Sun Jan 3......Glen Tubb, Joe Rucker, Mike Sessoms, Stephen Taylor, Michelle Dawn, Aimee Alden, Warren Evans, Jeff Ruby, Trisha Fogle, Lizzy McAvoy, Jack Remington, Dollie McFarland, Ben West, Tanna Key, Eric Condor, Matt Burke, Floyd Basuel
 
Tues Jan 5......Tirk Wilder, Lucas Gravall, Dakota Grove, Denny Martin, Jimmy Borja, Steve Goodie, Chellanie, John McDermott, Jordan Vanatta, Steve Lester, Eleni, Randy George, Harlan Pease, Matt Maisano, Ron Tabor
 
Wed Jan 6........Jerry Foster, Stella Parton, Michael Peterson, James Rogers, Boomer Castleman, Lois Hess, Marcia Ramirez, Eddie Heinzelman, Joe Rucker, Dave Isaacs, Tommy Tietjen
 
Thurs Jan 7......Jack Williams, Phillip Holland, Keith Duke, Trapper Haskins, James Bell, Debbie Pascarello, Larry King, Eric Huffman, Scott Greenwalt, April Frazier, Bob Nobles, Flat River Band, Garcia & Scott, Sarah Flanagan, Jamie Cutler, Jocelyn Scofield
 
Sun Jan 10......Barbara Cloyd, Don & Karen McNatt, Barbara Morrison, Max McGuire, Jerry Green, Betty Ladas, Coy Taylor, Jay Studdard, Fran Jackson, Adrian Mahan, Mike Laidley, Allen Haynes, Kathy Hudson, Logan Mize, Jill Martin, Mike McCrackin
 
Tues Jan 12.......Greg Johnson, Anne E DeChant, Kokomo Joe, Dakota Jay, Michael Calder, Doug McCormick, Chris Miller, Brady Miles, Dan River, The Jones, Mick Donley, Brenda Parrish, Random Music Group-Paul Nielsen, Lisa Hannah, Adam Foster, Jon Statham, Roscoe Beano
 
Wed Jan 13......Chris Gantry, Sam Cooper, Pam Belford, Debra Adams, Jim Moran, Wild Oats Records, Lauri Merrow, Paul Welch, Bart Ambrose, Glen Doolittle, Greg Sawyer, Karree J Phillips, Jimmy Anderson, Elizabeth Marlowe, Cowboy Slim, Leo Castro, Everett Brown, Kathy Hudson, Nick Britt Band
 
Thurs Jan 14.....Stan Webb,Gene Levine, Paul Wilmet, Connie Mims, Michelle Dawn, Scott Jarman, John Trentes, Ava K, Tommy Howard, Topher Peterson, Steve Goodie, Bill Curtiss, Kevin Robey, Feoff Reed, Joe West, Rob Wolfe, Allen Szyrwiel, Carl Dews, Dave Rivers, Jordan Baron
 
Sun Jan 17.....Patti Ryan, Steve Lester, Eleni, Lizzy McAvoy, Joel Shewmake, Dave Isaacs, John Survant, Stephen Taylor, Mike Sessoms, Chellanie, Jimmy Borja, Jamie Cutler, Jamie Saylor, Emily Prichard, John Smith
 
Tues Jan 19.....Marc Alan Barnette, Flat River Band, Denny Martin, Kenzie Hruby, Ben West, Garcia & Scott, JW Combs, Jack Remington, Dollie McFarland, Brenda Allen, Billy Phillips,Steve Altermott, Eric Condor, Vann Brown, Gordy Thomas, Tim McGeary
 
Wed Jan 20.....Pete Salis, Greg Hopkins, Steve Mitchell, Mary Hartman, Karen & Don McNatt, Cara Evans, Glenda Goodin, Denise Whitt, Warren Evans, Eric Huffman, Aimee Alden, Tommy Tietjen, Delly Dawn Kron, Trisha Fogle, Paul Nielsen, Lena Price, Parrish Bacon, Jamie Cutler, Kokomo Joe, Jourdan Pace
 
