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Nashville Debrief: Just when you thought Jenny had tired of this subject!
Okay, I think I can cram everything else I wanted to cover regarding my Nashville trip in this entry. I have travel on the brain even more than usual, and so the need to document this most recently logged trip has returned with a vengeance.
Where was I when I last wrote about this topic? Oh yeah, I had gotten back to my hotel and tried to take an epic nap. It wasn't as epic as I had hoped, because I didn't fully conk out like I tend to do in hotel beds. Could have something to do with the fact that it was three in the afternoon. But regardless, I got adequate rest, and I lounged a little after that as I came up with a game plan for that evening. I checked my e-mail in the hotel business center, and looked at line-ups at other area clubs to see if there was any music I wanted to catch elsewhere before setting up shop at Layla's for the Hillbilly Casino gig. They weren't due to go on until 11 p.m., and though I wasn't opposed to arriving early and sitting through the two bands that preceded them, I wanted to keep my options open. Ultimately, though, I decided I didn't want to bar-hop alone and so I would sit through those two bands after all, but not before getting some dinner.
There was a little place a few doors down from Layla's called Jack's Bar-B-Que that seemed to be my best bet, but since I had so much time to kill I took a long walk along Broadway, scoping out other restaurants to see if I might uncover something even better, like I had at lunch when I stumbled across the Hogan-endorsed pizza place. I even ventured a little north of Broadway to get an up-close look at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The building is large and looming, and looks really pretty at night. From there I made my way back to the main drag, and wandered to the point that Broadway ends where it meets the Mississppi River. No food places were grabbing me, and I was starting to feel really hungry, so it seemed that Jack's was my place, and I started heading for it. I was a few blocks away when a couple stopped me and pointed across the street at a place called the Cadilliac Ranch, asking if I could tell them what kind of food was served there. Seems they mistook me for a local, which pleased me to no end, but I admitted that I was in fact not from the area and was sorry I couldn't help them. They thanked me anyway and walked along, having made me curious to see the Cadilliac Ranch for myself. I popped in quickly, and there was a solo act strumming a guitar, but it seemed there wasn't much to be had in the way of food, so I didn't stay long. I browsed Ernest Tubb's Record Shop after that because it was right there, and also visited the big souvenir shop next to a well-known bar called Legends Corner. I was stalling in hopes that I could wait out the dinner rush, but seeing all the people around I realized everywhere was gonna be busy the rest of the night, and I was just gonna have to suck it up and endure a food line. The wait at Jack's actually wasn't too bad, maybe like fifteen minutes or so to get up to the counter, and since I was curious to try authentic Tennessee BBQ I broke veg and ordered a pulled pork sandwich with green beans and apples on the side. Got to sample three different types of BBQ sauce, and the Kansas City flavor was my favorite, it was thick and smoky and sweet.
With that out of the way it was music time, and I was so pleased to enter Layla's and find it not as crowded as some of the other places I'd passed. I parked myself on a stool near the edge of the bar, where a banister separating the bar area and the stage/dance floor area kept me safely out of the way. Not that I was particularly concerned with safety, but the fact that I was a woman traveling alone in an unfamiliar city did not escape me, and being aware of that, even though it sucks to acknowledge it, meant me feeling I should approach the night with caution. This translated to me being as incognito as possible, and only ordering one Rolling Rock (I wanted to at least try to be a good bar patron), which I nursed throughout the course of the night. Not really a big deal, since I have trouble downing beer quickly anyway.
The first band up was a four-piece bluegrass group called Jypsi. All the members were siblings, (three girls and one guy) and they were lively and had beautiful harmonies and they even gave bluegrass an interesting punk rock twist. I was pleasantly surprised, and especially enjoyed the lead singer, who had a kick-ass mohawk.
