“Welcome to Music City, folks,” the pilot said as we touched down at the Nashville International Airport. Music City. I’d heard Nashville called that for years, but having never been I didn’t quite understand why. “Every city has music, why does Nashville claim to be the ‘Music City’?” I wondered to myself as I headed down the terminal to baggage claim. As if the universe was answering my question I suddenly heard the sound of a steel guitar. “That’s nice that they play music over the loudspeakers” I again thought to myself. But wait, this wasn’t over the loudspeakers. Right there in one of the airport restaurants was a full band belting out a tune like they were singing to a packed out arena. The funny thing was that they were pretty good. “There must be some major talent in this town if these guys are pulling afternoon gigs out at the airport,” I thought. As if to agree with me, I heard Vince Gill’s voice on the loudspeaker welcoming me to Music City.
I decided I was going to get to the bottom of the whole ‘Music City’ nickname and who better to start with than my cab driver. “So why is Nashville called Music City?” I asked him as I noticed his music note air freshener. “It is because of all the live music you can find here,” he explained. “You can find just about any kind of music any night of the week.” On the way to the hotel he pointed out all of the live music venue signs shaped like big guitar picks. “Some of the venues are a little hidden so to find all of the live music around here just follow the signs.”
As the bellboy at my hotel helped me with my bags I noticed his nametag said Neal: Rolling Stones. He explained that everyone puts their favorite band or singer on their nametags. He seemed like the perfect next victim in my quest for answers. “So Neal, why is Nashville called Music City?” I asked. He thought for a moment and replied “It is because there are so many musicians and songwriters who live here.” He explained to me that that is what brought him here, that he was in a rock band and thought this was the best place for him to be. “There are great recording studios, tons of venues, and with so many musicians in one place there is a creative vibe that I just haven’t experienced anywhere else.” Then, right on cue, he pulled out a flyer and told me his band was playing at Mercy Lounge tomorrow night, and I should come check it out.
I woke up my first morning in Music City to a phone call from Amy Grant, well her prerecorded voice was my wake up call, but I still thought that was pretty cool. I decided it was time to start exploring. I started downtown and hit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the Ryman Auditorium, the Musicians Hall of Fame and ambled through the Music City Walk of Fame stars located along Music Mile. Seeing the stars of people like Little Richard, Elvis and Jimi Hendrix next to artists like Martina McBride, Hank Williams Sr., and Emmylou Harris reminded me what people had been telling me before my trip- “there’s country music and a whole lot more in Nashville.”
As I walked along I came across something else I wasn’t expecting to see in Nashville, a beautiful, state-of-the-art symphony center. The Schermerhorn Symphony Center had such grandeur it looked like it belonged in Europe, and I later learned that it was inspired by many of Europe’s great concert halls. I also learned that the building, which was constructed in 2006, is home to the GRAMMY® Award-winning Nashville Symphony who is also one of the most active recording orchestras in the country. Yet another reason Music City is Music City!
It was my somewhat secret obsession with Elvis that got me to take the tour of Historic RCA Studio B, a popular recording studio in the 1960s that helped establish Nashville as an international recording center, and also where Elvis recorded over 250 songs. After the tour I decided to get a professional answer to my question so I asked the tour guide, “Why is Nashville called Music City?” She said rumor had it the nickname goes all the way back to 1873 when the world famous Fisk Jubilee singers sang to Queen Victoria in England, and upon hearing their voices proclaimed “they must come from Music City.” Then, in the 1950s a local radio DJ coined the term and it just stuck. However,” she said, “the reason it has stuck all these years is because the city’s music scene continues to grow and diversify. It’s a perfect mix of the new and the old.” I also learned from her that Nashville is home to several music associations including Americana, Bluegrass, Gospel, Barbershop Quartet and Country as well as NSAI, the Nashville Songwriters Association International.
As my visit went on I was continually amazed by the common theme of music throughout the city. Don’t get me wrong, there is more than just music in Nashville. However, it was as if music was interwoven into everything from their art to their culture. For example, at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts there was music in the Grand Lobby, and on my visit to Belle Meade Plantation I enjoyed jazz music on the lawn. Even the Nashville Visitor Information Center had live music.
