Music Minded Friend
Sometimes I just need to be reminded that Nashville is Music City.
In recent weeks we have been having out of town visitors. I have watched Nashville more through their experiences. My friend and colleague have visited the area twice in the last three months. He came once with his wife and daughter, and then returned very recently for his anniversary weekend.
The first time they came was during college baseball season. They watched Arkansas play at Vanderbilt. I am a tennis player, and Connie works venues, which include Vanderbilt athletics. Nashville also is a great sports town. The time I went to see Vanderbilt to play baseball, the Vanderbilt women’s team was in a NCAA tournament match against Vanderbilt and Connie was working a large track meet. It was quite a fun afternoon to see all three events within the span of three hours. My friend and his family love college baseball and the Vanderbilt baseball stadium was an anchor of their visit. If you are planning a trip to Nashville, and you enjoy college sports, please make sure you investigate what is happening on the campus of Vanderbilt. (There are also other colleges to consider including Belmont, Lipscomb, and TSU.
What I didn’t know about from their first visit was that they drove to the 12 South neighborhood and made a quick decision about the lack of available parking. (Parking and general business is a concern at 12 South) John dropped the girls off and let them walk up and down the shopping and restaurant district and he went elsewhere while they enjoyed themselves. A post is coming about how to “do” 12 South right, but since there are a good number of high end fashion stores to discuss, Connie is much better suited for that post. John, a musician and an avid music fan, went over to the Gruhn Guitar shop and got to take in the history and explore the world of sound and artistry. You just play around on their website right now! They presently have a large collection of Vince Gill’s guitars. John knows how to have a good time, that store is a living museum where someone with a knowledge of music history can have one heck of experience, and maybe pick up a little something for the at home studio.
For this present trip, John had a two day swing where he got to have fantastic music experiences. One stop was a walk around Broadway in the late afternoon and early evening. John told me over coffee the next morning that he saw the best guitarist he was going to see all weekend. I often write about the places, and they are important, but there are experiences that are about people as well. I was a little embarrassed that I didn’t recommend him. He was talking about Luke McQueary. He was the last guitarist for Robert’s Western World’s long time iconic performer Don Kelley. They continue to fill that spot now the Don has retired and they perform as Kelley’s Heroes. Don’t take my word for it, heck I am late to this party entirely. Here is a Garden and Gun article about the “New Guitar Greats.” Look at the company they put him in in the article. AND you can see him for no cover at a place that sells a sandwich, a moonpie and a PBR for $6.
Another outing John had, after our cup of coffee on my deck, was he drove his wife to the Gulch, a nice shopping area in the heart of Nashville, and climbed the stairs to the Gibson Garage. At the garage you can design a custom guitar, talk shop, and maybe try something out on their stage. It is a guitar centered interactive experience. Here is the Gibson Gazette blog post that goes into more detail. John had a blast.
That evening Connie and I took our guests to see Organic Country at the local. By this point, John was having so many great music experiences I was a little worried he might have had his fill, or that he might look at my little off broadway watering hole, shrug his shoulders, and say, “what’s the big deal?”
When we arrived, there was another musician playing, and I knew things were going to go well when our guests were oohing and aahing and taking pictures and videos. I just loved the look on John’s face as he realized the collective century of talent that was on stage. The feature of the night was all of us being a consistent fan club for arguably the best fiddle player in the world, Joe Spivey, We stayed for their whole set. Connie and I try to see them regularly. It is always fantastic. And for all of us, being able to be so close to Joe Spivey and his hall of fame fiddling talent, was a truly amazing experience. I do not mean to belittle the rest of the talent on that stage in my praise of Joe. Organic Country is a fantastic musical experience, as John will attest if you ask him.
