Archives for posts with tag: Nashville

Hank Williams Jr To Headline New Years Nashville

October 2, 2013 //

Hank Williams Jr. to Headline Fifth Annual
New Year’s Eve ‘Bash on Broadway’

Courtesy Webster & Assoc.

Grammy award-winning country singer/songwriter Hank Williams Jr. will headline the fifth annual Music City New Year’s Eve ‘Bash on Broadway’ event in downtown Nashville, the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp (NCVC) announced today.

A city that knows how to throw a good party, Music City will once again offer one of the biggest New Year’s Eve celebrations in the country with multiple days of free live music and Nashville’s own midnight “Music Note Drop®.”

“Football, football and Hank! All our rowdy friends are staying over this year,” said Butch Spyridon, president and CEO of the NCVC. “This may be the best end-of-year “mash-up” we have ever had with the Titans, the SEC and Hank ringing in the New Year. Are you ready?”

“This year is going to be very special on New Year’s Eve,” says Hank Williams Jr. “December 31st will mark the 60th anniversary of daddy’s death. For years, I have not performed on New Year’s Eve in honor of my father, but this year is a monumental year in the history of Hank Williams. If daddy would have lived, he would have been 90 years old this year. I hope Music City is ready to boogie woogie, because Bocephus is going bring the party to Nashville.”

Sponsors of this year’s New Year’s Eve ‘Bash on Broadway’ include Miller Lite, Coors Light, Jack Daniel’s, Advance Financial 24/7 and McDonald’s.

Announcement of additional artists will be forthcoming. For the latest details about talent and events, visit www.visitmusiccity.com/newyearseve.

-Brad Hardisty, Nashville, TN

Tags Bash On Broadway, Country Music, Hank Willliams Jr., Nashville

Categories Uncategorized

Hunter Live Down On Lower Broad

April 24, 2013 //

It all starts down on Lower Broad with musicians like Hunter who likes to kick it on the guitar and inter-act with the tourists. Outside the honky tonks, Hunter can be found busking and working the passers-by into his lyrics and repertoire.

The Nashville Bridge salutes Hunter!

– Brad Hardisty, Nashville, TN thenashvillebridge@hotmail.com

Tags busking, Hunter, Nashville, street musician

Categories Music, Nashville

Debbie Bond Radio Taping For Mando Blues

April 14, 2013 //

Debbie Bond was the guest last Monday night on WRFN Radio Free Nashville’s Mando Blues Show recorded in a huge army tent at Omega Studio high on the top of a peak at an undisclosed location in the nearby Nashville wilderness.

A fantastic crew with Tony Gerber , known for his electronic music compositions, acting as host for the night, went to work on soundcheck with Debbie and her band featuring Rick Asherson on keyboards and Dave Crenshaw on drums getting a much bigger than it looks sound going into the green spec recording layout.

Omega has developed a layout for power using not much more than six car batteries, car stereo amplifiers and LED lighting to run at a deceptively low 1600 watts with state of the art recording as can be seen by linking to the net recordings of the summit.

Debbie brought much more than just blues experience playing with Willie King and Johnny Shines for almost thirty years in Alabama displaying soulful grooves with a nod to Muscle Shoals, Alabama writers like Eddie Hinton, Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham. In this case, the western Alabama juke joint grooves may be at the heart, but, this was soulful blues.

Debbie brought three new songs that will be featured on her next album, “Find A Way,” That Thing Called Love” and “Steady Rolling Man,” that fit right in with “I like It Like That” from her days with Willie King as well as some songs from her most current release Hearts Are Wild with a stand-out version of the slow ballad blues of “Falling.”

Nashville session saxophonist Tom Pallardy sat in later in the set after a successful collaborative prior night set at The Nashville Jazz and Blues Awards at Bourbon Street in Printers Alley.

Host Tony Gerber paid tribute to female blues artists with his in-between tracks that also featured some rare Richie Havens and alternative version material.

Mando Blues is an esoteric record store workers dream where true collectors and music geeks get to hear all things blues and related materials. They all get a little spotlight. There may be no show quite like this in the world.

An invited group of about 10-12 people got to sit-in on the live recording happening that fit a BBC type production with high production values and plenty of meat in the interview.

Tony asked the right questions that will give any listener the feeling they knew where Debbie came from and what she is about after listening to the two hour show.

Although there are provided links to watch video of each one of the songs, it is well worth the price of free admission to listen to the entire show to get the interview segments as well as Rick’s “Monty Python meets Muscle Shoals” sense of humor.

Debbie is a native of California, but, her time growing up was spent in England and Europe while Rick’s roots are Londontown. Debbie and Rick almost crossed paths in College back in England, but, never actually met until Alabama Bluesman, Willie “Sweet Potato Man” King suggested they get to know one another in Western Alabama.

Roy Wooten aka “Futureman” stopped by to listen in and dug the Alabama soul groove coming out of the eventual four piece band with Rick sometimes playing the utility guy playing bass with one hand on the Nord keyboard and blues harp with the other hand and singing back – up vocals. If he had one more arm, they probably could have a full horn section.