One of the highlights of my trip happened in a quaint little coffee shop in Hillsboro Village located near Vanderbilt University. I was sipping on my milkbone latte at the pet-loving coffee shop Fido and noticed one of my all time favorite musicians sitting not far from me. Why wasn’t anybody else freaking out, asking for his autograph, or in the very least staring at him like me? I decided I couldn’t be the lone crazed fan among all the cool, coffee shop, musiciany types so I played it cool. Later I was telling Neal the bellboy about it and he explained to me that it is pretty common to see famous musicians around town. People in Nashville leave them alone and that’s part of what they love about the city. Artists and musicians can roam around unbothered.
I spent my last night in town at the famous Bluebird Cafe. A friend had told me it was a must-see while in town. The gist of the Bluebird is that three or four songwriters would play “in the round” taking turns singing and telling stories about songs they have written. I drove up and was surprised by how small and unassuming the place was. I sat down in the intimate little restaurant/bar and checked out the lineup for the night. It was three men and a woman, none of whose names I had ever heard before. “Oh well,” I thought “I don’t know any of these people, but I’m sure it will be nice anyway.” How wrong I was! I may not have known their names but I certainly knew their songs. They were playing some of the biggest country hits of all times. I was blown away. By the time the woman, Victoria Shaw, got around to singing “The River,” recorded by Garth Brooks, I was in tears.
As all great trips do, this one had come to an end. As I passed a singer playing at the airport’s lobby I smiled to myself as I thought of the memories I had made since passing that same spot a few days earlier. And as I heard Vince Gill’s voice overhead, I realized I would never again ask the question “Why is Nashville called Music City?”
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
All That Jazz and Much More
All That Jazz and Much More
On Sunday as the last day of August was upon us, Nashville offered up the 2008 Music City J.A.M. (Jazz And More) festival downtown at Riverfront Park. Thousands of people braved above average temperatures to enjoy eight hours of great food, music, and left thoroughly entertained.
I love music in general but I must admit I haven’t been exposed to Jazz in a big way. This Festival gave me the opportunity to expand my musical horizons and made me appreciate the talents of the great lineup that performed.
In a fitting opening to the Festival on a hot Sunday afternoon, The Temple Church Choir performed some great Gospel music to an appreciative crowd.
Nashville’s own Laurie Wheeler then performed several of her jazz vocals. She has a very pure sound and she is music to a swing lover’s ear.
The Music City Connection Jazz Group features Paula James Chavis, Connye Florence with John Birdsong, Karlton Taylor, and David Smith. This highly talented and entertaining group of performers played some great jazz and blues tunes and their set seemed way too short for most of the crowd.
Jazz Great Kirk Whalum was the host of the Festival and performed throughout the day with the talented group of performers. His own set did not disappoint and he is simply an extraordinary saxophone player. I think I’m going to run out and get a CD or two of his for my own collection.
I have to say that the Riverfront location is a great spot for shows such as these and the Fourth of July fireworks celebration. The backdrop of the river and the soon-to-be-filled LP Field (Titans Stadium), along with the contour of the land make for a festive atmosphere even on hot days like Sunday. I did get to sample many of the vendors’ products and ate my (and probably someone else’s) share of corndogs, snow cones, and Italian ice. Even in less than ideal weather you are a short walk away from some great air-conditioned restaurants and shops if you need a break from the elements.
Belmont University graduate and American Idol finalist, Melinda Doolittle, performed after Mr. Whalum. I didn’t know what to expect and was pleasantly surprised by her performance as she showed a lot of talent and range with her voice. She was also great with the crowd. She does have a great future in the business as the crowd responded to her very nicely.
As the sun finally set and the temperatures mercifully dropped, the crowd was abuzz with anticipation of the final performer, Peter Frampton. I had never seen him live and was looking forward to his performance. I was one of the 16 million people who had his album, Frampton Comes Alive, way back when in the 70s. But who didn’t have a copy in those days? Again he didn’t disappoint. He played all of his hits and showed off his “talk box.” As there is always a Nashville connection, he had lived here for several years and many of his band and crew call Nashville home.
