The Grand Ole Opry, Lower Broadway, & Honky-Tonkin
Yes, the skirt, I know. I'm not sure what I was thinking...
Thursday, April 17, 2014
I'm standing on the famous wooden circle, where all the country music legends have stood once they're invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry House. Some of the Opry's newest members are Carrie Underwood (2008), Blake Shelton (2010), Darius Rucker (2012), and Keith Urban (2012).
Some of the guest artists are Amber Carrington, semi-finalist on the Voice Season 4, Cassadee Pope (Voice Season 3), and all of the characters from Nashville that I love: Chip Esten (Deacon), Clare Bowen (Scarlett), and Sam Palladio (Gunnar) to name a few.
Some of the guest artists are Amber Carrington, semi-finalist on the Voice Season 4, Cassadee Pope (Voice Season 3), and all of the characters from Nashville that I love: Chip Esten (Deacon), Clare Bowen (Scarlett), and Sam Palladio (Gunnar) to name a few.
~*~
So what is a honky-tonk or honky-tonkin you might ask? It's a place where the locals holler & swaller. Basically, a bar where live musicians play. And there are dozens of them located door to door on Broadway. You walk outside and hear the mesmerizing wail of a country singer a few feet away. Your ears perk up and your body follows. Soon, you're inside. You stay for a few and get a drink or a bite to eat. You holler (yell whatever the band leader asks you to yell) and swaller (take a swig of your drink). You step outside of the establishment only to hear another guitar, another drum beat, another wail call you in...and this all happens when it's 3:00 in the afternoon, or 11:00 am (I think), and definitely anytime after 5pm...any day of the week. That is the culture of Music City where it's music 24 hours a day!
Also, it's not all just about beer or drinking. A lot of these places are restaurants too, and apparently some of the famous musicians who finish performing at the Ryman or the Opry come to some of these local establishments to continue their music jam sessions here...not too shabby.
Also, it's not all just about beer or drinking. A lot of these places are restaurants too, and apparently some of the famous musicians who finish performing at the Ryman or the Opry come to some of these local establishments to continue their music jam sessions here...not too shabby.