For over a year now, West Texas songwriters have been arriving at the Blue Light Live in Lubbock, Texas on Monday nights at 9:00p.m. to play their original material for an audience of their friends, guests of the Blue Light, fellow songwriters, and musicians. After the success of our 2010 Spring Singer-Songwriter Showdown, we decided to host a second during the fall. Our relationship with 105.3 True Country Lubbock yielded a tremendous opportunity: Texas music legend Larry Joe Taylor not only agreed to travel to Lubbock and judge the final night of competition, he also agreed to allow the winner of the competition to open at his festival in the spring of 2011!
Listen to the radio promo that ran during the Fall Singer-Songwriter Showdown:Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
During the first five weeks of the competition, songwriters registered for a slot to perform two original songs for the crowd and for a panel of three judges who rated the songwriters according to four categories: Originality, Composition, Performance, and Stage Presence. The top two scoring performances of the night were sent to 105.3 True Country Lubbock for airplay and a call-in vote. Often, three performances were sent to the station due to a tie for first or second place according to the score totals.
Performance by Larry Joe Taylor and David Perez of the Tejas Brothers
Round 1
During the first round, each qualifying songwriter played one song for the judges. The judges then offered feedback on what they liked about the performance. Listen to the live performances (without the judges’ commentary) below:
Justin Tulley
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Paul Mark Cauthen
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Jake Hinds
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James Gelber
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Grady Spencer
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Cruise Duke
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Bryce Howard
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Landon Scoggins
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Hollis Webb
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Ryan Bonner
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Casey Berry
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Micah Todd
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Keegan McInroe
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Jess Thomlinson
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Tyler Walker
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Tyler Rogers
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Round 2
Led by Larry Joe Taylor, the team of judges decided the top five performers for the final round of elimination. Listen to the the final round below:
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Results
Third Place: Cruise Duke
Second Place: Paul Mark Cauthen
First Place: Casey Berry
Casey will open the 2011 Larry Joe Taylor music festival. Because his record “Vintage” already receives radio airplay on 105.3 True Country Lubbock, he has voluntarily forfeited the prize of the single to be produced by Jon Taylor at Mount Vernon Studios to the next highest scoring songwriter who does not already have a record (or is not already in the process of making one.) We are pleased to announce that Jess Thomlinson will be granted the studio time and the radio airplay for his single “Untouchable.”
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Closing Thoughts
Songwriting is not a competition. We recognize that fact every week as we open our stage to songwriters with varying levels of musical and literary experience. We consider the songwriters of West Texas to be part of our family, and asking us to choose the best is like asking a parent to choose a favorite child: it’s a difficult position to be in. In the first few weekly rounds of the competition, the judges often found themselves engaged in passionate discussion about why they scored certain songwriters differently than others. The weekly judges often considered input from from our radio partner or from the owners of the Blue Light themselves. During the 2010 Fall Finale, Larry Joe Taylor himself made the final call, as was advertised in his own words for weeks on 105.3 True Country Lubbock.
Ask any ten songwriters what their songwriting goals are, and you will probably get ten different answers. Some want to be heard by anyone who will listen; some want to be heard by everyone. Some adhere to a code of artistic purity, eschewing the business of music altogether; some are looking for an occupation involving publishing contracts and royalty payments. In this first two seasons of the Songwriter Showdown we’ve discovered that everyone is driven to write for different reasons and with different goals in mind.
We will continue to do our best to ensure that good songwriters are rewarded with opportunities that help them accomplish their artistic and professional goals. In early 2011 we would like to produce a record of the best original songs played at the Blue Light in 2010 and we will soon be asking our family of songwriters to sit in front of a microphone and lay them down for us. We would also like to offer each songwriter a video on our website of their performance for the record which can be embedded in their own MySpace, Facebook, or other web sites.
We are continuing to form strategic partnerships with people in the music business to ensure that our songwriters have plenty of gear. We gave away Jim Dunlop strings and picks this year, and look forward to giving away an even wider range of musical products in 2011. In committing to the commercial success of our songwriters, we are engaging in dialogue with individuals and companies in the actual business of music: radio stations, music venues, rights organizations, publishing, and promotions.
Suggestions are welcome: if you have an idea that will benefit the songwriters of West Texas, let us know in the comments below. Or come see us on any Monday night at 1806 Buddy Holly Avenue in Lubbock, Texas. Bring your guitar, your songs, and your ideas to us; you will find an eager crowd and an open ear.
Sponsors of the 2010 Fall Singer Songwriter Showdown include:The Blue Light Live, 105.3 True Country Lubbock, Sixgun Studios, Dunlop Guitar Picks, Larry Joe Taylor Music Festival, Carved Records, Mount Vernon Studios
Comments
Lubbock has done an amazing service to music by bringing local businesses together for the sheer joy of experiencing live music. This is how music scenes are created! Haight Ashbury didn’t just pop up out of the concrete one day and become one of the west coast’s hippest scenes…people came together for the music.
All those involved in the process of the Songwriters Showdown are creating a model for local music. It’s a grassroots effort in the best possible sense.
What the judges decide is ultimately important, but the audience response is equally paramount to the success of every performer. We hear there are some great writers from Texas Tech who can add their voice at our live review site,
http://Scout66.com. Add your voice and build a portfolio for yourself there.
Ultimately, Scout66 would love to add an additional element to the success of Songwriter’s Showdown. Given a little more time we hope to do just that.
Will there be a songwriters contest sometime this year?
For the upcoming songwriter showdown starting April 4th will you have to signup online or the day of the event and is there a fee for entering the contest?
You can show up day of and sign-up, however if we reach the limit for that night you will be moved to the next Monday. There is no fee to enter.
Does the Blue Light produce any live records? I’d be interested in one…! Thanks.
I’m sorry Sherrelle, we have not produced one as of now but we do have plans in the works for one.