It was a stop your drink, hush your mouth kind of moment. Last set at the Bluebird that Sunday night. The crowd, ear-weary and eager to get back to their own writing rooms, had started the ritual of leaving quietly as the final songwriters worked their way through the numbers.

Then came the guitar riff -- a rippling cascade, clear and tough. Then the voice -- singular and passionate, singing fresh lyrics with meaning. The oft-jaded songwriting, demo-producing session playing crowd paused, put down their drinks, stopped their whispered conversations and focussed their eyes front while Joel Cage worked. And the applause meter showed he had earned their respect. Cage's three song set was a tour through a rich stew of styles evident on his two CDs, and this writer/singer/guitarist made noise to be reckoned with that night.

"He's got it," one name brand studio man was heard saying as he stood next to the bar. Others agreed, and as Cage stood on the sidelines after the night ended, a number of those in the crowd had made their way to where he stood. Hands were shaken, cards exchanged, let's-get-togethers spoken. His shows at the Sutler and Wolfy's brought similar accolades and invites to return in the near future "It was great," the Boston area native said of his first but definitely not last Nashville foray. He was awed by the number of quality available to Nashville songwriters and performers and pointed out that any one of them would be a showcase club in Boston, but that "in Nashville, it's like they are on every corner. Great music. Great music town, and I can't wait to get back." Cage's success at his recent Nashville gig was no fluke nor did it just happen overnight. The youngest of four in a musical family, Cage first started playing guitar at age 5 -- "laying it across my lap" Jeff Healy style.

His influences started with his older brother -- guitarist "Gary Gramolini of The Beaver Brown Band/Eddie & the Cruisers fame -- and flash across the musical rainbow, from Hank Williams and Johnny Cash to the Beatles, Kinks and Steve Stills. There's also a heavy shading on the blue side, where Robert Johnson and his legendary ilk wormed their way into the young musicians psyche. Along the way Cage's muscular guitar style -- think of Steve Stills on steroids, flavored with a smoky hint of Freddie King -- found him entrenched onstage with Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes

Cage's work can be heard on three of the band's records, including the acclaimed live album Reach Up And Touch The Sky.

But Cage walked away from this high-profile gig after three years and never looked back.

"It wasn't me. It wasn't my thing," Cage said. "When I was playing (with the Jukes) and someone came up and said good show, I couldn't justify their praise because I was just part of the group. But this way, solo, it's me and my tunes, and whether it's good or bad, I know where it comes from." Cage started writing tunes for a simple reason. "I wrote because I'd have a song I wanted to hear, and couldn't find it anywhere else. So I'd create it." Those efforts led to the first album, Last Hard Road, which has seen significant sales during his two-year schedule and ultimately resulted in the USA Songwriters Competition win and the first-round Grammy nomination for the cut, "From The Farthest Reaches" -- a tune dying for an up-tempo cover by Hal Ketchum or Toby Keith.

Cage's latest effort, Nobody, also carries a rich pool of cuts, including the fresh love song "Wander", ripe for an Americana radio cut by an artist who might want to step out a bit with a deeper tune. While Cage would welcome a writer's deal, he has the tools in place to make it as an artist -- one who writes, plays, and sings in a style that speaks "unique" with every syllable. "I could be happy right where I am now -- making my living, playing my songs for people (in small clubs and cafes)." Cage said. "Sure, I'd love to reach that place where I can put 1500 people in the seats, and they've come because of my music, and I'm selling thousands of albums. But I think as long as I'm honest with it (the music), then it will all work out." *

Joel Cage Credits: 3 1/2 years as touring/recording guitarist for Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. First round Grammy nomination, 1997 for his song "From The Farthest Reaches", Boston Music Award nominee, Winner 1997 USA Songwriter's Competition, 1996 & 1998 North x Northease Showcase Artist, 1998 Kerrville New Folk Finalist

Product: 2 CDs - Last Hard Road, 1995; Nobody, 1997, both on Big Sixteen Records

Hot Cuts: "From The Farthest Reaches", "Last Hard Road", "Wander", "Rose"

Available for: publishing, recording, management

Contact: Big Sixtee Music 144 Washington Street, Suite 2, Brighton, MA 02135 617-789-4166

email: BigSixteen@aol.com

WWW: http://members.aol.com/joelcage/index.html