Singer-songwriter Andy Davis, center, with Harvest Hands' Brian and Courtney Hicks in front of a mural by artist Ruben Torres, a parent of two students in the program, at Harvest Hands' emPower Sports gym.

Singer's next stop : Kosovo on Goodwill Tour
By SUSAN LEATHERS
Brentwood Home Page
You may or may not know Andy Davis’ music. But if you are a fan of TV shows Grey’s Anatomy, Jersey Shore or One Tree Hill, chances are you’ve heard it. But the Nashville-based singer-songwriter’s growing fame started long before his 2009 EP “New History” which was featured in, and inspired, a “Grey’s” episode.  

“A thoroughly contemporary artist raised on old-school rock and soul, Davis' infallible ear for hooks -- for a well-turned phrase -- and for the often irregular heartbeat of human relationships continues to engage longtime fans and win him new ones,” his online bio reads.

On Sunday, both types of fans can hear him at Brentwood United Methodist Church when he headlines “An Evening of Music with Andy Davis and Friends,” the third annual Harvest Hands benefit concert. The 7 p.m. concert is free but donations will be accepted.

He expects the concert to be a “fun and collaborative effort,” where he’ll perform both his original songs and Christmas standards. SheDaisy, a trio featuring sisters Kristyn, Kelsi and Kassidy Osborn, and singer-songwriter Griffin House will also be joining him.

Until Stuart Dill, a Brentwood-based artist manager and huge Harvest Hands supporter, asked him if he would be interested in headlining this year’s concert, Davis said he really wasn’t familiar with Harvest Hands. The 501C3 community development corporation seeded by Brentwood UMC has helped strengthen and rebuild a south Nashville community from the inside out.

But as is often the case, connections were soon discovered. Davis and Courtney Hicks, Harvest Hands development director, knew each other as students at Belmont University together and have reconnected. Courtney’s husband Brian, an ordained UMC pastor and Harvest Hands’ executive director, have lived in the community since Harvest Hands was founded in 2007.

Sunday’s concert won’t be Davis’ only benefit concert this holiday season, though it is much closer to home than his next one.

He and his band will perform for troops stationed in Kosovo on New Year’s Eve and at another base on New Year’s Day as part of a Goodwill Tour. About 18 months ago, he traveled to Iraq for a similar tour.

“It was a great, great experience; a very eye-opening experience,” the 30-year-old singer said. His greatest memory of that trip was discovering how much those stationed there sacrifice for our country. “We need to support the choices that they’ve made” to keep the rest of us safe, he noted,.

“My mom’s never excited when we go on these trips,” the Louisiana native admitted, and possibly with good cause. In Iraq, the group he was traveling with came under light attack. They were airlifted out by Black Hawk helicopters.

“It does give me something to talk about back home,” he said.

A little history

Davis first received recognition in 2003 when his debut album, "Thinks of Her," struck a chord on college campuses, selling out its initial print run. The original pressing of the CD -- with Davis's hand-written lyrics and stenciled cover art -- became a collector's item within months of its release.

He gained more exposure two years later when a remastered rerelease of “Thinks of Her” brought him to the attention of music producer Mitchell Froom who has worked with Paul McCartney, Sheryl Crow, Elvis Costello and others. The result of their collaboration was Davis’ "Let the Woman" album, which included the single "Brown Eyes."

Davis became a prominent member of Ten Out of Tenn, a critically acclaimed collective of Nashville singer/songwriters who joined forces for a collaborative tour that was documented in the award-winning documentary film, "Any Day Now." The collective later released a Christmas album that included Davis’ single Christmas Time which was selected as one of 10 songs ABCFamily.com is featuring this year in its “25 Days of Christmas” promotion.

Christmas Time isn’t a jolly song, Davis is the first to admit. “I just happened to be going through a breakup, so I wrote a pretty lonesome Christmas song,” he said.

A Baja Burrito kind of guy

Like so many artists who call Nashville home, Davis loves that he can live here in relative obscurity. One of his favorite haunts is Baja Burrito in Berry Hill, which coincidently is not far from the community Harvest Hands serves.

Earlier this year, he engaged the popular Mexican eatery to help him in his quest to raise $30,000 in 30 days via kickstarter.com to finance his new CD. The owner agreed to donate the cost of a meal at the Nashville Rescue Mission in honor of every person who contributed to the fundraising effort.

“It was pretty ambitious,” he said of the campaign, but he hit $30,000 in 28 days and a total of $41,000. “When Troy wrote the check, I think he bought a meal for every homeless person in Nashville.”

With the money in hand, Davis went straight into the studio to record his new solo album, and back to Los Angeles to again work with Froom. The new full-length album, "Heartbreak Yellow,"  will be hitting iTunes right after Christmas.

Davis will have hard copies of the CD at Sunday’s concert and will donate a portion of the proceeds from CDs sold back to Harvest Hands, he said.

Tickets for the free show are available on Harvest Hands’ website (www.harvesthandscdc.com), at Harvest Hands’ offices in downtown Nashville, and at Brentwood UMC, 309 Franklin Road.

“While these tickets are free, attendees are urged to make voluntary donations online or at the event.  All proceeds from the event will go directly to Harvest Hands and will help continue to fund the many programs they offer our community,” said Courtney Hicks.

To learn more about Harvest Hands, visit www.harvesthandscdc.com.