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Notables in attendance also included Capitol ruler Steve Barnett, Greg Thompson, Michele Anthony, Mike Flynn, Ted Cockle, Jacqueline Saturn, Piero Giramonti, Big John Platt, Jon Turner, John Grady, Ron Fair, and Ashley Burns.

CAPITOL'S TROUBADOURS

Our Hench-Hipster Infiltrates the Capitol Congress Showcase, Then Gets a Taco

by Samantha Hissong

Last night, the Capitol Congress convened for a bit of revelry with a showcase at the famed Troubadour, after a heated softball tournament of epic proportions, of course. The night included two things that us hipsters thrive off of to sustain our lifeblood: local food trucks and free booze (and music, of course).

Notables in attendance included Capitol ruler Steve Barnett, EVP Greg Thompson,Capitol A&R guy Mike Flynn, Virgin U.K. head Ted Cockle, Virgin's Ron Fair and Ashley Burns, Harvest's Jacqueline Saturn and Piero Giramonti, Motown's Ethiopia Habtemariam, Island U.K.'s Jon Turner and I.R.S. Nashville's John Grady, along with Warner/Chappell's Big John Platt and UMG's Michele Anthony,

The performances kicked off with a set from I.R.S. Nashville’s recently inked Striking Matches. As you may recall from HITSNashville Special Spotlight Issue (unless you used it for kitty's litterbox liner), the pair of Belmont College students are currently finishing an album with T Bone Burnett and have already landed seven songs on ABC’s Nashville.

Although they may label themselves country, the duo throws in a handful of guitar grit and a bit of pop; songs like "Trouble Is as Trouble Does" provided the perfect soundtrack to that first round of drinks.

Next up was Toronto native and Berlin transplant Sway Clarke, an unconventional sly melodist and self-described practitioner of "Folk Hop Pop." This bubbling-under artist has been getting love from tastemaker blogs; The Fader recently referred to him as "Frank Ocean meets Lorde." He painted his next single, "Secret Garden," as the cutest, most loving way to tell your partner that you just cheated on them.

"It’s a blessing and it’s amazing to be a part of the Capitol family," said Clarke. "I want everyone who has a drink in their hand to raise their glass and give a cheers to Steve Barnett!"

Motown was proud to present the brand spankin’ new trio of siblings, James Davis. And when I say "brand spankin’ new" I mean that I almost thought I’d hallucinated them—they are not yet on the Interwebs. Ponder that.

The outfit’s ambient, soulful sound references the classic days of R&B. "This is everything that we stand for here at Motown," announced Habtemariam. "This is the music that changes lives. This is what we believe in."

The evening’s final act was the big-haired and even bigger-voiced Ella Eyre, who’s signed to Virgin EMI in the U.K. Truth be told, Eyre’s full-bodied sound and zesty swagger nearly knocked me on my ass. Her latest single, "If I Go," which just leaped into the Top 20 on the Shazam UK Top 100 Chart, definitely packs a danceable punch.

The harmonic powerhouse is also known for her collabs with Rudimental, Naughty Boy and Wiz Khalifa. Her debut EP Deeper was released last December.

Then, with the music still ringing in my ears, I trundled off to Taco Bell for the hipster pilgrimage known as the 2am "fourth meal."

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