Places Visited: Tennessee: Doing Nashville in December

November, 28th thru December 6th.

This travellog covers a December visit to Nashville where we spent some wonderful afternoons & nights with musicians performing in the honky tonks along Broadway (between 4th & 5th) Street.

We had planned to stay at Seven Points COE Campground but it was closed for the season so we stayed with our friends at Two Rivers Campground/RV-Park on Music Valley Road near the Grand Old Opry and the Gaylord Hotel complex. We like staying with Two Rivers because of their location and price. KOA and Yogi Bear flank Two Rivers but they are MUCH more expensive.

We spent Thanksgiving with my family at my sister's estate in Calera, Alabama. We were in our motorhome while the other family members were snugly ensconced in my sister's palatial mansion. They could have easily put us up in a suite (VBG) but we had already made plans to head to Nashville after Thanksgiving and enjoy the fabulous musicians performing on Broadway. There is nothing like staying in your own place, sleeping in your own bed and showering in your own shower.

We were boondocking near my Sister's house in a vacant lot across the street from a large Days Inn. We often see 18-wheelers in this vacant lot but this was the first time for us staying there. We thought that the lot was probably the property of the Days Inn and the 18-wheelers were stopping for the night and getting a good nights sleep and a hot shower at the motel. Everything was uneventful until Friday morning (Black Friday). Our plans were to head for Nashville when we got up. The other family members were planning to participate in Black Friday shopping. They had joked about stopping by EARLY as they headed out on their shopping adventures. I told them that if they came knocking on my door early in the morning that I was going to hit the *horn* alarm on our Saturn. About 7AM we heard a knock on the motorhome so I rolled over and hit the alarm on my Saturn. After a sufficient alarm I shut it off and prided myself with having scattered the relatives. My bad, I heard the knock again. This time I got out of bed to investigate only to find Mr. Patel the owner of the Days Inn who invited us to leave his vacant lot. I politely asked if he would give us an hour or two to get on our way and he said sure. Well, we got up earlier than we wanted to but we also got on our way to Nashville earlier, and that was good because we headed downtown to the honky tonks when we arrived and got a full evening of honky tonk heaven under our belt before returning to the motorhome.

Our routine in Nashville consisted of heading to the honky tonks along Broadway street in the afternoon and returning to the motorhome late at night.

One morning we wandered over to the Gaylord Hotel that was decorated beautifully for the Christmas season.

While there we got someone to take our picture.

Outside trees were covered with white lights on the inside the atrium (is that what they call that area under glass?) they had 56,000 poinsettias in addition to other Christmas plants and multiple large decorated Christmas trees.

This was one of the large, exquisitely decorated trees in the atrium at the Gaylord Convention Center.

This is just some of the 56,000 poinsettia used to decorate the inside of the Gaylord Convention Center atrium area.

Our most memorable moments were shared with the talented musicians on Broadway Street (between 4th and 5th) in downtown Nashville. It just so happened that we spent more time at the Stage on Broadway because they just seemed to have the best performers in an environment we felt good in. Tootsies, a few doors away, also had great artists as did Robert's but while Tootsies had great artists there is hardly breathing room and absolutely no dance floor. The Stage on Broadway actually has some tables & chairs (chairs not stools). Chairs with backs vs stools with no backs are so much easier on the back after a few hours. Toward the end of the week Legends corner started rocking. When honky tonking in Nashville you just have to check out each honky tonk and see who is playing and the performers change out at 2PM, 6PM and 10PM so after each change you have to scout out who is performing at each venue.

We spent one afternoon with a dynamic young musician, Tyler Dickerson, who just turned 15 on Thanksgiving. This young fellow was a great performer with totally awesome stage presence. He has recently signed with John Rich (of Big & Rich) so his career is likely going to take off. John Rich (Big & Rich) and some Big and Rich band members were in the Stage on Broadway watching Tyler perform. Tyler was a true professional never letting on that they were in the house. Very few people knew John Rich was in the house. We just happen to know Tyler's parents and knew that Tyler had signed with John Rich so it was fairly easy for us to put two and two together.

We didn't have a camera with us but several people took our picture with him. So far none of them have sent those pictures to us. Possibly one day they will arrive in my inbox.

Around 6PM during the 45-minutes it takes for bands to change out in the Honky Tonks we generally head someplace to eat. Sometimes it is Jack's BBQ and other times it is Robert's. Robert's has the same house band every night featuring some really talented musicians. The base player spent 10-years with Johnny Cash's road band in addition to another lifetime with a variety of other performers of equal stature. But it is J.D. Simo, the 23 year-old sensational lead guitar player that we like to see in action. So many afternoons we will slip into Robert's to eat and watch the first hours of their show. J. D. Simo is so accomplished on the lead guitar that he is a regular studio guitarist that works cutting the new CD's. Only the best of the best work in the studio and he is only 23 years-old. What an excitement this young fellow is. Talk about tearing up a guitar, -- he rips it with every song.

When you visit Nashville make sure you stop by Robert's to watch J. D. Simo tear up that guitar like nothing you have ever seen. He plays from 6pm to 10pm most nights.

