Places Visited: Tennessee: Nashville & Broadway Street (Honky Tonk Row) downtown Nashville May 24 through May 27, 2008. We are staying in Two Rivers Campground near Opry Land in northeast Nashville over the Memorial Day weekend. Two Rivers is the private campground we recommend for anyone visiting Nashville. It ain't cheap $31 but it is $21 cheaper than the next best campground. The $31 is for water & 30-amps full-hookup; 50-amps are a bit more. But, and it is a big BUT the Yogi Bear Campground next door starts at $51 and goes up while the KOA a block away starts somewhere above that and the sky is the limit. In Nashville you are paying for LOCATION and Two Rivers Campground has LOCATION. Besides that they sponsor good entertainment in the park several times a week. We found some good music in Tootsie's this afternoon. We have been having more fun in The Stage on Broadway & Legend's Corner but this afternoon the action was in Tootsie's.
It has been rumored that Roger Miller wrote "Dang Me" in Tootsie's. Willie
Nelson got his first songwriting job after singing at Tootsie's. Tootsie was a good hearted woman known to slip $5's and $10's into the pockets of luckless writers and pickers.
Tootsie isn't around anymore but the honky tonk she made famous is.
This is Scott Collier & his band. They make good music. They were the reason we spent the afternoon in Tootsie's. Check out Scott and his music at: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=46626861 The lead guitar player seen here on the right plays in Trick Ponie's tour band.
Scott introduced this young fellow to the crowd in Tootsie's. This exceptional artist is 14-year old Tyler Dickerson. This young fellow has just won a BIG talent search contest beating out over 800 other performers. Seeing him on stage it is no wonder. The young fellow has excellent vocals and charisma. His stage presence alone will catapult him into stardom.
This is Joyce getting her picture taken with Nashville's latest super star.
You can learn more about Tyler Dickerson & his music at: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=298178924
Scott Collier is the artist on stage in Tootsies that introduced the crowd to Tyler Dickerson.
Remember you can say you first heard about Tyler right here on this website.
This is Tim McDonald. Tim is keyboard player that plays in a number of bands we listen to here on honky tonk row. We have enjoyed his music and on stage humor in several venues here on honky tonk row. Here he is performing one of his funny songs "Snake Farm" with one of the bands he was not playing with. Tim was filling in while band members took a potty break. Tim has been on tour with Mark Chesnutt, Cory Morrow, Josh Gracin, Steve Holy, Katrina Elam, and Blake Shelton. He has also performed with, Montgomery Gentry, Brett Michaels, Chris Cagle, Trent Tomlinson, Billy Currington, Miranda Lambert and have shared the stage with some greats including: Hank Williams Jr., The Kentucky Headhunters, Keith Urban, Tracy Byrd, Carrie Underwood, Brooks and Dunn, Phil Vassar, Billy Currington, Craig Morgan, Trent Tomlinson, Keith Anderson, Jake Owens, Chris Young, Julie Roberts, Trick Pony, Buddy Jewel, and Little Texas just to name a few. Tim has some good/fun/funny songs that he does, if your are interested in Tim & his music try this: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=4643256
This is a shot of the crowd in Legend's Corner as we exited the place around 10pm Saturday night. It did not start getting this crowded until after 9pm. We are getting more savvy about what to do and how to do it. Instead of working our way through this crowd to the front door under that exit sign we exited out the back door which empties out near the back side of the old Rhyman Auditorium on 5th street. That way we avoided having to walk back to our Saturn along Broadway Street which by this hour has turned into a churning mass of bodies moving between the honky tonks.
When in Nashville proper we stay at the Two Rivers Campground. First, they are the most inexpensive of the options, second they have a great staff, and the owners sponsor good entertainment in the park several times a week. All those things combine to make this our CAMPGROUND of choice when visiting Nashville.
Several times while we were at Two Rivers Campgrounds Hot Damn performed in the park. They perform in the Naples, FL area during the winter and here in Nashville during the summer.
In addition to Hot Damn Two Rivers Campgrounds sponsors a number of other good performers. Look for them when you visit Nashville & Two Rivers Campground.
Over the Memorial Day weekend Two Rivers Campground not only provided the campground with a FREE hamburger lunch they sponsored special guest Mel McDaniel to perform for Campground guests.
Mel McDaniel is a household name for old country music fans. Some of the younger folks will remember Louisiana Saturday Night, Baby's got her Blue Jeans On, Standup, I'm Countrified, Stand on it, Can't Sing the Blues in an Air-conditioned Room, Blue Mississippi, Free Bird and Wish I Was in Nashville.
Mel has been around a LONG time his first release 30-years ago and his first Top 10 Record was God Made Love. Several of his band members didn't even know the song so he accompanied himself on an acoustic guitar. In the 90's Mel was at the top of his game especially with his hit "Baby's got her Blue Jeans On", then a 1996 accident in Louisiana where Mel fell into an unmarked orchestra pit at the front of a stage that nearly cost him his life. "It was totally dark and I had no way of knowing it was there" recalls Mel. "I had that big light in my eyes, and couldn't see anything. I took about three steps, and then everything exploded. I'd never been in such pain. Tore me up pretty bad. Hurt my neck, my back, my leg, my knee, my arm, my elbow..all of it. Probably, the Good Lord and my guitar breakin' my fall saved me". Mel has had several surgeries since the accident, but he admits, "I'm as good as I'm going to get. I just do the best I can." He grins. "But I'm still here, thank God." Mel is back on the road and performing several dates each year. Mel credits his mother, Laverna, and his "Peggy" for helping him through the rough times. He freely credits Peggy with helping him do what he is able to do. Mel and Peggy are in a 5th wheel here in Three Rivers Campground. During the two weeks we spent in Two Rivers Campground we never did see Mel again but did see Peggy on a regular basis. I kept thinking Mel would appear in the audience when the group Hot Damn was performing but he never did. That is the type entertainment you can expect at Two Rivers Campground for free. Mel McDaniels for free. You might not get Mel but you can be sure that you will get several groups performing that will be top quality. We did hang around the campground for Mel McDaniel, Hot Damn and the free Memorial Day lunch and celebration but when the sun went down it was time to head back to honky tonk row.
We found Melissa Paige performing at Legend's Corner and enjoyed her as much this time as we did earlier. This girl ranks up there with Martina McBride. You can learn more about Melissa and her music here: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=73340487
Tim Baumgartner is the lead guitar player in Melissa's Exit 69 band. Check out Tim & his music:. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=155419334
Check Melissa's web page to see where she will be performing when you visit Nashville.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=73340487
This is Chris Janecek Melissa's base player in her Exit 69 Band. Chris also brings some good background vocals to their sound.
Until next time remember how good life is. Mike & Joyce Hendrix
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