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Writer's pictureCHRIS FARLIE

LIVE REVIEW: CAITLYN SMITH WITH MADELINE EDWARDS, ASHLEY MONROE, BEN CHAPMAN, LACI KAYE BOOTH, MEGAN McREE, CAYLEE HAMMACK, BEN GOLDSMITH & LUCIE SILVAS - BASEMENT EAST

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LIVE REVIEW: CAITLYN SMITH WITH MADELINE EDWARDS, ASHLEY MONROE, BEN CHAPMAN, LACI KAYE BOOTH, MEGAN McREE, CAYLEE HAMMACK, BEN GOLDSMITH & LUCIE SILVAS - BASEMENT EAST

Basement East is a smart little unassuming venue to the East of Nashville, totally black once you get inside, with a bar on either side, and a dedicated space for a merch table, which has a backdrop of posters from notable previous shows. #TEAMw21 have been lured here by what can only be described as a stellar line up, with Caitlyn Smith hosting, sharing the stage with Lucie Silvas, Laci Kaye Booth, Ashley Monroe, Ben Chapman, Ben Goldsmith, Megan McRee and Madeline Edwards.  It was a charity event, yet the price of entry was $20 and amazingly the venue was not totally crammed to the rafters as it would have been in the UK for such an array of talent.


 There would be one band that would support everyone, consisting of bass, drums keyboards and guitar be it electric, acoustic or pedal steel. Our host Caitlyn Smith looked overjoyed to be on stage, she would be the only constant presence throughout the evening, if she wasn’t singing her songs then she’d be on backing vocals or acoustic guitar, all the time with a massive smile across her face. Even her heeled boots would not stop the occasional jump in the air


Caitlyn Smith would kick things off with "High", the first couple of verses sung mainly to her acoustic guitar before the drums massively kicked in on the chorus, With a voice in glorious form the chorus of whoa's was powered out to great effect, the band may have all required stands for their music but they were tight and punchy throughout the whole night. Caitlyn would introduce things with a "What's going on Nashville?" before going on to explain that with an 11 month old baby, she doesn't get out to see her friends much and so this would prove a chance to see all her friends in one go.


LIVE REVIEW: CAITLYN SMITH WITH MADELINE EDWARDS, ASHLEY MONROE, BEN CHAPMAN, LACI KAYE BOOTH, MEGAN McREE, CAYLEE HAMMACK, BEN GOLDSMITH & LUCIE SILVAS - BASEMENT EAST

First guest of the star studded night was Madeline Edwards, dressed all in black with her blonde curls, She would follow the anthemic opener with one of her own in "Hold My Horses".  This was rootsy rocking at it's finest and Madeline vocals would take no prisoners.


"I'm feeling a little hot and bothered" she would say before going on to heap praise on Caitlyn for her help and songwriting.


Her second song "The Wolves" on the night had a definite Amy Winehouse groove going on. It would see Madeline become very expressive with her hand gestures and she would come to the edge of the stage to get closer to the crowd. In the meantime Caitlyn was providing backing vocals, as well as dancing in a truly happy unfettered way, showing just how much she was already loving the evening.


In return Madeline would provide backing vocals on "Dreamin's Free" also mouthing the lyrics off mic as Caitlyn took the lead.


LIVE REVIEW: CAITLYN SMITH WITH MADELINE EDWARDS, ASHLEY MONROE, BEN CHAPMAN, LACI KAYE BOOTH, MEGAN McREE, CAYLEE HAMMACK, BEN GOLDSMITH & LUCIE SILVAS - BASEMENT EAST

Next to the stage was 18 year old New Yorker, Ben Goldsmith who could not have looked more fresh faced. Dressed in a Johnny Cash prison pic T Shirt under a brown leather jacket.


"Are you ready to jam? Caitlyn would ask before a gentle piano intro started the soulful opening to "Crazy" from his debut album. With outstanding vocals and an exceptional guitar solo he immediately announced himself.


Caitlyn had no guitar on for this one and was just happy to be found dancing around the stage.


The second song "Easy" was co written by Ben , Caitlyn and Jon Green and was a cracking soulful tune also to be found on is debut record.