Thurs Jan 21......Rick Tiger, Joel Shewmake, Scott Neubert, John McDermott, Jordan Vanatta, Adrian Mahan, Todd & Erin Scott, Lynzie Solomon, Bruce Craig, EG Smith, Joey Boone, LW Kent, Larry Skaggs, Bill Warington, Larry King, Dom Wier, Wes Hopper
 
Sun Jan 24....Gerald Smith, Joe Rucker, Nick Nichols, Brady Miles, Rick Sainte, Tori Sparks, Mare Wakefield, Rebecca Lobz, Paul Wilmet, Dakota Jay, Mike Laidley, Mike Villilva, Leo Castro, Scott Jarman, William King, Jon Blalock, Jennifer Marler & Justin, Timothy Flynn, Janelle Aaron
 
Tues Jan 26.....Jim Sales, Pam Belford, Doug McCormick, Kevin Robey, Nick Donley, Sure Fire Music-Rob Wolfe, Brian James, Lauren Sanders, Shane Martin, Random Music Group-Johnna Day, Stephen West, Kyle Knutson, Sarah Lou, John Dessler, Chase & Skye, Jacob Hatcher
 
Wed Jan 27.....Walt Aldridge, Dakota Grove, Sam Cooper, Mary Hartman, Glen Doolittle, Karree J Phillips, John Trentes, Jay Studdard, Fran Jackson, Paul Welch, Lauri Merrow, Wisconsin NSAI-Gerry Grothues, Tirk Wilder, Jeff Stefan, Paul Steigler, Beth Killie, Joe Lenord, John Crossman, Pam Shular, Brandon Cook, Lisa Hayfield, Christina Meyer, Milanie Klais
 
Th Jan 28.....Ray Sisk, Geoff Reed, Rob Wolfe, Joe West, Shantel Adams, Len Scott, Janis Gilbert, Steve Goodie, Scott Greenwalt, Bart Ambrose, Allen Haynes, Kathy Hudson, Anne E Dechant, Lena Price, Cowboy Slim, Bill Curtiss, Ian Rhett, Mike Mitchell, Chas Holland
 
Sun Jan 31....Troy Martin, Denny Sarokin, Jim Carolan, Bud Tower Bill Warington, Elizabeth Marlowe, Lizzy McAvoy, Mike Sessoms, Stephen Taylor, JW Combs, Billy Phillips, Lisa Hannah, Paul Nielsen, Eric Sommer, Red David, Chris Carpenter, John Mattick, Teresa Ross

Tues Dec 1.....Don Wayne, Jimmy Payne, Glen Tubb, Bill Carlile Jr, Chris Hatfield, Kecia Burchman, Russ Roberts, Dave Kinman, Lauri Merrow, Paul Welch, Eric Huffman, Kalii Palmer Ronnie Kimball, Cary Stone, Nick Donley, Random Music Group-Dan Schaefer, Mollie Garrigan, Dan Turner, Kevin Galway, Kacy Kyle, Adrain Mahan, Stin Fox, Tommy Tietjen
 
Wed Dec 2....Bernie Nelson, Glen Tubb, Garcia & Scott, Scott Whitehead, Cassey Walker, Steve Goodie, The Jones, John McDermott, Jordan Vanatta, Geoff Reed, Rob Wolf, Joe West
 
Thurs Dec 3....Dakota Grove, Flat River Band, Bill Chaplin, Dawn Joy Thornton, Serena Nelson, Jesse Turrington, Darren T, Lyn Chapell, Tom Losehiavo, Scott Greenwalt, Lena Price, Sonnu Steiner, Katha Harris, Michelle Dawn, Jeff Ruby, Shannon Leigh, Skeet Hanks, Jack Frisby
 
Sun Dec 6....Marc Alan Barnette, Barbara Morrison, Max McGuire, Warren Evans, Greg Sawyer, Lizzy McAvoy, Bart Ambrose, Mike Sessoms, Stephen Taylor, Larry King, Chris Miller, Paul Wilmet, Chris Carpenter, Steve Lester, Eleni, Kathey Hudson, Sarah Lou, coy Taylor, Forest Whitehead, Chas Holland, Mike Mitchell
 
