Wendy V "2004 tour" report
NASHVILLE, TN
JULY 23-25, 2004
Studio B- birthplace of most of the hits of Elvis Presley and hundreds of others...
I'm not a follower of astrology, but I did notice the horoscope for my sign in a Nashville paper I picked up: .."If a pig flies, don't criticize it for not staying up long...the most righteous response to the wonders you've been experiencing is delightful gratitude--even if the wonders don't live up to initial expectations." Of the three trips I've taken to Nashville, this was probably the best overall because it managed to encompass a little of many things that are close to heart.
First of all, a recommendation: I didn't always have the best luck with hotels on previous Nashville trips. But the third time proved the charm. If you are coming to Nashville, by all means consider the Hampton Inn Vanderbilt/West End. It was not only the best hotel I've ever stayed at in Nashville, but is quite possibly one of the best I've stayed at anywhere. High service standard, plenty of free parking, excellent free breakfast (they even give you a free brown bag breakfast to go if you check out early). It's also close enough to the downtown action so that you can forget about parking downtown during the day--take a short ride on a city bus or walk if you're so inclined.
Once I got to the hotel on Friday afternoon, I thought I would try the drive to Hendersonville to hopefully catch a little bit of the "Exalting Him" talent contest semi-finals held at the TBN Center. I knew there wasn't much chance of me making it to most of the competition. I just was hoping to touch base with a couple of friends: Norman, who was judging and Jim, a singer/songwriter from the Twin Cities who I encouraged to enter the contest and ended up making the semi-final round.
Now, those who know me know I don't do freeways. I went the long way. The reason I don't mind driving in Nashville as opposed to other cities away from home is that there are many main drags to everywhere if you don't like freeway speeds and constant lane-changing. It's mostly strip driving and it's easy. Nashville, however, has lots of traffic. I got caught up in it and was starting to wonder if I'd ever get there at all. I finally did reach the TBN Center after an hour. It was obvious when I arrived that I missed everything and people were starting to leave. In the "small world" department, making my way from the parking lot I recognized members of the Brown Family, a talented family Southern Gospel group I last saw at the Twin Cities Quartet Convention in May. They told me they placed third in the group competition (way to go, folks!). I got up to the theater and was told to hurry if I wanted to catch Norman, because he was about to catch a plane to the next city competition. So I ran toward the back and spotted a van and just asked whoever was in it "has anyone seen Norman?". Well, there he was in the front seat! I got a hug and some feedback on Jim's performance (though he didn't win, his performance was praised). I'm sure the others in the van wondered who this crazy woman thought she was, holding them up briefly from heading for the airport. But hey, I flew hundreds of miles and drove for an hour for a hello and a hug! And, for a driving wussy like me, it was very empowering for me to have made that long a drive in unfamiliar territory and survive it! (By the way, the TBN Center is a pretty theater, but I thought it was much smaller than it looks on TV. Just shows the production skills of the TBN folks who make it seem bigger on their broadcasts.)
Later on that evening, I headed for Zanies Comedy Club to see Taylor Mason who was doing a weekend's string of gigs there. Despite some near-deafening technical issues during setup, Taylor and crew were as entertaining as ever. He's keeping a very hectic schedule these days, with many great opportunities coming his way (and his "Bananas" special won a regional Emmy!). Taylor kept saying to me, "I can't believe you're here in Nashville!"
