The Hook Returns with Josh Grider and Pug Johnson
The Hook is back!
After a couple of weeks of relinquishing the stage to other important functions at the beautiful Sagebrush in Austin, TX, The Hook returned on Sunday, November 1st to record Episode 19. It’s the show that features established songwriters, and then lets anyone get up on stage to play a song, picked completely randomly.
Critically-acclaimed Texas country songwriter Josh Grider was the special guest performer and panelist, and throwback country honky tonk crooner Pug Johnson also made a featured performance promoting his most recent album From a Beaumont Bar that picked up a strong review from Saving Country Music. Tom Pritchett also handled co-hosting duties.
After performing his most recent single (and a great song) called “Tough,” Josh Grider shared some strong wisdom for all the up-and-coming songwriters out there about how to best navigate the current climate.
“Play out. Gather real fans. In this AI world, the value of what we can provide, which is a communal actual experience—an unquestionably flawed, but real and tangible experience, I think the value of that is only going to increase as we question everything we see online, as we question everything that we hear. There’s no mistaking what I just did, and what we’re all going to experience here. I think that value is going to rise, and I encourage you to play.”
This is what happens during each installment of The Hook—real world connections are made in the room in a way the internet and AI can’t replicate. This is what returning performer Phlip Coggins did with his lengthy, yet very well-written and performed song “Loose Grip” where it times he almost whispered the hook out.
48 hours before the Midterm Elections in the United States, Alex Evans, who works within the political system, took important time from her work to share a new song called “Mermaid.” She made it worth everyone’s time, and underscored how in the busiest of moments, it’s always important to make a place for music to unburden your soul.
Songwriters continue to come from far away to participate in The Hook, and luckily get picked. Emmanuel Wayne from Tulsa, Oklahoma made the 7-hour trip down to perform his song “New Boots,” which is the title track to his new EP coming out on November 13th. His song had great lyricism indicative of country, but with a more soulful delivery that drew him comparisons to Tracy Chapman.
Isauro “EZ” Maldonado only had to make the trek from San Marcos to make his debut on The Hook, but he also made a big impression with his assertively beautiful song “Damn Thing.” Austin resident and New Jersey native Russel Taine Jr. also made his debut on The Hook singing “Carry Me Whole.”
Returning performers included Bo Tyler, who appeared on banjo previously, but brought a modern folk dystopian anthem to The Hook this time called “Doomscroll.” Jerry Renshaw once again drew inspiration from a small forgotten American town for his song “Nothing Ever Happens Here,” that simulated some great discussion. “I call that tragic beauty,” Renshaw said. And Nick Teale blew everyone’s mind, and melted everyone’s face with his beautiful, yet somewhat bizarro song “Water Ski,” which takes his voice incredible places, and is like a combination of folk, rock, hair metal, and yacht rock.
The great Western artist Zach Aaron, who appeared on the very first episode of The Hook in Austin, also made a return to close the show out with a song called “Marmalade Kisses” about returning to a loved one.
Unfortunately, The Hook is off yet again this week due to a last minute scheduling snafu with Sagebrush, but will return once again on November 15th. The show runs from 3:00 – 5:00 pm at Sagebrush in Austin. If you want to sign up for a chance to perform, make sure to arrive by 2:30.
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The Hook is not just for songwriters. Fans of songwriting are also encouraged to attend. For more information, visit savingcountrymusic.com/thehook. Please subscribe to The Hook’s YouTube Channel, and follow The Hook on Instagram and Facebook.
You can now also stream the audio of The Hook via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, PocketCasts, as well as Deezer and other major podcast networks.
The Hook is sponsored by Big Hat Premium Cocktails and Mocktails, Ear Trumpet Labs, Keystone Artist Connect, and Sagebrush.
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Photos by Max Cunningham.
