On Sunday, September 7, 2025 i made the short drive out to Novato, California to the Hopmonk Novato. KC Turner had put on another great show for us featuring Shawn Mullins and Flamy Grant. This show was fantastic from start to finish!
Flamy Grant, a drag queen from Asheville, North Carolina, kicked off the performance with “I Do It For the Song.” She knew exactly what the audience wanted and delivered it with style. For the second song, she invited Spencer LeJoy on stage to join her for “What Did You Drag Me Into?” This self-respecting ballad was about 88% true and had a heavier tone, showcasing a fantastic performance.
Next came the emoji substitution version of “Ester, Ruth, and Rahab,” which was fabulous. Whenever there was a risqué word in the lyrics, Flamy replaced it with a description of an emoji, incorporating her favorite female characters into the mix, and she executed it brilliantly.
Following that was “Magna Mater,” a song about Cybele, an ancient goddess, set in modern-day America’s South and exploring the dilemmas she faced. The next track, “Holy Grail,” was originally written several years prior, but after the hurricane hit Western North Carolina, it took on new meaning, reflecting the current situation.
The subsequent song was “S.P.R.K.L.,” radiating pure happiness. Directed at the haters in life, this upbeat song featured a joyful sing-along towards the end, which was a special moment for the audience.
Then came “If You Ever Leave,” a mellow song with incredible lyrics that were easy to digest and listen to. The final piece of the performance was “Good Day,” a heartfelt song carrying an uplifting message. It truly was a good day indeed.
Setlist
1). I Do It For the Song
2). What Did You Drag Me in To
3). Ester, Ruth and Rahab
4). Magna Mater
5). Holy Grail
6). S.P.R.K.L.
7). If You Ever Leave
8). Good Day
Shawn Mullins was up next, and he truly is a character—in a good way. He opened with “Light You Up”, and immediately had the crowd engaged for a fantastic set. Shawn is also an excellent storyteller, sharing anecdotes about each song before performing it. When he mentioned “California”, the audience responded enthusiastically, jamming along to every word. Each line echoed his affection for the place.
Before playing “The L & M Don’t Stop Here Anymore”, he shared a story about the impressive record collection he grew up with, only to discover a few years later that it had all been stolen by his dad. This song, popularized by Johnny Cash, had their own spin on it. One highlight was when he sang about standing in Hazard Hollow, a spot he had personally visited, which made it all the more special.
He followed this with “The Great Unknown”, another fabulous song that kept the crowd captivated. Next, he introduced “Anchored in Time” with a story about being in the Bay Area in the 90s at a now-closed club called Strings. It was here that he wrote this song, and the audience cheered in anticipation.
He then performed “The Ballad of Billy Jo McKay”, a mellow piece that was beautifully executed. This was followed by “Twin Rocks, Oregon”, which he noted is 99% true—except for one word that didn’t quite fit. The song is about a hobo who rode the trains and drew caricatures for enough money to buy a drink, but the inaccurate word was “cliffs”; he actually met the hobo on a beach.
Next up was “Lonesome I Know You Too Well”, which he dedicated to Gus, wherever he may be. This song was a redneck waltz, perfectly suited for Gus. After that, Shawn performed an old James McMurtry song called “Where’s Johnny?”. His version was different from James’ but resonated well with the audience.
The following song, “Pre-Apocalyptic Blues”, humorously addressed preparing for the end times, with Shawn delivering a delightful ramble throughout. He then played “Shimmer”, which struck a chord with many in the crowd.
Next was “Beautiful Wreck”, a song that Glen Phillips had started but ultimately scrapped. Years later, Shawn revisited it, thinking it had potential. He called Glen to collaborate, which led to a final version that achieved #1 on the Americana chart—quite an accomplishment!
Shawn then performed a killer version of “House of the Rising Sun”, complete with unique changes that drew a stirring round of applause from the crowd. For the finale, he mentioned he would tune his guitar to sound like a dulcimer. While it still had the essence of a guitar, the dulcimer undertones provided an excellent harmonic quality.
He introduced “Lullaby” with a captivating story, and when he began to sing, it was magical. The crowd joined in, and the beautifully tuned guitar elevated the experience. It truly was a special performance.
Setlist
1). Light You Up
2). California
3). The L & M Don’t Stop Here Anymore
4). The Great Unknown
5). Anchored in Time
6). The Ballad of Billy Jo McKay
7). Twin Rocks Oregon
8). Lonesome I Know You Too Well
9). Where’s Johnny?
10). Pre-Apocalyptic Blues
11). Shimmer
12). Beautiful Wreck
13). House of the Rising Sun
14). Lullaby
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