Jack Of Arts

March 3, 2012 – Saturday 5pm – Grand Country Opera, Nashville Tennessee

[[[[["Good evening ladies and gentlemen, this is Billy Jones." "I'm Harvey Lee" "Welcome to 'Before the Opry'". The two radio announcers started their show in the broadcasting box of Rymann Auditorium. 'Before the Opry' is an hour-long radio talk show broadcast before the concert proper of Grand Country Opera.

"We are joined by Bobby Elliot of Strawberry Front. They are known for their recent hits like 'Darling, Don't You Remember', 'Please Don't Walk Away', 'Badge for a Sunrise' and more." Harvey introduced Bobby.

"His band will be opening for the opera tonight. Say hello, Bobby." Billy Jones asked Strawberry front. "Good afternoon Nashville. Good afternoon America." Bobby said on behalf of his band.

"What the listeners don't know is that Bobby and his band have been playing in the country circle here in Nashville for years now. I especially saw your guitarist play in The Opera once for one of the acts." Harvey opened up for Bobby's story.

"That's right, Harvey. I'm a backing singer for a few stars. The rest of the band also has their own gigs. Strawberry Front actually released two albums over the years, but none of our songs has been a hit. Our latest album though was our ticket. " Bobby explained.

"Well, it's nice for you fellas to finally step into the spotlight. I especially liked your song 'The Door'. I first heard it when one of our producers used it as my other show's intro. Since then, I've been listening to it every day." Billy said. "I'm glad you like it, Billy." Bobby said smiling sincerely.

"I like 'Letter to Grandpa' better. Anyway, have you signed with a label yet?" Harvey asked. "Oh. Yes. We've signed with Snail Records after offering us a good contract." Bobby replied. The label they signed would only handle their music distribution, music production, and booking for shows.

"Oh. They're that young but popular label. They're good. Anyway, you said your band already has two albums, so, what's the difference with this album?" Harvey asked.

"We've met a good friend, a great songwriter, Harvey. Basically, the man wrote 10 out of the 12 songs in the album. The songwriter basically tailored songs for the band that we would never have written ourselves." Bobby explained.

"Hmm. That's interesting. One single songwriter right?" Billy asked, unsure if he heard it right. "Yes. Just one songwriter, his name's Isaac." Bobby clarified.

"Well. While Isaac's songs are wonderful, I'm also sure that y'all have a unique sound that made the songs attractive. Your voice, for example. I mean, it's been a while since we heard a natural bass. I'm a fan, man." Billy brushed aside the songwriting and focused back on the band.

Bobby, while flattered, is embarrassed at the seemingly excessive compliment. "Well. My voice dropped when I was 16, after a few years, it sounds like this. It only took casual singing and practice too, and sounded great. Hey, the hard work my band did to be excellent musicians should be praised more .." Bobby, not comfortable with the hosts' compliments, deflected.

"Oh. I get what you're saying. Like what we said to our listeners, Strawberry Front has been played for some of the biggest country stars. I especially like your guitarist Rez." Harvey, detecting Bobby's discomfort, smoothly switched his compliments to the other members. "Yes. He has a distinct style of playing. If Rez is listening, I think he would at least appreciate what you said." Bobby replied.

"Well. I'm glad. You know, when I first heard Mark Calway's 'Time Flower', I was like 'Oh. That's definitely Rez on the guitar'." Harvey added.

"By the way, I heard from someone that Aaron, your band's banjo player, isn't just a banjo player right?" Billy moved the topic over to the other members. "That's right. Even though he's mainly a banjo player, the man is also a fiddler, a bass guitarist, and a steel guitarist. If you've all heard of Colten Peck's 'Memphis Calling' album, Aaron played the banjo and the steel guitar in that." Bobby marketed Strawberry Front's banjo player.

"Oh! That's him? Well. It must be nice having someone who can play many instruments." Billy nodded, pleasantly surprised at Aaron's professional work. "Yes. He's the one we relied on a lot in our album." Bobby said.

"Your drummer, though. I don't think I have ever heard of him." Harvey said, curious at why he did not find John's name familiar despite the rest of the bands' reputation as good session musicians. "Well. He's a drum teacher. He's young, in his 20s, but he's talented that's why we scooped him up when Rez saw him play." Bobby explained John's situation.

"Hmm. Looks like you're all good musicians, so I'm glad that America is ready to listen to what your band has to say." Harvey smiled. "We're glad as well, Harvey. I hope we can keep on putting out great stuff in the future." Bobby thanked.

