This city is all about live music, live music, live music. Practically everyone in Nashville is into music. Most have a day job but they are out at night and somehow involved in the vibrant music scene.
My top five:
Country Music Hall of Fame - I lucked out the first time I was here because some friends and I visited when they were inducting Emma Lou Harris to the Hall of Fame. We watched the attendee's arrive on the red carpet. It was very low-key. For example, when Vince Gill arrived he looked at the small crowd that had assembled and said, "What are you doing here? Go home!". I appreciate these old-school Country music stars that don't seem interested in fame. We met a nice old man while we were watching the red carpet set-up. He's not from Nashville but he's a friend of Emma Lou's and knew the city well. He recommended we check out this little joint called the Blue Bird Cafe'.
Bluebird Cafe'. One of the best music joints in the USA if you like country/folk music. This place is for songwriters. You would drive right by this hole-in-the-wall place if you didn't know to look for it. I did know to look for it and still drove right by it. There was a short wait to get in (completely worth it). Sunday night acts aren't as heavily screened so you can't be sure what you'll hear. I mean they have to be decent but they're not guarenteed like performers on week-nights. This makes Sunday the cheapest night to go. Many music stars got their start here and new talent us is often plucked from the joint. We met this guy in line, Nick, who explained the process for getting a gig at Bluebird. Apparently there are several rounds of try-outs before you even get near performing on the weakest Sunday night. They moved to Nashville for the music scene and he was pretty pumped because his wife made the cut...finally. The staff won't hesitate to kick you out if you talk during the performance so keep your mouth shut, grab a beer (it's more of a bar than a cafe), and enjoy the music.
Legend's and Tootsie's on Broadway- Always live music and because of it's close proximity to Ryman Auditorium it used to be THE place to be after a show. If you go to Tootsie's you really should write your name on the wall or leave a business card like most of the other visitors. Also, for the ladies, this is the place to try dancing on a bar if thats something you've always wanted to do ;) Willie Nelson and Patsy Cline have performed here.
Vanderbilt Campus- One of the top 20 University's in the US. It's a beautiful campus. I was sad to learn that the Dead Poet's Society was not based on Vanderbilt like I heard. That's a myth, but the screenplay was written by a Vanderbilt grad. That's something. Oh, and Dierks Bentley is a Vanderbilt grad. Anyway, enjoy lunch on the green surronded by a variety of trees.
Red Door Bar
Take a shot and look through the hole in the floor. Any waiter can point it out for you. (See picture)
Most of this post has been random but here's a few more details: All of the big Country Music labels are based here and there's also a big Christian pop and Gospel scene. Nashville is a Baptist town and is commonly referred to as the "Protestant Vatican" as this Catholic girl discovered (St. Mary's is an outstanding Catholic book store near campus).
Also, the people here are incredibly friendly. They make Mid-Westerners and Minnesotans look like ice. Complete strangers kept giving out their validated parking tickets, offering their store discounts, and wanting to chat everywhere from the gas pump to the airport. I just kept thinking it's a good thing that I'm not a more reserved person otherwise Nashville would stress me out.
My top five:
Country Music Hall of Fame - I lucked out the first time I was here because some friends and I visited when they were inducting Emma Lou Harris to the Hall of Fame. We watched the attendee's arrive on the red carpet. It was very low-key. For example, when Vince Gill arrived he looked at the small crowd that had assembled and said, "What are you doing here? Go home!". I appreciate these old-school Country music stars that don't seem interested in fame. We met a nice old man while we were watching the red carpet set-up. He's not from Nashville but he's a friend of Emma Lou's and knew the city well. He recommended we check out this little joint called the Blue Bird Cafe'.
Bluebird Cafe'. One of the best music joints in the USA if you like country/folk music. This place is for songwriters. You would drive right by this hole-in-the-wall place if you didn't know to look for it. I did know to look for it and still drove right by it. There was a short wait to get in (completely worth it). Sunday night acts aren't as heavily screened so you can't be sure what you'll hear. I mean they have to be decent but they're not guarenteed like performers on week-nights. This makes Sunday the cheapest night to go. Many music stars got their start here and new talent us is often plucked from the joint. We met this guy in line, Nick, who explained the process for getting a gig at Bluebird. Apparently there are several rounds of try-outs before you even get near performing on the weakest Sunday night. They moved to Nashville for the music scene and he was pretty pumped because his wife made the cut...finally. The staff won't hesitate to kick you out if you talk during the performance so keep your mouth shut, grab a beer (it's more of a bar than a cafe), and enjoy the music.
Legend's and Tootsie's on Broadway- Always live music and because of it's close proximity to Ryman Auditorium it used to be THE place to be after a show. If you go to Tootsie's you really should write your name on the wall or leave a business card like most of the other visitors. Also, for the ladies, this is the place to try dancing on a bar if thats something you've always wanted to do ;) Willie Nelson and Patsy Cline have performed here.
Vanderbilt Campus- One of the top 20 University's in the US. It's a beautiful campus. I was sad to learn that the Dead Poet's Society was not based on Vanderbilt like I heard. That's a myth, but the screenplay was written by a Vanderbilt grad. That's something. Oh, and Dierks Bentley is a Vanderbilt grad. Anyway, enjoy lunch on the green surronded by a variety of trees.
Red Door Bar
Take a shot and look through the hole in the floor. Any waiter can point it out for you. (See picture)
Most of this post has been random but here's a few more details: All of the big Country Music labels are based here and there's also a big Christian pop and Gospel scene. Nashville is a Baptist town and is commonly referred to as the "Protestant Vatican" as this Catholic girl discovered (St. Mary's is an outstanding Catholic book store near campus).
Also, the people here are incredibly friendly. They make Mid-Westerners and Minnesotans look like ice. Complete strangers kept giving out their validated parking tickets, offering their store discounts, and wanting to chat everywhere from the gas pump to the airport. I just kept thinking it's a good thing that I'm not a more reserved person otherwise Nashville would stress me out.
I was only in Nashville for 2 hours, so of course I had to go to the grande ole' opry. But I was dying to go to bluebird...one of these days I'll go back.
ReplyDeleteHonestly to blog: I almost didn't fly back to PA from Tennessee. I love it there!