November 24, 2011 – Thursday 8pm – Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, Tennessee
Before coming to Nashville, Tayaw was able to purchase a house in Jericho, a suburb in Long Island, New York. The house he bought is a lot like his house in Ironstone; four bedrooms, a garage, a good basement. The major difference is the Italian-inspired architecture plus a courtyard.
He finally decided not to take Chala's suggestion of buying a house in Jersey as the nearest suburb in Jersey is quite far from New York City. After buying the house, Tayaw found himself having nothing to do so he decided for a road trip, with Nashville as one of their stops.
"Wait. Let me touch up my clothes first." Tayaw said to Chala after he stopped the engine of the pick-up truck in front of a bar called "Blackbird Café". Tayaw is currently wearing his usual three piece suit, only difference is that he's now wearing a pair of cowboy boots he purchased the day before after they checked in a hotel.
This is actually Tayaw and Chala's second night in Nashville. Tayaw and Chala did not take the plane, but rented a pickup truck for the road, with Nashville, being their first actual stop after a 14 hour drive.
Chala does not have the endurance for driving long distances so it was actually Tayaw who drove the Ford truck. Tayaw does not have a US driver's license, but unless they're violating traffic laws, or if they're African – Americans, no one would stop them to check. Even if a cop stops them, Tayaw can just quickly switch seats with Chala to have him present his driver's license.
After Tayaw fixed up his clothes, he grabbed his special guitar from the back seat and they got out of the truck. Tayaw is actually here as a performer for the bar's open mic night. The previous night, Tayaw saw a poster about an open mic night in the bar so he talked to the bar's manager immediately to sign up. The manager of the bar was quite skeptical about Tayaw but when Chala showed the manager Tayaw's Youtube channel for him to listen to Tayaw's playing, the manager approved immediately and put him in the line-up, directly at the peak hour of the night.
As they entered the bar room, Tayaw noticed that the bar is much more crowded than he expected. Blackbird Café is actually just as big as Rudy's ROH Factory back in Teungeb. Tayaw is incredibly excited to play for such a music loving crowd.
Cowboy boot-donning, plaid-shirt fashion of the crowd definitely caught Tayaw's eyes. Nashville Tennessee is the country music capital of America, or the world for that matter, and their outfits are what they consider the standard for a bar night out.
"Start a tab for me." Chala was able to get an empty table while Tayaw walked to the back stage, unnoticed by the crowd because of their attention on the singer on stage.
"Hey boy! You're late!" The wrinkle faced bar manager with his Texan drawl said to Tayaw almost yelling. "Nice suit…" He continued, however as he noticed how sharp Tayaw looks. "Oh, I was here from the start. I was just practicing in my truck." Tayaw explained himself. He was bullsh*tting of course, he was practicing in his hotel room. Tayaw, busy writing songs, actually forgot he was going to perform in a country music town, so he had to do a last minute arrangement of two songs into country-blues style. His arrangement was done in only under an hour.
"Alright. I thought you wouldn't show. You're on after the guy on stage." The manager said as he walked away, busying himself.
"Haven't seen you around here before, buddy. Where you from?" One of the performers waiting in the backstage with Tayaw, asked. "You're right. I'm from Teungeb." Tayaw replied. "That's a place I don't hear of often. Name's Travis by the way." Travis said as he offered his hand. "Yawat. Nice to meet you." Tayaw said as he shook Travis' hand. "Y-yay-wat. Hmm. Quite the exotic name." Travis said, mispronouncing Tayaw's stage name. Tayaw did not correct the pronunciation. He figured that if Travis is more comfortable pronouncing it that way, so be it.
"You know you're supposed to play country, right? I don't know much about Teungeb's music, but I know that country isn't big abroad." Travis said, doubting whether Tayaw would play a country song or not. Tayaw also realized that just like Travis and the bar manager, the crowd and the performers are all Caucasians. "Oh. I'm one of those foreigners who know their stuff. I mean, the manager approved so I'm here." Tayaw said. "If you say so. I think the guy on stage is just finishing up." Travis said hinting that Tayaw should get ready.
Tayaw understood that a Teungebian playing country is unusual, still Travis' words didn't make Tayaw feel good. Tayaw then didn't bother with Travis any further and started tuning his guitar. As Tayaw tuned his guitar, he was unaware of Travis observing him. A few moments later, Tayaw felt Travis' eyes looking at him so he took a split-second look and saw Travis' confused face. 'It's open D tuning used commonly in Mississippi blues, BOY.' Tayaw thought.
