the last day of the holiday, for the most part i wandered around downtown doing last minute shopping (posters from the hatch show print, cds from Ernest Tubbs in downtown etc) i did a few specific things though.
to begin with i went to the hall of fame museum to see the new Hank Williams exhibit, the hall of fame is brilliant and puts the rock and soul museum to shame. for the most part its a museum full of memorabilia (Chet Atkins and mother Maybelle's guitars, johnny cashes suit) but it is all arranged in a somewhat chronological order. the end of the museum is a huge circular room featuring bronze plaques of all the members of the hall of fame, all with thier biography as well as their dob and dod. its cool and features old Gospel lyrics around the rim of the room (will the circle be unbroken) i have a funny feeling its a Carl Perkins song. following this i cruse through the record shops downtown bumping into the organizers of the Hank Williams protest rally taking place Saturday morning which i cannot make. i sign their petition (24ooo signatures so far) and wish them luck, its a good cause and supported by hank the 3rd. Williams was kicked out of the Opry cast for missing too many performances due to alcohol in 1952, plans were underway for his return (sober) in march 53, but Williams died from a mix of prescription drugs and alcohol in the back of a Cadillac new years eve 52. the Opry uses his name and likeness to promote themselves but he never has been reinstated as a cast member. considering his status and modern reverence as one of the original country and western stars, it seems they should at least recognise him. thier site is reinstatehank.org
from here i go to the Ryman to collect my BB King Ticket i ask about the tours and find out the last one of the day leaves in 5 minutes, which i get a ticket for. The Ryman was built in the 1890s as a church with a balcony being added in 1897, it was renovated in 1994 adding in dressing rooms and the like turning it into a modern theatre. the place is stunning and really worth a visit. During the tour the guide takes us to the only permanent set room for a Opry member (the Opry still plays here a few months out of the year) Little Jimmy Dickens. annoyingly the Guide says he is on the roster for the Opry this weekend (would liked to have seen that.) after the tour i grab some posters at the hatch (spending WAY too much money.) I then head out to the Riverside Mall, knowing it was on the 31 i spot the road going north and take it, after 40 minutes i am in the middle of nowhere, and i haven't passed anything remotely looking like a shopping centre or a walmart. i check the map to find 2 31s one 31e and one 31w both going north and south (shut up ok) i drive back listening to talk radio and finally find my way. i grab some sweatshirts and head back to the hotel.
later on after getting my stuff sorted out i head to jacks BBQ on Broadway, getting caught in a torrential downpour on the way. the queue for food is silly so i decide it must be good, it wasn't the meat was dry but edible, guess i was spoiled by the ribs in Memphis. I walk round the corner to the Ryman getting to my seat in time to catch Joanna Cotton. nice support playing 'funkabilly' she had a great voice but wasn't a patch on Gary Moore who was Kings support last time. BB King comes on and well is BB King! he was as good as i remembered and i loved every minute of the 2ish hours he played. Following the show i walk down to Tootsies but just go in the gift shop next door after i see the queue to get in. Lisa had recommended a show at Lylas that night featuring a guy playing rockabilly piano, but as BB King had overrun he had already finished. I go in the gift shop and buy some Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson shirts to use up some of my dollars and chat to the cute girl behind the counter who had just moved down to Nashville from Maine. i got the usual question i get the evening before moving on "so how long you in town for?" um like 6 hours?
i nip across the road to Ernest Tubbs to pick up another CD (hank3's new one) which i forgot to get earlier. The guy behind the counter asks where I'm from and then asks if i want to go the Jamboree (Ernest Tubbs Jamboree broadcasts every Saturday night at midnight on WSM its a cool loose performance in front of the audience at the record shop near the Opry.)
Unfortunately I'm on a plane to England.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment