Y’all, I am fast forwarding Space Center day and most of Nashville because I had the best night last night! I will go into Nashville in more detail but I had to do a newsflash for y’alls.
The catch with the Grand Ole Opry is when you order your tickets y’all don’t know who is going to be performing – the show goes for two and a half hours and there are heaps and heaps of acts. A lot of newbies and oldies and sometimes a surprise big name.
I totally lucked out – y’all I had the most unreal seats and good lord one of the performers was…
BRAD PAISLEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Y’alls he is so huge – his latest album won the CMA award for 2006 for Album of the Year and he is just the most unbelievable guitarist. I couldn’t believe my luck in getting to see him as it isn’t like he is ever going to come out to Australia. The Opry was just fantastic – two other great bands that I really enjoyed were Mountain Heart and Cherryholmes.
After the Opry, I headed to Jacks BBQ for some great Tennessee pulled pork shoulder, mac and beans. It was so good smothered in Kansas City BBQ sauce which is the more smoky sauce of their selections. It was then time to head to some of the Honkytonks. Tootsies were out the door so first I went to the Stage. The minute I walk in I hear the famous introduction to Friends in Low Places – I nearly fainted. The number 1 all time best beer drinking song ever as voted on CMT and my favourite country song ever and here it was being sung soooo loud in the most jam packed place in the middle of Nashville. You kinda end up pinching yourself! I was also looking twice and one old dude over near the stage – WILLIE NELSON’S TWIN!! It couldn’t have been him but I really had to look twice. Also a lot of Kenny Rogers look-a-likes walking around here too!
After a while there, I went to Tootsies. It was just too packed to enjoy it but at least I can say I had been. The band here were just as good playing a lot of new country – people just going nuts and I love seeing all these guys in Cowboy hats, sitting at a bar, drinking their Budweiser. Then you have the lead singer of the band yelling “Y’all don’t forget to tip those hot ass girls behind the bar now ya hear!” It is just classic!!!
After a while at Tootsies I then headed to Legends Corner and after a few songs what do ya know? I hear Friends in Low places – AGAIN! It was just so good and I had such a great night!
One bizarre thing that I have never seen at home is the band throw out buckets, just like offering plates for everyone to chuck money into – EVEN BANDS PLAY FOR TIPS. Obviously why I never had to pay a cover charge anywhere and being a non-drinker this meant a totally cheap night!
Now I am going to jump on my soapbox – people who say you cannot travel ON YOUR OWN and GO OUT AND HAVE A GOOD TIME do not know what they are talking about! This whole trip has been full of those experiences but I am getting kinda tired of everyone I talk to going “Oh you are so brave for travelling on your own!”. As I said before, the only thing I miss is being able to share the experience with someone (it is so frustrating) but otherwise it is easy! So if you are reading this and don’t think you can do it well… just do it! *jumps off soapbox*
So I am all checked out of the hotel and will just hang out here before the flight to LA – I have a lot more to write about Nashville obviously and also I have to finish my Florida experience so I will catch up whilst in LA. I can’t believe the trip is nearly over but it feels like years ago that I was in Edinburgh.