It was "Chick Night" at Music City Nights LIVE! this Tuesday, and the lucky attendees were served a buffet of girl-packed musical goodies.
I've found that it's generally difficult for an artist at Music City Nights to set any specific mood, due to the fact that in each show several corners of the Nashville music scene are represented, but nonetheless, Charlotte Medley still appeared to be capable of it. There was something very soothing in her demeanor and music style, and if anything, this added to the abilities of her voice. I was paying more attention the different flavors Charlotte offered in her performance, and I noticed that she was able to completely change her style and really, the sound of her voice, so as to give each its own personal identity – she's the type where a proper definition of her music remains elusive. She shone through "The Fall" (which is also the title of her CD), "Something Good", "All This Time", and "Hold On", all the different styles poured elegantly alongside Charlotte's honey-smooth energy.
Speaking of which, the next act to perform was country duet Wild Honey. You could say I was impressed, but I feel like it would unsatisfactorily understate the mark these two left managed to leave on me. You see, the special thing I noticed about the vocal chemistry of Wild Honey is that it provides equal parts Ruth and Victoria, the two combining to make one supercharged supervoice, a flawless harmony, to where you almost forget that you're listening to two people at once. This talent was put to use through "This is What Love Looks Like", "I'm Better For You", "I Need You", "Clear My Name", and "Little Miss Housewife" – each consisting of strong lyrics that often deal with teetering on the edge of independence and co-dependency, drawing and holding your attention through clever, commanding melodies. In short, these girls should be a household name.
Megan Conner, joined by fellow songwriter Eric Halbig on acoustic guitar and back-up singer Lauren Roman, had what I would consider to be a tough act to follow, but she still managed to climb aboard and serve as a human fireworks show. Or maybe a personified popcorn popper. Translation: her stage energy was immaculate. She was natural, a little wild, she was fun - oh, and her music was pretty darn good, too. She said her voice was tired beforehand from singing "1800 times" for a music video, but I certainly didn't notice any shortcomings as Megan brought us on a unique ride of treasures like "Thank God for Feelin'", "No Road Map", and as the closing song, a slightly provocative but absolutely hilarious tune called, "Little Redneck Riding Hood".
Mystery redirected the acoustic pattern of the night by bringing in a taste of classic rock. I had heard Dee Miller, Mystery's lead singer, as an acoustic act in the past, but it was definitely a treat to be able to absorb the advantages of the full Mystery experience – which consists of an array of apt musicians; Dee on vocals (of course), guitarist Tony Loreto (who made excellent use of his mighty solo power throughout Mystery's set), bassist Kenny Hummer, and drummer Josh Steffen. Mystery showcased their ability to capture the classic rock style, all while having their own spin on things, via their performances of "Gone", "My Heart", "Numb the Pain, "Let You Go", and "Heat", which continues to welcomingly echo in my ears.
Hip Kitty served as the conclusion to "Chick Night", and what a great way to go out! Picture the sort of traits that a band with the name "Hip Kitty" illustrates in your mind – you'd expect a certain sass and frisky quality, right? Raw stage energy? That genuine "rocker" style? Perfect. There was an atmosphere surrounding Hip Kitty that truly felt like a combined effort of all of the members, not just in the music, but in the personality of the band. Their performances of "Other Personality", "Cry Myself to Sleep", "Eazy Come, Eazy Go", "Break Me", "Stuck in a Rut", "After Forever", and "Alive" (which is getting radio play on 97.1 RQQ!) proved that not only were they able to pinpoint how to give a song life, that they can light a city with their energy, but also that the transcendent talent capacity of the four members can seamlessly convert new listeners to fans in the time it takes to form an opinion (I am living proof!). But what's most interesting about Hip Kitty is that they haven't just created music, they've managed to create a persona, and that, to me, is what makes a band great.
Hip Kitty will be sharing their special quality once again at Limelight (201 Woodland Street, Nashville), at the Bret Michaels After Show Party on July 8th, 8pm-2am (Bret will arrive at Limelight after the Poison concert at the Sommet Center), which is also hosted by Music City Nights LIVE! The MCNL flair will be alive and strong, as eight local bands will be pleasing the crowd with their varied sounds: Hip Kitty of course, Rick Seibold, Jamie Floyd, Nicole Witt, Sugar Lime Blue, Gold Rush, Mulch Brothers, and Tim LaRoche & Shed. There will also be a guest appearance by the all-lovable Rodeo from Rock of Love. These bands are some of the best of the many that have appeared on the Music City Nights stage, so you know it's going to be a hot night. This is your invitation to join in on it: you pass this up, and you miss out big time. www.musiccitynights.com can provide you the info and ticket-buying options you need.
There was a distinct energy and fun factor to "Chick Night" that I haven't noticed in other Music City Nights shows, further proving that this show is never the same thing twice. A grand thank you to these very skilled ladies for being a part of it, Limelight for housing it, and Rob and Crash for making sure the bands sounded their very best.