Tom Pallardy’s sax fit right into the song as if he had been playing with Debbie for years but, in reality he had not heard much of the material. Dave Crenshaw brought down the volume on the drum kit to match the production set up without losing any of the grooves, in fact, it brought out the true dynamics of the songs.

Debbie was so happy with the production and final mix of the material that she has already talked about further recording collaboration with the Omega team.

It can be said, that there is probably know recording studio like it in the world, with its MASH style tent set up and being at the mountain peak as well as a crew with ears straight out of a JBL lab anechoic chamber. They know what they are doing and they love what they are producing.

While production was going on, some of the staff was busy cooking a meal fit for a king in a wood burning cast iron stove in cast iron pots. The band and crew were treated to Venison Stew, fresh picked greens and chicken after the final wrap.

– Brad Hardisty, Nashville, TN thenashvillebridge@hotmail.com

all photos (c) Brad Hardisty

Tags Alabama, Dave Crenshaw, Debbie Bond, Mando Blues Show, Music, Nashville, Omega Studio, Rick Asherson, The Alabama Blues Project, Tom Pallardy, Tony Gerber, Willie King

Categories Blues Music, Muscle Shoals Alabama, Music, Music City

Nashville Jazz and Blues Awards Goes Down Smooth at Bourbon Street

April 13, 2013 //

“Some who have made their way to Music City think that it is all about country music…OH NO!!!”

The Nashville Jazz and Blues Awards started up about 4:30 in Printers Alley just a few doors down from Jimi Hendrix’s old gig with Billy Cox back in the day at The Black Poodle inside Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar which boogies all week long with Blues, Jazz and plenty of fretboard sweat.

Gil Gann was hot and MC for the night cuttin’ it up and gettin’ down on the guitar.

Phase 6 acted as house band, while the all-stars rotated on and off the stage like a Pancake Buffet Breakfast at Shoney’s.

The awards show is sponsored by The Marion James Musicians Aid Society which helps musicians in need, especially from the rich rhythm and blues heritage that was on and off Jefferson Street from the fifties through the mid-seventies.

Tina Brown really started getting things going like Tina Turner on an Etta James afternoon. Tina has a strong voice and personality to match.

Phase 6 features two generations of serious players; Samuel Dismuke on bass and Samuel Dismuke Jr. on dual duty as vocalist and Trombonist. Long time collaborator Eddie Carter still kicks it on the drums.

Alabama Blues master, Debbie Bond, played her first set in Nashville at The Jazz and Blues Awards warming up the crowd with a teaser song early on before coming back and playing a set later on in the show. When Debbie Bond took the stage for her full set with Moe Denham sitting in on Hammond B3, she brought some serious Alabama roots with a little of her Willie King experience as well as some Eddie Hinton style Muscle Shoals groove to the local Blues venue. It was a welcome change to what could be considered a get your game on attitude among Nashville’s players.

Awards were given out in several categories to artists that gig in and around Nashville. Jefferson Street Sound Artist, Don Adams won best Bassist while Regi Wooten won best Jazz Guitarist of the year.

Regi Wooten did a barnburner abbreviated set starting out with a laidback jazz version of “Crystal Blue Persuasion” taking the band as far as he could with some John McLaughlin sans Vernon Reid go where you wanna go Lead guitar work that turned it up a notch. Regi’s band, The Wooten Brothers, which tear down the house every Wednesday night at 3^rd & Lindsley, took home Best Live band of the year.

Lola Brown sang backup for Marion James before taking the spotlight herself later with her backup band Area Black featuring Jerome Preston on Bass after Jerome finished a set with Regi Wooten. Lola put it all out there after winning R&B Vocalist of the Year. Lola really brought the church into the boogie bar.

Marion James took home a pair of awards which were judged by local Blues and Jazz Artists as well as some special attendees for Female Blues Singer of the Year as well as her recent Ellersoul release, Northside Soul for album of the year. Northside Soul has garnished some national recognition with rave reviews in several publications as well as awards from B.B. King’s Sirius Radio Channel and a Top Ten on the Living Blues Charts.

Marion James’s set was a barnburner with her singing from her gut, old school, Otis Redding reborn experience thrown into, “I Just Want To Make Love To You.” Marion is the heart and soul of Nashville R&B history having released three singles on three different labels back in the day, one written by her husband Buzz Stewart on Excello, the top ten hit, “That’s My Man” as well as two other songs by two individuals tied to Jimi Hendrix who used to play guitar for her back when, Billy Cox and Larry Lee.

In more recent times, Marion has released three solid albums in the last dozen years that not only spotlight her voice, but, some excellent songwriting that would not only put her in the spot as “Nashville’s Queen of The Blues” but within an elite group of two or three as Queen of The Blues from a last Blues woman standing viewpoint since the passing of Precious Bryant in January.

The Nashville Jazz and Blues Awards is something a very down home event in complete contrast to the glitz and glam of the Country music industry. Marion James almost singlehandedly has wanted to support recognition for the Blues and R&B community of Nashville.

Marion James has this to say: “Down through the years, everyone has come through or stumbled upon Nashville, Tennessee to either visit or make their mark in the music industry. Some who have made their way to Music City think that it is all about country music…OH NO!!!

R&B, Jazz and the Blues have been around for more than just some time. Matter of fact Jazz and Blues are all around you in all of the music. So we are actually not hard to find.