A minute later, Tayaw heard the crowd cheer, implying that the guy performing is done. He then nodded at Travis and headed for the stage. As he stepped on stage, there was a mixed reaction in the crowd's faces. Tayaw noticed that some of them have their brows in interest, while some are confused. Tayaw smiled in amusement at the reaction.
"Hello everyone. My name's Yawat. I'm from Teungeb." Tayaw said to the crowd and they responded with applause. "Fine, y'all can call me Isaac just for tonight." Tayaw said which made the crowd chuckle. Tayaw only has a limited time of 10 minutes so he immediately started his performance by playing a blues progression. This then gathered more interest from the crowd. "Let me play my originals for y'all." Tayaw announced which now really intrigued the crowd.
From what Tayaw heard from the radio since they came to Nashville, they are all modern country songs, forgetting their roots in blues, bluegrass, and Americana so Tayaw wanted to bring it back.
"Well… Preacher, preacher, please save me
I met a man, white as a cotton field.
He drove a roaring old black Cadillac
took a drag from his cigar and offered me a pact.
Ohhhh. The devil wears a suit and a tie.
The devil wears a suit and a tie."
This was a song he wrote after he played around in St. Louis. He was inspired by the rumors and historical anecdotes of Earl Thompson selling his soul to the devil just like Jesse Johnston did. He's confident of not having his song stolen because he already has an official recognition from the copyright association even though he doesn't have the certificate yet.
This song may not have been as good as the ones that gave him enhancements, but he felt that it's not much worse.
The subtle but firm strums accompanied by the kickdrum made the audience feel the intensity of the song. The lyrics also painted a picture for them of Tayaw actually meeting the devil. Nashville, being a musical city, also has their legends about people making a deal with the devil, so that helped them paint a picture of Tayaw getting tempted by the devil in the first verse.
"I know you, young man, and we're the same
I see your hands, we set the strings aflame
Shake my hand and I will give you a chance
One shake, I'll learn you how to make the girls dance.
Ohhhh. The devil wears a suit and a tie.
The devil wears a suit and a tie."
The intensifying strumming, the louder kickdrum, and the more gravelly singing by the second verse made the crowd feel anxious and even more immersed in the song.
"A fool, a great fool is what I am
Why didn't I just take off and run?
A gift, that man's gift was divine
It never felt like it was a crime
Til I saw my home in his abode
Where I will spend my eternal life."
The hope that the crowd felt of Tayaw not shaking the devil's hand was shattered and they let out a collective sigh. Travis who chose to watch by the side of the stage had goosebumps. Chala, who was listening from the audience, clenched his fist, spooked, and finally suspecting that Tayaw is not only singing a song, but actually telling his own story.
"mmmmhhhhmmm. The devil wears a suit and tie…
The devil gave me his suit and tie…
Ohhh, can't strip the suit and tie…"
Tayaw ended the last chorus almost whisperingly and gave out a defeated feeling to the crowd. The crowd, seemingly stunned, also stayed silent for a few seconds. Chala, seeing this panicked and started clapping aggressively to encourage the crowd. The crowd, urged by Chala, also gave an enthusiastic applause for Tayaw. Travis, who was finally, convinced of Tayaw's ability, furthermore, more than impressed by the song, whistled loudly with his fingers. The manager, who was actually anticipating Tayaw's performance, is also clapping, while shaking his head.
"Thank you." Tayaw bowed slightly.
Two country-blues-bluegrass songs later, his set was finally done and he was showered with love by the crowd. He even saw 'strange' gazes from the ladies. After bowing the final time, he headed back to the waiting room. "Yay-wat! That was f*cking amazing!" Travis got to his face as soon as he entered the waiting room. "Thank you Travis." Tayaw replied, his bad impression of Travis earlier cut down a little. "How have I not heard of you?" Travis asked enthusiastically. "Because I think Nashville will not welcome him?" The manager who also came to the waiting room after Tayaw, said.
Tayaw and Travis' faces twitched at that. "No one plays real country anymore in Nashville. All that pop country bullcrap on the radio is what sells, so that's what the suits of Nashville keep on popping out." The bar manager clarified.
Travis, who already performed earlier in the evening, was a little offended at that. He's one of those country performers who are singing the formulaic modern country songs. He could not, however, argue with the bar manager. After all, he saw what Tayaw performed and he agrees with the bar manager about Tayaw's songs as real country music. Travis knows that even if he covers Tayaw's song, he will not do it justice. He could not also write such songs.
"The radio stations too are making money not only from advertisers, but by playing the songs these record labels tells them to play on the radio." The bar manager further explained. This enlightened both Tayaw and Travis. Tayaw finally understood why the radio sucks. Travis also realized why he no longer hears in the radio a lot of the songs he grew up listening to or at least new songs that have as much heart as the old country songs.