Jam Cruise is full of magic moments but a lot of them this year were generated by a pair of unassuming singer-songwriters who threw down on deck at all hours and reminded everyone that encountered them that music can inform and delight us in ways beyond the ability of words to describe. Nathan Moore and his guest Bryan Elijah Smith proved a happy catalyst all week at sea, touching cruisers and musicians alike. There’s a big ol’ review of Jam Cruise 9 by Dennis over here where you can read more about the whole experience, including the Moore/Smith lead hootenanies, but we’ll just share a taste of the boys on deck and a couple other clips that show what they’re made of. Some glowing words on the latest releases by both gents hitting Impound soon…

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Late at night and into the early morning, you could always find Moore holding court on the deck near the Jam Room with his extremely talented songwriting partner Bryan Elijah Smith.  

Written by Scott Bernstein

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I hate to brag, but sometimes I feel like the luckiest girl on the planet. I get to go to work every weekend and listen to some of the best music and meet some of the coolest people. I am a bartender at Hideaway Cafe, a quaint little bar/venue/recording studio on Central Avenue owned by John Kelly. This isn’t your ordinary music venue. Kelly calls it a “listening room”. People go to the Hideaway Cafe to listen to music, and that’s it. It’s a great escape from all the other bars full of obnoxious drunk people screaming melodies in your ear, and then spilling their beer on you.

Saturday left no exceptions. Bryan Elijah Smith played and hour and a half sets full of original music and even some covers (Mumford & Sons, Oasis, Johnny Cash and more). Smith is a young, up-and-coming musician full of energy and stories to tell.
“He played an hour and a half of his own tunes and few classics from Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan…I think he sold everyone in the room a copy of his CD, Pour on Me, full of his own tunes. He even got up for an encore… Don’t miss out on this kid…. he really is something,” Kelly said.

This country boy plays acoustic guitar and sings, while also playing a homemade drum contraption- an old suitcase with a bass drum pedal. At first glance, I thought it was completely weird. But once I heard it, combined with his rugged, yet soft vocals and rock & folk inspired guitar- I was obsessed. His sound reminds me of a young John Mayer that grew up in Nashville and loved country instead of blues.

“When I heard his stuff on line, I knew his sound and style would be perfect but I had no idea how talented a writer and gifted a voice he really is and has. From the moment he sang his first tune at sound check…I was hooked,” Kelly said.

Not only is Smith a natural musical phenomenon, he’s also down to earth and hilarious! He even invited Kelly and I on stage for a special Hideaway style version of his song “Pour On Me”, the title track of his most recent album. The chorus still lives on in my head, almost 2 days later. He definitely knows how to write a catchy tune.

Smith came all the way to Florida from his home town in Staunton, VA for a one night show at the Hideaway, then flew back to Virginia to continue his tour. He plans on returning to St. Petersburg’s Hideaway Cafe sometime next year to put on another amazing show.

Story by Kate Cillian.