There have been a number of very good musicians that come through Nashville. Some could read, some couldn’t, some could write it down on paper, and some only needed to hear your idea and could play it the first go round. It really didn’t matter because they were very well seasoned and could accommodate any artists that needed them.

Most of our Legends like, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Jones, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles, Charles Dungey, Milt Turner, Ted Jarrett, just to name a few, have passed on and we must turn the baton over to some of the younger generation, who are worthy, to carry the torch and pave a new way out of what they were brought up on…Jazz, R&B and Blues, and carry on the tradition of the root of it all and with some new and original twists added.

We must continue to raise funds and support these new comers as if we taught them ourselves, as if we have rubbed off on them and put a little of our soul into their soul so that WE may live on in them. Knowing that they will continue in what we love so much and that is “THE MUSIC.”

This is why I love giving the Jazz and Blues Awards event every year. It is an annual event that shows our younger people that we see them, we recognize them, we are watching them, but most importantly we are encouraging them.

So move over Country music and make room for our up and coming talent and artists. Offer them a hand up and a way to succeed. Allow them to keep the music coming and growing. Let’s keep them in the spotlight, because there is a Jazz, Blues and R&B artist standing in the wings, waiting for you to reach out and give them a helping hand.”

– Brad Hardisty, Nashville, TN thenashvillebridge@hotmail.com

Tags Area Black, Debbie Bond, Don Adams Bass, Eddie Carter, Gil Gann, Jerome Preston, Lola Brown, Marion James, Moe Denham, Music, Nashville, Samuel Dismuke, Samuel Dismuke Jr., Tina Brown

Categories Music, Nashville, Uncategorized

Sam Bush and Marion James Headline Nashville Metro 50th

April 12, 2013 //

Last Saturday, Nashville celebrated the 50^th Anniversary of Metro Government with a little get together of several thousand people on a rare warm spring day for this year with a celebration of music that included everything from Barbershop Quartet to a Night Train To Nashville All-Star Tribute for the grand finale.

The park in front of the courthouse has proven to be a good place to gather downtown just a few blocks north of Broadway.

Emmylou Harris kicked things off before Barbershop and String Quartets took a turn at the microphone.

Things finally kicked up a notch with one of the twin highlights of the afternoon as Sam Bush and Del McCoury jammed for several numbers trading off flat-picking and mandolin on well-known standards.

For some, this was the reason for hanging at the front of the stage while for others the rare appearance of many of Nashville’s classic R&B era was the reason to party.

Before that, Brenda Lee walked up to the podium and addressed the crowd on what Nashville has meant for her and her career. It’s a great place to live as well as a chance ticket to stardom.

Jimmy Church kicked the Night Train section off with Bobby Hebb’s “Sunny” which is the quintessential song from the classic Jefferson Street years.

Marion James’ did the classic, “24 Hours A Day” with Michael Gray from The Country Music Hall of Fame talking about each song that was chosen and the artists that made them big.

The Valentines made a rare appearance as well as the McCrary Sisters.

It was a great afternoon break and an opportunity for parents to expose their children to some great live music.

– Brad Hardisty, Nashville, TN thenashvillebridge@hotmail.com

Tags Brenda Lee, Del McCoury, Emmylou Harris, Jimmy Church, Marion James, Mayor Karl Dean, Nashville, Sam Bush

Categories Music, Nashville, Uncategorized

Alabama Blues Queen Debbie Bond Set to Play at Blues Awards Tonight

April 7, 2013 //

Debbie Bond, photo – Thomas Z’Graggen

“The last thing Willie King said to me was, “Keep on pushing Debbie!” – Debbie Bond

Debbie Bond will be playing for the first time tonight in Nashville at The Nashville Blues and Jazz Awards that begins at 4PM with a $10 door at Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar and is presented by The Marion James Musicians Aid Society to benefit the heritage musicians that lived and worked around the Jefferson Street community in the R&B heyday from about 1950 through the mid-70’s.

Debbie’s most recent album Hearts Are Wild got a thumbs up from the Nashville Blues Society last year after its release. Hearts Are Wild is Debbie’s second solo album and her first since Willie King passed away in 2008.

Debbie, as well as her husband Rick had been a part of Willie King’s band for several years playing in and around Alabama as well as touring Europe.

Debbie Bond has also spent several years developing The Alabama Blues Project that educates young and not so young children about blues music and gives them the opportunity to develop the skills to play blues music.

Debbie feels that Alabama has never received the recognition that it deserves in relation to the development of Blues and American music. Essentially, Alabama really is joined at the hip with Mississippi and there was a lot of cross-state-lines intermingling goings on from the very beginning.

Brad Hardisty/ The Nashville Bridge: How long have you been living and playing the Blues in Alabama?

Debbie Bond: Thirty years. I actually came here in 1979.

TNB: Was it originally to work with Johnny Shines?

Debbie Bond, photo – Robert Sutton

DB: It wasn’t. It was just to visit some friends and I was kind of going through some heartache stuff in England and I…uh…originally it was just to come for the summer to get away. But, one thing lead to another and well… included hooking up with Johnny Shines (A contemporary of Robert Johnson).