Due to the ever-present changing circumstances whenever I visit Nashville, I ended up having Saturday free to be a tourist. I finally took the Country Music Hall of Fame Museum tour. What an awesome experience. Not only that, it had a "Night Train to Nashville" exhibit celebrating R & B music that came out of Nashville. The exhibit featured video from two locally produced R & B music shows in Nashville circa 1964: "Night Train" and "The Beat". Well, little miss pop culture 60's video fan could hardly tear herself away from that one. But I had to, or I would have missed my tour time of Studio B on Music Row, the place where most of Elvis' earlier hits and hundreds of others were recorded. An amazingly surreal experience, enhanced by our bus driver, Bob, a very knowledgeable gentleman and longtime keyboard player himself (he told me he even played at the Venetian Inn in the Twin Cities many years ago). We were lucky enough to be treated to Bob's keyboard talents when he sat down and played at the piano where Floyd Cramer recorded and Elvis rehearsed...the man can play! (Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures inside the studio--I had to check my camera for the museum tour and didn't go get it back because I didn't know you could do pictures in the studio! )
I was supposed to attend an artist showcase across the river on Saturday evening. The weather was very hot and humid the whole time I was there -walking a lot as I do, the heat and humidity knocked me out during the late afternoons. I dozed off and got a late start. When I got to the place, I saw it was a small place with very few parking places---unless I wanted to park next to a seedy and obviously very active drive-in liquor store next door. I decided it was not a good option for a single gal driving a fancy Mitsubishi Galant rental car I was entrusted with. So after circling the block about 5 or 6 times and not finding a spot, I decided this might not be meant to be, so I headed back downtown and promptly got stuck in more traffic for half an hour. But I must say, the travel angels were with me all through this trip. Like here in the Twin Cities, Nashville also has a busy construction season. On the way to this place, I drove down a very narrow road and along comes another car in the opposite direction. The gal in the other car and I were both wondering the same thing: how the heck are two cars supposed to get down this street without bumping? We both slowly decided to find out--and made it through. I am convinced without a doubt that the travel angels widened the road to get us through without a scratch. Amen!
With that plan hosed, I got back to the hotel and then decided to walk down the street and hang out in Tower Records on the West End for a bit and spend time in the listening booths. Then back to the hotel to rest up for what has been the "main event" of the last two trips for me...
On Sunday morning it was off to Brentwood and GracePointe Church. GracePointe has grown by leaps and bounds since my last visit. The services moved from the elementary school cafeteria to the gym, and they are awaiting final zoning approval for groundbreaking for a new church building a short distance away. Despite its growth, it remains one of the friendliest churches I have ever visited. Several people introduced themselves to me again and I was warmly greeted by Pastor Stan Mitchell and some other folks I met last time plus some new people (such as an older gentlemen named Billy Bell, who was a greeter and absolute sweetheart). I don't miss a one of Pastor Stan's webcast messages--but there is nothing like experiencing his preaching gift in person. His message was on II Corinthians 8:1-5, the second in his " Abounding Grace" message series. Stan talked about the call for standing with those who suffer, though we may be suffering ourselves. Click here if you want to listen (pick the 7/25/04 part 2 Real Player link on the page). I am one who takes notice of people and things around me. I can tell you that this church, its people and Pastor Stan are the real deal. Being part of GracePointe would be one prime reason, along with the music, that would make living in Nashville appealing. But I guess I will have to be content with vicarious visits via the webcasts.
Later on Sunday I dodged the raindrops long enough to go picture taking on Music Row (it dawned on me during the tour that my hotel was only a couple of blocks away from the area!). That evening I made a brief stop at another favorite hangout, the Bluebird Cafe. The featured act was a country rock band called Dylan Blake. This band is largely a family affair--lead singer/guitarist Dylan Blake Roberson, his dad Blake Roberson on guitar and uncle Dale Roberson on keyboard (along with Chad Hall on bass and Mike Dillard on drums). They had solid material and appealed well across the board to a wide age group in the audience.
As I said earlier, walking around in the humidity wiped me out at times. When I wasn't out galavanting or dozing off, I was in my hotel room watching as much CMT as I could, since my cable system at home doesn't have it. How fitting could it be that on the night before I left to go home that CMT's Greatest Love Songs concert was on, and there was "da man" himself, Michael McDonald, staring into the camera singing "You Were Always On My Mind" (boy, what a banner year it's been for us McD fans...but I digress)!
As I sat out on a swing on Centennial Park, I thought about how thankful I was that I had safe, careful travel and great experiences through this trip. Though "tour 2005" is in doubt at this point in time, I do hope I will find a way to return as often as I can to both of my "music havens", Nashville and New York City. Both are places where I've come to feel at home.