Tues Dec 8.....Bobby Keel, Phillip Holland, Keith Duke, Trapper Haskins, James Bell, Craig Winquist, Heather Swanson, Aimee Alden, Doug McCormick, Chellanie, Teresa Ross, Denny Martin, Cara Evans, Glenda, Mike Villalva, John Trentes, Laura Manzer, Dan River, Trisha Fogle, Jordan Baron
 
Wed Dec 9.....Pam Belford, Debra Adams, Bill Maier, Dave Isaacs, Wild Oats Records, Shantel Adams, Judy Klass, Jimmy Borja, Debbie Pascarello, Tim Shean, Ben West, Kevin So, Sam Cooper, Mary Hartman, Betty Ladas, Drew Gregory, Freddy Litwinuik, Dollie McFarland, Jack Remington
 
Thurs Dec 10....Stan Webb, Weston James, Bob Nobles, Adrain Mahan, Marty Rainone, Carol Hash, Susan Smith, Gordon Ellis, Jay Studdard, Fran Jackson, Brady Miles, Geoff Reed, Rob Wolf, Joe West, Jim St James, Daniel Lee Dobbs, Elizabeth Marlowe, Michael Calder, Randy George
 
Sun Dec 13......Guy Gilchrist, Joe Rucker, Olivia Trueblood, Justin Van Zant, Jimmy Anderson, Ron Tabor, Jerry Green, Debra Bishop, Brenda Parrish, Mike Sessoms, Stephen Taylor, Shannon Leigh, Heather Cowles, Lauri Merrow, Paul Welch, Nick Donley, Kenzie Hruby, Will Carter, Michael Olson, Tyler Stenson, Scott Carter
 
Tues Dec 15...Boomer Castleman, Lois Hess, Flat River Band, Sure Fire Music-Rob Wolf, Lauren Sanders, Brian James, Dave McCormick, Michael Hughes, Don Thomason, Tommy Howard, Topher Peterson, Random Music Group-Mare Wakefield, Anne E Dechant, Jon Roniger, Levi Dean, Adam Foster, Billy Dawson, Caleb & Meg Hutton
 
Wed Dec 16....Jerry Foster, Dan Hutson, Zach Neil, Jeff Batson, Eric Huffman, Tommy Tietjen, Chris Miller, Trisha Fogle, The Jones, Anne E Dechant, Karree J Phillips, Lena Price, Stephanie Layne, Katha Harris, Kathy Hudson, Nick Britt Band
 
Thurs Dec 17.....Michael Rodgers, Erin & Todd Scot, Steve Goodie, Greg Sawyer, Barbara D, Jeff Ruby, Garcia & Scott, John McDermott, Jordan Vanatta, Rick Sainte, Mary Hartman, Sarah Lou, Rebecca Correia, Grace McKenna, Randy Stern
 
Sun Dec 20...Ray Sisk, Dave Isaacs, Lizzy McAvoy, Scott Greenwalt, Paul Wilmet, Karla Davis, Michelle Dawn, Bart Ambrose, John Trentes, Jack Frisby, Betty Ladas, Matt Maisano & friends
 
Tues Dec 22.....Pam Belford, Warren Evans, Eric & Olivia Mitchell, Chellanie, Steve Lester, Eleni, Aimee Alden, Kelly Dawn Kron, Larry King, Ben West, Jay Studdard, Fran Jackson, Tim Shean, Roger Green, Jack Remington, Dollie McPartland, Jim Branford
 
Wed Dec 23.....Jim Sales, Chas Holland, Denny Martin, Tracy Baker, Lorrisa Bovetti, Adrain Mahan, Debra Bishop, Coy Taylor, Geoff Reed, Rob Wolf, Joe West, Sam Cooper, Michael Calder, Karen & Don McNatt, Harlan Pease, Sasaha Aaron, Benji White, Dan Rising
 
Thurs Dec 24 & Sun Dec 27...no writers night
 
Tues Dec 29.....Denny Sarokin, Casey Weston, Lauri Merrow, Paul Welch, Tommy Tietjen, Nick Donley, Adrain Mahan, John Trentes, Jimmy Anderson, Joel Shewmake, Tommy Howard, Topher Peterson, Randon Music Group-Mark Wehner, Bob Spanburgh, Donna Beasley, Debra Bishop, Harlan Pease
 