TNB: You were playing guitar at the time?

DB: Yeah, I was playing guitar. I really started off playing acoustic guitar. I was playing folk songs and I love the blues. I was in a band in England when I was in College in ’75 through 1978 and we played that music in Brighton, England. So, when I came here, you know, I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into. I had a lot of prejudices about Alabama and Alabama culture and the south. I had my mind blown by the music and the food and the southern culture. I was humbled. I was brought to my knees. I ended up staying.

TNB: I was kind of the same way. I thought the south would be a certain way and it was totally different than I figured. So, the last project that you were in was a group before you went solo and that was playing with Willie King, right?

Debbie Bond onstage with Willie King

DB: Yeah, the last band and probably the most serious musical situation that I was in was with Willie King for the last seven years of his life. I toured and recorded with him. Rick, my husband is British and before I married him he had hooked up with Willie and Willie introduced me to Rick. Willie was the best man at my wedding and we married at Freedom Creek and so I have Willie to thank for that big time besides the musical experience and so that was a really big blues experience in my life.

TNB: Did Willie meet Rick overseas?

DB: No, he met Rick here. This is a crazy story but Rick was in Clarksdale, Mississippi and went into Jim O’Neal’s little shop downtown and asked where there was he could hear some blues tonight and they said, “Well, there’s no blues here.” But, because of the connection to Jim O’Neal, a lady who ran the record store and also sold kind of voodoo stuff, said, “There is the Freedom Creek festival over in Alabama tonight.” Rick actually drove all the way to Pickens County, Alabama, which was four and a half hours away. He ran into somebody who didn’t know where The Freedom Creek Festival was and sent him all the way to Tuscaloosa which was another hour out of the way. Rick happened to see my notice and directions in the local record store, Oz Records in Tuscaloosa, then drove all the way back, I mean, then ended up driving into the Festival. His mind was blown. He ended up…Willie said. “Stay.” Rick stayed with Willie camping out there and staying in his trailer and went on the road with Willie and toured just like that. Rick plays harmonica and keyboards.

TNB: What year was that?

DB: That was in 2002 and then we met. I think we went on one date then moved in together and then we got married and Willie was our best man. We married on Freedom Creek and had our wedding ceremony there and then had our party at the local juke joint.

TNB: So, in 2008 you started working on Hearts Are Wild?

Debbie Bond, photo – Robin McDonald

DB: Yeah, I just started focusing on my own music. I was running the Alabama Blues Project. I founded the Alabama Blues Project and I really just wanted to do my own thing for a change. The last thing Willie King said to me was, “Keep on pushing Debbie!” I just really wanted to do my own music. So, I kind of got the Blues Project on its own feet. We still do things with the Blues Project, but, we just tried to focus on my own music and eventually we ended up putting out Hearts Are Wild. I think our official release date was 2012.

TNB: Have you toured overseas since the release date?

DB: Yeah, we played over in the Tarragona Blues Festival and also we played in England and France actually. When it first came out we played a show in France and also at a radio station then a show in England. The Tarragona Blues Festival is in Spain. We are actually going back to play the festival again in November. I’ve written a song called “Tarragona Blues.”

TNB: So, that is where you are establishing your crowd?

DB: Well, it just so happens, you know how things kind of fall into place. I don’t have a booking agent, so, I am just kind of doing things myself as they come along through Facebook really. Facebook has been really great for me. So, it just so happened that we were going to be in Spain and we were going to be in Europe and The Tarragona Festival just fell into place. I mean it was so synchronistic on the only dates we could possibly do it. So, we did it and they really loved the show. They loved us and are having us back. We are definitely building an audience there and I’m hoping I can release the song, “Tarragona Blues” which I wrote the night before the festival and played at the festival. They really enjoyed it. I want to record it and release it in Spain as a single.

TNB: Are they getting into buying vinyl in Europe like we are in the States?

DB: I don’t know.The fact of the matter is times are hard in Spain like they are in other parts of Europe. Maybe not as bad as Greece, but, it still is hard times. So, I don’t know the answer to that.

TNB: As far as releases. Are they buying songs on the web or do they want product?

DB: I find most people are buying CD’s at shows. You know the web is great for promoting, but, I haven’t found that with my audience. My audience seems to like the real CD.

TNB: Yeah, it seems like here in the states we have a lot of hardcore vinyl collectors now.

DB: I’m hearing that. If I could get just a little bit more on the map and more successful, I would definitely consider putting out a vinyl recording.

TNB: Yeah, it seems like even in limited runs a lot of bands are doing it here in Nashville because we have United Record Pressing. They used to press all of Motown. They have a Motown Suite upstairs in the plant. They are pressing a big portion of what is being done right now.

DB: That’s good to know. I know there is a way to go back to vinyl and I have all my records and we do listen to our records on our record player.

TNB: I’m actually buying more vinyl than I do CD’s right now.

DB: I am hearing that from the record stores. I am going to definitely take that into consideration. But, at this stage in the game I just think it’s so affordable to do CD’s.

TNB: Okay, you have never played Nashville before. Have you played in Tennessee before, maybe, Memphis?

DB: I have not played in Memphis.

TNB: So, this is your first gig in Tennessee.

