Chi McClean

That's CooL. No, it really is the name of the venue. And, actually... it IS pretty cool!

After arriving in Nashville, TN during the middle of the annual Tin Pan South event last Tuesday, I was all fired up to find a place and start playing out. Turns out the latter would be easier! While I’m still looking for a pad, I did end up on a pretty neat little round at a new venue called That’s CooL that my friends at Durango Songwriters Expo put together. On stage with me were writers Tim Fagan and Amy Dalley. Tim has written some great pop tunes and has worked with artists such as Colbie Caillat and Jason Mraz while fostering a really successful solo career as well. Amy Dalley has written and cut some great country tunes with Curb Records, toured with a remarkable cast of country artists, and continues to write, perform and tour throughout the United States. It was pretty cool to share the stage with these guys for a while, hear what they’ve been up to, and listen to their music.

Jack Hayford from Durango Songwriters Expo introducing the show.

Later in the evening, a number of other artists and songwriters who are part of the Durango Songwriters Expo family took the stage and wrapped up the evening. It is absolutely amazing, inspiring, and at the same time, daunting, to see and hear how much talent there is in this town. Everyone is amazing, everyone can sing, everyone can play, and pretty much everyone keeps you on your toes. If you think you’re on top of your game and are starting to rest on your laurels, just come to Nashville for a few days and prepare to get your ass handed to you. It’s quite an experience.

Friend, songwriter, and host for a few days here in Nashville, Bob Rea, bringing the house down at That's CooL after the round I played with Tim Fagan & Amy Dalley.

Huge thanks go out to Jack and Jim from Durango Songwriters Expo for putting on the night, as well as the crew over at That’s CooL here in Nashville for hosting the event. Thanks, too, to the amazing songwriters and musicians that performed throughout the night. It was a terrific evening and a great way to kick off my first show here in town as a new transplant to the area. See you all again soon! For now, it’s back to the apartment hunt and time to get crackin’ on some new material!