CMA Songwriter Series Flourishes at Joe's Pub

By Bob Doerschuk and Scott Stem Memorable moments continue to mark each installment of the CMA Songwriters Series at Joe's Pub in New York City. Five gifted songwriters, who have written or co-written some of the biggest hits in Country Music, made appearances in the Big Apple at the July 17 part of this series, hosted by Bob DiPiero ("Take Me As I Am," recorded by Faith Hill, and "Blue Clear Sky" by George Strait), who performed as well. Highlights included renditions by Dave Berg of the Rodney Atkins hit "If You're Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows)" and Keith Urban's "Stupid Boy;" Jedd Hughes, who penned Josh Gracin's "Stay With Me (Brass Bed)," demonstrating incredible guitar chops while performing his new song "Big Blue Sky;" Chris Tompkins inspiring the audience - especially the women - to sing along as he performed his Carrie Underwood smash "Before He Cheats;" and Karyn Rochelle bringing the house down with amazing vocals on Trisha Yearwood's "Georgia Rain" and Kellie Pickler's "Red High Heels." Through its three-year run at Joe's Pub, this series has offered its share of surprises. "I do more of a laid-back, cabaret vibe than Carrie with 'Before He Cheats,'" Tompkins explained. "And I do an extra four lines that she doesn't do. Before she recorded it, she asked Josh Kear and me to add a little more about what she wanted to do to the guy in the song. In the end, she didn't use those four lines, but I always do them and that gets a pretty interesting response." (Those lines, incidentally, are: "Yeah, I can live without him anyway / Small man, big truck: You know what they say / He can keep his trailer trash Barbie doll / She'll probably give him something Ajax won't take off.") "When Rodney sings 'Going Through Hell,' he is that song because he comes from that, where I grew up in the suburbs, playing Journey songs in rock 'n' roll bands," added Berg, with a laugh. "So I sing it in kind of a Bob Dylan version or like a poor man's Tom Petty." A different milestone was passed during the second of two shows Sept. 9, the night before the CMA Awards nominee announcements, as Josh Turner joined a panel that included Gary Burr (Ty Herndon's "What Mattered Most" and Patty Loveless' "I Try to Think About Elvis"), David Lee Murphy (Kenny Chesney's "Living in Fast Forward" and Blake Shelton's "The More I Drink") and the husband/ wife team of Sam and Annie Tate (Emerson Drive's "Moments" and Reba McEntire's "Somebody"), with DiPiero again hosting and performing. Though scheduled to perform three songs, Turner rode with the vibe of the evening by playing four: "Everything Is Fine," "Firecracker," "Would You Go with Me" and "Your Man." Another prominent performer, Craig Morgan, took part Oct. 29, the first of two consecutive nights at Joe's Pub. "It's amazing how artists the stature of Craig, David Lee and Josh, with their busy schedules, want to be involved in this series," said DiPiero. "But it's also great to see new participants bring their A-game and knock people out as they play in New York for the first time. I still believe what the song says: If you can make it here, you'll make it anywhere." The lineup for Oct. 29 included Brett James (Martina McBride's "Blessed" and Carrie Underwood's "Jesus, Take the Wheel"), Hillary Lindsay (Underwood's "Last Name" and "So Small") and Morgan. Rodney Clawson (Big & Rich's "Lost In This Moment" and George Strait's "I Saw God Today"), Jonathan Singleton (Gary Allan's "Watching Airplanes" and Billy Currington's "Don't") and Chris Wallin (Kenny Chesney's "Don't Blink" and Montgomery Gentry's "Something to Be Proud Of") performed Oct. 30. DiPiero hosted and performed on both nights. "We are proud to continue to showcase Nashville's best-kept secret - our eclectic group of songwriters - in New York City," said CMA CEO Tammy Genovese. "Joe's Pub is the perfect venue for the showcase, and New Yorkers are an enthusiastic and appreciative audience." CMA Songwriters Series sponsors include American Airlines, ASCAP, BMI, Great American Country (GAC) and SESAC. For more information about Joe's Pub and upcoming CMA Songwriters Series performances including the March 19 show, visit www.joespub.com or call (212) 967-7555.© 2008 CMA Close Up® News Service / Country Music Association®, Inc.