DB: Yeah it is.

TNB: You are also going to be playing on the Mando Blues Radio Show on Monday.

DB: I’m really looking forward to it. I’m hoping you can make it.

TNB: What are you looking forward to the most about being in Nashville?

Debbie Bond, Rick on keys, photo – Robin McDonald

DB: I feel like it’s an adventure. I have great sympathy for Nashville because I think it is kind of like Alabama. People don’t think of the blues when they think of Nashville and the fact that there is this really cool blues culture is exciting to me. I fell like it is an honor to be part of the line-up at The Nashville Blues and Jazz Awards that includes Marion James and all these veteran blues musicians. I’m really thankful and excited to be part of it.

– Brad Hardisty, Nashville, TN thenashvillebridge@hotmail.com

Tags Blues Music, Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar, Debbie Bond, Nashville, Tarragona Blues Festival, The Alabama Blues Project, Willie King

Categories Uncategorized

Tin Pan South at Station Inn

April 3, 2013 //

Rory Lee Feek, Tin Pan South 2013, Station Inn, photo – Brad Hardisty

“I slept my way to the top!” – Rory Lee Feek

Chris Caminiti, Tin Pan South 2013, Station Inn, photo – Brad Hardisty

The Historic Station Inn still survives in the rapid developing Gulch area just south of downtown and Tin Pan South kicked off with the late set on April 2^nd featuring Joey + Rory aka Joey Martin Feek and Rory Lee Feek (“Cheater, Cheater”), Tonya Lynette Stout (“What The Devil Wants”), Erin Enderlin ( “Last Call”) and up and coming Chris Caminiti (“Better Than Me”) performing in the round while across town at 3^rd & Lindsley the writers from the hit TV show Nashville were creating a lot of buzz.

Nashville has been through a long lonely winter and tonight was no exception with temps already dropping into the 40’s as everybody got their popcorn and a cold one and settled down at the long tables that The Station Inn is known for.

The crowd seemed to be from every corner of the globe from Canada to England and beyond. It seems like fans outside the United States value song craft and the creators more than those that live within the 48 contiguous states do.

Tonya Lynette Stout, Tin Pan South 2013, photo – Brad Hardisty

Every round needs a leader and Tonya seemed to be the de facto go-to among giants. Joey + Rory were bookended by Chris and Erin which made for quite an interesting spread of influences ranging from Billy Joel to Bobbie Gentry.

Chris kicked it off on acoustic playing off the fact that he was from the northeast and he wasn’t quite Country but was definitely his own thing. Chris moved between guitar and keyboards like it was nothing.

Joey + Rory, Tin Pan South 2013, Station Inn, photo – Brad Hardisty

Tonya brought things into focus and it seemed that the theme for the night began to build on cheatin’ and drinkin’ songs other than the song Chris said fit with his life raising a stepson and he definitely told a great story on that one. Chris wasn’t sure if the song would find a life since everybody in Nashville is trying to be 22 right now.

Paul on Rory’s Axe, Tin Pan South 2013, photo _ Brad Hardisty

Tonya showed classic songwriting style well-developed with a strong voice calling up one of her co-writers, Paul and Rory gladly handed over his six string for Paul to sit in on the fun.

Joey + Rory, Tin Pan South 2013, Station Inn, photo – Brad Hardisty

Rory was articulate on the guitar and comfortable in the catbird seat with his Harlan Howard pedigree. Writing music for Harlan Howard would be the equivalent of getting one of Chet Atkin’s CGP certificates or being Chuck Leavell in The Rolling Stones for all these years. The latter would be truer because in reality maybe The Stones were the lucky ones to get Chuck on keyboards. They know his pedigree better than 99.9% of Stones fans.

Joey + Rory have had some great success over the last couple of years and being out on the road with The Zac Brown Band doesn’t hurt either. They have their own “Honky Tonk Women” with “Cheater, Cheater” that was released on Sugarhill no less. I don’t think Sugarhill is used to having a Top 40 hit.

Erin Enderlin tuning up “Jimmy Dickens”, Tin Pan South 2013, Station Inn, photo – Brad Hardisty

Between swapping stories about being on the road with Zac Brown that ended in a co-write there were stories of how songwriting sessions go in their household with Joey baking chocolate chip cookies and other delights. It sounds like the food starts in the kitchen when songwriting begins in their household.

Erin Enderlin said that when Joey was making BLT’s it kind of made you wanted to hurry up and finish writing so you could eat. It sounded like Erin was a regular at their house.

Erin Enderlin, Tin Pan South 2013, Station Inn, photo – Brad Hardisty

Erin was the last in line but really was more like the fourth at bat with the San Francisco Giants ready to clean up the plates hitting a home run every time. Luckily, she had her 2011 self-titled CD available to take home so I could put “Baby Sister” on cranked up on my way back home.

In a way this was really a contrast between the set at The Station Inn and what was going on over at 3^rd & Lindsley where T-Bone Burnett had been putting his stamp on some very interesting up and coming writers. The set at The Station Inn basically showed that the spirit of traditional country still had a thread and importance and for many outside Nashville a definite relevance just as the TV show Nashville premiers Country with a twist of lime.

