Good friends Jedd Hughes and Patrick Davis will share the stage Tuesday when they perform at the Imperial Theatre.
The guitarists and vocalists met when Mr. Hughes was looking for an opening act for a performance at 12th and Porter, a popular nightclub in Nashville, Tenn.
"Someone suggested Patrick, and it worked out well," Mr. Hughes said in a telephone call. "We started hanging out together and became pretty good buds."
Both excellent guitarists and vocalists, the two last performed together in Augusta in July 2004 at the Blind Pig nightclub with Jason White, Clay Cook and Pat Blanchard Jr. Mr. Davis has since been back for other Augusta shows.
"I couldn't be more excited about coming back to Augusta," Mr. Hughes said. "I've been really looking forward to this for months. Augusta is a pretty town, and I enjoy being with Patrick."
Mr. Davis, who in recent years has become a favorite with Augusta music fans, has been busy this month. He opens tonight for Hootie & the Blowfish at the Kentucky Theatre in Lexington. He opened for Edwin McCain on Nov. 4 at the Newberry (S.C.) Opera House. He will be back in his hometown of Camden, S.C., on Nov. 25 at the Kershaw County Fine Arts Center for a Toys for Tots benefit show.
Mr. Hughes, a native of Australia, has been playing music since an early age and was heavily influenced by traditional country artists Johnny Cash, Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and Marty Robbins and bluegrass artists Ricky Skaggs, Ralph Stanley and Vince Gill.
At 12, he was chosen to represent Australia on a three-week tour of Europe, performing at International Music for Youth festivals held in France, Belgium and Sweden.
Mr. Hughes auditioned for Patty Loveless' band just six weeks after arriving in Nashville in early 2002. He not only got the job for her Down From the Mountain tour but the next day he also played with her on the Grand Ole Opry House stage.
His debut MCA Nashville Records CD, Transcontinental, was released in September 2004. It was produced by Terry McBride, of the group McBride and the Ride, with Mr. Hughes writing or co-writing 10 of the 11 songs. Mr. Hughes and MCA "parted ways" about two months ago.
"I've been writing a lot more lately,'' he said. "Staying creative keeps me the happiest. I've got a studio in my house and been doing a lot of home recording."
As Paul Hemphill notes in his book about Hank Williams, Lovesick Blues, Williams' least creative period as a songwriter was his happiest years with his wife, Audrey, in the early part of their relationship and marriage. His most productive period came during the couple's troubled times when he wrote You Win Again, Take These Chains (From My Heart and Set Me Free), Why Don't You Love Me (Like You Used to Do) and Cold, Cold Heart.
"Sometimes being too happy isn't too good for a songwriter," I remarked.
"I'd have to agree with that," Mr. Hughes responded. "I broke up with my girlfriend last week, and I've been writing some of the best songs I've ever done. But I want to get back with her, and now I'm writing some love songs again."
Don Rhodes has written about country music for 35 years. He can be reached at (706) 823-3214 or at don.rhodes@morris.com.
FIVE OF JEDD HUGHES' FAVORITE ALBUMS
- Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs, Marty Robbins (Columbia)
- Live at Folsom Prison, Johnny Cash (Columbia)
- Phases and Stages, Willie Nelson (Atlantic) - Revolver, The Beatles (Capitol)
- Wildflowers, Tom Petty (Warner Bros.)
In concert
Who: Jedd Hughes and Patrick Davis
When: 8 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Imperial Theatre, 745 Broad St.Cost: $26
See: www.imperialtheatre.com or call 722-8341
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
