Calhoun’s GEM Theatre announces folk songwriter and Resaca native Cheyenne Medders will perform on Saturday at 7 p.m. He will perform with his band in support of his new album, Day Stood Still, being released on CD, digital download, and 12-inch vinyl LP. Local favorites Owen's Gin are opening the show with their trademark soul blues.
Review on Cheyenne Medders:
Mr. Medders, who has lived in Nashville for nine years building a career in music, crowdfunded his most recent record via Kickstarter, gathering support he describes as "overwhelming and humbling" from fans, friends and family members.
Day Stood Still is his first album in 4 years, and his first release that he didn't produce himself. "It was refreshing to be able to focus on just playing and singing for a change, and let professional geniuses set up the [microphones] and push the faders," he says. The 11 songs are undoubtedly his most cohesive sounding collection yet, driven by acoustic instruments older than he and carried by his trademark soft rasp crooning into an old ribbon microphone. There is but one electric instrument weaving throughout: a pedal steel guitar, reminiscent of Neil Young's Harvest, played by the record's producer, Mark Galup. Day Stood Still could be considered a stylistic continuation of Mr. Medders' Window Magic from 2010, a cassette tape recording The Nashville Scene called "wistful Southern folk" and recommended to fans of Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark. "Coffin's Nail," the second song on Day Stood Still, has started getting airplay on Lightning 100 in Nashville.
Mr. Medders says the set list for the 28th will be "a mix of the new stuff, stuff newer than the new stuff, a good cover or two, and some old favorites. I'm just excited about bringing my band. I couldn't ask for a better band." That band includes his two brothers, Carson and Will Medders, who have been playing music together since they were students at Calhoun Elementary School, as well as his wife Priscilla Medders, who sings harmony. The brothers' father Jule Medders is an accomplished local singer-songwriter who they often collaborate with both on stage and in the studio. The Medders brothers have toured all over the country and have shared the stage with acts such as Merle Haggard, Dr. Dog and The Avett Brothers. Cheyenne has played in other bands at Bonnaroo, CMJ and The Grand Ole Opry at Ryman Auditorium. He adds "I'm usually not a nervous performer, but coming back to Calhoun gives me that nervous excitement."
For Mr. Medders, being a new father seems to have put things into perspective: "The thing that's been reminding me that I'm on the right track is that Chet likes to hear me sing. I sing to him every night to get him to stop crying, and it works like a charm. He's the new generation, so if he likes what I'm doing I guess I should keep doing it."
Gordon County natives Owen's Gin will open the show, bringing a deep-rooted song craft and unique energy that has won them a few blue ribbons at "battles of the bands" and earned them a solid regional fan base. The band features a past collaborator and close high-school friend of Mr. Medders, Brandon McDaniel. "No word yet as to if they'll do a song together, but our fingers are crossed," organizers said.
Tickets are on sale now for $12 advance and $15 at the door. All seating is reserved. To purchase tickets or for further information contact the Theatre at
www.calhoungem.org or by phone at 706-625-3132. Box Office hours are 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and 3-6 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.