Since March, The Bluebird Cafe has been bringing its iconic writers-in-the-round ambiance to Times Square with The Bluebird Cafe Songwriters Series at Opry City Stage. But on Friday, August 3, the audience witnessed perhaps one of the most quintessential Bluebird evenings to date.
Unfortunately, Levi Lowrey was stuck in Atlanta due to a flight cancellation, changing the usual trio of talent to a pair. The Georgia native sent his regards and apologies to the crowd, but with the way the weather has been in the tri-state area as of late, Lowery’s safety was much more important and it’s quite certain that the Bluebird will have him up for another show in the future.
One less artist in the lineup allowed song-smiths Travis Meadows and Erin Enderlin to split the almost two-hour window down the middle, keeping the audience intrigued with stories behind the songs. “Let’s just play songs we like” said Meadows and Enderlin agreed, kicking it off with the somber “You Don’t Know Jack,” which appeared on Luke Bryan’s quadruple Platinum album Tailgates & Tanlines.
Meadows took his turn and talked a bit about his frustration with a song that no one ever cut, so he went ahead and recorded it himself (“Good Intentions”). This is perhaps why this night was one of the most classic Bluebird sessions at Opry City Stage. Throughout the evening, Meadows and Enderlin sang songs that not only made it to an artist’s album or even radio, but their own material and shared stories of the trials and tribulations they have gone through in this industry. Not that other songwriter’s haven’t done so in the past, but this is something that Nashville is use to hearing, where songwriting is the artery of Music City. It’s not a topic that’s really in the forefront in New York City, but with last week’s push to get an amendment to the Music Modernization Act axed before it moves to the Senate, the stories and situations that these two songwriters shared felt extra heavy.
With witty lyrics like “I knew you were a pistol, but I never knew you owned a gun,” “Baby Sister” was written to appease Enderlin’s sister who wanted to be in a song, though she’s never served time in prison. “Ain’t It Just Like A Cowboy,” also from her critically acclaimed album Whiskeytown Crier, oozes the classic country sound as it tells the heart-wrenching story of unreciprocated love. Enderlin also included Alan Jackson’s classic “Monday Morning Church” (co-written with Brent Baxter when Enderlin was still at student at MTSU), a song that will be included on Terri Clark’s upcoming new album, and her brilliant new single, “World Without Willie”. Enderlin closed her half of the set with Lee Ann Womack’s “Last Call,” as a tip of a hat to a fan in the front wearing a Womack shirt.
After introducing a song that his publisher claimed would never be cut, Meadows began strumming “What We Ain’t Got,” which indeed got cut by none other than Jake Owen. Meadows, who has a history with addiction, told stories of his recovery and his efforts to help others, including speaking at an adolescent rehab center (“Words that should never go together,” he said). Songwriters find inspiration everywhere, and hearing someone say “push it down, comes out sideways” at that center lead to him to write “Sideways” featured on his latest album First Cigarette. Being a non-sports guy, Meadows talked about Dan Patrick’s interest in his song “Underdogs” and his invitation to perform on the show while he was in NYC and told how a Bruce Springsteen concert in Nashville brought him back to memories of teenage love, resulting in “Praying for Jungleland.” While all his songs are extremely personal, perhaps the most personal and most inspiring is “Riser.” Meadows co-wrote the Dierks Bentley single / title track with Steve Moakler (who also sang the song at OCS in June during his Bluebird set). From one single to another, Meadows performed Kenny Chesney’s newest, “Better Boat,” before closing the show with a bit of a twist to a song that encompasses his now-happier self “Guy Like Me.”
Complimenting the writing styles of these two songwriting masters are their incredible voices. Meadows’ gritty and soulful vocals add such depth and emotion to his soul-searching songs while Enderlin’s are reminiscent of the classic female country sound. Meadows said it best when described Enderlin as having the “voice of an angel with an accent.”
More information on Travis Meadows can be found at his website: https://travismeadows.com/
More information on Erin Endlerin can be found at her website: www.erinenderlin.com
For more information on Opry City Stage, including upcoming events, please visit their website: www.oprycitystage.com