This year I had the pleasure of once again checking out the finals of the August Chronicle’s Singer-Songwriter Contest.  Perhaps the biggest pleasure was the fact that the field this year was miles above last year’s in terms of quality and talent.  Maybe this year’s strong lineup was the reason behind Ronnie Hill not placing even after one of the best performances at not only this year’s finals, but all of the finals since the contest began a few years ago.

Ronnie Hill had one of the best Augusta Chronicle Singer-Songwriter Contest performances of all time!

There I said it.  But unlike the Kanye West comment at the VMA’s that I aped,  my version has nothing to do with personal preference, musical preference, and of course in no way do I mean to diminish the other excellent performances at this years finals.  Like I have already said, this year’s lineup was one of the strongest finals lineups of all time.  (THAT time the Kanye similarities was unintentional).  Last year’s lineup was so  subpar as a whole that it was obvious which acts were the true talents and it was proven when the winners were announced.  The judges absolutely got it right in 2008 but then again, you would have had to be away at the beer tent during performances to do otherwise. 

But to be totally fair, and since I DID find almost every performance very enjoyable this year, let me quickly run through last evenings ACSS finals…at least from my perspective.

My friend Joe and I arrived just in time to catch the final moments of Ryan Gay’s set.  Gay seemed a bit flustered for some reason and since we had just arrived, I chose not to make any specualtion as to why.  But I will comment on the nearly one whole tune we did sit through.  Gay has caught plenty of flack the past year or so after the Chronicle posted a video of Gay in the Sonic Spotlight and for good reason.  The video did not show him in the very best of light.  At last year’s finals I was hoping Gay would prove the critics wrong, because I am a sucker for an underdog, but it didn’t happen.  This year, only based on what little I saw, I can say that Ryan played his guitar well (and in tune) but his off time off key voice still makes me want to claw my eardrums out.  I’ve have only experienced good things in person when talking to Gay on the couple of short conversations we’ve had so I hate to be mean but I do have to be honest.  The bad attempt at imitating Dylan just isn’t working.

Next up were catchy power pop rock band (and eventual winners) Great Day in the Morning.  I thoroughly enjoyed their set and I can see great things for this band in the future.  Unique and familiar at the same time, if these guys can pull out more hooks and drop the small bits of contrived stage moves, they have a great chance to be one of Augusta’s top bands.  Having some of the area’s more talented artists working together doesn’t hurt either.  Definitely an award winning performance.

Chris Ndeti then took the stage with a spirited solo acoustic performance that blended some pretty fine guitar work with some strong vocals.  While the presentation side of her performance was strong, Ndeti’s original compositions could use some work especially in the lyric department.  Ndeti’s use of simple lines  unfortunately took away from the strength of her performance.  But what do I know, the judges found her overall deserving of a second place spot.   

Hopping home from New York City just long enough to take part in the finals, Will McCranie was joined on stage by best friend and common musical companian (and pretty darn good artist in his own right) Jacon Beltz on banjo.  While the performance showcased McCranie favorites it was a bit on the sedate side.  Not sure if this was done intentionally but I found the performance, while solid, to be missing the fire of the last few sets I saw from McCranie before he left Augusta for the Big Apple.  McCranie took home the third place award but I have to say, even though I found this particular performance to be sorta mellow, I found it to be more complete than that of the second place winner.

Joe Stevenson took the stage next with fellow musicians Patrick Blanchard and Brian Allen, on guitar and drums, and played an expected great set of the type of originals that Stevenson has become known for.  Catchy, clever, and at times working to pull on the heart strings,  Stevenson has an uncanny way of putting together words that is interesting yet easy to relate to.  Stevenson’s performance could have easily gotten him a spot in the top 3.

What I found refreshing about Adam Doolittle was not his music but his personality.  Anyone who genuinely says “I reckon” on stage and does so with a sort of uneven country swagger gets points in my book just for being real.  Where Adam doesn’t get points is in his songwriting.  Like Chris Ndeti, Doolittle’s lyrics tended to be simplistic, the type of lyrics you might quickly jot down on a piece of paper if you were wanting to save an idea but not if you were writing to present the idea.  With some work on vocals and guitar Doolittle could be a good front for a talented songwriter.  But with an obvious love for Nashville sounds Doolittle shouldn’t take that so bad.  Most country performers record, perform, and even have hits with songs written by other people.

Last up was musical recluse Ronie Hill.  I say recluse because this guy doesn’t get out musically as much as he should and my point was proven last night.  Backed by a great cast of lokal musicans, Hill put on a short performance of sharp originals that knocked the audience in the Commons for a loop.  Just looking around during Hill’s performance of contest entry “Six Shots” and watching the audience smile and try and sing-a-long  was enough to convince me tht Hill is the real deal.  Great songs, great performance, great presentation…as the final notes were winding down and contest kinpin Steven Uhles was gathering the final results from the judges I knew in my heart that Hill would place and maybe even possibly win. 

Despite hoops and hollers from  the audience, the other musicians and people near side-stage, the judges somehow failed to place Hill and while I would never want to take anything away from those who won, or anyone else who took part, I find that shocking and am still surprised.  I was not the only one.  Other contestants were also in disbelief over Hill’s absence from the final three.  Hmmm…

Now before anyone gets the idea that I thought the finals sucked based on the results, think again.  I found this years field to be very enjoyable and I had a great time experiencing each performance and maybe that really is what’s most important.  I could still have three obvious choices from a partially lame group of finalists or,  I could have an overall strong field and possibly disagree with the final results.  I think I prefer the latter. 

Now check out who placed followed by how I would have ranked them.

Judges final winners:

1.  Great Day in the Morning 

2. Chris Ndeti

3. Will McCranie

(Did anyone else notice that the winners were the next three artists IN ORDER after Ryan Gay?)

My rankings (if you even care!)

1. Ronnie Hill

2. Great Day in the Morning

3. Joe Stevenson

4. Will McCranie

5. Chris Ndeti

6. Adam Doolittle

7. Ryan Gay

And that all I have to say about that!

Stoney