The weather outside was chilly on Sat. Jan. 23 when, singer and song writer, Mark True performed at The Mason Jar, but restaurant patrons were still feeling the heat, at least according to one man who yelled to True, “That was hot”, amidst a smattering of applause.
For about thirteen years, True wrote and recorded music in Nashville with a few of his songs topping charts.
Now he is back in Auburn, playing local gigs at places like The Mason Jar and Blooming Colors.
True’s set included covers like Van Morrison’s “Brown-Eyed Girl” and the Eagles’ “Take It Easy”.
However, True also peppered his performance with some of the songs he has written over the years, including “Why Have You Left the One You Left Me For” which was a No.1 hit on the country and adult contemporary charts with the help of singer Crystal Gayle in 1979.
Christie North, owner of The Mason Jar, wants the restaurant to be a place singer/songwriters, like True, can come to be heard.
North said, “We are trying to make it like the Blue Bird cafe … in Nashville. They introduce a lot of songwriters there. I think there are a lot of songwriters in Auburn, but I don’t think they are able to get their craft shown.”
Although North and True agreed the weather may have played a part in preventing a crowd as big as the one that assembled the previous week when True was at the Mason Jar, the people who were there, including waitress Dodie Jones, enjoyed the music.
Jones said, “It is a fun atmosphere, and I like the songs that he plays.”
According to North, there is more of True to come as he will be playing at the Mason Jar a few times each month.
True himself, who still writes songs and sends them up to Nashville, said he is always motivated to keep playing and performing.
“I can’t quit. Then I’d have to start paying for therapy,” True said.
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