Wed Dec 30.....Jeff Dayton, Don & Karen McNatt, Karla Davis, Kathy Hudson, Daniel Lee Dobbs, Greg Sawyer, Bart Ambrose, Kelly Dawn Kron, The Jones, Jordan Baron, Eddie Heinzelman, Sarah Lou, Coy Taylor, Michael Calder, Kevin Robey, Kokomo Joe, Roger Green, Nick Deweese, Brenda Allen
 
Thurs Dec 31......Jerry Foster, Stan Webb, Jimmy Van Zant, Bernie Nelson, Mark Stephen Jones, Don Stafford, Pam Belford, Jeff Dayton, Denny Sarokin Adrain Mahan & More...

Exclusive to the Commodore Grill MySpace blog
By Wendy V (www.myspace.com/wendythev)

The Commodore Grill stretched its writers nights schedule to six nights a week back in May, with Debi Champion adding Sundays to her hosting duties. It's proven to be a great move...there's been a certain spirit prevailing in the air on those Sunday nights. On many that I've been to, the rounds have been powerfully charged and dynamic. Here are a few personal highlights:

- Boomer Castleman and Lois Hess celebrated Boomer's (and Debi's) birthday by rocking the place in a featured spot with Boomer's hot guitar licks and vocals and Lois adding solid support behind the drums.

- One memorable round with Sam Cooper, Mary Hartman, and Michael Rodgers included a very spirited duet with Sam and hit writer Chris Gantry on a co-write of theirs called "The Orange Man", making a big hit with the audience.

- On many Sundays, you'll hear young singer/songwriter Lizzy McAvoy in a round. She's an impressive vocalist and writer as well as a poised performer, surely on her way to great things. In fact, she just signed a deal with publisher Major Bob Music, so she's indeed off to a great start.

Debi's schedule is posted here every month and at www.debichampion.com so you'll know who's playing on Sunday or other evenings on which she hosts, but there's always those last minute adds which turn out to be pleasant surprises. I love it when people I know show up unplanned and join a round...like John Velora, for example, who's played the last couple of Sundays I've been there. He's got a great voice, some new songs and a fine guitar player with a fresh pop style.

Forget the Sunday night TV...spend a little time at the Commodore instead between 7-11 p.m. and get yourself in a good vibe to deal with the coming week!

Hi Rick, here's the first monthly exclusive blog piece. I may not do this at the same point every month because I might focus on a particular round. But this is for July--from the heart. Enjoy!--Wendy
______
Commodore Grill: Home Away From Home
(exclusive to the Commodore Grill MySpace blog)

by Wendy V

It's not just the music, or the quality (and quantity - now 6 nights a week) of the writers nights here that have led me to nickname the Commodore Grill my "second home". If you come here often enough, you become like family.

My friends Rick Stewart and Lorna Flowers on the weekends and Debi Champion on Sundays and during the week are hosts that care about the music and the writers who play. If someone is having a birthday, most likely these folks know about it...thanks to them, writers and audience members celebrate together, often with cake and all. Assisting them all faithfully most evenings is newer "family member" Tony Sandi, the "setup angel" who has a true helper's heart and who is quite a remarkable guitarist himself.

The writers who play here become regulars as well. I've lost count of the number of writers I've met here and come to know as friends. I also tend to lose count of the number of hugs I get whenever I see a handful of these folks on a given night at the Commodore.

The food is great here and most importantly, it goes beyond service. The wait staff is the absolute best. Michael, Abby, Haley, Leslie, Tom and all the others whose names I may not have in front of me or see as often are not only efficient but the sweetest and most caring bunch of folks you will find anywhere.

I started coming here regularly sometime last year and now I don't remember a time when it didn't feel like home. The "like family" description is no exaggeration. Some of us have been through some personal challenges of late. When one hurts, we all hurt and we are there for each other. For those of us who are away from or don't have many related family members left, especially over the holidays I can tell you the comforting arms of the Commodore Grill have many a time stood in the gap for me in the past year (last New Year's Eve comes to mind as the most memorable).