Like I said earlier, I am a fan of music and really love living in Nashville. It is truly the Music City. Throw a stone in any direction downtown and you can hear Country, Rock, Jazz, Blues, and all forms of music. There are talented people everywhere and it makes you appreciate what this City has to offer on a day-to-day basis.
On Sunday as the last day of August was upon us, Nashville offered up the 2008 Music City J.A.M. (Jazz And More) festival downtown at Riverfront Park. Thousands of people braved above average temperatures to enjoy eight hours of great food, music, and left thoroughly entertained.
I love music in general but I must admit I haven’t been exposed to Jazz in a big way. This Festival gave me the opportunity to expand my musical horizons and made me appreciate the talents of the great lineup that performed.
In a fitting opening to the Festival on a hot Sunday afternoon, The Temple Church Choir performed some great Gospel music to an appreciative crowd.
Nashville’s own Laurie Wheeler then performed several of her jazz vocals. She has a very pure sound and she is music to a swing lover’s ear.
The Music City Connection Jazz Group features Paula James Chavis, Connye Florence with John Birdsong, Karlton Taylor, and David Smith. This highly talented and entertaining group of performers played some great jazz and blues tunes and their set seemed way too short for most of the crowd.
Jazz Great Kirk Whalum was the host of the Festival and performed throughout the day with the talented group of performers. His own set did not disappoint and he is simply an extraordinary saxophone player. I think I’m going to run out and get a CD or two of his for my own collection.
I have to say that the Riverfront location is a great spot for shows such as these and the Fourth of July fireworks celebration. The backdrop of the river and the soon-to-be-filled LP Field (Titans Stadium), along with the contour of the land make for a festive atmosphere even on hot days like Sunday. I did get to sample many of the vendors’ products and ate my (and probably someone else’s) share of corndogs, snow cones, and Italian ice. Even in less than ideal weather you are a short walk away from some great air-conditioned restaurants and shops if you need a break from the elements.
Belmont University graduate and American Idol finalist, Melinda Doolittle, performed after Mr. Whalum. I didn’t know what to expect and was pleasantly surprised by her performance as she showed a lot of talent and range with her voice. She was also great with the crowd. She does have a great future in the business as the crowd responded to her very nicely.
As the sun finally set and the temperatures mercifully dropped, the crowd was abuzz with anticipation of the final performer, Peter Frampton. I had never seen him live and was looking forward to his performance. I was one of the 16 million people who had his album, Frampton Comes Alive, way back when in the 70s. But who didn’t have a copy in those days? Again he didn’t disappoint. He played all of his hits and showed off his “talk box.” As there is always a Nashville connection, he had lived here for several years and many of his band and crew call Nashville home.
Like I said earlier, I am a fan of music and really love living in Nashville. It is truly the Music City. Throw a stone in any direction downtown and you can hear Country, Rock, Jazz, Blues, and all forms of music. There are talented people everywhere and it makes you appreciate what this City has to offer on a day-to-day basis.
Friday, July 4, 2008
This Ain’t Your Daddy’s Fireworks
7/4/08
Written by Victor Minicozzi
This Ain’t Your Daddy’s Fireworks
When I was a kid, my brothers and sister and I used to pile in the family station wagon and we would go to the Great Eastern Department Store parking lot and wait for the 15-minute fireworks show every Independence Day. Nashville’s spin on celebrating our country's independence is not a show but an all-day party event and no one knows how to put on an event like Music City.
People begin arriving at the Riverfront as early as 8:30am to secure their spot center stage so they can watch and enjoy all the talent, food, and activities Nashville has to offer. Kids and their parents enjoy the Family Fun Zone, an adventure area that includes inflatable slides, a moonwalk, and a bungee jump ride. Live music on the Riverfront Stage began at 2:30pm. Quality entertainment was provided by Courtney Hartness, The WannaBeatles, Les Kerr & The Bayou Band, and last but not least, The Lost Trailers. These artists thoroughly entertained all those in attendance with a wide variety of music.
