Jay Minkin's Nashville Blog

Notes from the Americana Music Association (AMA) showcase event.

By: Jay Minkin
Date: 10/06/2008
Reach Jay Minkin at blues4bird@aol.com.

I think Jim Lauderdale said it best when he wrote, “We are all Americana.” I can attest to that after spending three days and four nights submerged into the musical soul of the Americana Music Association (AMA) showcase event. My good friend Dale Elwell and I had been discussing a trip to Nashville for several months. To go down during the AMA Honors & Awards show would be everything and more we could have imagined.

Wednesday

We arrived on Wednesday, September 17th and headed over to the conference to pick up our show tickets and wristbands. We had the fortunate luck to have our order misplaced … and were given FRONT ROW SEATS at The Ryman Auditorium for the following evening’s big event. More on that later. The wristbands would gain us access to five clubs which had evening music showcases scheduled Wednesday through Saturday. Ryan Humbert met us for dinner and he joined us for many of the musical moments to follow.

Before the night’s showcase, we had already received our tickets to an added show at The Ryman: Levon Helm's Ramble on the Road concert. Some of the artists who joined Helm this particular night were: Sam Bush, Buddy Miller, Larry Campbell, Allison Kraus, Robert Plant, Sheryl Crow, and John Hiatt. One of the highlights was Helm performing “Anna Lee” from his recent Dirt Farmer album. The woman sitting next to me started to get emotional. It just happened to be Laurelyn Dossett, who wrote the song. As everyone stood and applauded when Helm finished the song, I whispered in her ear “Congratulations … I think everybody liked it.” She looked up and smiled while still wiping away the tears of joy.

After the show we headed to The Station Inn to catch hour showcase sets by Dailey & Vincent, Randy Kohrs, and SteelDrivers. Nominated as an AMA New Emerging Artist of the Year, the SteelDrivers are a crack bluegrass ensemble of Tammy Rogers, Mike Henderson, Mike Fleming, and Richard Bailey mixed with shades of Lynyrd Skynyrd by vocalist/guitar picker Chris Stapleton.

Thursday

We stayed just west of downtown, near Vanderbilt University, Music Row, and the historic Hillsboro Village neighborhood. Thursday morning, we went to local roaster Fido for “Bagel Bombs” and rich dark java. Next it was a Nashville shopping spree at world renowned Grimey's New & Preloved Music. Just as we finished up finding gold in them music bins, my friend and indie recording artist Tonya Watts messaged me to meet her at Second Fiddle to hear Greta Gaines perform a lunch time set. Gaines rocked the crowd with songs from her new album Whiskey Thoughts as if she was the Americana version of The Pretenders. T. Watts says, “people either love me or hate me” musically, but you could not find a friend with a more passonate heart. Afterwards, it was time for a quick stop next store to have some famous Jack’s BBQ.

Ready to hear about the night’s big show at The Ryman? Yes, we saw all these artists perform in one night on The Ryman’s historic stage and it may be the greatest night of live performances I have ever seen … regardless of the front row seats: Buddy Miller, Robert Plant, Sam Bush, Ryan Bingham, Jim Lauderdale, Tift Merrit, Joan Baez, John Hiatt, James McMurtry, Steve Earle, Allison Moorer, Levon Helm, Jason & The Scorchers, Chris Thile, Edgar Meyer, Justin Townes Earle, SteelDrivers, Mike Farris, Kane Welch Kaplin, Joe Ely, and Larry Campbell.

For dessert, we topped it off with the showcases at The Cannery Ballroom with a tribute to Jerry Garcia featuring the band Ollabelle and all-star guests Lauderdale, Campbell, Miller, Catherine Russell, and Teresa Williams. Up the stairs next door at Mercy Lounge, The Scorchers were performing a full set celebrating their AMA Lifetime Achievement Award for performance. Local celebrities spotted in the crowd included Ryan Humbert, Patrick Sweany, David & Jessica Lea Mayfield, Rock 'n Roll HOF’s Howard Kramer and Jason Hanley, and Beachland Ballroom proprietor Cindy Barber.

Friday

Breakfast on day three, Friday, was at the famous Pancake Pantry. Ryan was not passing up the opportunity and thankfully arrive early to stand in line. Today, sightseeing was the agenda with tours of The Ryman, Country Music HOF, and Roberts Western World – which was serving up fried bologna sandwiches, sweet potato fries, and Yazoo beer.

With things starting a little later tonight, we killed time checking the music racks at The Great Escape music store and meeting Dale’s fraternity brother Scott Lindy, Senior PD of Country Music for Sirius at nearby Loser’s Bar. We picked 3rd & Lindsey for showcase sets by Red Stick Ramblers, Peter Bradley Adams, The Coal Men, and AMA New Emerging Artist of the Year winner Mike Farris. It became a buckeye bash with Howard, Jason, and Cindy joining the three of us at this particular venue. There was a buzz and a packed house by the time Farris hit the stage with his eleven-piece band, choir, and horn section. It was truly a night to witness the gospel soul of which I’ve dubbed “The Mike Farris Experience.”

Nashville was making headlines across the country because the city ran out of gasoline. All of a sudden, we started to notice the pricing removed from gas station signs. Only the convenience mart portions were opened as yellow tape and plastic bags covered pump handles. There were only two gas stations open and the automobile lines continued out into the street. The stations hired security personnel to help with logistics and keep order. Many local residents were stranded without transportation until they could find a gas station to fill their tanks.

Saturday

Saturday morning we continued the black coffee breakfast ritual at Noshville. Today we headed to Ryan Humbert’s apartment and see the good parts of East Nashville. After checking out some galleries and yet another record store, we went to the Alley Cat for Tex-Mex lunch. Cleveland native Jack Silverman known in our area as the former guitarist for The Janglers, took us over to his house for a tour and hear a sample of his new side project album. When not playing guitar, Jack is the Arts Editor for Nashville Scene. Before we left, it was concluded that we must return for dinner to Dee’s BBQ. It’s all about the “meat & 3’s” when dining in Nashville and this place was a rib shack where the locales ordered carryout dinner at the counter.

Our last night took us back to The Cannery for a tribute to Glen Campbell, featuring Raul Malo, Jason Ringburg, Greta Gaines, Jim Lauderdale, Chuck Mead (BR549) and the man of honor belting out “Rhinestone Cowboy.” Upstairs in the Mercy were sets by Buddy Miller with guest Bonnie Bramlett, former Jayhawks Gary Louris and Mark Olson, and Chuck Mead. We didn’t know what to make of this dancing character, but later we were told were standing next to the one and only Beatle Bob.

I tried getting gas at 2 a.m, but as I pulled into one of two open gas stations, they ran out. We clsoed the night back in East Nashville at The Red Door Saloon for a late snack which included “Blair’s Death Rain” spicy hot potato chips. Then it was time to say “until next time” to Ryan. It was great spending time with one of my good friends and I'll be breaking news of his return to NE Ohio for a few special performances soon.

Reach Jay Minkin at blues4bird@aol.com.

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