Some things are just meant to be. Sean McConnell was paying attention when his parents were playing the folk clubs around the Boston area, as he was growing up. When they up and moved to Atlanta, he found his father's guitar, as a means to heal from being separated from the people he loved and left behind. By college time, he had two indie albums, and a buzz growing around Atlanta. The move to Middle Tennessee State University, which by the way has a mighty fine music program, was a fortuitous next step. Close to Nashville, but just out of reach enough to actually focus on one's studies. Sean made the most of it. In his sophomore year, he started touring the country, and then signed a coveted publishing deal. His songs have since been recorded by Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley and lots of others. But we are just interested in Sean singing himself. He of the soaring voice and beautiful pacing, can make notes hang in mid air, can make them ache.
There was something going around at Steamboat this year. If truth be told, there is something going around everywhere, every year. Sean was in bed for a couple of days, and we were heartsick that we weren't going to be able to meet up with him. Then the proverbial skies cleared, and he was in our studio, bringing that unmistakable warmth. The song "The Other Side" comes from Sean's 2010 CD Saints, Thieves, and Liars. This is how it is done.
- Jessie Scott