The featured entertainment acts kicked off at 7pm with the singing of our national anthem by the barbershop quartet, Max Q. The immensely talented and, in my opinion underrated, Phil Vassar performed his hit songs and cuts from his new album. The crowd estimated at over 100,000 people watched from the park, boats, rooftops, and any available piece of ground they could find. Phil was joined by the Nashville Symphony Orchestra performing a couple of songs together before embarking on a set of their own which showcased the brilliance and artistry of the musicians that make up the NSO. They would also accompany musical icon, Michael Mcdonald who performed many of his hit records both as a solo artist and as part of the legendary Doobie Brothers. Michael and Phil closed out the musical portion of the show by joining forces on the classic hit, Taking It To The Streets.
The crowning achievement of the evening was the massive fireworks display. There were over 25,000 individual fireworks set off in a 25-minute show. That is a stunning 1,000 per minute. The show was choreographed to the music presented by the NSO. The crowd was awestruck by the sheer volume and quality of both the ground and aerial display, which included something I haven’t seen before, a set up of fireworks that floated to the ground attached to parachutes.
It is no wonder that Nashville’s July 4th celebration was ranked as the 2nd best in the country according to a recent poll. I think this year's party was the best yet and may result in what most of us around here already know, Music City and its people are already #1.
MusicCityVic
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
New Releases
Written by Jason Moon Wilkins
Songwriter and recording artist Trent Dabbs and his graphic designer wife Kristen have dashed off another round in their compilation series Ten Out of Tenn which highlights ten pop artists based in Nashville who share aesthetic similarities (and often band members and producers). The collection shines a deserving spotlight on what is arguably the most vibrant scene in Nashville right now - the crew of likeminded solo artist/songwriters who have all begun to get attention outside of town but whose creative competition have served to sharpen their skills locally over the past several years. Almost every artist featured on the disc have had songs show up in TV, film and commercials over the past year and most have also found slots on high profile tours.
Leading off the set appropriately is Erin McCarley the talented and stunning San Diego transplant who recently signed to major label Universal Republic after a period of intense interest by just about every major entity in the music business. You can expect to see her name (and hear her songs) everywhere this fall. Also among the songs selected for the compilation is the first new tune from Interscope artist Butterfly Boucher since her well received debut Flutterby as well as standout cuts from TV soundtrack favorites Matthew Perryman Jones and Katie Herzig and songwriting stars-in-the-making Andy Davis and Jeremy Lister. There will be a Nashville CD release show on July 19 at the Cannery Ballroom featuring all Ten artists, who will not only be performing individually but will also be sitting in as "band" members during each others sets.
It has also been a busy time for some of the other standout Nashville pop songwriter/artists not featured on the compilation. Both Mat Kearney (Columbia) and Landon Pigg (RCA) have been in the studio crafting the follow up discs to their respective major label bows. No word on release dates for either unfinished album but their fellow Nashville pop-rock neighbor Gabe Dixon has finally set a release for his long awaited sophomore set on the recently revived Fantasy records (after a protracted departure from his previous record deal that kept us waiting and waiting and...). The Gabe Dixon Band will release their self titled record on August 26 and we can unequivocally say it is one of the finest pop records in recent memory. It is an album steeped in the style of 70's singer songwriters but it never apes that era in any retro revivalist fashion. Dixon is just simply as good as many of the people who influenced his writing - Elton John, Jackson Browne, Dr. John - and with this release there is finally a fitting document of his tremendous talent.