Another afternoon we were in the Stage on Broadway when Little Jimmy Dickens appeared on the balcony. It seems that the Grand Old Opry is doing their show in the Ryman Auditorium (located out the back door of the Stage on Broadway) and Little Jimmy Dickens regularly comes in the back door and sneaks up to the balcony where he spends 30-minutes or so before heading out the back door and into the Ryman Auditorium for his performance with the Grand Old Opry. Before you start writing to tell me that the Grand Old Opry is now located out at the Gaylord Complex there are other acts using the NEW Grand Old Opry at this time. I think the Rocketts are booked in there this week. Anyway, the waitress seems to know when it is time for Little Jimmy Dickens to sneak in the back door and make his way to the balcony. We watched as the waitress made her way to a spot where she could see the balcony. They made hand signals and shortly the waitress was on her way to the balcony with Jimmy's regular. That is how things work in Nashville. We were the only *patrons* in the Stage on Broadway that knew he was in the house.

One night we enjoyed watching another new lead singer perform with a stage full of big name musicians including Allen Jackson's base player and Brooks & Dun's steel guitar player.

Another afternoon/night Mike Pruit was performing at the Stage on Broadway with a group of talented musicians.

I think I recall the bald headed fellow in be background being with Trick Pony's road band playing either the lead or base guitar.

Someone took our picture while we were enjoying Jerry Williams performe at Nashville Crossroads. Don't you like the mugs they serve coffee in at Nashville Crossroads? Behind us you can see the cow hides that serve as wall-paper on one of the walls at Nashville Crossroads.

Thursday afternoon and night we enjoyed a wide variety of good talent at Nashville Crossroads, Legends Corner and the Stage on Broadway. Craig Campbell entertained us several times during our stay either at Legends Corner and the Stage on Broadway.

We enjoyed Jerry Williams a good singer songwriter performing at both Nashville Crossroads and the Stage on Broadway and I think we watched some of his show one afternoon at Legends Corner also. Jerry grew up just north of Austin, Texas.

I think this is Justin Links performing at Legends Corner. I could be wrong so please correct me.

Becky McCloud was performing at Legends Corner with Kevin Keefer, Mark Wills' lead guitar player accompanying her.

Rocky was performing the 2PM to 6PM shift at the Stage on Broadway. I do not recall what Rocky's last name was and he didn't have a business card but I do remember that he was from Mississippi.

Rocky had great vocals and could do a wide variety of songs. He did not have a care in the world. He was having fun and that is all that mattered. Raw talent oozed from Rocky, he didn't have to strain it just came naturally. Between Rocky and the other equally talented musicians they played around yet put on a show that was as good as many *name* concerts we have seen.

The drummer and guitar player that were on stage with Rocky. They are all so talented. I think the guy on the right plays with Mark Wills.

Allen Ricker, Steve Holly's guitar player was backing up Rocky as was Billy Curington's base player. Then Mark Ramsey and a crew of professional musicians carried the music from 6PM to 10PM. Enough was enough and we headed back to the motorhome after a wonderful day/night on Broadway. Where else can you get this level of entertainment for any price?

Friday afternoon at Legends corner we listened to several personalities including Tim McGraw's base guitar player and Chris Gordon (Gordy) who has played with a variety of big names. We know Chris "Gordy" from Tootsies in Panama City Beach where he spent weeks playing the drums and entertaining with top flight vocals.

Several times during the week we spent time listening to Troy Cook Jr. He has become one of our favorites. But how can we pick favorites when we enjoy Melissa Paige and Tim McDonald so much, not to mention Tim Baumgartner, Melissa's lead guitar player.

Craig Campbell is another of our favorites as is his wife who we did not get to see this week. We enjoyed Craig Campbell several times during the week and never tire of his truly wonderful vocals.

The bald headed lead guitar player in the background plays for Trick Pony I think. He was playing with Mike Pruit in another picture earlier in this travellog.

Tootsies was featuring Anthony Orio, Allen Duhon, and Clay Underwood simply great entertainers that we have enjoyed not only at Tootsies Nashville but Tootsies on Panama City Beach, Florida.

One night we were eating at Jack's BBQ located on Broadway between the Stage on Broadway and Roberts; two of our favorite honky tonks. A group of 30'ish young men in Nashville for the Brown's vs Titans pro football game on Sunday were eating at the table next to us. They were commenting on how much they had enjoyed the Grand Old Opry in the Ryman Auditorium that is until they went in Tootsies and watched Clay Underwood's show.

Then each expressed how much more they had enjoyed Clay Underwood's performance than the time they had spent watching the more famous performers at the Ryman with the Grand Old Opry.

We love Clay as well and were tickled to hear their comments about Clay being better than the show they had enjoyed so much at the Grand Old Opry. They all said that when they were next in Nashville they would hit the honky tonks on Broadway instead of paying big bucks to see shows in other venues.

Legend's Corner is decorated with a lot of memorabilia. Among the interesting things are these fliers from the past advertising concerts. Note Jim Morrison and the Doors with Steppenwolf, Sly & the Family Stone plus Jefferson Airplane for $7.50 back in 1967. Wow! All that for $7.50.

Then this one featuring Buddy Holly and the Crickets plus Ritchie Valens & the Big Bopper for $1.25 back in 1959. Totally unbelievable.

One day we hope to see our friends make it big. All of them have the talent. Now they need a break.

Ain't life grand?

That is all there is.

Until next time remember how good life is.

Mike & Joyce Hendrix