Emily Scott Robinson & Charles Wesley Godwin at AmericanaFest
As summer turns to fall, it becomes time to consider what some of the best songs and albums released in country and roots music this year might be. Of course this is always a subjective exercise, but rarely do the most worthy titles rise out of the crowd of recorded works to win a Grammy or a CMA Award. Emily Scott Robinson’s Traveling Mercies, and Charles Wesley Godwin’s Seneca Creek are titles likely to be passed over for the biggest of industry awards, but that doesn’t mean both are not worthy as being considered among the year’s best. Both are regularly cited by well-informed fans when talk turns to the best records that have been released in 2019 so far.
The 2019 installment of AmericanaFest seemed especially packed with top-level talent, and both Emily Scott Robinson and Charles Wesley Godwin made the trek to Nashville hoping to put renewed interest behind their 2019 efforts. And like their albums, they both stood out in the crowded field of country and roots music performers and hopefuls.
Emily Scott Robinson is a songwriter in the purest sense who dropped out of living the regular life to travel the country in a motorhome to share her stories. Traveling Mercies is the perfect encapsulation of her journey, from “Borrowed Rooms and Old Wood Floors,” to the the honky tonk of “White Hot Country Mess.” The record also feels potently relevant to 2019, especially the song “The Dress,” which might be one of the year’s best.
When Emily Scott Robinson took the stage at 3rd and Lindsley—one of Nashville’s best listening rooms—she proved her magic wasn’t just resigned to her recording efforts. Her command of attention through her skill with storytelling behind a supple voice kept the impressive crowd compelled throughout the show, making it one of the standout sets of the 2019 AmericanaFest season. Whether playing with her band, or hushing the room performing solo as she did with “The Dress,” Robinson proved she was worthy of greater attention.
Charles Wesley Godwin doesn’t always tour with a band like he did to AmericanaFest, and when he took the stage on the 5th floor club of Nashville’s Cambria Hotel, it was truly a rare performance. Recently signed to True Grit Management—which also presides over big names like Cody Jinks and Whitey Morgan—he came to AmericanaFest as a name on the rise, and left a deep impression on the assembled crowd. Similar to Emily Scott Robinson, Godwin could entertain with a full band behind him, or manage the intimate moments and hush a room with just his voice and acoustic guitar, sharing very personal stories tied to his West Virginia home and upbringing.
With both these artists, it’s the personal nature of their stories, the spellbinding aspect of their songwriting, and their skill as performers that make them full contenders to represent the future of independent country and roots music. Flubs can be fixed in the studio, and session players can embellish the efforts of a performer. But the live context is where you can really take the measure of an artist and if their worthy of the highest praise. Both Emily Scott Robinson and Charles Wesley Godwin shined in their opportunities, and fortified themselves as top contenders for 2019 end-of-year honors.
September 17, 2019 @ 7:04 pm
I absolutely love Charles Godwin! His music is incredible!
September 17, 2019 @ 7:08 pm
Man… you want to talk about two greats? Well, here they are.
September 17, 2019 @ 8:19 pm
My 2nd time catching Emily this year. She is wonderful.
September 17, 2019 @ 9:05 pm
Seneca is by far my favorite album this year, and probably my favorite since 2017. The entire album is just incredible.
September 18, 2019 @ 5:08 am
Traveling Mercies is my favorite album so far this year. And it took me a while, but I dig Mr. Godwin and picked up the CD from his website. Oh, and when I ordered Traveling Mercies, I ended up getting an personal thank you e-mail from Emily Scott Robinson from the road (!), telling me she’d be back home soon and would get the CD out to me then. And when I got it, I saw that she had signed the cover (To Jack – Emily). How about that?
I saw that she was going to be playing City Winery in DC on the same night as Ray Wylie Hubbard. Got excited and thought that meant she was opening for him. Unfortunately, no. I guess there’s two venues there and she’s opening for someone I haven’t heard of in the smaller venue. And I haven’t seen Ray Wylie since 2012. So, Ray Wylie it is tomorrow night.
September 18, 2019 @ 7:39 am
If you’re in DC, FYI, Brent Cobb is headlining R&R Hotel tonight (9/18).
September 18, 2019 @ 9:17 am
I’m in the burbs about 25 miles out. Love Brent Cobb, but two treks into DC in a row during the week is too much for this fella. Thanks, though. If you’re going, enjoy.
September 18, 2019 @ 5:59 pm
Jack Williams,
I too had a pleasant experience working with Emily Scott Robinson. She also signed my copy of “Traveling Mercies” with a nice little message. I then became interested in trying to acquire her first release, “Magnolia Queen,” which is not available on her website. I thought I’d take a shot in the dark and send an email asking if it would be made available at all. To my surprise, she emailed me back and said she’d be happy to mail me a copy if I just sent her the money through Paypal. I did and she kept me updated on the delivery status since it got slightly delayed. She autographed that one as well!
September 18, 2019 @ 6:39 am
Hopefully these two can get some shine here without 50+ comments dogging their appearance or putting down the homeless.
September 18, 2019 @ 6:52 am
Enchanted by Godwin’s set at Cambria and Charles seemed to be a fantastic guy, humble and easy-going. Helping other guys out and taking time with us fans.
Sad to have missed Emily’s show but glad to hear the prasie she gets.
September 18, 2019 @ 7:24 am
Charles is a gem. Thoughtful, thankful, easy going and a great husband and soon to be father. His parents were at the show at AMA and were beaming with pride.
September 18, 2019 @ 7:48 am
CWG is the man. The album is great. Seen him live, a bunch. I know he’s still paying dues and building his name with a lot of low-key acoustic gigs, but I hope to see him with a full band soon, and more often.
Also, side note, Trigger – will you be reviewing Paul Cauthen sophomore album, or Vincent Neil Emerson’s debut? I’m really enjoying the latter, but still wrapping my head around the former. Being that you didn’t love his debut, I’m wondering if you think this one’s an improvement, or another miss.
September 18, 2019 @ 7:52 am
Just posted a Vincent Neil Emerson review. Paul Cauthen is on the radar. Between attending and covering AmericanaFest including driving back and forth to Nashville, covering the Ken Burns documentary, and dealing with a clogged email box, I’m doing the best I can.
September 18, 2019 @ 7:52 am
Never mind on that Vincent Neil Emerson album. You read my mind. The review just popped up.
September 18, 2019 @ 8:34 am
Seneca Creek is one of a kind. My cousin in Wyoming linked it to me when it came out. I liked it immediately but the more I listen to it the more I really love it. I’ve put some real miles on songs like Coal Country, Pour It On, and Half a Heart. This music rips, and has made it’s way across the country and up to me in Minnesota. Thanks for covering these awesome artists!
September 18, 2019 @ 9:23 am
Thank you, Trigger. This is really lovely.
September 18, 2019 @ 11:29 am
Two fantastic artists, and two AOTY-contending albums. Both are in my top 5 today.
Traveling Mercies is stylistically more accessible to the non-country fans who get stuck riding in my pickup truck from time to time; in a just world, White Hot Country Mess would be a #1 hit on the radio as well.
Though perhaps less accessible to country neophytes, Seneca is deep and expansive in its approach, and just gets better the more you listen to it.
September 18, 2019 @ 12:35 pm
Met CWG when he played in Illinois a few months back. Shared some beer and good conversation, very down to earth guy.
September 18, 2019 @ 1:00 pm
Travelling Mercies is one of the best albums Ive heard in a long time.
I agree with ‘the dress’ being a masterpiece of social commentary writing. It’s very, very rare that a song can change my opinion on a subject, but the dress definitely made me think twice.
Amazing album from an amazing person.