Ben would once again add in a cracking guitar solo


Caitlyn's only word to describe Ben's talents were "ridiculous" while from the audience came the cry


"We just went to church!".


Such was the instant effect that Ben had on the Basement East crowd - a definite star in the making that you'll be hearing much more from undoubtedly.


"I don't know if you are ready for what is coming next" Caitlyn would tease us before going on to say that this was "one of her favourite voices in this town"


She was preparing the way for the arrival of Caylee Hammack



LIVE REVIEW: CAITLYN SMITH WITH MADELINE EDWARDS, ASHLEY MONROE, BEN CHAPMAN, LACI KAYE BOOTH, MEGAN McREE, CAYLEE HAMMACK, BEN GOLDSMITH & LUCIE SILVAS - BASEMENT EAST

An undoubted live wire Caylee would take to the stage as if she had 100,000 volts running through her - every part of her seemed to be in perpetual motion at times bouncing up and down.


"I've arrived dressed as Dumbledore!" referring to her long overcoat.


The banjo and drum intro would take us into her recent single "Breaking Dishes".


Moving to a ska like rhythm, there was a fearsome wide eyed look on her face as she sang


"Burn me once shame on you

Burn me twice and I'll burn you"


A definite presence - she would announce that she hoped she could hit the high notes as she was " 2 espresso martinis in!"


The song was "All Or Nothing" which opened to a great mix of electric guitar, organ and drums.


Caylee would indeed hit the high notes with no trouble - and would put on an amazing performance not to be forgotten in a hurry.


Quietening things down - Caitlyn would put in the stand out performance of the night in a night of stand out performances with "This Town Is Killing Me" initially just Caitlyn and her acoustic, before a piano would then join in and later a pedal steel. Lines like

"They buried my grandad without me

Cause I was out on the road at some one off show in Tupelo

And I can't take that one back"

seemed as vividly real as the day she first put pen to paper


The proceeds of the night were going to a charity - FAM - Family Alliance & Music - trying to help struggling musicians have a family life safety net yet still being able to do things like touring.


LIVE REVIEW: CAITLYN SMITH WITH MADELINE EDWARDS, ASHLEY MONROE, BEN CHAPMAN, LACI KAYE BOOTH, MEGAN McREE, CAYLEE HAMMACK, BEN GOLDSMITH & LUCIE SILVAS - BASEMENT EAST

Next to the stage was Laci Kaye Booth who looked like she may have popped in on the way to a film premiere in a long green dress, she would joke that she had got it from a Burlingtons, which our US translator explained was like a kind of thrift store!


Her opening number "I Let Him Love Me" saw her sing in a low breathy voice over a prominent guitar line.


Caitlyn would provide backing vocals for the chorus and the song would progressively increase in volume and would see the crowd singing the lyrics back to her at volume.


Prefacing the next tune Caitlyn would say "I love this song" to which Laci Kaye would whisper a "Thank You" - truly touched by the praise.


Her second song "Cigarettes" would come with a thumping electro back beat. For the line "When I was 23 I didn't know what I didn't know"" she would insert the extra lyrics "I signed a shitty record deal!" before returning back to the original lyrics.


LIVE REVIEW: CAITLYN SMITH WITH MADELINE EDWARDS, ASHLEY MONROE, BEN CHAPMAN, LACI KAYE BOOTH, MEGAN McREE, CAYLEE HAMMACK, BEN GOLDSMITH & LUCIE SILVAS - BASEMENT EAST

Next to the stage as introduced by Caitlyn was "The coolest motherfucker on the East Side!" - Ben Chapman who would take the evening off in a new direction with "Downbeat". This was Southern roots music, with a heavy drum and bass element which shuffled along at steady pace painting a dark picture


"This place gets scary after dark

You can buy cocaine in the parking lot

It's a little too calm before the storm

I'm breaking sweat and it ain't even warm"


Ben had a suitable drawl of a delivery, which he would gradually fade towards the end on the line "Everything's alright".


