Baylin in the Basement

Where to begin this one? Twitter was all aflutter at the announcement Jessie Baylin would be making her way across the country doing some residencies in an effort to get the new material from her forthcoming album out to the people. Naturally I jumped at the chance to see her in her new hometown of Nashville (which I consider my second home) even if it meant totally rearranging other priorities. I booked a flight at the behest of Carrie Linn, Alicia and Jessie herself! The countdown began and the day came and I had a huge suitcase packed to prove it. I would only be in Nashville four nights but I’d be leaving the south for the west coast and an extended stay with more good friends. I arrived on Wednesday to unrelenting heat and proceeded to my usual post plane meal Zaxby’s NomNomNom! The rest of the day was spent relaxing and browsing the interwebs. I went to bed high off excitement for what was to come!

The day of: I got ready in Murfreesboro and drove down 24E to Nashville. I met up with Carrie and we waited for Alicia, our road warrior to join us at their hotel. We were also waiting for my friend Angie (who wasn’t super familiar with Jessie but trusts my musical taste). Alicia arrived right on schedule and after a quick freshen up we were off for some pre-show grub. Cut to Burger Up interior. Burger up is Nashville’s new burger joint, the casual open seating is offset by the use of actual silverware, glasses and generous cloth napkins. It offers a good mix of upscale and relaxed with out making you feel undressed or like there should be a playscape nearby. I vaguely recall Nathan Followill tweeting something about Burger Up but we didn’t settle on it until Jessie herself suggested it. My friend Angie joined us here and completed our conformist manifesto by ordering the same burger all three of us had chose. I thought the overall experience was pretty good but I would have enjoyed it more if my burger had come cooked to my specification and the beer list was a tiny bit larger. The wine list from what I remember was quite extensive probably part of the draw for the Followill’s. On a full stomach it was time to head over to the venue. Carrie and Alicia went back to the hotel for just a second and Angie and I went to Grimey’s to get a ticket in advance just in case. Grimey’s is my new love! If I didn’t have to fly to LA and then to Detroit I would have definitely picked up some new vinyl. If you’re in town I implore you to check it out. With ticket in hand we went to the hotel to retrieve me car then right back to grab a parking place for the show.

The Show: The Basement is exactly that. It’s a small two-room space under Grimey’s. The first room has a bar in the corner, a small table, and the merch table. Into the second room you find the stage, the main bar tucked in the corner and standing room with a door to the back patio. There are just a few tables that line the stage and some stools along the walls. The ceiling is plastered with past show posters of small acts most of which I’d never heard of. We took a spot along the wall on a set of stools and before the show started Courtney Jaye came right over and gave us a couple of her CD's. The room starts to fill as people spill in from the first room and soon enough the show starts. Bryan Cates takes the stage and while I can’t really see him (illustrated in my pictures) I can hear him quite clearly. He himself jokes that his guitar only setup lends itself to sad and lonely songs and they do sound sad and lonely in a beautiful way that makes you think on Bon Iver. His set was fairly short with just seven songs. Jessie came on with what seemed like little commentary and went right into her set that went like this.

Little Spark
Whoo Hoo Oh Ey Hey Hey song
Love Is Wasted
Never See It Coming
I Feel That Too
Lonely Star Cracked Apart
Close Can We Be
Yuma
Greatest Thing
Honey Call Me (Dancer)
Leave Your Mark

Those were my song titles using the obvious parts of the songs and what I remember from reading the set list upside down from Bonnaroo!

Here’s the actual set list.



Little Spark
Hurry Hurry
Love is Wasted on Lovers
The Winds
I Feel That Too
Star Caravan
Sea Sick
Yuma
The Greatest Thing
Dancer
Leave Your Mark



What can I say about the new material for those who haven’t heard it…you need to hear it! It’s beautiful, it’s soulful and it is Jessie. I’m so glad I came down for a chance to hear the new songs again!

I feel like this is another album where you love everything but if I had to single some out for special attention it would be Hurry Hurry (which I have on good authority will be released soon as a single) Love is Wasted on Lovers, Sea Sick, YUMA, Greatest Thing and Dancer. Jessie was on stage not holding back (with the hair to prove it).

The album seems to have a theme of great love not your ordinary fall in and out but serious world shifting love but I could be just projecting. Mrs. Baylin-Followill ended her set with a familiar tune followed by many thanks.