Joey Martin Feek, Tin Pan South 2013, Station Inn, photo – Brad Hardisty

All four were great songwriters and were comfortable onstage as well. If I had to take something home, it would be that Rory Lee Feek is a deft guitarist with clean articulate lines and has a great long time duet team going on with Joey. While I was listening to the stories about food in the Feek household while guitars were strumming and words were being penned to paper it made me want to be in on one of those songwriting sessions with Erin and The Feeks or at least stop by the all-night diner down by the Cumberland for some late night breakfast.

Erin, Joey and Rory, Tin Pan South 2013, Station Inn, photo – Brad Hardisty

The other takeaway was Erin; literally, I got the CD so I could rock out to “Baby Sister” on the way home. Erin has enough blues in her music and her voice to make it interesting for me. I also appreciate the fact that she brought along her own utility player laying down some great dobro slide.

If I had to make a pick, I was glad I was at The Station Inn last night.

– Brad Hardisty, Nashville, TN thenashvillebridge@hotmail.com

Tags Chris Caminiti, Country Music, Erin Enderlin, Joey + Rory, Nashville, Tin Pan South 2013, Tonya Lynette Stout

Categories Country Music, Nashville

Happy Birthday Little Richard!

December 5, 2012 //

Little Richard, current Nashville resident with a long history in and around Nashville, “The Architect of Rock and Roll,” a songwriter, a performer, an actor, an icon, who is the master of his own creative works was born as Richard Wayne Penniman on December 5, 1932.

Little Richard, one of the true innovators, crossed styles from what was then known as rhythm and blues to rock and roll in the mid-1950s. He was also the first artist to put the funk in the rock and roll beat and contributed significantly to the early development of soul music.

Little Richard blew the lid off the Fifties, laying the foundation for rock and roll with his explosive music and charismatic persona. On record, he made spine-tingling rock and roll. His frantically charged piano playing and raspy, shouted vocals on such classics as “Tutti Frutti“, “Long Tall Sally” and “Good Golly, Miss Molly” defined the dynamic sound of rock and roll.

He recorded for RCA Records from 1951–52 and for Peacock Records beginning in 1953. Dissatisfied with his lack of commercial success during this time, Penniman formed a new “hard-driving” R&B road band in 1953. By early 1955, a demo tape of his music caught the attention of Specialty Records president Art Rupe, who bought out his contract from Peacock and arranged for him to record for Specialty in September 1955.

Little Richard was the inspiration for generations of rockers from James Brown, and Elvis Presley, to The Rolling Stones, and Prince.

Little Richard aka Richard Wayne Penniman was among the first group of inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 and one of only four of those artists (along with Ray Charles, James Brown, and Fats Domino) to also receive the Rhythm and Blues Foundation‘s Pioneer Lifetime Achievement Award.

In 1994 at The CMA’s, Little Richard brought the crowd to their feet playing with Tanya Tucker performing Eddie Cochran’s “Somethin’ Else”.

The Nashville Bridge wishes Little Richard a Beatles “Happy Birthday” and salutes his lifetime achievements and how important they are as part of the foundation of what American Culture and music are considered to be throughout the world.

The sun is out in Nashville, I hope you enjoy this blessed day!

– Brad Hardisty, Nashville,TN thenashvillebridge@hotmail.com

Tags Little Richard, Nashville

Categories Uncategorized

The Four Patron Saints of Music City

November 17, 2012 //

photo – Brad Hardisty

After much thought, I really wanted to salute a few key individuals for perpetuating Nashville as Music City. I could have written about 100 individuals both musicians and business people that make things happen and gone into Classical Music, Christian Music and Gospel Music, but, in the end, I needed to break this down to four people from different directions musically that make Nashville “Music City” and give way more than they take from the community.

For those that live here, you may understand what I am talking about, but, for those from all over the world, maybe I will open a few eyes and ears.

For any number of reasons, I could have written about Little Jimmy Dickens, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Jim Lauderdale, Charlie Daniels, Ricky Skaggs, Little Richard, Elizabeth Cook, Taylor Swift, Vince Gill, okay I could go on. You may agree with my list or you may not. These are whom I call four essential pillars that hold up through thick and thin and inspire others to create and grow in the Nashville community.

Marty Stuart supporting band member Kenny Vaughan at Ernest Tubb’s Music Store CD Release Party, photo – Brad Hardisty

Marty Stuart, born September 30, 1958 in Philadelphia, PA, has been one of country music‘s most eclectic artists, performing and recording diverse types of country music.

He is of French, English, Choctaw, and Colombian descent.

In 1979, when Lester Flatt died. Stuart pushed forward and worked with fiddler Vassar Clements. He also worked with guitarist Doc Watson. In 1980, he joined Johnny Cash‘s backing band. The previous year, Stuart made his first solo album, With a Little Help From My Friends, on Ridge Runner Records

In 1985, Stuart accompanied Johnny Cash to Memphis and played on the “Class of ’55” album that also featured Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, and Jerry Lee Lewis. At the end of the session Perkins presented him with his guitar.

When does Marty become a Patron Saint? I believe it started when he had a heated run-in with Columbia Records when they dropped Johnny Cash from their roster. When he stuck up for the “Man in Black” it cost Marty his own album, Let There Be Country which Columbia decided not to release at that point. With Marty, principal comes before dollar signs.

