a bird needs both its right and left wings to fly

I want to start this post by saying that I am a voice major, so I am particular about the voice of singers in bands and stuff. It doesn't matter how great the songs are, how great they can play the guitar... if a singer has a crappy or whiny voice, I can't listen to the rest of the song.

Last year (or maybe before) my boyfriend introduced me to this singer-songwriter, Grayson Capps. The guy is amazing. He has 4 original CDs out (2 of which I now have) and also has a live album and is on the soundtrack of "Love Song for Bobby Long", where he sings the title track. if you have not heard of him, YOU NEED TO NOW!!!! not kidding.

Capps was born in Alabama but spent a lot of his life in New Orleans, and you can hear that influence in his music. Once again, I find myself liking someone with a bit of a country feel, but he is not really country. Capps's music has more of a Southern feel than country. Many of his songs tell stories and have Southern themes. His music also has a blues feel to it, and a lot of his songs have bluesy guitar accompaniments.

so this Friday night I went to Little Willie's with my boyfriend to listen to Capps. if I hadn't been a fan before, I would be now. Few musical artists sound better live than they do recorded, and Capps is one of those musicians. Not only did he not miss a single note singing or playing guitar, he also told the stories of the ideas for many of his songs. Considering the man makes his living by playing in bars across the country, this kind of a performance is to be expected, but Capps really took this to a new level.

He told stories, made jokes, and still played impeccably. Just a few of the best quotes from the concert:

• "I don't know much about this religion stuff, but I like the idea of heaven." This prefaced a gospel song that Capps played.
• One of my favorites: "I'm not a democrat, I'm not a republican, I'm a g*d d*mned American. A bird needs both its right and left wings to fly."
• "You can run around naked, do all kinds of drugs. Just got one rule: be nice."
  

Now whether these are lyrics, lines, or just stuff that popped into his head, it's phrases like these that add even more to a live performance.

Of course he switched guitars for some of his songs (which many live performers do) but how many performers play a tin biscuit, use a slide, a thumb-pick, a harmonica, and STILL sing?? ......................Exactly. I wish I was half as good at guitar as this guy.

I don't think I can say it enough, but Capps truly has one of the best voices I have heard. His slow songs are the ones you want to fall asleep to every night. Of course by this time you must be thinking 'where are the links to his songs??' Well, here they are!

• "Love Song for Bobby Long": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKiJlEhdKLo
• "Poison" (live sing-along):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5imNGwc6Uq4&feature=related
  
• "I See You": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wUTXGjx85I
• "Graveyard": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8QVyjGQUjg
  

You can also find him on itunes!! So check him out! You won't be disappointed, and if you don't like the type of music, you gotta admit that the guy has talent not often seen in today's popular music.