Now classic country is not usually an area covered in this portion of the program but the recent release of the Country Music Hall Of Fame® And Museum Archive Series DVDs is well worth mentioning no matter what type of music is dominating your iPod these days. The Country Hall and reissue CD/DVD specialists Shout! Factory have teamed up to deliver what has to be a eureka moment for musical goldminers who have always wanted to peek inside the Hall's famously expansive vaults. The two DVDs, Tammy Wynette: Legendary Performances and Marty Robbins: Legendary Performances, feature rare, career-spanning performances "culled from multiple broadcast and cable television shows archived in the Museum." The archivists at the Hall have loads more "Legendary Performances" by a number of other legendary performers sitting in storage. Here's hoping this series is a success so they can start sharing some more of those precious gems.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Bonnaroo & other Nashville Releases
Written by Jason Moon Wilkins
Even though its held more than an hour away, Bonnaroo tends to take over our city in subtle and not-so-subtle ways every early June. Rockers, music business VIP's, comedians, actors and other noteworthy folks usually fly in and out of Nashville International on their way to the festival and they often stay a night or two, so the star spotting possibilities around this time go way, way up.
Reports of comedian Zach Galifianakis hanging at 3 Crow Bar with Nashville pal Courtney Jaye and sightings of actress/activist Janeane Garofalo and SNL star Andy Samberg were interesting but not even an Olsen twins sighting (seriously, they spent their birthday at Bonnaroo) could compare to the rumor that ran through Music City on Thursday, June 12. The pairing of Nashville's intimate indie listening room The Basement with the biggest hard rock band in the world, Metallica, not only seemed highly unlikely but simply impossible. How could a band used to playing in front of a hundred thousand people squeeze their sound into a venue better suited to a hundred? Well, somehow they managed, to the extreme delight of a reported 120 very lucky individuals (almost all of them Metallica fan club members).
So why did this happen? No one seemed to know but we do know most of the story behind how it happened. The band knew they would be passing through Nashville on their way to Bonnaroo and since their management, Q Prime, runs a Nashville office led by John Peets (Black Keys, Gillian Welch, Nickel Creek) they set up this once-in-a-lifetime superfan dream gig. Apparently, the mini-Mettalica set was three months in the making so a huge pat on the back to the staff at The Basement and Grimey's Records for keeping this secret for so long (even from their family members... ahem).
Also in Bonnaroo news, the festival featured a number of Nashville artists playing everything from the biggest stage to the smallest tent. Among the Music City set who rocked at "Roo": Superdrag, The Raconteurs, Ben Folds, De Novo Dahl, Abigail Washburn & The Sparrow Quartet, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, The everybodyfields, The Greencards, Mike Farris, Jessie Baylin and Jypsi. Nashville newspaper The Tennessean and alt.weekly the Nashville Scene both have extensive festival coverage including video, pics, reviews and other news available via their respective blogs.
In other Nashville not-so-country news. Hip rag Filter Magazine has posted their previously-run story about Middle Tennessee favorites The Features celebrating their win at the Diesul:U:Music Awards earlier this year in London with a photo shoot by legendary rock photographer Mick Rock (David Bowie, Queen, Blondie). Speaking of press, as usual the critics are understandably gobsmacked by the lyrical genius of Dave Berman and the musical musings of his underground all star band Silver Jews display on their new record Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea. Another acclaimed artist who shares some band members with the Silver Jews, Cortney Tidwell, unveiled new material from her long awaited sophomore album to a packed house at the aforementioned Basement who also got to see a rare solo appearance from lambchop leader Kurt Wagner. Tidwell's stellar ensemble also featured members of The Lone Official, The Privates and The Altered Statesman whose latest record has been rightfully hailed as one of the best to come out of Nashville this year.
It's been a busy Spring/early summer for Nashville's "other" side, with a slew of releases coming from numerous area artists including Katie Herzig who offered up her sophomore set, Apple Tree, and Matt Wertz, who, after years of successfully building a career as an independent artist, is readying his major label debut with a new single "5:19" available now via iTunes, Amazon and Rhapsody. Wertz's pal and frequent touring partner Dave Barnes has been out promoting his Razor & Tie records debut Me+You+The World. He was even asked to swing by MTV's TRL on a very Tennessee day (Memphis Oscar Winning rappers Three6 Mafia and Paramore lead singer Hayley Williams from Franklin, TN were also guests) to show his video for "Until You" which you can check out by following the link. Nashville psychedelic pop savants De Novo Dahl officially unveiled their Roadrunner records debut Move Evert Muscle Make Every Sound last month and are appearing at nearly every major music festival in America this summer including their aforementioned appearance at Bonnaroo as well as All Points West, Lollapalooza, Download Festival and and the legendary Summerfest in Milwaukee. Another Nashville band making their major label bow is Safety Suit who have recently released "Life Left to Go" on Universal and who are currently crisscrossing the country from Idaho to NYC in a passenger van (hope you guys are getting good gas mileage).
