July 26, 2024 – Nashville Tennessee
I have left the mountains of Vermont for the sidewalks of the city, The Music City, Nashville, Tennessee. Instead of the Friday adventure with my local adventurers ascending to a peak, I am on my solo jaunt amid the tall skyscrapers and hard surfaces of the iconic city of the south, known as the capital of country music, our country, America.
I parked the rental along the street. Not just any street, Music Row. Walking the blocks of eclectic buildings with recognizable giants of the music recording industry, RCA, SONY, CURB, and others, I considered the enormous impact of the music business on our society. Mixed into the equation of this business district are many law firms and ASCAP. This must also be the hotbed of copyright and other legal aspects of the lucrative entertainment industry. Drum Corps has suffered from the scrutiny of such forces as the archives of recordings are no longer available and many shows have restrictions on the use of certain songs. I will not dwell on this.
After a short walk over the interstate and the Gultch, I arrived downtown. Urban vistas are revealed, and each block provides great cityscapes to photograph. Finally, after several blocks, I need to quench my thirst. Ever-loyal Siri offered up the Ole Smokey Moonshine Distillery and Yee-Haw Brewery. Perfect. Clearly, Nashville is a party town, as I observed roving bars on wheels on the way here. Now, firmly ensconced at a high top with a pint of Big Hoppa IPA (hg), I have observed several troupes of ladies in boots and denim who will dance later on today in celebration of their bride. Tennessee women are beautiful and are not shy about it. These are the days that matter; getting out of Dodge, so to speak, is just the medicine for this weary soul of 69. America is more than just the water that flows down along the Mill Brook. It’s noon and I am now halfway through my second IPA. Better drink up and head back to the car. There is more on tap for me this evening. Tonight is a show night. I’ll try and catch up with you later.
Wait a minute. I was on my way back to the car. There was a bar at 1:00 pm with live music. I love this place. The music of Hunter West was piped outside to the sidewalk. The lure hooked me in. I’m having one more (low-gravity) beer and some live music here in Music City. One guitar and an awesome voice, belting out the afternoon drinking songs. The waitress walks by with a shirt emblazoned with Day Drinker. Yup. Meryl Haggard is coming up. This music is the soul of America. My friends back home would love this! Back to you later.