by
Marc
Alexander
AUSTIN/CENTRAL TEXAS
You Better Do What You Came Here For...
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My first experience with a Michael Clay was a huge disappointment - I had heard about this sensational new country and western talent for weeks, a local bartender told me a CD Release Party for Michael Clay would be at his bar the next night. Michael Clay’s voice was better than average but he sang one slow, slow song after another the entire first set...I turned to my partner and said, "Pack it in, I’ve heard enough." He replied "I thought you were going to do a review." and I responded, "Nothing of importance to review."
A few nights ago I was sitting on a bar stool doing my happy hour thing, visiting with my buds when Ambush photographer Shayne James walked up to me, "You need to go down the street, Michael Clay is performing and Brian wants you to see the show."
Now I am a firm believer in one good deed deserves another - Brian gave me such encouragement when I began my ride with Ambush, the least I could do for him was to sit through another dreary Michael Clay gig...so, got to the bar, ordered my cocktail, visited with Brian and a couple readers (God Bless ’em) and then Michael Clay came onstage and jumped right into an uptempo song that kicked me right off my bar stool!
The man can SING! His voice resonates with a clarity unlike anything I have heard in ages. When he launched into John Denver’s standard Country Road Take Me Home all I could think was John would be pleased. His take on Amarillo By Morning was soothing, hell, I was ready to buy a ticket to Amarillo and I swore I’d never go there again!
Michael shared the stage with his backup singer and a young violinist - okay, they knew their place and then Michael must have given them a signal cause all hell broke loose. Mario, the violinist stoked his bow across those strings with a certainty that screamed, LISTEN! At first I thought, he is going to drown Michael out - oh hell no, Mr. Clay reached right down into the depths of his creativity matching Mario note for note - the show suddenly became one of those experiences one treasures for a lifetime - the boys were jammin’ - energy filled the room, every eye, every ear was devoid of distraction. Good friend Ron Stanford joined the trio onstage and the jammin’ continued to the delight of a fascinated audience.
Their first set was so good I stuck around for the second and am so glad I did - it was even better! Michael is not only a singer he is also a songwriter and a damn good one! He co-wrote What If She Does with his good friend Stephanie Smith who was in the audience that evening so he sang their song and melted my heart. For a country and western singer the man got soul, seriously, Michael Clay sings with every fiber of his being, he takes his listeners into a realm of comfort that few singers offer these days. I brought his CD, Free Somewhere, home with me - smart move on my part, there are several songs that are exceptional but all are quite good. Secret Admirer is so mellow, makes you long for your very own secret admirer.
But, there is one song that leaps off the track with an upbeat tempo that makes me want to dance with abandon, lyrics that touch my heart with precious memories of times long gone, best of all, Mr. Clay lifts the spirit renewing beliefs that had been set aside...You Better Do What You Came Here For is perfect for Mr. Clay, why, because he does what he came here for! Pick up a copy of his CD, reserve a Thursday night and catch his show at Rain on 4th, trust, you’ll be glad you did...
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