Even though its held more than an hour away, Bonnaroo tends to take over our city in subtle and not-so-subtle ways every early June. Rockers, music business VIP's, comedians, actors and other noteworthy folks usually fly in and out of Nashville International on their way to the festival and they often stay a night or two, so the star spotting possibilities around this time go way, way up.
Reports of comedian Zach Galifianakis hanging at 3 Crow Bar with Nashville pal Courtney Jaye and sightings of actress/activist Janeane Garofalo and SNL star Andy Samberg were interesting but not even an Olsen twins sighting (seriously, they spent their birthday at Bonnaroo) could compare to the rumor that ran through Music City on Thursday, June 12. The pairing of Nashville's intimate indie listening room The Basement with the biggest hard rock band in the world, Metallica, not only seemed highly unlikely but simply impossible. How could a band used to playing in front of a hundred thousand people squeeze their sound into a venue better suited to a hundred? Well, somehow they managed, to the extreme delight of a reported 120 very lucky individuals (almost all of them Metallica fan club members).
So why did this happen? No one seemed to know but we do know most of the story behind how it happened. The band knew they would be passing through Nashville on their way to Bonnaroo and since their management, Q Prime, runs a Nashville office led by John Peets (Black Keys, Gillian Welch, Nickel Creek) they set up this once-in-a-lifetime superfan dream gig. Apparently, the mini-Mettalica set was three months in the making so a huge pat on the back to the staff at The Basement and Grimey's Records for keeping this secret for so long (even from their family members... ahem).
Also in Bonnaroo news, the festival featured a number of Nashville artists playing everything from the biggest stage to the smallest tent. Among the Music City set who rocked at "Roo": Superdrag, The Raconteurs, Ben Folds, De Novo Dahl, Abigail Washburn & The Sparrow Quartet, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, The everybodyfields, The Greencards, Mike Farris, Jessie Baylin and Jypsi. Nashville newspaper The Tennessean and alt.weekly the Nashville Scene both have extensive festival coverage including video, pics, reviews and other news available via their respective blogs.
In other Nashville not-so-country news. Hip rag Filter Magazine has posted their previously-run story about Middle Tennessee favorites The Features celebrating their win at the Diesul:U:Music Awards earlier this year in London with a photo shoot by legendary rock photographer Mick Rock (David Bowie, Queen, Blondie). Speaking of press, as usual the critics are understandably gobsmacked by the lyrical genius of Dave Berman and the musical musings of his underground all star band Silver Jews display on their new record Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea. Another acclaimed artist who shares some band members with the Silver Jews, Cortney Tidwell, unveiled new material from her long awaited sophomore album to a packed house at the aforementioned Basement who also got to see a rare solo appearance from lambchop leader Kurt Wagner. Tidwell's stellar ensemble also featured members of The Lone Official, The Privates and The Altered Statesman whose latest record has been rightfully hailed as one of the best to come out of Nashville this year.
It's been a busy Spring/early summer for Nashville's "other" side, with a slew of releases coming from numerous area artists including Katie Herzig who offered up her sophomore set, Apple Tree, and Matt Wertz, who, after years of successfully building a career as an independent artist, is readying his major label debut with a new single "5:19" available now via iTunes, Amazon and Rhapsody. Wertz's pal and frequent touring partner Dave Barnes has been out promoting his Razor & Tie records debut Me+You+The World. He was even asked to swing by MTV's TRL on a very Tennessee day (Memphis Oscar Winning rappers Three6 Mafia and Paramore lead singer Hayley Williams from Franklin, TN were also guests) to show his video for "Until You" which you can check out by following the link. Nashville psychedelic pop savants De Novo Dahl officially unveiled their Roadrunner records debut Move Evert Muscle Make Every Sound last month and are appearing at nearly every major music festival in America this summer including their aforementioned appearance at Bonnaroo as well as All Points West, Lollapalooza, Download Festival and and the legendary Summerfest in Milwaukee. Another Nashville band making their major label bow is Safety Suit who have recently released "Life Left to Go" on Universal and who are currently crisscrossing the country from Idaho to NYC in a passenger van (hope you guys are getting good gas mileage).