So, come on down to the Commodore Grill. Enjoy the music and the food, and make yourself at home.

http://wvnashblend.blogspot.com (used with permission)

Weekend Roundup 6/1/09
I do a radio show called "Never Too Old" on Radio Free Nashville which celebrates the music we baby boomers grew up with and loved, as well as spotlights musicians of that age demographic presently doing great musical stuff. However, I also believe in supporting and lifting up the young artists who are just getting started with carving out a musical direction. Some young ladies from Georgia who I saw at the Commodore this past weekend proved that it's a worthwhile effort. 14 year olds Anna Harwood and Hayley Golden, 13 year old Katelyn Pope and 12 year old Krysta Nick impressed my socks off with their songwriting, vocals, poise and confidence. Krysta in particular is definitely one to watch..she's already an old pro in performing in front of crowds. Her song, "Why", which she wrote herself at age 11, nailed woes of unrequited love as well as some songs written by adults two or three times her age. These gals will be in town playing at various places during the month of June, so keep your eyes and ears out for them.

What Makes A Good Round? My $.02 and Change 5/27/09
As some people know, I go out a lot to shows and writers night rounds. Lately I've been to quite a few of them when I've said out loud to myself(or to whoever's sitting with me) "wow...that was a really great round!".

My perspective on what makes a great round for me is based on being a non-musician out in the audience sitting and listening and observing what's on stage. But I've heard and seen a lot, and I know what I like. So at those places like the Commodore which has several writers playing in one evening or other showcases around town, here are some things I look for. I'll use a couple of examples from when I stuck my head in the door at the Commodore last night.

- Energy and enthusiasm to go with a well-written song. Case in point: Scott Sanford of the mighty Dakota Grove, who know a bit about projecting high energy and crowd connection from the stage. Scott did a solo turn and clearly threw himself into his music. He had the audience cheering, whistling and making requests.

- Round members supporting one another. Now, I realize that not every round put together is made up of people who know each other or have played with each other before and that could affect comfort factor. If everyone on stage is into what's happening, that's going to project to the audience and it'll catch on.

A great example was in the same night with the round featuring Dan McCorison, Hillary McBride and Joshua Armstrong. It was great to see how much they enjoyed hearing each other and I felt that enthusiasm. I also enjoy it when people in a round spontaneously add a guitar or vocal part to each other's songs. I'd never heard these three before...all of the above plus the fact that each of them were just plain terrific really impressed me enough to give the round a "standing o" and look them up on MySpace afterward. (Of course, being blown away by people I hear for the first time is my very favorite thing of all!)

There you have it...my $.02 and change for what it's worth.

SAVE THE DATE! Wednesday, September 9 at 7 p.m. ... Wendy V's birthday round at the Commodore Grill! No, I'm not playing, but some great people will be...stay tuned for details to follow. The Wild Oats Records round with my friends Steve Haggard and Kimberly King starts just before that at 6:30 p.m.
--Wendy V

http://wvnashblend.blogspot.com/2009/05/another-great-nightc
ommodore-grill-5709.html

Friday, May 8, 2009

Another Great Night...Commodore Grill 5/7/09

There are great nights of music...and there are GREAT nights of music.

I dropped by the Commodore Grill to check out a few acts on the list for this evening. Two of those I was particularly interested in happened to be paired up for the first round: John Velora and Dr. Jay and Miss Diana. Sometimes the right combinations are just magic and this was one of those. John's catchy pop/rock flavored melodies, skillful guitar playing and excellent vocals are a breath of musical fresh air. If you have not seen and heard Dr. Jay and Miss Diana, you absolutely must. From the moment Diana starts singing "Trying To Get Your Attention", well, you don't take your eyes and ears off her. She draws you in immediately with her voice and her showmanship. Like Eve Selis at the Hippie Chick Twang Tin Pan South show, this gal performs totally from her center. They back it up with great songs and Dr. Jay's fine guitar work (including some very tasty slide playing). In short, I love these folks to death. This round got a standing ovation from me.

It would have been a daunting task for anyone to follow such a dynamic round. Singer/songwriter JW Combs was up for it and delivered with strong material and very fine vocals.

Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, oh I forgot: Dakota Grove was on the bill for the night, minus CJ Watson and with hit writer Chris Wallin filling in for Daisy Dern.He with Camille Wallin and Scott Sanford grabbed the crowd's attention yet again with as usual superb songwriting, on-stage chemistry and top flight vocals. Camille Wallin is, to me, a major talent, proving so with great songs with "A Good Cry" delivered with power and passion. Scott Sanford is also a strong and diverse writer and vocalist, whether on a ballad or "getting in the groove" (with shades and all during one song). Chris Wallin played his #1 favorites "Don't Blink", "Something To Be Proud Of" and "Love Me If You Can" along with a new song that sounded like it could easily join the others as a future #1.

(Speaking of "Something To Be Proud Of", last time I saw Chris, I told him this story. A couple of years ago, I did the MS Walk in the Twin Cities. I hadn't planned on completing the whole 9 miles, but somehow I did. By the time I got to the finish line, the blisters caught up with me and I could hardly walk. "Something To Be Proud Of" by Montgomery Gentry was one of the songs in my IPod, which I set up for random play that day. The song came on as I made my way to the finish line. I swear to you, the minute I crossed the finish line, the line in the song where Eddie Montgomery says "you did it, man" was playing. True story...I couldn't have planned that one.)

My evening ended with another fine round with writers Ralph Martin, Donnie Winters, Bill Maier and an impressive duo from Houston, Ben and Rose (a beautiful gal with lovely Lady Godiva-like long hair and compelling vocals). My apologies for missing the other scheduled writers on later...my body starts kicking and screaming around 10 p.m.

Debi Champion knows how to serve up a great evening. Thanks to her, there is another sure to be unforgettable night of music in my future...and I'll be telling you more about that very soon.

What can I say except the usual... I love this town.

Earlier this week I was
sitting on my deck enjoying 70 degree weather. The next day or so I was
looking at ice. The abrupt contrast was much too depressing. Rather
than stay at home out of the weather, I knew I had to get out of the
house and forge ahead with my plans.

Happily for Louise Mosrie, Greg Foresman, Julie Grower and Bruce-Jon Brigham,
a lot of other people felt the same way and gave them a good turnout
for their Bluebird Café round. These folks write together often in
various configurations (and Julie and Bruce will celebrate their second
wedding anniversary in May), so the four were well acquainted with each
other's material to add parts as needed.

I was most familiar
with Louise, having met and heard her for the first time at Red Tree
Coffee last month. Louise writes a lot of songs about the road (and
writes while on the road...she noted she starts many of these songs in
her car!). Her upcoming CD, Backroads, will feature some of the songs
she did and I am really looking forward to it. I'm particularly waiting
on my favorite song of hers which she played, "Maybe I'm Your Angel".
It will remind you a little of "Trying To Love You", the Beth Nielsen
Chapman song done by Trisha Yearwood.

I first met Greg
Foresman last September at Radio Free Nashville...he was being
interviewed as I was waiting to go on the air for the first time. I
learned then that he was Martina McBride's guitarist and had some
pretty solid music of his own. Greg played some very fine slide guitar
throughout the evening on his own songs (the bluesy" Something I Can
Use" was a standout) as well as the others. He also has a new CD due
out soon.

I also enjoyed Julie Grower and Bruce-Jon Brigham,
both fine singers and songwriters. I particularly liked Bruce's songs
"Prayer of a Simple Man" and "Montana", and Julie's humorous "Save the
Drama For Your Mama" and "I Found You", which says that the person of
your dreams may not be what you pictured, but turned out fulfilling
nonetheless.

Afterward it was off to the Commodore Grill to wish a happy birthday to CJ Watson and to hear him with his friends (Camille Wallin and
Scott Sanford, later joined by Jeff Gilkinson). I also heard this
combination a few nights earlier. If you're looking at the lineups at
the Commodore and you see these folks on it, you need to hear them as
well. This is how top-flight songwriting, vocals and on-stage
chemistry's done.

It was getting late and some of us were fading and really should have been heading home. But we couldn't because next up was Chris Wallin (writer
of "Don't Blink", "Something To Be Proud Of", "Love Me If You Can" and
"I'm Tryin", just to name a few...all of which he did). He wasn't sure
how much stage time he had, but it seemed nobody wanted to let him go.

That is the magic of these nights. I love this town.