Bit to Do

The good environment, great staff, and awesome music helped make Rye's first Back Porch Session very successful on Thursday night. The 23 String Band hosted the free event that showcased their unique style and featured guest performer, Cheyenne Marie Mize. Rye created an inviting environment complete with a cash bar and hay bales for seating. "We wanted to make the event extremely approachable. We have free water, kept our prices low, and picked some great talent, " says Rye owner, Michael Trager-Kusman. "We love the eclectic crowd and hope they return as regular customers."

The electric lyrics and melodies begged the audience to dance and sing along. The performers played their instruments with such intensity that the audience was captivated from start to finish.  The diverse crowd continued to grow well into the night as The 23 String Band transitioned into Mize's performance. Says Mize "I applaud Rye for getting different types of music together for this event. The crowd is very good for a Thursday night."  

The highlight of the night was a group of songs performed by both acts. From Bob Dylan to Hank Williams, the smooth vocals from Mize blended perfectly with the rock-and-roll, Bluegrass vibe of The 23 String Band.  After the music ended, the crowd was still buzzing from the amazing performances. Having a concert in a place that is not a traditional music venue challenges the listener to view the acts differently and opens the mind to the possibilities of how Louisville's music scene can evolve. The Back Porch Sessions are beginning this revolution; Rye is allowing The 23 String Band to choose the musical guests for each performance in hopes of creating eclectic music unlike anything Louisville has ever heard. "We want to push the envelope and are even thinking about working with a hip hop artist," said T. Martin Stam, The 23 String Band's bass player. "We want to raise awareness and drop boundaries. That's the idea of the whole thing." 

The Sessions, hosted by The 23 String Band, will continue each month through October with the next one on Saturday, August 25th. Check out The 23 String Band at 

http://Facebook.com/

the23stringband

 and Cheyenne Marie Mize at

http://cheyennemariemize.com

 for more information on the performers.

​Photo: Courtesy of Carmen Brown