There was a short break after their gig and the place started to fill up a bit more. A lot of the people were tourists traveling in packs and some just stayed for a drink or two and then cleared out. The rest stuck around when a guy named Brandon Giles took the stage. He looked like a country version of the lead singer of Creed (though his hair was blond) and sounded like Jerry Lee Lewis. He even had an electric piano that he played with his feet at certain points. Lots of covers during this set, which suited the tourists perfecty. They weren't there to discover new talent, they just wanted something familiar to dance and drink to. I enjoyed it, but Giles's manic energy got to be a bit much after two hours, and so I was kind of glad when he was done playing. Also by then, I was getting really impatient to see the band I'd been waiting for all day.
Finally Hillbilly Casino arrived and started setting up and doing a sound check. I saw that they had put out some CDs for sale, so I bought them before they started, just in case it got too crazy to get up to the stage and buy them later. I also moved from my tucked away stool to another stool on the outer rim of the bar, so as to be closer to the stage. I had a great view, and I was off to the side near a wall, which I thought meant I'd be able to watch the show without calling attention to myself.
For the most part, I was right. Hillbilly Casino started, and I lost myself in their music, singing along with the original tunes I remembered from their Summerfest gig, and also their covers of music by Johnny Cash and The Stray Cats. I also had a great view of the dance floor, where a bunch of couples were whirling about in a joyful flurry of limbs, calling to mind images of American Bandstand. Seriously, they were that skilled, and one woman even wore saddle shoes and a shirt that flared out like a black flower petal every time her partner twirled her back and forth. I admit, I was a bit envious of those people, because even though I don't know how to dance like that, I think it would be super cool to have that know-how. And they looked like they were having so much fun!
The longing I felt must have been written all over my face, because after a few songs I was approached by a boy who asked if I'd like to dance. It really threw me for a loop, one the fact that I was asked in the first place (I don't think that's happened since high school) and two the prospect of getting what I wanted but in the process revealing my total lack of ability in this area. I was caught off guard and a little nervous, but the boy was kind of cute so I accepted after warning him that I didn't know what I was doing.
I'm glad I took the plunge, but I was way too self-conscious to really get into it. And I quickly recognized that the boy was drunk and out for a quick piece of ass. Which might have been okay if I was someone else, since it was me did not work at all. After a few songs I got tired of having to keep his roaming hands in check and I realized I was gonna have to cut out of the show early in order to avoid him trying to invite himself back to my hotel. Lucky for me I only missed the last half-hour of Hillbilly Casino's set, so I definitely got my money's worth. And as I was leaving I got acknowledged by the lead singer, who pointed at me and nodded in thanks when he saw that I was holding the two CDs I'd bought earlier.
The walk back to the Doubletree was uneventful. The streets were mostly deserted and I used the quiet to stew over the fact that I'd had to let concern over my personal well-being get in the way of finishing out Hillbilly Casino's set. I continued stewing when I was back in my room, and this made my attempt at sleep a bit challenging.
I felt better by the time I woke up the next morning though, and was showered and ready to check out by about 9:30. I had a bunch of time to kill before heading to the airport, so I checked my luggage with the concierge and spent a few hours walking around taking pictures of all the places I visited the day before. I also visited a coffee shop that was recommended by a former classmate of mine who now lives in Nashville, and I poked around the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum gift shop. It was warm and sunny, and I loved roaming the streets with no hat or gloves and an open coat.
At around 2:30 I went back to wait for my airport shuttle, and the driver who took care of me was chatty and charming and delightful. I got lunch at the airport branch of Tootsie's and then found my terminal and settled in with my copy of Watchmen while I waited for my flight to arrive.
So that pretty much covers everything about my Nashville trip, or at least, all the important stuff. It felt so much longer than just 36 hours, and I think that's because traveling by myself makes me more aware of every little moment. I'm glad I was able to cram in so much unexpected sight-seeing and I'm going to try to remember the most important thing I learned, which is sometimes you just have to throw plans to the wind and let the day take you wherever it wants to go.
