WENDY V IN NASHVILLE, TN (updated 8/08)
AUGUST 8 -12, 2002
This entire trip could be summed up in two words: predictably unpredictable.
The planning for this trip changed by the moment days before I left, and the trend continued throughout my stay. Things I planned on didn't happen, those I thought wouldn't did. Well, you know, I did put God in charge of it, after all.
There are a couple of key things to know about Nashville: one, bring cash. If you're planning to take a cab anywhere, it's pricey. But if you happen to end up with a fare under $15, you can't charge it.
Two, it became obvious in short order that one needs a car in Nashville. I rented one Friday and they gave me a beautiful Toyota Corolla, with souped up power brakes and steering--also needed for driving in Nashville! I stuck with routes on the main arteries --Murfreesboro, Nolensville, Thompson Lane--and had it figured out in no time and zipped all over town. So forget the freeways when you're out in Nashville. Give yourself some extra time and these main drags will get you where you want to go. (Only thing is--they've got to come up with some bigger street signs!) All you who know what a driving wussy I am and how I shook with trepidation at the thought of driving out there--you'd have been proud. However, when I did attempt to go downtown Saturday, I went the wrong direction and ended up in La Vergne. I mean, it looked like a nice enough place, but not the direction I wanted to go in.
Anyway, here are a few choice highlights I can share of what I did:
Yes, I did make it to the Bluebird Cafe. It's small and it reminded of the late, lamented Music City Cafe in St. Paul where my whole local musician support "career" began. I went to two different shows that evening. The first was an "in the round" of local writers who were celebrating the 2nd annual 40th birthday party hosted by singer/songwriter Jim Reilley. The group of guests consisted of writers of varying success levels: those waiting to have their first hit, to folks like Richard Wold who wrote "Coming In and Out of Your Life" recorded by Barbara Streisand (and performed beautifully that evening by Richard) and Lila McCann who had the country hit "I Wanna Fall In Love". In that group, I saw someone who looked awfully familiar, someone I was sure I'd seen at the aforementioned Music City Cafe or someplace. Indeed, singer/songwriter Mary Sue Englund moved to Nashville from Minnesota and is starting to make inroads. Small world.
The second group of songwriters that evening was the next success tier. These were the folks who wrote the hits recorded by famous country and pop artists. Now I hope I have these credentials right: It was Victoria Shaw ("The River" for Garth Brooks), Marcus Hummon ("Ready to Run" for the Dixie Chicks), Gary Burr ("What Mattered Most"), and Bob DiPiero ("Church on Cumberland Road.") .Actually, the banter between these folks was pretty hysterical all evening.) They were also joined for one song by singer/songwriter Lari White, who did one gospel tune and one about being a woman, which brought the house down. The musicianship of these singer/songwriters was just awesome. What a great experience for a serious music lover like me.
On Saturday, once I got the car turned around in the right direction, I headed for the heart of it all: downtown Nashville. I went during the afternoon, and found it surprisingly quiet in terms of people traffic. Perhaps they all come out there in the evening. But that is not to say nothing happens during the day. Pass any bar and grill and you'll hear folks playing for tips--and it's okay to just stick your head in the door. I did that for a few places, including Tootsie's.
OK, now for the Southern Gospel portion of the report: when I was in a restaurant having lunch, I picked up a free paper with listings and saw that the New Speer Revival was performing in a half hour at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. It being only a couple of blocks away from where I was, I hightailed it down there and got to hear Brock Speer's son's group perform a set just before the Hall of Fame tour entrance. Toward the end of the set, Ben and Faye Speer got up to do a couple of songs with the group, so that was cool. (No, I didn't talk to them--they had a lot of family members around, so I didn't want to disturb them. After what happened with my botched "groupie" experience with Carnegie Hall, I was never trying that again.) I didn't take the Hall of Fame tour because I already dropped mucho bucks by this point and besides, I wanted to save something for future visits.
Sunday's main event was Christ Church Nashville. It's located in one of the prettiest parts of Nashville. The church grounds are huge and scenic. And I got to see most all of it because it was a challenge at first finding a spot to park--until I found one parking area that had space. I was surprised at the size of the sanctuary. I imagined it would have been bigger. I sat in the back pew on the main floor and it seemed more intimate than I expected. But I was neither surprised or disappointed with the music. It is absolutely phenomenal. It was so cool to see Joy Gardner and Tanya Goodman Sykes soloing with the choir, and Landy Gardner comes up with some stunning arrangements. I did a little shopping and I would recommend buying "Greatest Moments With the Christ Church Choir"--this one has the Gaither Vocal Band on one track. And if you're a visitor, you get a CD with selected cuts from "Sweet Aroma of Praise."
If you're looking for pictures--sorry to disappoint, but there aren't any from this trip. True to the unpredictability theme, I either forgot my camera (when I was downtown--duh) or was in situations where picture taking was not allowed or just wasn't the most appropriate thing. So the only pictures are those in my heart.
Will I be back? You bet. There is more to do, more to see, more soaking up of the music community culture. My work did receive some significant validation while I was out there. Whether or not I can contribute to the scene in Nashville is still one of the few unanswered questions I brought with me.
I won't predict anything right now. :)
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Addition 8/08:
When I originally wrote this report, I left out a very significant event during this trip. If I had included it at that time, it would have brought on some fan jealousy issues. But enough time has passed now, so here it is:
Prior to my arrival, it looked like there was a possibility I would have lunch with Mark Lowry and Norman Holland. A day before my trip, it looked like it wasn't going to happen because Mark would be out of town. But just as I was leaving work that day, I got an e-mail from Norman that Mark's plans had changed and he was staying in Nashville so it might work out. Soon after I got to town, Norman picked me up and took me to Houston's on the West End (a great restaurant which has since closed). I remember that I hardly touched my lunch because 1) I was so nervous--after all, this was the best male singer in the world I was having lunch with, and 2) I talked so much because I figured at that time this was my one and only chance to ask all my questions and make my comments. I was grateful for my Toastmasters training that I managed to come off somewhat articulate and coherent. But, I couldn't have asked for two nicer and down to earth people to have lunch with. We talked mostly about the price of homes (I brought pictures of my Minneapolis home at the time to show) , eyeglasses, and of course, the music business. This being Nashville, one other highlight was meeting up with another musician--Ricky Skaggs passed by our table and Mark introduced me to him. (Mark details this in his ramblings from August 2002...now of course, it can be told that I was one of those friends he was having lunch with--but I was not the one who corrected him!).
By the way, when Norman and I got to the restaurant, I met Stan Mitchell for the first time in the parking lot. He'd already been there for a little bit with Mark and had to leave. I remember thinking, "wow, this guy is so handsome he ought to be in Hollywood." Who knew then he would one day be my pastor...
As for the "prediction"... as Paul Harvey says, "and now you know...the rest of the story!"
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