USA Music Tour 2015 Day 30
Nashville Tennessee Saturday 19 September
Today is official close-out day at the Americana Music Festival. The Conference part has concluded but there’s plenty of events around the town, culminating in tonight’s big bash at The Ascend Amphitheatre by the Cumberland River.
There are so many events here. They largely take place in Music Row, Downtown, East Nashville, The Gulch and Pie Town. Except for East Nashville, you can walk it all if fit and have the time. Otherwise, there’s taxis and motorised carts to ferry you around, which is pretty easy generally.
I have learnt not to spend too much time in transit. Attempting to go to say five or six locations in one day is not very successful. Too much travel time and you often arrive late and at the back of a venue.
Again, today the plan was to go to two or three places only, arrive early and enjoy all or a sizeable part of a session.
At noon at Soulshine Pizza on Division St, the ‘Canadian Blast’ had six artists on stage for the afternoon.
Tim Chaisson from Prince Edward Island is young and obviously possessed a lot of energy, on stage and off. Last night he played in Ottawa and was going back there after this Nashville performance. He has an affable and easy presence on stage. A nice voice and plenty of percussive intensity via guitar and stomp box. His 2015 album Lost In Light was produced by Band Of Horses member Bill Reynolds. I enjoyed his set, which was based on tracks from the new record – “Crushed”, “Cajun Moon” and “Goodbye July” come to mind.
Tim Chaisson – photo by Jim Jacob
Now listen up folks, I have a prediction for you. If you haven’t already, you will hear the name Whitney Rose very soon. A captivating country voice, a well-suited and dynamic band and songs that stand up and demand attention.
Rose has just released an album Heartbreaker Of The Year which was produced by Rao Malo of The Mavericks. Tracks from that album were showcased today “The Devil Borrowed My Boots” and the title track, as well as a sultry, siren version of “Ring Of Fire”. Not a mis-step. A class act with bucket loads of promise.
Whitney Rose – photo by Jim Jacob
Nicol Robertson of The Whitney Rose Band – photo Jim Jacob
From Ontario, Ambre McLean never writes a set list. She missed Patty Griffin’s performance here a couple of nights ago (as did I) and shed a tear because of it (as did I, almost). Staring a set with a cover is unusual, but I understood the context and she did a commendable rendition of Griffin’s “Heavenly Days. A lovely voice and effective use of sound loops.
The Dead South are from Saskatchewan. Plenty of vigour and assertive percussion on stage. Four black hats, four beards, four young men, four acoustic instruments and synchronised beer drinking on stage. Now that’s what I call entertainment!
The Dead South – photo by Jim Jacob
The Canadians know how to put on a bash. A shady patio setting with tables, great music, free pizza, salad and drinks tickets, and good music.
But we couldn’t stay until the end unfortunately as we needed to soon be at the Ascend Amphitheatre. Also, a good coffee close beforehand would be the go – Crema on Hermitage Avenue. The first time there. Highly recommended, it has its own roasting laboratory, full of locals (always a good sign) and probably the best tasting coffee of the trip.
A five-minute walk to the Amphitheatre, a brand new facility built on the Riverfront Park next to the Cumberland River. Our seats were stage left, six rows back, a good position as no cameras. Detachable lenses were not allowed and my small device would just about do the trick, at least while there was plenty of light.
Nikki Lane was looking the fashion goods, a big backing band with a nice, copious sound. Plenty of material from her debut album All Or Nothin’, a duet with Buddy Miller and a lot of sassy dialogue. She sang happy to birthday to some guy and lauded him by saying: ‘he was the only man I haven’t sacked’. Not lacking in self-confidence.
Nikki Lane
Buddy Miller and Nikki Lane
I had seen Steve Earle and the Dukes at the Cumberland Caves last week, so the lineup would of course be the same, and so was the set list, pretty much identical in fact. Tonight I was on the opposite side of the stage, which gave me a better opportunity to see lead guitarist Chris Masterson strut his stuff.
Steve Earle and the Dukes
It was a beautiful setting.
The Nashville Night Skyline
The Ascend Amphitheatre
There was a main stage, as you can see. At the top of the arena, there was a tiny stage as well, where Emmy Rose Russell, Tift Merritt & Eric Heywood, and Valerie June preformed. Frankly, it was hard to know anything was on at all. There was one announcement but I missed Tift Merritt completely, which was very sad. I caught a bit of Valerie June though.
Valerie June
Loretta Lynn. Hmm. Hard to express myself. I am not a big country fan. But, when you see someone who is an icon, endless hits and a supreme strong personality. A voice at an age that is ridiculously good. Songs included: “You’re Looking At Country”, “When The Kingdom Becomes A Chill”, “Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven”, “Blue Kentucky Girl”, “You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Be My Man)”, “Fist City”, “She”s Got You”, “One’s On The Way”, “Honky Tonk Girl”, a very moving Vietnam War tale “Dear Uncle Sam”, “Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven”, “When No One Stands Alone” and woo wee! “Coal Miner’s Daughter”.
Someone asked for “Delta Dawn”, Loretta said: “I’m not Tanya Tucker”.
Loretta, a legend.
The great Loretta Lynn
I saw Dave Rawlings and Gillian Welch (under the banner of Dave Rawlings Machine) perform one song at the Americana Honors and Awards ceremony last Wednesday night. My only experience of them live, as it has been quite some time since their last (still talked about) tour of Australia. For me, this performance was going to be a special treat and the main reason I was here tonight.
I was not disappointed.
Simplicity and perfection. Two instruments (sometimes an alternating banjo), two people, two voices. Music intertwined and contributions inseparable. Rawlins’ guitar was sublime. Welch’s voice memorable. Harmonies complete. Acoustics perfect. This is the bar folks, and this pair like it high.
While watching Loretta Lynn backstage for four or five songs, the pair decided to drive home and dress up for the occasion. Nice.
The Dave Rawlings Machine released an album Nashville Obsolete this very week. But not one song was played from that tonight. Here’s the set list:
Wayside/Back In Time
Elvis Presley Blues
Rock Of Ages
I Want To Sing That Rock and Roll
The Way It Will Be
The Way It Goes
Make Me Down A Pallett On Your Floor
Red Clay Halo
Hard Times
Six White Horses
Time (The Revelator)
Sweet Tooth
Look At Miss Ohio
Katie Dear
A sweet and sincere version of Dylan’s Mr Tambourine Man
Ah, magic. In 1927, Ralph Peer recorded the finest music that anyone could bring to Bristol Virginia/Tennessee. Out of the famous sessions came Jimmie Rodgers and The Carter Family. You can draw a straight line from the famous Bristol Sessions to Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings, History complete.
Dave Rawlings and Gillian Welch
Dave Rawlings and Gillian Welch
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