BETH GARNER
SNAKE FARM
THE MUSIC OF NASHVILLE/CEN/RED DIST.
ALRIGHT BY ME (MR. FISHER)–BACKROADS FREDDIE–DROP DOWN–USED TO BE–RAMBLIN’ MAN–SNAKE FARM–WISH I WAS
Singer/guitarist/composer Beth Garner grew up around the Austin, TX, music scene, before moving to Algood, TN in 2007. There, she began to hear about the goings-on down on Lower Broadway here in Nashville, and soon, that lure to play for the crowds that inhabit the honky-tonks there brought her here to stay. Beth was sort of a rare commodity in these parts–a female vocalist who doubled on lead guitar. She paid her dues in those Broadway bars, and was also a regular player at Carol Ann’s, a Murfreesboro Road eatery known for its weekly jams that were decidedly more blues and R & B oriented.
Her new CD, “Snake Farm,” showcases many of her varied musical influences from Austin to Nashville and everywhere in between over the course of six originals and one cover. Beth is on vocals, lead, and slide guitar, with Rory Hoffman on sax, keys, and rhythm guitar, Wes Little on drums, Steve Forrest on bass, and Angela Primm and Gale Mayes on backing vocals.
Leading off is the funky groove of “Alright By Me (Mr. Fisher),” with a structure that keeps her guitar at the forefront, as she takes two choruses at the bridge. “Backroads Freddie” is her ode to late-night rendezvous everywhere, always with “the one mama warned you about.” Beth’s slide rolls all over the Southern-rock chug of her “Ramblin’ Man,” who “likes my clothes on the floor!” She closes the set with a call to go back to “the good old days” with “Wish I Was,” featuring an extended slide workout.
We had two favorites, too. In the houserockin’ traditions of Elmore James and Theodore Roosevelt “Hound Dog” Taylor, Beth looks for that “old time Used To Be,” with one blistering run after another! And, at the opposite end of the spectrum, Beth channels her inner John The Revelator with the Doomsday groove of “Drop Down if you wanna get to Heaven—Judgement Day’s a’ comin”!
Beth Garner will play B. B. King’s on February 28 at 6:30 PM, then heads over to Grimeys and The Basement for a 9 PM show, as a part of Nashville’s New Faces night. She returns on March 1 to play The Country at 6 PM. Come out and show some love to this fine lady of Nashville blues in support of “Snake Farm!” Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues Society.
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