Alright, on to other topics! :)
Okay, I think I can cram everything else I wanted to cover regarding my Nashville trip in this entry. I have travel on the brain even more than usual, and so the need to document this most recently logged trip has returned with a vengeance.
Where was I when I last wrote about this topic? Oh yeah, I had gotten back to my hotel and tried to take an epic nap. It wasn't as epic as I had hoped, because I didn't fully conk out like I tend to do in hotel beds. Could have something to do with the fact that it was three in the afternoon. But regardless, I got adequate rest, and I lounged a little after that as I came up with a game plan for that evening. I checked my e-mail in the hotel business center, and looked at line-ups at other area clubs to see if there was any music I wanted to catch elsewhere before setting up shop at Layla's for the Hillbilly Casino gig. They weren't due to go on until 11 p.m., and though I wasn't opposed to arriving early and sitting through the two bands that preceded them, I wanted to keep my options open. Ultimately, though, I decided I didn't want to bar-hop alone and so I would sit through those two bands after all, but not before getting some dinner.
There was a little place a few doors down from Layla's called Jack's Bar-B-Que that seemed to be my best bet, but since I had so much time to kill I took a long walk along Broadway, scoping out other restaurants to see if I might uncover something even better, like I had at lunch when I stumbled across the Hogan-endorsed pizza place. I even ventured a little north of Broadway to get an up-close look at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The building is large and looming, and looks really pretty at night. From there I made my way back to the main drag, and wandered to the point that Broadway ends where it meets the Mississppi River. No food places were grabbing me, and I was starting to feel really hungry, so it seemed that Jack's was my place, and I started heading for it. I was a few blocks away when a couple stopped me and pointed across the street at a place called the Cadilliac Ranch, asking if I could tell them what kind of food was served there. Seems they mistook me for a local, which pleased me to no end, but I admitted that I was in fact not from the area and was sorry I couldn't help them. They thanked me anyway and walked along, having made me curious to see the Cadilliac Ranch for myself. I popped in quickly, and there was a solo act strumming a guitar, but it seemed there wasn't much to be had in the way of food, so I didn't stay long. I browsed Ernest Tubb's Record Shop after that because it was right there, and also visited the big souvenir shop next to a well-known bar called Legends Corner. I was stalling in hopes that I could wait out the dinner rush, but seeing all the people around I realized everywhere was gonna be busy the rest of the night, and I was just gonna have to suck it up and endure a food line. The wait at Jack's actually wasn't too bad, maybe like fifteen minutes or so to get up to the counter, and since I was curious to try authentic Tennessee BBQ I broke veg and ordered a pulled pork sandwich with green beans and apples on the side. Got to sample three different types of BBQ sauce, and the Kansas City flavor was my favorite, it was thick and smoky and sweet.
With that out of the way it was music time, and I was so pleased to enter Layla's and find it not as crowded as some of the other places I'd passed. I parked myself on a stool near the edge of the bar, where a banister separating the bar area and the stage/dance floor area kept me safely out of the way. Not that I was particularly concerned with safety, but the fact that I was a woman traveling alone in an unfamiliar city did not escape me, and being aware of that, even though it sucks to acknowledge it, meant me feeling I should approach the night with caution. This translated to me being as incognito as possible, and only ordering one Rolling Rock (I wanted to at least try to be a good bar patron), which I nursed throughout the course of the night. Not really a big deal, since I have trouble downing beer quickly anyway.
The first band up was a four-piece bluegrass group called Jypsi. All the members were siblings, (three girls and one guy) and they were lively and had beautiful harmonies and they even gave bluegrass an interesting punk rock twist. I was pleasantly surprised, and especially enjoyed the lead singer, who had a kick-ass mohawk.
