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A good writer's night performance is like gathering around the front porch listening to music performed by the originator. The songs may have been recorded by the writer, by another artist or as yet unrecorded. It's music in the raw and fascinating! Writer's Nghts are some of my favorite events and they're a Nashville specialty. The venue is unassuming, the artist's are laid back and informal, and the audience is there to listen to the music.
On this particular Writer's Night at Puckett's Grocery, Wade paired with The Bakers, a mother-daughter duo of amazing harmonies and solid songs. The format of a Writer's Night is simple - the writers take turns, acoustic-style, performing works that they've written. Occasionally, as in Wade's case, the audience will request a song that was recorded, though not authored, by the performer, as in "The Day That She Left Tulsa" and "Wichita Lineman."
The Bakers have a sharp pen for lyrics that catch the ear as evidenced by the catchy, tongue-in-cheek "Reality," a spoof of the reality series shows. The "Upside of Being Down," had its own ironic twists and the haunting "Slow Death of a Small Town" lingered with you. The audience also enjoyed "The Last Best Place," "My Kind of Living," "Strong Again" and "Jealousy."
 At one point in the show, Wade asked the audience if they wanted to hear new songs or old songs, and was answered with a resounding, YES!" In addition to "Old Enough to Know Better" and "I'm Still Dancin' With You," cuts from his first album, we heard seven of his most recent compositions. They touched a wide range of emotions - from out-loud laughter to eyes filled with tears. That's what good country music is all about.
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