Quality Americana

“Is there anybody here who just happened to buy a ticket that doesn’t know Justin?”  Carolyn Lehmann asked a packed-in crowd at the Redbird Listening Room Sunday. The room was buzzing as one person slowly raised their hand. 

“You’re Gary’s son,” Lehman replied. “I’ve got that one figured out.” 

Gary Johnson was the opening act that evening, a perfect fit with his vintage Gibson jazz box and harmonica rack.

The house lights came down and Johnson emerged through the red velvet curtain in the darkness. His style reminded me very much of Dave Van Ronk, with his jazz-style approach to the guitar, talking melodies and thoughtful stories. He started out with a whistle and left warming our hearts. 

“So what do y’all think so far?” Lehmann asked as the applause rang out. “You know he comes every Thursday and I just met his wife for the first time. Now she knows where he is on Thursday nights.” 

One of Johnson’s songs “Opium Dream” particularly stood out with its unique guitar melody and dream-like feel. 

Mark Nelson was on hand in the front row in his usual seat. Nelson is the resident artist that paints beautiful watercolors like a court room artist on the fly at every show.

“Don’t forget to unplug,” Patrick Sullivan said from the audience as he backed away into the green room in as interesting of a way as he appeared. “No, I’m not gonna do that,” Johnson said. “I’m gonna duck back here an…”

Man of the Hour

Lehmann joked that every week twenty five songwriters show up to sing a song, and Justin Upshaw is always number twenty five. 

Upshaw thanked the crowd as he got ready for his fourth headlining concert at this wonderful converted home in New Braunfels. 

“This room is no stranger to me,” Upshaw said, “and I love this place. I love the family, and love the opportunity they’ve given me here.” 

It was his annual birthday show and Upshaw joked that he was thirty six again. 

Upshaw wore a guitar themed bowling shirt for the performance with matching socks. His first song was called “Hard Drugs.” It’s a beautiful song that jokes that no matter what happens in life, he’ll never try hard drugs. 

“I’m just gonna try and fly through the songs and I won’t say much about them,” Upshaw said. “Except I will.” 

It’s his personality that keeps you on the edge of your seat and filled with laughter. His next song talked about mice poison that didn’t help the situation in his garage, but ended up making his dog sick. 

Upshaw then brought out a cello player he was introduced to at his church. Elizabeth Massad provided a beautiful accompaniment for a song about seeking faith in God through life’s hardships. “Was that awesome or what?” Upshaw said as the crowd agreed.

Sunshine

The waterworks started when Upshaw directed the show towards his wife Emily, who was sitting in the front row. 

“I asked my wife ‘is there like a song of mine that you like more than others?’” Upshaw said. It was called “Sunshine.” 

“I wrote this song about twenty years ago, a girl… we don’t need to get into details,” Upshaw said as he introduced the song and the crowd laughed. “Anyway she broke up with me and that was my… the song tells it. I wanted to let you know babe that I actually wrote a fourth verse to this song, and I’m going to sing it for the first time here.” 

As Upshaw came into the fourth, and final verse about his beautiful life with his family, I’ve never seen more tears and felt more emotion in a room before in my life. 

“I’m thankful for my past that led me to you,” Upshaw sang to Emily, who’s also the lead singer in their duo Colton’s Kin. “Even though I think it’s weird this is your favorite song. Our love holds and I won’t let go. I now know, darlin’ where the sun shines today.”

Diamond in the Rough

“Ive got a couple more songs and then I’ll release you from the prison,” Upshaw joked. Of course nobody wanted to leave. 

Upshaw is one of the most talented, undiscovered songwriters you’ll ever encounter. He’s also a truly great man and I’m proud to call him my friend. 

He ended saying that his “underwear was dry for the first time” after a show at the redbird. You could open for Queen at Wembley and not feel as nervous as the Redbird stage. There’s just something so special about this place that can’t be put into words. 

Support the Artist

More Information about Justin Upshaw can be found here. 

More information about Gary Johnson can be found here.

More information about the Redbird Listening Room can be found here.

Photos were provided from our columnist Patrick Sullivan.