Marty has performed with the best of the best, Johnny Cash, Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs, Bob Dylan, Merle Haggard and Travis Tritt to name a few. Marty saw his first solo success with Hillbilly Rock on MCA Records.

Marty contributed to the AIDS benefit album, Red Hot + County.

Marty’s interest in the heritage of Country Music lead to the showing of his private collection of music memorabilia at the Tennessee State Museum in 2007 as “ Sparkle & Twang : Marty Stuart’s American Musical Odyssey” in 2008.

Marty Stuart has published two books of photographs he has taken of some of Country Music’s most historic Artists including, “Country Music: The Masters” with some of the final photos of Johnny Cash.

Lately, Marty has been the touchstone to Neo-Country proudly wearing the badge of Nashville past bringing classic country into the future with his last two recordings, Ghost Train (The Studio B Sessions) and Nashville Vol. 1: Tear The Woodpile Down.

Marty’s vast knowledge of the history of Country Music and support of classic artists such as Porter Wagoner despite the lack of Nashville label interest has helped to perpetuate what the outside world considers to be true blue Nashville Country.

Buddy Miller stands at the crossroads of the past and the future as the Godfather of what is now known as Americana, which encompasses everything from old time gospel music to red dirt Country.

Buddy has managed to put a canons worth of Gospel, Country tinged rock, and the most original of tracks out of his own living room with his wife, Julie Miller. Buddy is a great musician, songwriter, producer and collaborator. I believe that last skill is what makes Buddy one of the four patron saints. A great collaborator where all are welcome under his tent that bring something to this new idiom described as Americana.

Buddy is the house band leader for The Americana Music Awards every year, able to play with just about every artist including Robert Plant who when he decided to put together his Band of Joy project, Buddy Miller was his only choice for bandleader. Buddy put together a band of Nashville all-stars that included Darrell Scott as the utility man on everything from fretless banjo to pedal steel.

Last year’s Majestic Silver Strings featured guitarists Bill Frisell, Marc Ribot and Greg Leisz, with guest vocalists including Emmylou Harris.

To top that, Buddy is releasing on Black Friday, a new album with Jim Lauderdale, Buddy and Jim.

Buddy’s ability to reinterpret with a working knowledge all things country, rock, old time gospel and folk has singularly help to build a new arm of music radio and business with a firm avenue for those outside the box.

Artists such as The Avett Brothers and Mumford and Sons in some way owe some credit to Buddy Miller in helping to define a way to market this new indie branch of the music tree.

Marion James

Marion James may be the most constant and longest lasting member of the Music City Patron Saints. Marion has been a longtime performer and resident living nearby what used to be the hot bed of Blues, Soul, Rhythm and Blues on Jefferson Street. Marion’s biggest hit was The Top 10 Billboard Hit, “That’s My Man.”

Marion James at 30th Annual Musicians Reunion and Benefit, photo- Brad Hardisty

Marion James, known as Nashville’s “Queen of The Blues” was playing on Jefferson Street back in the day with a young Jimi Hendrix who had just gotten out of the military. As a former member of Fort Campbell’s Screaming Eagles, Jimi Hendrix and his new best friend Billy Cox had their own band The King Kasuals but also played with Marion James and others.

The musicians on Jefferson Street, Johnny Jones, Christine Kittrell, Little Richard, Ray Charles and many others were featured on one of the biggest Rhythm and Blues stations of the day, Nashville’s own WLAC.

Marion was featured prominently in The Country Music Hall of Fame’s exhibit Night Train To Nashville. A photo of one of her live performances with Billy Cox on bass is featured on Volume Two of the Night Train To Nashville Collection.

Several years ago, Marion James started the Musician’s Reunion shows that featured the stars from back in the day on Nashville’s Northside to benefit the Marion James Musicians Aid Society, that she started to help aging musicians with medical costs as well as support the American Cancer Society and the Nashville Rescue Mission.

Marion James continues to perform today. Marion James recorded in the 80’s a blues landmark album with The Hypnotics that lead to sold out shows in Europe and also released a solo album called Essence that featured Nashville guitarist Jack Pearson as well as session bassist Bob Babbitt.

Recently, Marion released Northside Soul on Ellersoul Records which reached #10 on the Living Blues Charts.

Marion James, not only is an accomplished vocalist, but, writes many of her owns songs. Marion James is The Queen of The South when it comes to the Blues.

Marion continues to support the North Nashville community through her organization as well as efforts to get out the history of Jefferson Street to the rest of the world.

Jack White is probably the newest patron saint as one of the four cornerstones of the Nashville Music Community. I’m not sure what the tipping point was when Jack decided to move to Nashville, but, I imagine meeting Loretta Lynn and asking if he could produce her must have been a big nod in that direction.

The White Stripes started performing “ Jolene” long before Jack moved to Nashville, but, Van Lear Rose, the album that brought a Grammy nod as well as new ears to listen to Loretta Lynn was a huge milestone.

