Soundbytes – Bits and Pieces
It’s a double-bill in the barn at Cornerstone on Sunday, Feb. 14, when Sean McConnell and Jon Shannon Williams perform at an intimate “house concert” style show. McConnell hails from the east coast, where his early influences were in the coffee houses of Boston, listening to folks play the songs of Bob Dylan, David Wilcox, Shawn Colvin, Harry Chapin, James Taylor and the like.
Now a musician in his own right and hailing from Nashville, McConnell has perfected his own unique style which he calls “Lyric Driven Roots Rock with Soul.” Typically his shows have the artist backed by his four piece band, but this night you find him solo on a stool with a guitar getting back to the basics. “In whatever case”, McConnell says, “It’s all about the song. That never changes. It always starts with an acoustic guitar and a notepad. The lyrics are the point. The story is central.” McConnell was recently awarded the “Emerging Artist” award from Lone Star Music Awards in Austin Texas.
In addition to writing and performing his own music, McConnell has written songs that have been recorded by Tim McGraw, Meat Loaf, Jason Castro, Phil Stacey, Brad Paisley, the Randy Rogers Band, Martina McBride, Marc Broussard, Deana Carter, The Eli Young Band and many more. His songs have also been heard on television in an Overstock.com commercial and used on shows like “So You Think You Can Dance” and ABC’s “Nashville.”
Opening the show will be Jon Shannon Williams. Front man of the local act Ten Foot Tone. Williams for years refused to play any cover songs, opting instead to be truly original, until recently, when he set out to learn and play 100 cover songs in one year, which he polished by busking in front of the Sebastiani Theater and even the local Whole Foods Market. The feat gave Williams a unique perspective into the versions of the songs that he does cover and makes them truly his own, sometimes not even being able to tell it’s a cover until you get to that familiar verse or chorus line.
Doors for the show are at 6:30 p.m. with the entertainment kicking off at 7:30 p.m. There will be tickets at the door with food and beverages available for purchase as well. For advance tickets and more info, point your browser to brownpapertickets.com/event/2494741 Cornerstone is at 23570 Arnold Dr, in Carneros.
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Rundown – The Set List
Annex Wine Bar
865 W. Napa St. Sonoma – 938-7779
Tonight, Feb. 12, Get Your Heart On – Valentines day Show – 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 13, Don Trotta – 7:30 p.m.
Barking Dog Roasters
18133 Sonoma Hwy. Sonoma – 939-1905
Saturday, Feb. 13, Hugh Gallagher – 3 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 14, Dale Henry Geist – 3 p.m.
Blue Moon Saloon
19380 Sonoma Hwy. Sonoma – 996-3055
Saturday, Feb. 13, Karaoke – 9 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 14, Blues Jam – all welcome – 10 p.m.
B&V Whiskey Bar and Grille
400 First St. E. Sonoma – 938-7110
Tonight, Feb. 12, DJ Cal– 9 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 13, DJ Hi – Isak– 9 p.m.
Friday Farmers Market
Depot Park – 270 First St W. Sonoma
Today, Feb. 12, Stewart Degner – 9:30 a.m. .
HopMonk Tavern
691 Broadway Sonoma – 935-9100
Tonight, Feb. 12, David Thom – 8 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 13, Hand Me Down – 8 p.m.
Murphy’s Irish Pub
464 First St. E. Sonoma – 935-0660.
Tonight, Feb. 12, Tony Gibson and Dawn Angelosante – 8 p.m.
Olde Sonoma Public House
18615 Sonoma Hwy. Boyes Hot Springs – 938-7587
Sunday, Feb. 14, Karaoke – 7:30 p.m.
Plaza Bistro
420 First St E. Sonoma – 996-4466
Tonight, Feb. 12, Noam Lemish and George Marsh – 7 p.m.
Rossi’s 1906 Dancehall
401 Grove St. El Verano – 343-0044
Tonight, Feb. 12, Kingsbourough – 7 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 13, Lee Presson and the Nails – 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 14, Poyntless Sistars – 6 p.m.
Schellville Grill
22900 Broadway, Sonoma – 996-5151
Saturday, Feb. 13, Butch Engle and Styx – 12:30 p.m.
Sonoma Speakeasy and American Music Hall
452 First St. E. ste. G. Sonoma – 996-1364.
Tonight, Feb. 12, Junk Parlor – 8 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 13, Mark Dennis, Mark Willson and Friends – 4:30 p.m. – Left Coast Syncopators – 8 p.m.
Cornerstone
23570 Arnold Dr, Carneros – 933-3010
Sunday, Feb. 14, Sean McConnell and Jon Shannon Williams – 6:30 p.m. .
If your gig isn’t in my column, you didn’t tell me about it.