Nashville Skyline

Posted on Sep 18, 2013 in Music Travels

Read about our music travels to Nashville TN in 2013

The 5 Spot

A lot to talk about. A full day.

Last night Trish joined us, arriving from Melbourne late in the day, so the group was complete.

Today we decided that most of us would drive to Opry Mills shopping centre – better to do this before Americanafest gets under way and the going gets a little hectic. The centre is about 6 miles out and is adjacent to The Grand Ole Opry and the Gaylord Opryland Resort.

The shopping was good – a quick lunch and a commitment from me to give up on Starbucks coffee as anything near approaching Melbourne beverages. We got back to Nashville just in time to visit the Ryman Auditorium gift shop. We noticed that there was some sound checking going on – really good music emanating from the Auditorium. The band Shovels and Rope (who are performing at the Awards ceremony tomorrow night) were hanging around, as was the great Jim Lauderdale (the show’s host). We exchanged hello’s with the latter.

Back to the hotel – we had asked for a change of rooms, to one with a fridge, so we moved our bags into the new room then rushed over to the Sheraton Hotel over the road for Americana Conference and Festival registration. We stayed for a drink (in case we saw any performers rock up – they didn’t – but we did catch up with our friends Colleen and Bryant from Sacramento CA, alumni from Nancy Covey’s Festival Tours like us). They mentioned that Ry Cooder was on the same flight as them. I wonder what he is up to?

Back to the hotel to collect Richard, we got talking with Andrew who does the valet parking and he mentioned he is a guitarist and singer, starting up a new outfit called Johnny Appleseed and he was in fact next week going to Tony Joe White’s house to do some recording! We exchanged contact details and he provided us with a tip for tonight’s music.

Back to Demo’s restaurant – food again very good and relatively healthy.

Then Sandra, Trish and I caught a cab to East Nashville to The 5 Spot, the place recommended to us by Andrew. The cover was $2 and here’s the band list for the night.

A very young crowd – there was only one person that seemed to be of my vintage and he looked rather familiar…

The sets were very short and the music was of an extremely high standard. Mercy Bell had an excellent voice, Dillon Hodges a strong stage presence and interesting songs. Adrian Krygowski upped the ante – the band included a superb horn section and Paul Niehaus from Calexico on pedal steel. Derek Hoke kept the night cracking along and oh that guy I mentioned before – I remembered he was recording artist Robyn Hitchcock, who I saw in Melbourne as part of the Way To Blue: Nick Drake Tribute. Hitchcock guested on two songs, including a wonderful rendition of Dylan’s “Tonight I’ll Be Staying With You”.