Brad and Chad singing birthday wishes to their grandmother, June Purdom
Whether it was their first, second, or third song performed, each singer/songwriter in the Round 3, Week 1 Rusty Wier Songwriting Contest displayed strengths unique to him or her.
It was Sunday (Jan. 20, 2013), when the first of 8 contenders for the myriad of prizes stepped on the Love & War in Texas (Plano) stage, named appropriately for the late Texas music icon Rusty Wier.
Visitors and contenders who arrived early for the afternoon of music were greeted with a bonus, a concert from New York-based Madison Rising. The band’s guitarist, Alex Bodnar, explained that they had been flown in to Dallas to open for Toby Keith at Cowboy Stadium, and that Love & War had invited them for an impromptu afternoon concert before the Rusty Wier contest. They gladly obliged, and brought their message of patriotism and spiritual beliefs through their music. When Madison Rising played its unique, rock version of the Star Spangled Banner, the L&W crowd rose to its feet, hands over hearts.
A YouTube version of Madison Rising’s performance of The National Anthem can be seen by clicking on this link. And to learn more about this band, which hopefully will become more regular around the Metroplex and Texoma, go to their Website, MadisonRising.com.
Madison Rising, “The Star Spangle Banner” YouTube video, click here
Madison Rising photos, click here
Judges for this round of the Rusty Wier contest were Dallas Songwriting Association president Roger Russell and KHYI on-air personality Brett Dillon, who also is the organizer of the contest for Love & War. Each songwriter performed three originals.
The first contestant was David Byboth, who sang about a white collar redneck, and then about, when making choices about where to be, “Give Texas a whirl.” His third song was for his father, who had served in the military in the Korean War and who was in the audience. Byboth said it was his dad’s favorite of all his songs. “It’s the best song I ever heard,” Byboth quoted his father having said. This was a talking-blues type song about a veteran who is reduced to playing songs on the corner, with his dog, to make a living. “…if you have a dollar when you pass, he’ll play you a song.”
Next up was Town Walsh, who has also been helping most weeks with the sound equipment. He commented, before song, “This is like a family reunion for all of us songwriters. It’s the best thing all year long.” One of his powerful originals, and he has so many great ones, talked about hand-me-down shame, and a song of redemption, “I’m your long lost soul,” in a voice soaked in power.
Big John Mills, still the one who drives the farthest to be in the contest, played a song he calls “Willie and Me,” explaining that he was with singer/songwriter Clay Blaker on the day that Waylon Jennings died. Referring to a well-known song “Willie, Waylon, and Me,” one of the two men said, ‘Now it’s just Willie and Me,” and, Big John related, Blaker said something like, “You better hurry up and write that song before I do.” That song was delivered in a voice clear and packed with emotion.
Erica Perry repeated an original she said she had done earlier in the competition, but which bears repeating. “Black Widow,” about a friend who started dating a crazy woman. Her lyrics explained better, “She’s a man-eater… there won’t be nothing left… she loves you to death.”
Chad Purdom, who with his twin brother, Brad, had earlier sang “Happy Birthday” to their grandmother, June Purdom, played his boom-boom licks while singing a song written after, he said, a past “stay with the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office.” “I won’t give in, I won’t give up,” were some of the lyrics in “8 Miles to Go.”
Greg Schroeder’s strength, if there was more strength in one song than any other, was in a blues song he said he wrote quite a while ago, delivered in a bluesy, folksy, sort of way.
Scott Copeland, next on the line-up, played one of his songs which he said Casey Donahew had recorded. He gave it one title, saying Donahew had asked permission to rename the song. So, it’s now either “Hunter S” or “Rocketship” and has a Willie Nelson feel to it. Listen, and you’ll understand. But perhaps his strongest offering was “Peddling The News” about a man he said he encountered in the past, “down at the corner of 5th and Vine, just peddling the papers come rain or shine.” As an example, one strong line in it was “You take time to look back and stare down your nose at these worn out shoes and these tattered clothes.”
And lastly, Grady Yates, who began by agreeing with Walsh’s statement about the camaraderie of the contest, and even told a bonding story of the first time he met Town. Both laughed, as did the crowd. His songs were about life on its own terms, including one about “White Dog (moon)Shine,” and some delivered with even a croon impression to the delivery.
These eight are competing against the eight scheduled for the upcoming Sunday, (Jan. 27) which begins at 4 p.m. The top finalists will return Sunday, Feb. 3, for the final round. The prizes include a season ticket to the 2013 Shiner Sundays at L&W, a Kona guitar, and more.
Love & War in Texas is at the northeast corner of U.S. 75 and Plano Parkway in Plano. No cover charge for these contests.
For musicians’ and more photos, click here.