, TN – Oct 31, 2012
(All photos: CMA/Karen Hicks Lawrence)
It has become a tradition. The night before the CMA Awards, Nashville turns the spotlight on some of its most successful songwriters. Last night, host Bob DiPiero brought with him Brett James, Kristian Bush and Brantley Gilbert for an entertaining evening at Marathon Music Works.
Writers rounds are a combination of songs in their natural state and the stories to go with them. Dipiero, storyteller and songwriter extraordinaire, opened with his Tim McGraw hit ‘Southern Voice,’ and closed with the Jeffrey Steele co-write, ‘Gone.’ In between, he included his current top 10 Easton Corbin cut, ‘Lovin’ You Is Fun,’ and used George Strait‘s ‘Blue Clear Sky’ to make an emphatic point about sticking to your creative guns when you believe in your lyrics.
Each round tends to have one defining moment. Brett James, a one-man jukebox of hits, delivered when he turned his version of ‘Cowboy Casanova’ into a Caleb Followill (of Kings of Leon fame) impression. He told stories of writing with Kenny Chesney in the islands, where one memorable evening resulted in ‘Out Last Night,’ included a new song (and no doubt future hit) ‘Two Night Town,’ and ended with his Kelly Clarkson smash ‘Mr Know-it-all.’
Following a cheerful “Happy Halloween,” Kristian Bush introduced some new material, including the hilarious, and holiday-appropriate, ‘Dead Ringer;’ a twisted love song about “a zombie girlfriend.” Also new was the beautiful and wistful ‘Fire and Ice.’ Sugarland hits were a given and, accompanied by his brother Brandon Bush, he delivered a gorgeous rendition of ‘What I’d Give,’ mustache joke notwithstanding, and spun an entertaining story around their debut hit ‘Baby Girl.’
With two guitar players in tow, Brantley Gilbert brought acoustic country-rock to the round with ‘Country Must Be Country Wide,’ ‘Kick it in the Sticks,’ and Colt Ford co-write ‘Them Boys.’ His most recent chart-topper, the sensitive ‘You Don’t Know Her Like I Do,’ provided a quiet moment, and the surprise was the Jason Aldean hit ‘Dirt Road Anthem.’ The acoustic setting added a touch of melancholy to its laid-back chorus.
With six acoustic guitars available, and Brandon Bush’s collection of instruments, the audience enjoyed the privilege of hearing some of the biggest hits the way they have never been played before. The songwriter camaraderie and the spontaneity make these events into the outstanding entertainment that they are. DiPiero announced that the series will head overseas again in the new year, with shows planned in London, Dublin, Belfast and, for the first time, Paris, France. The series also travels around the US with previous appearances in New York City, Boston, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and more.
To find out about future dates, please visit cmasongwritersseries.com.
Liv Carter
She holds several certificates from Berklee College of Music, and a certificate in Positive Psychology from UC Berkeley.
Her main influences are coffee, cats, and Alexander Hamilton.
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