A Look Back: Crowdfunded Recording Projects

Over the years, I have contributed to a number of singer/songwriters' crowdfunding projects.  Through PledgeMusic, I supported Shelly Fairchild's Buffalo and Jennifer Knapp's Set Me Free albums.  I backed Fleming & John's still-unreleased 2015 record and Julie Lee's Till & Mule via Kickstarter.  I also patronized Indiegogo efforts to launch Josh Schicker's Faith, the Poor & Politics, A Stranger & a Friend's Nashville and Atlanta, and Chely Wright's documentary, Wish Me Away.

A Look Back: Sarah Masen in Concert

I witnessed folk/pop singer/songwriter Sarah Masen in concert at least five times.  I saw her play at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich., at a church somewhere in Michigan -- where she opened for Sixpence None the Richer, if I recall correctly -- and at Luke's Place, a short-lived coffeehouse in Holland, Mich.  All three of those performances took place between the mid-to-late 90s and the very early aughts, and resulted in an autograph (see above).  I also experienced her live show at Hope College in Holland, Mich. on Jan. 15, 1999 as a part of "The Lewis Event."  Years later, after I relocated to Middle Tennessee, I saw Masen perform alongside singer/songwriter Julie Lee at Lee's Baby-Daddies album release show at Nashville's storied Station Inn on Mar. 3, 2012.

2012 Concert Recap

I saw the following artists/bands live in 2012, in alphabetical order:

1. The B-52s -- At the historic Ryman Auditorium

2. Mandy Barnett

3. Kelly Clarkson -- With The Fray

4. Feist -- At the historic Ryman Auditorium

5. Jennifer Knapp/Margaret Becker -- The Hymns of Christmas Tour

6. Julie Lee -- At the legendary Station Inn

7. David Mead -- At the exciting new series East Side Storytellin'

8. Alanis Morissette -- At the historic Ryman Auditorium

9. Annie Sellick

10. Sixpence None the Richer

11. Tyrone Wells

Julie Lee CD Release Show

I will attend singer/songwriter Julie Lee's CD release concert tonight at Nashville's historic hole in the wall, Station Inn.  The show will feature the tunes and baby daddies (players) on her brand new record, Julie Lee & the Baby-Daddies.

Best of 2010

FAVORITE 3 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR: The Black Keys - Brothers; Kings of Leon - Come Around Sundown; Tyrone Wells - Metal & Wood

 

BEST NEW ARTIST: Megan McCormick (above)

 

BEST CONCERT: *tie* The Civil Wars, 3rd & Linsley, Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 24 & Julie Lee, The Station Inn, Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 3

 

BEST BACK-FROM-THE-DEAD ALBUM: Jennifer Knapp - Letting Go

 

Downtown with Julie Lee

Last night, I saw Julie Lee in concert at Nashville's historic Downtown Presbyterian Church, the very same location where Patty Griffin recorded her latest album, Downtown Church (above).

Julie Lee at The Station Inn

Tonight, I will see Julie Lee live at The Station Inn. This will be my first visit to the legendary Nashville venue.

Julie, Just the Thing

I saw one of my favorite Nashville singer-songwriters, Julie Lee, in concert last night at Bongo Java's After Hours Theatre. A night of healing, live music was just what I needed in the midst of a difficult work week.

Words and Music

I am thrilled to be able to combine two of my great loves tomorrow -- music and literature/writing. I will be attending a roundtable discussion featuring Mary Gauthier, Minton Sparks, Linford Detweiler and Karin Berquist of Over the Rhine (pictured above), and Julie Lee. The musicians will discuss "Shadows of the Word: Songwriters and Literary Legacies of Religion and Place." The gathering concludes a series hosted by Nashville's Vanderbilt University focusing on the late author Flannery O'Connor.