BACK TO THE BIRD
Hey guys. Well, to let you know, RiDawn did very well in her first "test flight" out last night at the Maxwell House. SHE actually ended up putting the round together and her first time in a writers situation in about 15 years turned out to be a great triumph. She did four of the new songs we have been working on and they worked like I thought they would. It is always nice to see them in front of an audience and to be a part of putting them out there. It is always great to sit back, watch her, the audience and see how all that flows together. A really re-warding experience and I congratulate her whole heartedly. I hope she'll be coming over here soon and let you guys know her side of things.
i am lucky to work with a lot of tremendous artists and writers. Yesterday was writing with Savanna Lynne, my new 15 year old wonderkind, who I expect to see a LOT of things happening, and my stalwart, BONNIE LEE PANDA. When you get the chance to write with TWO AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL WOMEN WITH THAT LEVEL OF VOCAL ABILITIES, you realize this is the chance every writer wishes they could get. And the song, a summer song, turned out great as well.
I truely am blessed.
Tonight, is kind of the pinnical of things with me. I get to go back to my most favorite place in the songwriting Universe, the world famous THE BLUEBIRD CAFE'! I am playing the early show with my good buddy from the MUSIC ROW SHOW, SCOTT SOUTHWORTH, a friend I have never played with, Bill Diluigi, and a new artist with Major Bob music, LIZZIE MACAVOY. This is the SUPER BOWL of songwriting. I'm pretty thrilled about it. And I NEVER GET THRILLED. OR NERVOUS. BUT I WILL BE DOING BOTH!
The Bluebird, for those of you who have never been, is quite simply WHAT SONGWRITING IS ABOUT. It is the Mother Church of songwriters, and has been since Amy Kurland, opened it in 1985. It is the blue ribbon standard that all songwriter's venues are judged by. It is very small, only 85 seats, and EVERY SHOW sells out. Usually in less than 5 minutes. Our's sold out in three. But that is not because we are so great. It is because THE BLUEBIRD is so famous.
It was the first real place I performed before I moved to Nashville. I went there, was blown away, then ended up auditioning before I would call Nashville home. I recorded my first album one weekend in 1988, AND auditioned that weekend. Out of Both, I got my first cut, THAT'S WHERE IT HURTS on Shelby Lynne. It took an average of 1 year from the audition to actually performing there and I was playing regularly three weeks later. Amy Kurland, my wonderful friend who owned the place, took a shine to me and was instrumental in helping me develop my career. I wouldn't be doing half the things I do without her. So you can thank her if you learn anything from me. She was also one of the ones who convinced me that I had some use as a teacher.
But many people who come to the town, go by to peer in the window, or stand in line for a show or a picture out front, wonder WHY is The Bluebird THE BLUEBIRD? Well, the intemancy, and the dedication to songwriters and songwriting. The theme of the club is SHH. They will tell you to SHUT up very quickly and not only the management, but the staff, AND THE PATRONS there. This is where you come to LISTEN. And every song is treated as the gift to the world it is. Every writer gets the ultimate in respect. If you are a writer and you die. You are shown your own seat at the Bluebird in Heaven, and sit in the round with Hank Williams, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Cole Porter and Elvis. John Lennon, wants in but won't shut up and they keep him looking in from the outside.
But it is THE place for songwriting. And my favorite place on earth. I have such stories from there, from playing with some of the biggest writers in the world, seeing people like Carol King and others just drop by and sit in, seeing amazing shows, being part of the fabric of this town. In 1999, I was called by Amy to play a special morning show. (The only reason she called me was because I don't sleep all day like a lot of writers, LOL!) but we did this show for travel agents from all over the world. One, sitting in the back had a scowl on his face the whole show. (Of course the show started at 8:00 AM.) During a break, he came over to me and asked "AVE, YOU EVEAH BEEN TO BELGUIM?"
I thought, "sure, that;s what we do here, finish our set at the Bird, then take a limo to the airport, and fly to Belguim! Just another day in TWANGTOWN!"
But three weeks later, I was on a jet flying across the Atlantic, headed to BELGUIM!!! Was up for 26 hours straight, but got to go to the Waterloo battlefield, saw a lot of that country, met some amazing people, and played an AMAZING show for a bunch of people who DIDN'T SPEAK ENGLISH! I also learned an important lesson about lending money to a hit songwriter and artist. One of the guys who went with us, PETER MCANN, was a hit writer/artist from the 70's. He wrote and sang songs like "DO YOU WANNA MAKE LOVE (OR DO YOU JUST WANT TO FOOL AROUND), and RIGHT TIME OF THE NIGHT." big hit songs. But Peter, who had been to Belguim many times, ended up getting into an all night card game, lost all his money, then BORROWED MONEY FROM ME!!!! And LOST THAT! Then forgot he BORROWED MONEY FROM ME. He still owes me that! LOL! The price you pay for life's lessons.
But it was an astounding time. I have had hundreds of those and if any of you ever get the book, THE BLUEBIRD SCRAPBOOK, my story is in there. The "NASHVILLE" television show, has turned up the attention to a club that didn't need ANY HELP GETTING ATTENTION!!! It is the central location for the TV show, and they have treated it reverently as well. It is where all the main characters play, a central part of the action, and they DON'T FILM AT THE BLUEBIRD. They recreated the Bird down to the VERY LAST DETAIL on a soundstage about 10 minutes north of town.
They got it down to my picture on the wall leading to the bathroom. Which was there. Until they TOOK IT DOWN AT THE BIRD IN ORDER TO PUT A MIRROR UP. So I'm not up at the Bluebird, but PLAY ONE ON TV!!! (A commercial reference!)
When I play this place, I have to pick my songs carefully. I'll be doing five. They will be BAREFEET, to show off the Frankie Ballard influence, CLEANING UP AROUND THE HOUSE, to show off the comedy, THE HARD WAY, my song I wrote with Scott, showing off my "tender Father side", TOO MUCH BLOOD IN MY ALCOHOL LEVEL, to do something that has been cut, and the vocal impressions, and close of course, with TABLES AND CHAIRS.
Then, hopefully, I'll sell some CD's. But you have to do it IN THE PARKING LOT, because they have another show coming in and have to sweep the room. So it will be an amazing two hours, THEN YOU ARE OUT ON YOUR BUTT!!!!
It's gonna be great. Wish you could all be there. But it sold out so fast I couldn't get anyone in. Tina and my tour client today, Jarod, were going to have to stand outside and watch through the windows. Although, thjat is not a bad seat. I first saw and met Garth Brooks doing just that in 1989.
What a long, strange trip it's been.
Have a good day all.
MAB