I got the worst call at exactly 3:36 a.m. Friday September 11, 2015.
It was my dad and he called to tell me my grandpa had a heart attack and he didn't make it. Um, no. I was just with him 7 hours previously, he was laughing, he was telling dirty jokes, he was grandpa. This CANT be!
He was our family rock, he can't be gone. He went in for observation. He had his first of several heart attacks in 1976 and they gave him 5 years to live, 39 years later I guess the doctor was wrong. My grandpa was the man every boy now a days should want to grow up to be. He was handsome, kind, loving, humorous, did I mention the best?
He was always up for a party and he didn't mind if we dressed him up from the ages of 3 to 30.
It has been almost 3 weeks and I still think I am going to go over to my parents house and see him standing there, can we please rewind back to the night of Sept 10th? Please? He wasn't in the best of health when he moved here back in June, I am ever so grateful that despite the fact that I have recently bought my own house, I was over at my mom's house every night just to see him. I literally still have boxes all over. I would not trade these last 3 months for all the money, land and riches in the world!
Love you Grandpa and I hope I made you proud!
In only hours after we left the funeral home that day I got an email from The Foundry in Athens. I didn't remember when I first opened the email but I had sent them an email about this new band out of Nashville and that I would LOVE to see them play and for him to check him out.
Well he checked him out and he was sending me an email letting me know he had booked Stella James and they would be playing here at the end of the month.
As soon as I found out I was hit with an internal conflict. I was extremely happy and one of the worst times in my families life. I like to think that this was my grandpa's way of comforting me. I know this sounds crazy but music is healing. Music is my form of therapy. It is the only thing that is consistently there when I need it. It is my refuge. It has helped me through the loss of my aunt 2 years prior, through my emotionally and verbally abusive salesman (even though there are still physical and emotional damage that I am working through).
Anyways back to where this was going.
I was super excited to see Stella James coming to my town, and it felt like I helped bring them here which was pretty stinking cool in my book.
The day finally got here which seemed to take FOREVER. I got to The Foundry and they were sound checking so I snuck upstairs to watch. All I could think of is if this is how sound check sounds tonight is going to be AMAZING!
The opening act was a sweet little girl from Georgia named Sarah Elizabeth, she sang a couple covers and they a few originals. One of her songs is really catchy about living on the lake called 'Lights Out', you can actually take a listen here and if you want to buy it off iTunes:
Next was STELLA JAMES!
Sarah Davidson, Rachel Bradshaw and Ty Graham.
I saw them a few months ago at Whiskey Jam and they were great!
I am not sure if it was the mixture of the acoustics at The Foundry or what but when they hit that first note in Stella, I almost hit the floor. I wanted to jump up and down and scream. I have been listening to their demos for a good 6 months that they released for free on their website (www.stellajamesband.com)
They sang Stella, Red Flag, Songbird, Highway and more that are not on their demos.
One song hit me hard, (forgive me if I get the name wrong) The Ballad of Boot Leg Kelly, it talks about how Boot Leg Kelly is no longer with us but playing for the angels. That is all I got out of it trying to hold back all of the tears that instantaneously. I got chills, I got tears, I got it all.
Another song that I loved is called Redemption Road, the story about being lost then found then lost and then found again was just great in this song. I have had a rough year, sure it was great with the shows and all but home life was hetic. Momma was gone to Florida for almost a year taking care of my Grandpa, I was helping keep momma's house a float. This song truly was a reminder that you will have these ups and downs. You're reaching for something, someone. Truly incredible.
Not only are these people brilliant songwriters and have voices that grab your attention without letting go, they are very sweet and humble people.
I highly recommend after you read this, go check them out on every social media platform.
I can see them going very far in this business.
Y'all can definitely count on me being at all the shows that I can be.
Facebook: Stella James Band
Twitter: Stella James
Instagram: Stella // James
Make sure you download their Acoustic demos on their website and also from Sound Cloud (www.stellahamesband.com , Stella // James Sound Cloud)
Thanks for a great night!
xo, Robin