His second song "Don't You Dare" from his forthcoming "Downbeat" album had a more soulful vibe going on, it certainly set the anticipation high for the albums release on December 13th




LIVE REVIEW: CAITLYN SMITH WITH MADELINE EDWARDS, ASHLEY MONROE, BEN CHAPMAN, LACI KAYE BOOTH, MEGAN McREE, CAYLEE HAMMACK, BEN GOLDSMITH & LUCIE SILVAS - BASEMENT EAST

Taking to the stage next was Meg McRee, who took to the stage saying "I've had a couple of glasses of wine!".


The first song was one the Ben Chapman, Caitlyn and Meg had only written a few months ago and worked up that afternoon. With prominent lines from the guitar and a wonderfully rich organ sound "Just Say When" already sounded strong on first listen.


Her second contribution would be her latest single "Crying In The Car"dedicated to her tear soaked Honda CRV.


This was sung effectively as a duet with Caitlyn joining Meg, the upbeat tune cleverly acted as a counterpoint to the somewhat sadder lyrics.


"I'm pulling out my hair - I'm trying not to care

One of these days I'm gonna lose my mind

AlI can do is take them one at a time

Crying in the car on the phone with my Mum

I want to come home as it's not what I thought it would be"


LIVE REVIEW: CAITLYN SMITH WITH MADELINE EDWARDS, ASHLEY MONROE, BEN CHAPMAN, LACI KAYE BOOTH, MEGAN McREE, CAYLEE HAMMACK, BEN GOLDSMITH & LUCIE SILVAS - BASEMENT EAST

Having not caught Ashley Monroe on her recent UK jaunt, it was a pleasure to once again get reacquainted. Now curly haired and no longer blonde she seemed to have an aura that surrounds her. Dressed in a red dress with an oversized blazer and thick soled black boots she would be introduced as an "Actual Living Legend!"


She would open with "Risen Road", a smouldering soulful slow burner in the verse leading to a more bombastic chorus. At one stage she would hold the mic with one hand while conducting the playing with the other.


For the second song, a piano intro would lead us into the pure country of "Has Anybody Ever Told You?" from "The Blade" album. Sung in the most mellifluous of tones, this was another of the stand out performances on the night.





LIVE REVIEW: CAITLYN SMITH WITH MADELINE EDWARDS, ASHLEY MONROE, BEN CHAPMAN, LACI KAYE BOOTH, MEGAN McREE, CAYLEE HAMMACK, BEN GOLDSMITH & LUCIE SILVAS - BASEMENT EAST

The final artist to take to the stage would be Lucie Silvas bringing with her Madeline Edwards who along with Caitlyn would help out on "We Don't Know That We're Living", with Lucie taking the first verse, Madeline the second and Caitlyn the third.


It would open to just a piano before gradually building up - the chorus with all three voices singing was most powerful


"Birds don't know that their singing

Fish don't know that they're swimming

No-one knows the beginning

We don't know that we're living"


Crediting Caitlyn with pursuing her journey to eventually having twins, Lucie would then lead into the final song of the evening, the upbeat sounding "How To Lose It All", this was full of rock riffing and hand expressions with Caitlyn joining in as well on this great way to close a show.



Of course it was not quite the end of the evening with Caitlyn beckoning everyone who had performed on stage to return for one last number. It was a finale fit to close a very special evening with Caitlyn channelling her inner Linda Ronstadt on the Everly Brothers classic "When Will I Be Loved?". With Caitlyn wishing everyone a final " Thanks Nashville" the final song began. There were smiles, solos, even Catilyn doing a Chuck Berry duck walk. A definite night to be remembered.

LIVE REVIEW: CAITLYN SMITH WITH MADELINE EDWARDS, ASHLEY MONROE, BEN CHAPMAN, LACI KAYE BOOTH, MEGAN McREE, CAYLEE HAMMACK, BEN GOLDSMITH & LUCIE SILVAS - BASEMENT EAST

The evening would close with everyone on stage for a version of the Everly Brothers classic “When Will I Be Loved” with Catilyn drawing her inspiration from the Linda Ronstadt version. It was madcap and great fun with everyone sharing microphones, Caitlyn doing her own little Chuck Berry dance across stage.  It’s a magnificent evening , in aid of FAM – The Family Alliance In Music helping artists with families through the difficulties of childcare whilst away touring.

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