Thursday, May 29, 2008
East Nashville News
Written by Jason Moon Wilkins
Greetings from Music City.
That phrase likely paints a pretty specific picture in your mind, one of cowboy hats, neon signs and steel guitars, but humor us for a minute and let’s see if we can add a few brush strokes from a different palette to that pretty, but pretty standard picture.
Instead of cowboy hats, think fedoras. In place of neon signs and honky tonks, put a hand painted sign adorning a funky little bistro. And exchange that steel guitar for an electric one, and plug it into a beaten up Fender amp blaring out of the window of a remodeled Victorian house. Now you’ve expanded your picture of Nashville beyond the bustling valley of neon that is Lower Broadway to include the eclectic enclave of East Nashville.
This recently revitalized neighborhood has long been a home for musicians and other creative folks looking for low rent and like minds but lately it has also become a thriving center of commerce and live music thanks, to the entrepreneurs who have repopulated the once dormant Five Points area.
Just last week, the area was in full flower with a perfect Spring day dragging nearly everyone out onto its streets or in our case into its bars (hey it was still the patio!). It was the perfect picture of not only the incredible diversity of Nashville but also an excellent snapshot of the city’s non-country music scene, many of whom had settled into the popular East side hang, Three Crow Bar. Fittingly since this site was the former home of the Slow Bar, the ahead-of-its-time bar and music venue that set the tone for the revitalization of all of Five Points.
Saddling up to some suds was an array of the city’s finest pop, rock and indie purveyors. Ricky Young (http://www.myspace.com/rickyyoung) the latest whiskey-drenched troubadour to emerge from Music City, was there, being congratulated on the release of his debut album Learn to Steal which had been celebrated with a blowout record release party a few days prior. He was joined tableside by Josh Taylor leader of scene newcomers Red White Blue (http://www.myspace.com/redwhitebluemusic) as well as Warner Bros. artist Jeremy Lister whose stunning new EP Just One Day has been popping up all over the tube on shows such as The Hills. Neil Mason of Warner Bros. band American Bang, who are featured in this month's Spin Magazine, was hanging out with fellow rocker Darren Potuck of AutoVaughn whose single "Something's Missing" from their newly released EP The Cycles ruled the Amazon.com MP3 chart for the last two weeks (beating out even the irrepressible Hannah Montana). Kyle Andrews (http://www.myspace.com/kyleandres) whose song “Get Mad” was recently featured as one of KCRW.com’s “Top Tunes” (http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/tu) was also there as were brothers Will and Josiah Holland of The Lonely Hearts (http://www.myspace.com/thelonelyhearts) who had just wrapped recording with hot production duo Ian Fitchuk and Justin Loucks (http://www.myspace.com/ianfitchukandjustinloucks) at the famed House of David studio (http://www.houseofdavidstudio.com/). Fitchuk and Loucks were featured panelists and performers earlier that day as part of the inaugural MIX Nashville event (http://mixonline.com/ms/nashville08/) along with one of their most recent productions, RCA artist Landon Pigg (http://www.myspace.com/landonpiggmusic), who you might recognize from his latest EP "Coffee Shop" whose title track was an iTunes smash after it was featured in the “Diamonds Are Forever” campaign this winter.
Producers and promoters and journalists as well as other scene “stars” from the “Other Side” of Nashville populated the place, helping to provide the kind of snapshot we hope to bring you more of through this blog. So come back, and visit us again soon to see more of the Nashville you never knew existed.
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