These days there is no shortage of new exciting young talent in Music City. Often, it takes an old musical curmudgeon like me some time to get around to checking them out. I am so thankful that Grimey’s allows me to see new acts up close and personal for free at an early hour. Such […]
If there is currently any performing singer-songwriter that deserves to be called an American Treasure, it is John Prine. With a recording career that started back in 1971 when he was called one of the “New Dylans,” Prine has created a legacy of songs that range from the poignantly sensitive “Hello in There” to the […]
I’m tired of the Lumineers and all the hoopla surrounding them. Even the Nashville TV show is hawking them by having its character Avery Barkley whine about wanting the opening slot for an upcoming Lumineers show. While they sing happy, fun songs and don’t play all that bad, there’s really nothing special about them or […]
In a previous blog, I gushed accolades for the musical talents of James Maddock. In that piece, I discussed how he mostly gigs in and around New York City. Imagine my surprise when I found out–while I was in New York of all places–that Maddock would be playing the next night at my favorite hometown […]
In 1974, I happened to see the New York Dolls open for Mott the Hoople at Madison Square Garden’s Felt Forum in New York City. In retrospect, I was too young to appreciate it. All my youthful innocence saw was a sloppy performance by some guys wearing dresses. I later got what this punk rock […]
Jack Bruce once said that he “lived in England and Ginger Baker lived in South Africa, but that wasn’t far enough!” After seeing the recent documentary about the notorious Cream drummer, Beware of Mr. Baker, I knew exactly what Bruce meant. So much so that I attended one of Baker’s recent sets at one of […]
Back in my New Jersey college days, I asked a friend what his friend Gary (Lachman) was up to. “He’s playing bass with some chick named Blondie,” he answered. I replied, “I didn’t know Gary played bass.” My friend simply replied, “He doesn’t!” Well, Gary eventually learned how and became Gary Valentine. Despite writing Blondie’s […]
Thinking back about my youth, I plead guilty to foolishly narrowing my musical tastes. By the time I reached my late teens, I graduated from Top Forty AM radio to the hipper, rock sounds found on the FM dial. But, for many years I just got stuck there. In doing so, I had no respect […]
Location: Ryman Auditorium Lobby (116 5th Avenue North) The Ryman is not just one of the world’s most famous music venues. It also is a museum of country music history. The upstairs balcony proudly exhibits a rotating collection of memorabilia from the Ryman’s days as home of the Grand Ole Opry. The hallway entrance to […]
Someone once asked me to describe what Americana music was. My simple reply was “country music that doesn’t suck.” I further embellished this remark by adding that an Americana artist most likely 1) plays an instrument; 2) writes their own songs; and 3) doesn’t need to use Auto-Tune to correct their vocals. While my description […]
Music City Mike 