The Acoustic Coffeehouse is booking performances by Brad and Jack, a new musical duo.
Their mellow acoustic sound has accumulated a following on Tuesday nights around 10 p.m.
Jackson Shellnutt, a sophomore psychology major, riffs on his Gibson Les Paul aside Brad Blackwell the lyricist, singer and guitar player.
Blackwell writes all the songs the duo performs. “I love music,” Blackwell said. “I write all the stuff we play.”
Shellnutt has played the guitar practically his entire life. “I have been playing since I could wrap my hand around the neck of the guitar,” he said. “But I got serious about my music when I was a sophomore in high school.”
Shellnutt draws inspiration from greats like Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page and Jimmy Hendrix. “I get influences from other artist and take that and add it to my own style.”
The coffee house fills with listeners before they play. They are really fun to watch,” said Chris Brown, senior at ETSU. “They have good presence and show on stage.”
The two musicians met in Dossett Hall, finding that they had their guitars and a musical talent in common and began writing and playing songs together.
They have only performed three times, but have several gigs lined up in the future. On Tuesday nights they will play about an hour entertaining listeners with relatable lyrics and a soothing sound.
“They have a well put together sound,” said senior John Suits. “They are engaging performers and their music is suited for the bar atmosphere they perform in.”
Blackwell has been dabbling in poetry and song writing for a while now, but just taught himself to play the guitar two years ago. “I got the guitar for Christmas a couple of years ago and had never played,” he said. “I love it now.” He has learned about 60 different ways to put chords together and writes lyrics for them.
“The first song I wrote was thrill,” he said. “I wrote a song for mother’s day for my mom. I used the chords from “The Wedding Singer,” where Adam Sander sings in the end, and added my own lyrics. It was an easy way out to write a funny song when I didn’t have the money for a gift.”
His writing comes naturally to him. “I take life experiences to write and wear my heart on my sleeve I guess.”
Blackwell also gets inspiration from fellow artist Jack Johnson.
“Their style is similar to Jack Johnson’s,” said Ryan Blackwell, Brad’s brother. “Brad loves Jack and his music is similar to that.”
The lyrics are only part of the performance. Shellnutt enhances the music with his solos and riffing.
“Jackson really brings out the lyrics with his playing,” said Blackwell. “They wouldn’t have the same effect without his music.”
Shellnutt steps up to the microphone and rips a solo that has his audience applauding. “I love solos,” he said.
Their next performances will be on Tuesday night at the Acoustic Coffee House, and May 15 they will have their first performance at Halo where they will perform approximately two hours.
They will be playing about an hour with a six-song set at the coffee house.
Songs of making love on a pontoon boat, love lost and gained and “the weed song” is all on their set list.
This new duo has a great new sound and the potential to go far according to a few in their audience.
The Acoustic Coffeehouse is located on 415 West Walnut St. in Johnson City. Music usually begins at 8 p.m.

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