Since last month’s Music Box Lounge was incredibly amazing, I found myself back at Club 527 for the June installment, though I was piggy-backed in due to my recent high ankle sprain. Even though I was in pain, I knew a great night was in store.
Jeff Bertrand was painting again and a bluesy man with sweet shades and a keyboard sat solo onstage. From sultry to wailing (the good kind), Josh Higgins belted out lyrics gently woven into all the right places while I sat sipping a beer and propping my pathetic foot on a nearby chair. The mood couldn’t have been more perfect, despite my injury. Later, when I actually got a chance to speak with Higgins, I found that he was born and raised in Florida and is influenced by Deon Russell, the Allman Brothers, Ray Charles and Tom Waits . . . it makes sense.
At one point, I enlisted singer/songwriter and nice guy Derek Stroker (who had already played prior to my arrival) to help me get contact info from the other musical features of the evening to save me from hopping around like a crazy person and scaring away the guests (though I have to admit the comic relief of the situation was worth it). Stroker brought all the right people to the table, and just two months into the six-month MBL adventure myself, I was already feeling a great amount of camaraderie amongst everyone in the venue; the vibe was about to get even more amazing.
As more people piled inside, the energy was subtle but encompassing as Nashville’s Traci Root and her band broke from their quick “Let’s rock this house” prayer and went to their respective instruments. Ben Sturgell hopped onstage to give a shout-out to some special guests, including B. Young from Prime Time Promotions in the audience and the authentic Joseph Wooten on keys! Excitement was building and people were hyped.
Root’s vocal range was extraordinary and the whole stage presence was different from anything I’ve ever experienced. Root is funny, a good dancer, sexy and sultry yet open and honest. Adding additional keys to Wooten’s timeless jangle created an interesting effect. Along with backup butterfly vocalists Ajia and Sophie (like Root’s sisters), her amazing husband Richie Root was in the crowd supporting and promoting.
“Artists taking promotion seriously is so important,” said Root, adding she also loves the MBL because it “cultivates an atmosphere for musical community” which can obviously lead to future expansion.
Meeting Richie and other lovely people throughout the night was extremely uplifting. Without getting into too much detail, physical healing can also be a possibility if one is truly open to such an idea . . . and I’ll just say I left with a little more pep in my limp, but only after Pancho & Lefty topped off the night again with their own interesting style.
Come check out the Music Box Lounge for yourself the last Tuesday of every month at Sweetwater/Club 527 at Main Street and experience different genres, styles and atmospheric excitement. For more information, visit myspace.com/mymusicboxlounge or contact Sturgell at bensturgell.com.
