Author: goat

Yeppers baby … got rolled in … gonna be a few more days though until I’m back at “work” (still have to deal with moving trucks, storage units, etc).  In the meantime, thanks to Greta Cornett for hosting The Colorado Sound at KRFC in my absence.  Her playlists are great as usual.  I’ll post them in the appropriate place here in a bit.

So, what did I learn?  Well, to start with, if you’ve never really traveled by car across this country then you don’t know how blessed we are here in Colorado to have such great radio —- truly, radio across the country SUCKS!

Over 90% of the “public radio” section of the dial belongs to religious broadcasters – and depending on what part of what state you’re in it can be very dark subject matter (at least it was to my ears).   What parts of the dial that are not religious are strictly NPR – a travesty really, as live and local seems as foreign a concept to public stations across the country as live and local commercial radio.  Obviously, there are exceptions but they were truly so few that I didn’t even bother to take note – other than the most killer Americana country station I’ve heard – WDVX in TN.  And how that station exists in such a blatantly conservative state is beyond me.

Musically, both Nashville and Memphis delivered what they promised…. lots of country and lots of blues.  Interestingly, I didn’t really come across all that much glam-pop-country while in Nashville.  Half the places were traditional, the other half modern country-rock ala Garth Brooks meets Lynyrd Skynyrd.  There were a few Kenny Chesney meets Jimmy Buffet types as well.  Overall though, I saw and heard more trad stuff – ala Willie, Waylon and Johnny.  Best place for the “punk” crowd?  Layla’s Bluegrass Inn on Broadway… think Bender’s meets Larimer Lounge for the tourist set.  OH, and bands play from 10AM on … all day … in three and four hour shifts with no breaks!  Sound systems were bleh!  Only met one sound guy in one room (hey Logan!).

Only spent enough time on Beale St in Memphis for some q and to hear bands from the street … great music … but otherwise  eh … did do Sun Studio … had the most spiritual experience while there – brought me to tears twice.  The spirits of Elvis, Johnny, Carl, Jerry Lee et.al. were deeply present in the place.

Gotta throw some props out to the Dixie Cafe crew in Oklahoma – Pam and her staff were great!  Very hospitable… incredibly friendly…. and truly excellent cobbler.

K… time for some food and relaxation …

Okay okay … so sorry haven’t been here lately … I’ve been on a sort of vacation … okay – a vacation.  My 75 year old Mom retired at the end of August, and I am moving her to Colorado.  So I flew out to Connecticut, put Mom’s stuff on a truck, put Mom in the car and headed west (not so young man and mom) 😉

We drove south to Frederickburg ,VA and had dinner with an old high school buddy, then drove west to Knoxville TN.  What a hell-hole!  I got out of the car at the hotel and thought I fell into a lake it was so humid.  We went to the local restaurant and had the worst meal of the trip so far …. all attended to by one of the most “I love the Vols, but not more than the Lord… and those boys at the college are ungrateful for all they’re given” racist white women I’ve ever encountered 😦  … no less, about an hour west was the tallest flag pole I’ve ever seen, with the old confederate flag flying high!

There was one VERY VERY cool thing about Knoxville though – sadly.  WDVX – http://www.wdvx.com/ …. damn fine Americana radio … totally supported by local underwriting and listener support.  Check em out 🙂

Days 3 and 4 were spent in Nashville.  WOW!!!  Why I never moved there is beyond me.  It was HOTTTTTTTTTTTT!  and humid.  Maybe that’s why???

So hot that Mom spent our second day there in bed from heat exhaustion – while I did the town.  Music goes from 11AM to 3AM, seven days a week.

If you’re on Broadway, which is the main drag where all the tourists naturally go, seems like everyone plays for tips or a very very small guaranteed and tips ($30 to $40 a man for a 3 to 4 hour set is about what I was quoted by many).  Speaking of … that’s 3 or 4 hours with NO break!!!  Breaks are verboten … they drive customers out the door and down the street.  Sound systems are made up of 16 channel mix wizards and little else…. and are used by the bands from the side of stage in most cases.

I’m sure I’ll have more later .. that’s it for now.

Kinetix “Can’t Undo” from Let Me In (2010)
The Congress “Queen Mary” from The Congress (2010)
The Foot. “Empty Hands” from Primary Colors (2010)
The Fluid “On My Feet” from purplemetalflakemusic (1993)
The Fantastic Zoo “Midnight Snack” from Midnight Snack (1967)
Boenzee Cryque “Candy Coated Lady” from Psychedelic States: Colorado in the Sixties (2007)
Tequila Mockingbird “Actual Size” from Luck And Trouble (2010)
Baily Stauffer and the Katy Janes “Chasing the Change” from Bend or Break (2010)
Mechanical Dan “Mississippi” from Mechanical Dan (2010)
Grant Gordy “Digging Hargreaves” from Grant Gordy (2010)
Danielle Ate the Sandwich “Two Bedroom Apartment” from Two Bedroom Apartment (2010)
Gabrielle Louise “I’ll Turn Myself In On Monday” from Mirror the Branches (2010)
Matt Morris “Money” from When Everything Breaks Open (2010)
Mandy Harvey “Taking A Chance on Love” from Smile (2010)
Adam Stern “Twang Shui” from Twang Shui (2009)
Bobby Walker “Pistol Packin’ Mama” from Way Back When (2010)
After Midnight Jazz Band “Hallelujah I Love Her So” from Midnight in Madison (2010)
John McVey “Lay Your Burden Down” from Unpredictable (2010)
Romano Paoletti “Can You Canoe” from Story of a Lifetime (2009)
Lois Lane “I Must Be Going Out of Your Mind” from The Best of Lois Lane (2004)
Rebecca Folsom “Too Hot Blues” from Water On Stone (2008)
Chris Daniels & the Kings “Depot Street” from That’s What I Like About the South (1989)
The Higher Elevation “Crazy Bicycle” from Crazy Bicycle (1967)
Great American Taxi “Good Night to Boogie” from Reckless Habits (2010)
30db “Susanah” from One Man Show (2010)
Jay Munly “A Gentle Man’s Jihad” from Munly & the Lee Lewis Harlots (2004)
Halden Wofford and the Hi Beams “Sinners and Saints” from Sinners and Saints (2010)
The Dominant 7 “South Corea” from 14 Channels (2010)