Wanda Jackson and Jack White (Associated Press Photo)

Since working with Loretta Lynn, Jack has gone onto record with Ricky Skaggs, Produce “The Queen of Rockabilly”, Wanda Jackson, invite Porter Wagoner to open for The White Stripes at Madison Square Garden shortly before his passing and worked with many of Nashville’s Rock and Roll Community while spotlighting its heritage.

Jack represents what Rock and Roll is all about with a balance between the blues, rock and roll and country. Jack and his record company, Third Man Records solidify Music City’s Rock and Roll Community which has seen tremendous growth in the last three to four years.

Nashville, whose first real travelling stars, The Fisk Jubilee Singers, has seen a lot of changes over the years. Lower Broad almost turned into a dangerous ghost town when Opryland took over the Grand Ole Opry and most of what downtown had left musically in the late 70’s.

It took many starts and stops before seeing a permanent positive growth record with the opening of today’s Country Music Hall of Fame and numerous new projects downtown.

Nashville is about to see a new golden age for the “Athens of the South.” Nashville has probably one of the biggest collections of colleges and universities in America. Now, just about every genre of American music has a piece of the pie and venues grow by leaps and bounds.

Peter Frampton may have moved here to early, it definitely spurred him on to return to the guitar in a big way, but, sadly he decided to move before Nashville really started to realize its potential as one of the coolest cities in America.

If you are a musician, especially a guitarist or a songwriter, there is no better place to be in the world today no matter what style you play.

– Brad Hardisty, Nashville, TN thenashvillebridge@hotmail.com

Tags Music City, Nashville, The Four Patron Saints of Music City

Categories Buddy Miller, Fisk Jubilee Singers, Guitar, Jack White, Jimi Hendrix, Loretta Lynn, Lower Broad Nashville, Marion James, Marty Stuart, Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives, Music, Music City, Music Row, Nashville, Night Train To Nashville, Rock Music, Third Man Records, Uncategorized, Wanda Jackson

George Jones Final Show Will Be In Nashville

November 15, 2012 //

George Jones Final Show at Bridgestone Arena

Outback Concerts in association with Country Music Hall of Fame member George Jones announce the final Nashville show as part of The Grand Tour to be held at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN on Friday, November 22, 2013.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow, November 16, 2012.

Special guest Tanya Tucker will be on hand for the Nashville concert amongst other friends of The Possum, yet to be announced.

“The Grand Tour will have surprises throughout the shows – you never know who may show up! The Possum has lots of friends so it is going to be the most exciting thing to see who shows up during the final show. You should come too – and we can be surprised together!” said Jones.

George Jones, often referred to as the “the greatest living country singer” will mark the end of an era with 2013’s farewell tour titled “The Grand Tour”. The tour is expected to make approximately 60 stops next year. “I Don’t Need Your Rockin’ Chair”, “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes”, “White Lightning” and “He Stopped Loving Her Today” will surely be part of each night’s set list, along with plenty of guests and surprises.

Tickets for the Nashville show go on-sale Friday, November 16th at 10am at all Ticketmaster locations.

Fans of ‘The Possum’ can see him at his upcoming concerts listed below or at www.georgejones.com.

George Jones on Tour (2012-2013)
11/09 – Branson, MO – The Mansion Theatre
11/10 – Morton, MN – Jackpot Junction Casino
11/16 – Peoria, IL – Peoria Civic Center
11/17 – Hiawassee, GA – Anderson Music Hall
11/23 – Winnie, TX – Nutty Jerry’s Winnie Arena
11/24 – Bossier City, LA – Horseshoe Casino
12/01 – Elizabeth, IN – Horseshoe Casino
12/15 – Jackson, TN – Carl Perkins Civic Center
02/02 – Tunica, MS – Sam’s Town
02/07 – Lakeland, FL – Youkey Theater
02/22 – Greenville, TX – Greenville Memorial Auditorium
02/23 – Forrest City, AR – East Arkansas Community College
03/15 – Joliet, IL – Realto Square Theater
03/16 – Muncie, IN – Emens Auditorium
03/22 – Chattanooga, TN – Memorial Auditorium
04/05 – Fairfax, VA – Patriot Center
04/06 – Knoxville, TN – Knoxville Coliseum
04/19 – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theater
04/20 – Salem, VA – Salem Civic Center
04/27 – Huntsville, AL – Mark C. Smith Concert Hall
05/17 – Charlottesville, VA – John Paul Jones Arena
05/18 – Spartanburg, SC – Memorial Auditorium
06/01 – North Tonawanda, NY – Riviera Theater
06/02 – Lancaster, PA – American Music Theater
11/09 – Grant, OK – Choctaw Event Center

George Jones is the #2 best-charting country artist of all time, with a staggering list of hit singles in every decade since the ’50s. The Beaumont, Texas native also has 143 Top 40 hits to his name, has received two Grammy Awards, was a 2008 Kennedy Center Honor recipient, is a Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, was presented with a GRAMMY(r) Lifetime Achievement Award this year and holds a National Medal of Arts. At 80, Jones continues to be an active country music superstar, headlining dozens of concerts each year.

– Brad Hardisty, Nashville, TN thenashvillebridge@hotmail.com

Tags George Jones, Nashville, Tanya Tucker

Categories Bridgestone Arena, Country Music, George Jones, Music, Nashville, Tanya Tucker, Uncategorized