During its run in the Aughts, Happy Birthday Amy persisted in making some astonishingly ambitious music. The three main players — singer-pianist extraordinaire Amy Smith; her husband, bassist Dillon Smith; and their pal, multi-instrumentalist Miles Cramer, whose main role was playing drums — brought their fantastic tales of monsters and dinosaurs and heartfelt character sketches of machinists to life in vibrant color. Watching their set made the smoke-filled Murfreesboro dive The Boro Bar and Grill feel more like an off-Broadway playhouse. As so many projects do, Happy Birthday Amy fell by the wayside. But like mad scientists utilizing a mosquito that’s been in amber since the Cretaceous period, the Smiths and Cramer are bringing the magic back for one night only, complete with strings and horns played by talented friends. The show isn’t just a throwback to simpler times: Supporting HBA are Pet Envy, HR Lexy, Peachy and The Mute Group, four interesting current Nashville bands who also happen to feature women in prominent roles. Proceeds from the show go toward the cancer treatment of Jenn Carter, a friend of Happy Birthday Amy. STEPHEN TRAGESER
Happy Birthday Amy Reunion Feat. Pet Envy, HR Lexy, Peachy & The Mute Group
