There are some classic questions that people ask when they find out that you're a singer/songwriter, and I've heard them all. The top three might be these, in no particular order:
1. Can you really make a living as a musician?
(Answer: That would depend if you're persistent and ready to work hard)
2. Have you ever considered going on American/Canadian Idol?
(Answer: Ummmm... That'd be negatory.)
3. Have you ever thought about moving to Nashville and landing a record deal? (Answer: I can't imagine moving out of the land that I love, where I already have a record deal...with my fans!).
It is with that last question that I will concern myself with here, having just returned from a last-minute 5-day trip to Nashville. I have always wanted to visit Music City, if only to soak up the history and the vibrant music scene, one that seems to attract starry-eyed songwriters like so many summer moths to a patio lantern. I confess that I have often felt the pull, but with no contacts there, and little time to spare with a busy career at home, my first visit didn't come until this past week.
Why did I go? What does a dyed-in-the-wool indie like me hope to achieve by going to Music Row, the home of the corporate country hit-machine? Are there any hopes of scoring a major-label deal? Would that even be a good idea? Let's do a brief history lesson…
I understand that back in the halcyon days, an enterprising young songwriter could walk up and down 17th avenue, handing out copies of their demo to every studio, publishing company and producer, and at the end of the day, if they were any kind of good, someone would offer them a deal. But these are different times. The record companies are downsizing, CD stores are closing, and radio stations aren't breaking new acts. There's a lot of great music already out there, and it's way less risky to trade on that than it is to develop new bands, what with the recession, file-sharing and whatnot.
I can only imagine that Nashville feels the effects of these changes, but if she does, it didn't show. Country music still does huge numbers, and is in some ways the rock and roll of our time, in terms of emotional currency and fan devotion. There were two 24-hour TV channels devoted to country music video...a stark contrast to MTV and VH1, who rarely play music videos, in favor of reality shows and game shows.
These are the woes of the corporate music business, however, and not major concerns for your friendly neighborhood independent musician. We indies operate outside of this machinery (and without their mass-coverage), in a world of grassroots promotion, peer-to-peer marketing, and lower budget recordings. Ironically, though, it is precisely these indie lessons that the majors are eager to learn, now that the top-down music business models may have breathed their last.
After processing all this in my mind, I decided that I would meet whatever contacts my friends had for me there, but then leave it at that, and not try to hustle work or connections. So this trip to Nashville took on the feel of 'music tourism', which, for me, was way better. The meetings I took went great, and may lead to more, but in the end it's my memories of that great music city that will last forever.
Well, they'll last forever if I actually write them down, I guess…so here goes:
1.Gaylord Opryland Resort: That's quite the name, I know. And quite the place---9 acres of indoor, climate controlled fantasyland, replete with shops, nightclubs, convention centre, 100s of rooms, tropical flora/fauna, waterfalls, and a river comprised of the water from thousands of international rivers. I got to stay there because my sister and niece were in the Irish Dancing Competition held at the Convention Centre. Slainte!
2.Bluebird Cafe: This place used to be the mecca for anyone trying to break into the Nashville scene as a songwriter, due to the ever-popular Monday-night open mic. I snoozed and loozed on that one, but I did get to hear some fantastic songwriters 'In the Round'...people like George Marineri(Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Hornsby), Steve Conn (Sonny Landreth, Bonnie Raitt, Dixie Chicks) and a half dozen others I hadn't heard of. The food was good, the quarters were a tad cramped, and the walls oozed history and the memories of gigs gone by. It was weird to find it in a strip mall, where you might expect to find a Subway or a dry cleaner. Well worth the trip to Hillsboro, though!
3. The Ryman Auditorium: Back in the 1800s, a preacher named Samuel Porter Jones came to Nashville to set up tent meetings, where he warned against the evils of drinking and gambling. Mr. Thomas Ryman was a tavern owner and ran a few riverboats in the area, so he thought he might stop by one of these meetings to heckle the good preacher. Things didn't go as planned, though, and Mr Ryman found himself persuaded by the reverend's arguments against the sins of the flesh. A new man, he devoted himself in 1885 to constructing an auditorium for , so that every time he came to town, he would have somewhere to hold his meetings. That building is now the Ryman Auditorium, which went on to host opera stars, politicians, stage plays, and the Grand Old Opry makes its home there from 1943-1974, and many country stars consider it the 'home church' of Country Music.
I fell in love with it as soon as I walked in the door. It's been restored, but it still has all the charm and warmth of that original wooden structure, and the pews have been refinished (and the chewing gum removed from below the seats...50 gallons!). I sang a song for the tour guide at the front of the stage, on an old Martin they had there for photo ops.
It was magical just being there, but to see it all come alive with 4000 people on the night Vince Gill came to town to play some good ol' Bluegrass...well, now we're talking. He even invited Ricky Skaggs onto the stage! It was quite a night, and was the highlight of the trip by far.
4. The Basement, 12th and Porter, 3rd and Lindsay: These were all excellent clubs to check out...At each one, I was impressed with the sound, and the high level of talent on display. The lights at 12th and Porter were particlarly dazzling. I met some great people at these clubs, and all of them were a $5 cover. Steal! Plus, I could swear that I say Percy Daggs III (Wallace from Veronica Mars) singing and playing his butt off at 3rd and Lindsay!! Can anyone confirm if this is him, going by the pseudonym 'Joey'? Odd.
Will I be back? You bet! This time I might bring a friend...it did get a tad lonely, being a stranger in a new city, but I kinda dug the challenge. It was like being a fly on the wall for the most part...drifting in and out of shows without anyone noticing me was somewhat liberating, since I was freed up to just enjoy the music, and follow my interests around this great American city, taking little mental snapshots as I did.
You might just see a song come out of this one...
~Jacob
