Joy Scout Rocks!

{jcomments on}Joy Scout Rocks!

If you haven’t had a chance to catch Oakhurst’s incredibly talented singer/songwriter duo JoyScout – don’t wait another second!  This Thursday, August 18th, JoyScout will be performing at Twains  in Decatur.  The show starts at 8:30pm, and should not be missed.

Emily Kate Boyd and Nicki Thrailkill formed JoyScout about a year ago, and the two have been creating quite a stir on the local singer/songwriter scene.  With regular appearances at Eddie’s Attic, their sweet, sweet voices and flawless harmonies are unmistakable, and deserve to be broadcast for the whole world to hear.  Soulful, sultry, hopeful, and honest, JoyScout shines on stage – singing something for everyone.

Just last Saturday (August 13^th) , the deliciously dynamic duo kicked off the Second Saturday Songwriter Showcase (SSSS) at Kavarna www.kavarnadecatur.com.  SSSS is a four part series that features singer songwriters who hail from all over the southeast, and points beyond.

Featured performers Jen Lowe (making an appearance from West Hartford, CT) Jesse Tyler, and Paul Warner contributed kit, keys, and guitar respectively to JoyScout’s opening tunes – adding their own unique and beautiful layers to JoyScout’s richly textured foundation.

After the opening numbers, Lowe, Tyler, and Warner – each of whom shared not only the spotlight but also the ability to sing and shift with ease from instrument to instrument – took turns playing their own original songs, often asking other musicians: bassists, percussionists, horns, harmonica, and back-up vocalists, to join them.  There were no less than four and sometimes as many as nine people on stage at any given time.

Up until “Mesquite,” Lowe’s heartfelt shout-out to Texas rodeo cowboys, I was completely absorbed in the music and the seamless flow of energy from one musician to another.  When Lowe started to play guitar on this particular piece, I became fascinated as I watched each of the musicians listen, pick up the chords, and then in a matter of seconds, join along – sometimes even taking the lead – as if they’d been playing together for years and years.

Emily Kate Boyd said it best: “The cool thing about playing with great musicians is they start to play a song they never heard before and they nail it.”  The cool thing for the audience was watching – over and over again – these beautiful songs blossom into music made even more beautiful by artists simply by the sheer power of their joy and their love for their craft.

Nicki Thrailkill and Emily Kate Boyd were gracious hosts.  They never stole the thunder, but made a gentle yet lasting impression on the fans and fellow musicians alike.

So – treat yourself this Thursday night.  Check out JoyScout at Eddie’s Attic at 8:30pm.  There is no cover for this show, but if you love them half as much as I do, you’ll also plan to see them at Eddie’s Attic on Sunday, August 28^th at 7:30 pm.

Also, be sure to check out the Second Saturday Songwriter Showcase at Kavarna.  The next shows are Sept. 10; Oct. 8; and Nov. 12.