There was a short break after their gig and the place started to fill up a bit more. A lot of the people were tourists traveling in packs and some just stayed for a drink or two and then cleared out. The rest stuck around when a guy named Brandon Giles took the stage. He looked like a country version of the lead singer of Creed (though his hair was blond) and sounded like Jerry Lee Lewis. He even had an electric piano that he played with his feet at certain points. Lots of covers during this set, which suited the tourists perfecty. They weren't there to discover new talent, they just wanted something familiar to dance and drink to. I enjoyed it, but Giles's manic energy got to be a bit much after two hours, and so I was kind of glad when he was done playing. Also by then, I was getting really impatient to see the band I'd been waiting for all day.
Finally Hillbilly Casino arrived and started setting up and doing a sound check. I saw that they had put out some CDs for sale, so I bought them before they started, just in case it got too crazy to get up to the stage and buy them later. I also moved from my tucked away stool to another stool on the outer rim of the bar, so as to be closer to the stage. I had a great view, and I was off to the side near a wall, which I thought meant I'd be able to watch the show without calling attention to myself.
For the most part, I was right. Hillbilly Casino started, and I lost myself in their music, singing along with the original tunes I remembered from their Summerfest gig, and also their covers of music by Johnny Cash and The Stray Cats. I also had a great view of the dance floor, where a bunch of couples were whirling about in a joyful flurry of limbs, calling to mind images of American Bandstand. Seriously, they were that skilled, and one woman even wore saddle shoes and a shirt that flared out like a black flower petal every time her partner twirled her back and forth. I admit, I was a bit envious of those people, because even though I don't know how to dance like that, I think it would be super cool to have that know-how. And they looked like they were having so much fun!
The longing I felt must have been written all over my face, because after a few songs I was approached by a boy who asked if I'd like to dance. It really threw me for a loop, one the fact that I was asked in the first place (I don't think that's happened since high school) and two the prospect of getting what I wanted but in the process revealing my total lack of ability in this area. I was caught off guard and a little nervous, but the boy was kind of cute so I accepted after warning him that I didn't know what I was doing.
I'm glad I took the plunge, but I was way too self-conscious to really get into it. And I quickly recognized that the boy was drunk and out for a quick piece of ass. Which might have been okay if I was someone else, since it was me did not work at all. After a few songs I got tired of having to keep his roaming hands in check and I realized I was gonna have to cut out of the show early in order to avoid him trying to invite himself back to my hotel. Lucky for me I only missed the last half-hour of Hillbilly Casino's set, so I definitely got my money's worth. And as I was leaving I got acknowledged by the lead singer, who pointed at me and nodded in thanks when he saw that I was holding the two CDs I'd bought earlier.
The walk back to the Doubletree was uneventful. The streets were mostly deserted and I used the quiet to stew over the fact that I'd had to let concern over my personal well-being get in the way of finishing out Hillbilly Casino's set. I continued stewing when I was back in my room, and this made my attempt at sleep a bit challenging.
I felt better by the time I woke up the next morning though, and was showered and ready to check out by about 9:30. I had a bunch of time to kill before heading to the airport, so I checked my luggage with the concierge and spent a few hours walking around taking pictures of all the places I visited the day before. I also visited a coffee shop that was recommended by a former classmate of mine who now lives in Nashville, and I poked around the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum gift shop. It was warm and sunny, and I loved roaming the streets with no hat or gloves and an open coat.
At around 2:30 I went back to wait for my airport shuttle, and the driver who took care of me was chatty and charming and delightful. I got lunch at the airport branch of Tootsie's and then found my terminal and settled in with my copy of Watchmen while I waited for my flight to arrive.
So that pretty much covers everything about my Nashville trip, or at least, all the important stuff. It felt so much longer than just 36 hours, and I think that's because traveling by myself makes me more aware of every little moment. I'm glad I was able to cram in so much unexpected sight-seeing and I'm going to try to remember the most important thing I learned, which is sometimes you just have to throw plans to the wind and let the day take you wherever it wants to go.
Alright, on to other topics! :)
