Unlike most freshly minted college grads who move to Nashville for music-related reasons, Rayland Baxter already had roots in these parts: He spent a good portion of his childhood in Bon Aqua, Old Hickory and Goodlettsville. The other thing that sets him apart from his peers is the amount of time it took him, once he got here, to become a deft songwriter — say, about a year. He literally rode in on a bus in 2008 and started recording his debut EP, The Miscalculation of Song, the following year. And it doesn’t sound at all like a green work, not with songs the quality of “Hoot Owl,” “Driveway Melody” and “The Woman For Me.” These three in particular, treated with a light indie-folk touch and laced with pedal steel, showcase Baxter’s feel for wistful hooks, keen turns of phrase and crisp romanticism. Also, he has quite the handlebar mustache.
Sat., Feb. 20, 9 p.m., 2010
