Local Songwriters Find a Stage at the Screaming Goat
On Wednesday nights, the stage lights turn on at the Screaming Goat Yard and Tap. Guitars are tuned. Notebooks open. One by one, local country songwriters walk up to the microphone to share songs that many people are hearing for the first time.
The weekly singer songwriter night is hosted by veteran Nashville songwriter David Lee. Each week he performs and invites local artists to sign up and play their own music for a live audience. The event has grown into a place where new musicians can test songs and connect with listeners.
For many artists, the opportunity is rare, as open stages that welcome original country music are not easy to find in the small town of Spring Branch. At the Screaming Goat, musicians can perform in front of an audience that comes specifically to listen to songwriting. The event has also become a draw for the venue itself, boosting the community’s economy.
Cooper Townsley, assistant manager at the Screaming Goat, said the weekly event has become an important part of the business. “Wednesday nights have been great,” Townsley said.
“It’s good for us, as a business, because it attracts more customers than any other week night. And it’s good for the community, as well, in that these guys have found a home, a place they feel comfortable to perfect their craft, and they’ve found a local audience in the process.”
The event usually begins in the evening and runs through the night as artists rotate through the stage. Performers sign up when they arrive and are called one by one to play their songs. Some are new artists performing for the first time. Others are experienced musicians testing new material.
Paul Isaac, a sound engineer and musician who attends the event, said the environment encourages creativity. “I would do this even if I weren’t getting paid for it,” Isaac said. “I could play if I wanted to, but there’s something special about creating a space for young artists to develop themselves, to just step back and watch.”Isaac said the event works because the focus is on songwriting rather than performance alone.
Artists often share songs that are still unfinished. Some read lyrics from notebooks. Others explain the story behind the song before they begin. For the audience, the experience can feel more personal than a typical concert. Listeners are hearing songs while they are still new. In some cases, they are hearing a song before it has ever been recorded.
David Lee, the host of the event, brings decades of experience from Nashville’s songwriting scene. His presence helps guide the night and encourages younger musicians. Lee performs several songs himself during the evening. He also talks with performers and offers advice about songwriting and the music business. Many artists say this mentorship is one of the most valuable parts of the event.
Chad Boyd, one of the featured performers, said the chance to perform alongside Lee makes the night special.
“Any time I have an opportunity to be a part of Wednesday nights with David Lee, I take it,” Boyd said. “Not just because he’s written some of the greatest country music that has ever been, but because he’s spreading the wealth here, passing down a lifetime of knowledge. What he’s doing is passing the torch to the next generation.”
Songwriting often develops through repeated performances. Artists learn what lines connect with an audience and which parts need improvement. A small venue like the Screaming Goat allows artists to experiment in a supportive environment. Audience members often respond directly to lyrics and stories. Applause, laughter, and silence can all tell a songwriter whether a moment is working.
The event has also helped build a small community around local music. Regular attendees include musicians, music fans, and people who simply enjoy hearing new songs. Some performers return each week with new material. Others attend to listen and learn from more experienced writers. Over time, the event has become more than just a weekly show. It has become a gathering place for songwriters in the area.
In the end, the night’s impact is twofold: for the performers, it curates the perfect environment for an artist to take their first steps; for the audience, it curates a sense of community – a chance to share music with people who appreciate the craft of songwriting.
Either way, Wednesday nights at the Screaming Goat continue to give local artists a chance to be heard. And as long as musicians keep showing up with guitars and new ideas, the stage will stay open.
Private Events At Screaming Goat Yard & Tap
“Everyone is Using it”
In classrooms and coffee shops across college campuses, students are quietly turning to ChatGPT for help with assignments, ideas, and everyday questions. As its use becomes more common, a growing debate has emerged: is this technology fundamentally changing the brains of college students, and if so, how serious is the impact?
For some, the answer feels obvious. “When I’m at school, it seems like no one is doing their own work anymore,” said Micah Cherry, a 20-year-old community college student. “It’s all ChatGPT. How can that be good for us?” Cherry’s concern reflects a broader fear that reliance on AI tools may weaken memory, focus, and independent thinking.
Recent research suggests there may be some truth to that concern. A 2025 study published through ScienceDirect found that students who used ChatGPT as a study aid scored significantly lower on a delayed test of knowledge retention, suggesting the tool can reduce the mental effort needed for long-term learning. Researchers linked this effect to “cognitive offloading,” a process in which people rely on external tools instead of their own memory, potentially weakening the brain’s ability to retain information.
A separate study highlighted in MIT Media lab and reported by Time showed that students using ChatGPT showed the “weakest neural engagement” compared to those using search engines or no tools at all. Brain scans revealed lower activity in areas tied to memory, creativity, and executive control, raising concerns that heavy reliance on AI could change how students process information at a neurological level.
Still, the idea that technology reshapes how we think is not new. In his 2008 essay “Is Google Making Us Stupid?,” writer Nicholas Carr argued that the internet was making it harder for people to concentrate deeply. He wrote that his own mind was changing, admitting, “I can’t concentrate… the way I used to,” as digital tools encouraged quick scanning over sustained thought. Today, critics argue that AI may be pushing that shift even further by removing the need to think through problems at all.
But others see the issue as more nuanced. Austin Knollenberg a 25-year-old computer science graduate student, believes comparisons to Carr’s argument are often exaggerated. “The common conclusion seems to be that Carr’s take is like a doomsday prepper’s interpretation,” Knollenberg said. “It’s more likely that it’s not that serious and we shouldn’t be worried.”
Some experts agree. While studies show reduced brain engagement during AI use, they also emphasize that the long-term effects are still unclear and often based on small sample sizes. In many cases, the issue is not the technology itself, but how it is used. When students rely entirely on AI to complete tasks, they may lose opportunities to build cognitive skills. However, when used as a supplement, AI can support learning by providing explanations, feedback, and access to information.
For many users, ChatGPT is simply a tool that makes life easier. Grace Savage, 23, uses it regularly outside of school. “I’ve heard that it can be bad for our brains, but I honestly don’t care when ChatGPT is helping me figure out if a particular flower is poisonous for my cat, or how my boyfriend should go about applying for health insurance,” Savage said. “If it helps your life, it helps your life.”
Even within academic settings, some students use ChatGPT to enhance rather than replace their thinking. Research suggests that when learners engage with material first and then use AI tools, they may show stronger understanding and brain activity than those who rely on AI from the start. This indicates that AI does not automatically diminish intelligence, but instead shifts when and how cognitive effort is applied.
The broader scientific consensus remains cautious. Studies point to real cognitive changes, particularly in memory and engagement, but stop short of declaring widespread intellectual decline. As one analysis noted, concerns about AI “dumbing down” users are valid but difficult to isolate from other factors, including education, environment, and existing technology habits.
Ultimately, the evidence suggests that ChatGPT does change how college students use their brains. It reduces the need for certain types of mental effort, especially memorization and initial problem-solving, while increasing reliance on external tools. However, this shift is not necessarily catastrophic. Like calculators or search engines before it, AI appears to be reshaping cognition rather than destroying it.
The real risk lies in overreliance. If students stop thinking altogether, the consequences could be serious. But if they use AI thoughtfully, as a tool rather than a replacement, the impact may be far less alarming than critics claim.
