Excellent Songs, Incredible Voices Grace ‘The Hook’ Episode 7

Can you really just set a microphone up on a stage, offer an opportunity for anyone from the public however random to show up and perform a song, and still get better songs than the ones you might hear on mainstream corporate radio or even many professional albums? If what happened on the July 12th taping of Episode 7 of The Hook is any indication, yes you can.

The original idea behind The Hook was to hopefully expose excellent songwriters, but also have some really bad ones to have a little fun with. Jokes on us though. Austin, Texas and beyond is full of ringers, and Episode 7 might have been the greatest showcase of songwriters yet.

It started off with Lance Wooley, who drove all the way from Baton Rouge, Louisiana to be on the show. Luckily he got picked, and picked first, and then blew everyone away with his incredible country voice performing his song “Turn Around.” It truly was one of those “Don’t judge a book by its cover” moments as Wooley gave off some wooly mammoth vibes, but had a voice somewhere between George Strait and Garth Brooks. His waltz-timed song wasn’t too shabby either.

Nicole Ridgwell of the band Cast Iron Shoes is based in Austin, but was currently on tour with Georgia-based songwriter and performer Eli Blackshear. Along with their tour manager Jonathan Beauchamp, all three performed new original songs, and all three walked away with Silver Patches, with Nicole Ridgewell right on the brink of Gold for an untitled, original song she performed.

Sachin of the Austin-based band Sachin and the Porch didn’t just get close to Gold, he won it with his heart-wrenching song “Jesse.” It even made guest panelists Rita Ballou of KOKE openly cry, and as she’s self-diagnosed,” I’m dead inside.” The Gold Patch means that Sachin can come back and perform any time he wants without having to go through the sign up and random draw process.

Two of The Hook’s most regular sign ups both made fresh appearances, and arguably had their best songs and performances yet. Marsha Craft, who’s also been filling in as a floor producer, had an excellent song inspired by our home state of Kansas and Westward Expansion. And Jake Busby and his infamous mullet blew everyone away with his Biblically-inspired song “The Liar.”

Nathan Stevens of the local band Micajah has also been a regular on The Hook, but showed off an irregular side of his voice favoring the higher register with his involved song called “3 oz.” On previous episodes, he’d blown everyone away with his lower, moror billowy voice, but Stevens proved how commanding he is in all registers.

The Hook isn’t a singing showcase, it’s a song showcase. Nonetheless, singing took center stage for most of Episode 7, and that certainly applied to the more folk- oriented songwriter Otis Wilkins and his song “Heartland,” which once again set a high standard, and earned him a Silver Patch. His singer-songwriter material is a far cry from his other musical project called Otis the Destroyer, but is still excellent stuff.

Before recently-minted Gold Patch winner and Air Force veteran Thomas M. Pritchett closed the show out, two of perhaps Austin’s most promising young songwriters and performers got picked out of the hopper. Nitin Anish made his second appearance on the show, and proved once again he’s new star just waiting to be discovered. He was followed by 20-year-old professional soccer player turned songwriter Edgar Cardez, who turned in a really inspired song about the person who got him into playing music called “Road Man.”

The next taping of The Hook happens on Sunday, July 26th from 3:00 – 5:00 pm at Sagebrush in Austin. If you want to sign up for a chance to perform, arrive by 2:30.

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The Hook is not just for songwriters. Fans of songwriting are also encouraged to stop by. For more information, visit savingcountrymusic.com/thehook. Please subscribe to The Hook’s YouTube Channel, and follow The Hook on Instagram and Facebook.

The Hook is sponsored by Ear Trumpet Labs, Keystone Artist Connect, The Willie Bus, Mule Kick Productions, JWA Media, and Sagebrush.

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