Nashville is called Music City for a reason.
Last Friday I went to a 7:30 concert at Exit/In featuring HEM and Over the Rhine. I’ve heard a lot about Over the Rhine, so I really enjoyed hearing them live. The fact that I was standing two feet from the stage didn’t hurt, either.
After that concert finished, I went over to 3rd and Lindsley where the Jeff Coffin Mutet and Futureman were just getting started. They played until 1:00 AM, even though they had to leave at 6:30 for a concert in N.C. Jeff and Roy (Futureman) make up half of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, one of my favorite groups. Talk about an amazing performance!
On Sunday evening, I saw David Wilcox performing at the Belcourt Theatre. I was introduced to his music by Michael Card who brought him up when we were talking about great singer/songwriters. I have a couple of his CD’s, but this is the first time I’d seen him in concert. He performed several of his classic songs like ‘Eye of the Hurricane’ and ‘Rusty Old American Dream’ as well as several from his newest release, ‘Vista’. (He is streaming all of ‘Vista’ on his website here.)
Then on Tuesday evening, I went to my first Square Peg Alliance concert here in Nashville. Matthew Perryman Jones and Sandra McCracken were performing at the Radio Cafe, and they completely packed the place out. They both used the same backing band (which included members of Caedmon’s Call), with the exception of Andrew Osenga playing Electric Guitar for Matthew and Derek Webb playing Electric for his wife, Sandra. (Read summaries of the concert written by Randall Goodgame and Andrew Osenga.) I’m looking forward to attending many more concerts from members of the Square Peg Alliance.
Finally, tonight I went to a Songwriters ‘In the Round’ at the Bluebird Cafe featuring Allen Shamblin, Rob Crosby, Phil Keaggy and Randy Stonehill. If you don’t know what happens at a ’round’, the songwriters sit in a circle and take turns playing their songs. Since Phil Keaggy is, well, Phil Keaggy, he also played along with the others’ songs. The house was packed, and I was one of the last people let in. They played for about two hours. Phil and Randy sang several songs together since they have been playing together since the early ’70′s. One of Phil’s bandmates from Glass Harp was also there playing percussion and singing along on a couple songs. It was a very cool concert.
Why do some people still think that Nashville is just Country music?
As to your last question, I guess the answer would be “Because they’ve never actually been here.”
I’ve lived here about a year (moved from California), and frankly it’s much more music-saturated than I expected. When I meet a new person here, there’s about a 75% chance that if our conversation lasts longer than 15 minutes, then they will be on their way to their car to get me a demo CD of their stuff.
Personally, I’m still undecided about whether the over-saturation is a good thing or a bad thing. But like you, I would certainly agree — there no shortage of opportunities to take in some excellent shows around here.
You dog! All of that great music in the span of a week. It just isn’t fair. Jonathan rubbed it in a little Wednesday night. I especially would have liked to have heard Jeff and Roy, and Phil Keaggy.
I think a lot of people just assume that because Nashville is in the south, it automatically means country. We Southerners and transplants know that this is simply just not true. I’ve learned to make no assumptions with regard to music. Case in point: a country star from Austraila (Keith Urban) and a redneck from Illinois (Grechen Wilson).
“Why do some people still think that Nashville is just Country music?”
Stereotypical “Tennessee-folk”….ugh.
Yes I live in Tennessee.
NO I will NOT display a rebel flag
NO I will NOT eat grits
NO I will NOT watch NASCAR
NO I will NOT LISTEN TO COUNTRY MUSIC……well…there is a select little bit….A VERY SELECT SMALL BIT.
Thank you Stephen, I appreciate the comment. And in response to your entry…some of my friends and even family from “Da North” have seemed to think I’m in Nashville to pursue some career in country music (or writing about it). It’s strange, I’ve grown up knowing that Nashville is a central place for many, many musicians. I’m not sure where the people around me missed that part.
Take care,
Rachel
hi, I noticed that you had been to my xanga so I checked out your blog and only got as far as this one because I am so insanely super jealous that you got to see over the rhine, david wilcox (is he not amazing?!) sandra (who is my favorite girl songwriter at the moment next to jill phillips), half of bela fleck (though vic wasn’t there I have never EVER seen anyone play the bass like him) andy o, and then, sigh, the bluebird for songwriters in the round. for the first time in a long time I wished that I was in nashville and not chatty. I miss being able to hear that kind of music on a regular basis.
Hey, and it’s nice to meet you, I’m jenny, and still super jealous of your musical adventures this week. someday…someday!
Jenny, have you heard Jill Phillips newest CD, Nobody’s Got It All Together? My favorite song is the title track.