Of course we hung out as most of the crowd cleared out. Jessie as gracious as ever took time for many and I think actually, for all who stayed behind... even this gentleman



who seemed although very eager very impatient (you had to be there). Jessie had already come up to us before the show started and gave hugs and hellos and made a point to do so after even breaking away from other people. We took pictures and chatted I pestered her again about her withholding this new album which she said because its different just needs more time but will be out in the new year so I promised not to ask again. We had purchased merch before the show and got our lovely free posters then as well. Our last task was getting back our tickets, which had been taken upon entering to be counted, and though we had to ask several people we finally found them. With tickets in hand we made our way out one last goodbye to Jessie who offered up kisses (so now we can all make shirts saying I’ve been kissed by a Followill!) and hugs and we were off. We headed to Loser’s for one last drink before parting ways. We talked and laughed and hoped that Jessie Baylin knew just how much we love her. I'm not sure if she knew but there was another JB in town putting on a little show down the road...that's right JUSTIN BEIBER but we did not succumb to Beiber Fever and we made to Jessie show instead! It was more memories made that I will hold on to for as long as I can. And I think Jessie will too, her parents made it out at the last minute and we later found out it was her first Nashville sell out show! I think I can safely speak for all the ladies in saying we were happy to play a part of that milestone.


I think if you're reading this I probably don't have to say but I will if she come to a city near you GOOOOOO! I think she is beyond talented, effortlessly beautiful and genuinely kind hearted.




THE END




Check out Jessie Baylin on her website, Twitter and iTunes.

JTNL and the great cupcake delivery!

So this whole incident came out of no where. I wasn't looking for any shows because I already had an August show lined up with Miss Jessie Baylin and in light of my trip to Nashville and Los Angeles/Las Vegas I was definitely looking to conserve funds. I was doing my usually Twittering about and I noticed Nick and Emotion of Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights (one my favorite up and coming bands) tweeted about being in the Detroit area soon. Of course I extended an invitation to personally deliver some Suga' Tree Bakery cupcakes to them and wouldn't you know it Emotion (aka Mo) took us up on our offer! Through an exchange of tweets I learned she was particularly fond of Red Velvet and Strawberry cupcakes (two cupcakes I consider to standouts on our menu). The plan was set deliver cupcakey goodness to the band the following day.

I woke up early (relative to my normal schedule) I went on errands refilling supplies we were low on while my mom got started on the first batch of cupcakes. We baked classic white, chocolate, strawberry and red velvet. We topped the chocolate with chocolate ganache and half with our signature creamy butter cream and half with a buttery carmel frosting made with homemade carmel (I myself made). We did the same for the white cake. We topped the strawberry with the creamy butter cream as well and red velvet with creamy cream cheese buttercream.







My BFF and delivery assistant Violeta came with, we arrived at the Crofoot Ballroom (an excellent venue) just before the doors opened there was no one outside but we made or way in and wandered around till we found the band upstairs in the Pike Room. With cupcakes in hand I approached and said we have a delivery. Someone standing in front of a window with sunlight spilling all onto their face says "for who?" and I realize its Jonathan so I say "for you actually". I fill him in on the conversation I had with Mo via twitter and he's very very thankful! We make formal introductions and Jonathan invites us to stay since Mo is out getting food with some others. So we talk and I remind him of our first meeting back in LA. We met through a mutual friend who hand been telling me about their band and took me to see them at the Mint quite a while back. We all actually hung out after which all of us were a little fuzzy on the details of. Pretty soon Mo returned and we meet the rest of the band and pretty much just hung and until the show started. The members each gave high praises to the cupcakes to my sheer delight!







Their opening band (who I still don't know the name of) went on to a crowd of about ten people not including staff and members of JTNL. I'm not sure what to say about the opening band...I feel like I didn't really get a sense of them or their style. I felt like the lead singers vocal was overpowered by the band and I really didn't know what they were singing about. When they finished their set the place emptied out besides myself and Violeta. I was desperately hoping people had just gone to smoke (in light of Michigan's new smoking ban). JTNL was getting ready to go on and no one had come back in yet...but just before they went on stage the smokers came back! And a few others trailed in and after one or two song a few more came in. The crowd was about 20 or so people strong in the end. The set started out a little rough with some sound issues that Nick (the bassist) very quickly fixed. Jonathan joked that they would get it together and they did! Even with the small crowd, they put on a show! Once the tech issues were worked through and a round of whiskey shots were had by the band the atmosphere was relaxed with exchanges back and forth from the crowd and the band which included requests. They jammed on a few songs and in general were just fucking awesome. After the last song the crowd was rallied by a few to demand an encore which the band obliged only after making sure we really wanted it and of course we did. One of the instigators of the encore was called out by Jonathan to come up on stage to sing the song he had been requesting and he was anything but eager but the band wasn't taking no for an answer so he got up there and embarrassed himself to our entertainment. After the duet they finished up the song and ended the performance with an invite t the merch table.

We hit the merch table and got more compliments on our cupcakes which were down to the last few if any (my head was getting dangerously large)! Violeta and I both bought CD's and I even got two shirts! We hung out and talked with everybody a bit more and after a photo session we said our goodbyes and packed it up.













Mo walked us out and gave us her cd as well. It was a great night there aren't superlatives enough t describe it! I've said it before but f you don't know Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights get to know them and same thing goes for Suga' Tree Bakery!