Tuesday, August 11, 2009- The Wake of Greatness
Just how to approach a review of the show I saw last night beguiles me. I went, with only the expectation of seeing the best band I know of, who claims Nashville as their home. I left with an indomitable impression of what real musicians can lead you to, when you stop, and pay attention to their advice.

That said, good fortune guides me, with respect to phenomenal rock shows. I have decided to let the best musicians I know choose what bands I should partake of next, as they have raised the bar, and my expectations, to such a degree that I am simply dumbstruck. Monday August 10th was penultimate, because I followed, in more ways than I was aware, the advice of Heypenny, who is now my hub for musical greatness in Nashville...

Here's the low down.
Heypenny essentially took over Mercy Lounge, making it "Heypenny Lounge" for one night, by choosing the 8 bands who performed, themselves. Each of those awesome bands covered a Heypenny song, in accompaniment to their own sets. Heypenny joined certain of these onstage, adding the wonderful element of kinship to an already fantastic show.

Heypenny worked not only with sound, but also with sight to put this show together. As an added visual treat, the 12 pages of the EP's coloring book pages were blown up by DJ Murphy, the bassist, for artists to paint during the show. That is, 12 huge sheets, roughly 8x6 feet, spread all around the Lounge. Heypenny worked their asses off for several days before the show to ensure their personal 8off 8th was the best it could be. They poured their heart and soul into this gig.
(goodnight. will continue tomorrow)

Wednesday, An Apology
Due to time constraints I'm unable to cover all 8 bands. I apologize to these great and dedicated bands, but I create all the content on this site myself, as well as working 50+ hrs a week at my dayjob, and my backlog of shows to post coverage for is about 2 months behind. I mean no disrespect to these great bands, and I promise that when I'm caught up, and have the time, I will treat these bands individually.

I have mulled over this for the full 40 something hours since the show, and as I now write this, I am still stumped as just how to conjure words adequate to describe the new discovery I made. Before I reveal this to my readers, for fairness sake, here is the list of bands which Heypenny chose for our pleasure. Each name links to their respective Myspace pages:

Matthew P. Jones
Cheer Up Charlie Daniels
The Biv
Madi Diaz
Coral Castles
Mikky Ekko
Natalie Prass
And of course, Heypenny who made this incredible night possible.

Still Wednesday, Approaching the Summit

Without further ado, let's get right to the quasi-religious experience I had during the 6th act. This is what I have been struggling to find words for. I have 2 which come to mind. Mikky Ekko.

If you can imagine what it must have been like, in 1970, at the Whisky-a-Go-Go, or perhaps CBGB's the first time "Can" played there (if they ever have), or the first time Jimi Hendrix was there, or The Doors, or some other burgeoning beacon of greatness, you might come close to the way I felt Monday night, when Mikky Ekko took control, and commandeered the Mercy Lounge, teleporting us all to Mikky-Land, where ecstasy lives, and travels in waves, beams forth from all directions, permeating every breath, every atom, and saturates with blinding blissful light, all senses and sensibilities.

The day before the show I began an article I have titled "What music really is", which is yet unpublished, and I now know just what I was waiting for. This man, Steve (i am still searching for his last name. If anyone knows it, please leave it in a comment below) appealed so strongly to all my senses, I didn't even notice the rest of the band, how many members there were, or much of anything, but this man, and the sound his beautiful voice made.

I was backstage talking with my wife and the members of Heypenny as they were suiting up for their show when Aaron, Heypenny's drummer advised me "Mikky Ekko is about to start. You better get out there." My god was he so right, and I am more grateful than I can express for this little kindness he did me.

A Hero Revealed
I returned from the back room of the Lounge to encounter a rapture unfolding and enveloping the audience. My heart leapt and my skin tingled as Steve's voice shot out like a laser, the vibrations of which caressed my ears, as his visage comforted my eyes. He physical appearance reminds me of Johnny Depp, Val Kilmer, and Heath Ledger. His voice reminds me of nothing I have ever heard before. The man is profoundly beautiful in so many ways. His music is legendary.

I spoke with him after the show backstage, and his personality is as warm and inviting as the sound he creates. I was too elated to form any coherent questions for him, and just blathered on about how deliriously good his performance made me feel. I'll try again Aug 21st, when he comes back to Mercy Lounge.

Mikky Ekko's Teradyme profile will come right after Heypenny's.