The inaugural Snapper Snatchers concert series event was held on Saturday, June 24 to a packed house at the Capri Theatre in Cloverdale. Our splendid performing guest was Nashville-based singer & songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman, who lived in Montgomery for many years and still has family here. To say that the concert was great is an underwhelming travesty….it was an absolute home run and every one of the lucky 350 attendees smiled all the way through the show.

The tiny stage was packed with gear and several very talented musicians. Beth’s son Ernest played guitar, bass, and keyboards. Her longtime collaborator Annie Roboff also played keyboard. Super sideman John Ragusa played flute, harmonica, and other assorted wind and brass instruments. And they all provided beautiful background vocals. Beth’s nephew Trip Dudley contributed with some very nice drumming and percussion. Lastly, Ernest’s fiancé Jesse played bass and filled in wherever needed. The best instrument on stage, however, was Beth’s lovely and familiar voice. And the venue & crowd afforded her and the band with an almost “living room” atmosphere to play. This night was personal and sublime……laid back and comfortable and satisfying…..like Beth was singing to each of us individually. What a wonderful treat!

Beth gave us a fabulous sampling of her song catalogue. Several of the tunes were made famous by her friends and contemporaries. One of the night’s real crowd pleasers was “Nothing I Can Do about It Now”, a cool song she wrote for Willie Nelson. As she told the story about dealing with Willie’s producer, Nashville legend Fred Foster, she actually got a bit giddy about the whole experience. Clearly, that was a watershed event for a young writer trying to make it in the music business. Later, she sang “This Kiss”, a Number #1 hit for Faith Hill and a tune that won Beth a Grammy nomination. Another highlight tune was “Peace”, a gorgeous tune she co-wrote with Michael McDonald and one that he recently sang at the White House. And one of her encore songs was “Happy Girl”, a bubbly tune that made Martina McBride pretty happy a few years ago when it climbed the charts.

Despite her prowess as a top-tier songwriter and the successes she’s experienced in facilitating the careers of others, Beth’s own songs were really the heart and soul of this night. She sang beautiful love songs like “Look”, from the 2005 CD of the same name. An outstanding song from Deeper Still, “Every December Sky” poured out of her like the voice of an angel. She performed “Sand and Water”, a song best appreciated when Beth is poignantly singing from twenty feet away. The words were more chilling and beautiful than ever. She sang “Heads Up For the Wrecking Ball” and even gave the crowd one of her “Hymns”, a stellar singing exercise for her worthy bandmates.

The night was not short on fun and frivolity. Beth brought her Dad, Robert Nielsen, up on stage for “The Ballad of Anne Boleyn”, a duet that the old-timers in the crowd heard them do occasionally so many moons ago. Mr. Nielsen can still nail those low, low notes. Beth also called up local musician Jimbo Jones for a song. Beth, who once sang with Jimbo in the Harmony band, performed “Helplessly Hoping” and, again, it was a trip down memory lane for those of us who frequented Kegler’s Cove (the local bowling alley lounge) back in the 70s. And one of the night’s funniest moments was when Beth sat at the electric piano and launched (enthusiastically) into the Carpenter’s big hit “Close to You”, one of the top songs during Beth’s days at Cloverdale Junior High School, right across the street from the Capri. It was performed tongue-in-cheek, but I swear she and Annie were swooning. It’s a catchy tune after all….

I think my favorite song this night was “Beyond the Blue”. You might remember it from the movie, Message in a Bottle. The band was especially clicking on this number and the cousins (Berklee alums Ernest and Trip) were really enjoying themselves. It was very cool and well-performed.

Everything about this night was awesome. Beth really enjoyed herself as well. The after-concert party at Bill & DJ’s restaurant (Sinclairs) next door extended the fun as she was able to talk to a roomful of folks, many she hasn’t seen for a long time. It was a warm home crowd for one of our own and truly one of the Snapper Snatchers’ finest moments. Thanks Beth for sharing your magic!

  GD