"Okay. I know you have leave now because of the rehearsals. We wish you luck, and I would be glad to see you again in the Opry to play your other songs." Billy said after saw the timer and the allotted time for Bobby is running out.

"Yes. Thanks for having me Bill, Harvey." Bobby said. "Alright. Everyone, Strawberry Front's album 'Another Try' is still in your nearest music stores. You can also listen to their music at iTunes and at their YouTube Channel. We will see Bobby and the Strawberry Front later at the Opera, as the opening act. We'll be back after a short break." Harvey wrapped up the interview, and the next moment, the trio took off their headphones.]]]]]

*Phew* Bobby sighed and wiped the sweat that pooled on his forehead and on his ears. "Bobby, that wasn't too bad, right?" Billy asked. Harvey also chuckled remembering the nervous Billy during the break before the interview. "No. No it wasn't." Bobby said in relief.

Opening acts for The Opera are not usually interviewed by Billy and Harvey's show. So when the two radio announcers invited Strawberry Front to their show, the band was hesitant but they did not want to miss the opportunity for exposure either. So they pushed their front man, Bobby to do the interview on their behalf.

"So. What are you guys playing tonight?" Harvey asked. "Just some covers and our originals. We wanna play it safe, but it will sound good." Bobby said. "Good. But why play it safe? I saw you guys a lot in Blackbird and I saw you guys play folk rock and southern rock too." Harvey asked. "Oh. Just because it's safe, doesn't mean we prepared something boring."

"A shame. I was listening to the same stuff too much; I thought you were going to do something new." Bobby said. "Alright. There will be some southern rock stuff, but most are still bluegrass, like our latest album. Anyway. The boys must be waiting, we have to prepare." Bobby excused himself. "Yeah. Break a leg." Harvey said.

A few minutes later, Bobby arrived back at the door of the huge waiting room where his band and other acts are waiting. When he entered, he could not help but smile bitterly at what he saw. Rez, John, and Aaron are surrounded by other musicians. It would have been a good thing to have the attention, except the band exactly knows why the other musicians are speaking to them so actively. They all want Tayaw's contact number. At the same time, Bobby is confused. The band should have already diverted the attention with the help of Tayaw.

Bobby approached his band, and spoke a few pleasantries with the other musicians. "Everyone. I'm sorry, we have to rehearse. We have to shake off our nerves." Bobby finally said after a few minutes of small empty talks. "Okay. Good luck!" The other musicians also understood Strawberry Front's feelings.

Strawberry front then arrived at the stage where their instruments are already waiting. They did not, however, start practicing immediately. They already had plenty of practice in the past few days, and rehearsed hard since they were invited by the Opera.

"Guys. Didn't Isaac make some e-mail of some sort? What happened to that?" Bobby finally asked the band to clear his confusion. "Yeah. But they said Isaac is too busy. They want his phone number or his agent." Aaron explained. "Yep. I guess the e-mail was just a stop gap." John added.

"What about Chala? Didn't he come back after New Year?" Bobby asked. After Tayaw left, the band saw Chala a few times around Nashville with his girlfriend. "I already tried. The last time I called, he was in New York. When I said that I want to give his number to the people looking for Isaac, Chala just shrugged that it's not his responsibility." Rez said, shaking his head.

"We still should have given them his number. Isaac and Chala would understand, right?" John asked. "I did give them his number. But.." Rez sighed. "They said they could no longer contact it after Chala refused them." Rez said.

"He must have changed his number, huh. He's not American so it's easy for him to." Aaron nodded in realization. "So. We're stuck huh?" Bobby sighed. "Isaac said that it will die down soon anyways. We should be polite for longer." John said. John actually reported their band's situation to Tayaw through Facebook messenger but Tayaw also has no good suggestion for them.

"This… There are 16 more songs he gave us. Should we still put them in our next album?" Bobby said. Now hesitating, and doesn't want to be bothered again once the musicians find out that the songs in their next album are still from Tayaw.

"Hey. He basically dropped gold on us. This much trouble is a small price for it. What do you want to say to the kid? That his songs are not good, when OBJECTIVELY, they are?" Rez shook his head. "Why don't we try writing our own songs again? We have more money and more free time now. After our tour and concert, we'll have enough money for a few years. That will be enough time for us to write better songs than before." Rez continued.

"That's true. Without worries, we can focus more." John nodded and agreed. "Let's do that then. The next album, we'll take 6 of Isaac's songs, and we write the other 6. I don't believe we will not be able to make songs that are as good as his. There's 4 of us, so, come on man." Bobby also added in his suggestion.

"Cool. Hey guys, by the way. Do you have any idea when that thing about Isaac would come out?"