Well, they are all gone now and things have quieted down. Till tomorrow. This week will be shows, traveling to Alabama for my Mother's surgery, some songwriters tours going on all week and a HUGE outdoor festival in Franklin next weekend. All along the same time we are still having our kitchen completely redone. Quite a lot going on.
The guys did very good and it was great to see them. I got to break down and work with Justin, one on one, something we haven't done much of. He actually is developing into a decent writer, (YOU ARE NOT A JEDI YET!!!) and is NOT TOTALLY TERRIBLE, even though he is a TEXAN. LOL! Pretty good guy. And I did enjoy working with him.
The "Downtown bar" controversy got settled and I have lifted the ban on the word "TOOTSIE'S" so everyone is okay to talk about it. Was a pretty funny thing.
I kind of poke fun at Texas with Justin, but there are some actually real things that have happened over the decades which lead to this weird relationship with the LONE STAR STATE. There is sort of an annimosity FROM TEXANS toward NASHVILLE that only exists with them. There are some really definite reasons for it.
Texas is a FIERCELY independent state in everything they do. And they are RIGHT to do so. They have had a violent tough time and have a LOT of area to cover, so you can understand where they get it from. musically, they enjoy their traditions and for good reason. They have some GREAT ARTISTS AND MUSIC THAT COME OUT OF THERE.
Texas is a FIERCELY independent state in everything they do. And they are RIGHT to do so. They have had a violent tough time and have a LOT of area to cover, so you can understand where they get it from. musically, they enjoy their traditions and for good reason. They have some GREAT ARTISTS AND MUSIC THAT COME OUT OF THERE.
But some times that leads to OBSTINANCE, STUBBORNESS, and sometimes, ARROGANCE, they don't need.
Nashville has always been a melting pot where EVERYONE IS FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE. So there is less EXCLUSIVITY AND MORE INCLUSIVITY. But there is a tension. And often those great artists, BUDDY HOLLY, WILLIE NELSON, KENNY RODGERS, STEVIE RAY VAUGHN, and so many great artists throughout history had to GET OUT OF TEXAS to cross over to other areas. Many Texas artists will decide they need to get beyond Texas to expand their careers. Sometimes that is looked down upon by the TEXAS faithful. So it is always something.
Personally, I have always done well and been embraced by Texas. I have been to many places, played a good deal and visited a ton in that state and love it. Have taught workshops in AUSTIN, FT. WORTH, DALLAS, HOUSTON, MARSHALL, and many more places I can't even remember. Have played THE WHITE ELEPHANT in the Ft. Worth Stockyards, Poor David's Pub in Dallas, ANTONES in Austin, East Texas University, Marshall Texas. I've always been treated with respect and had a great time. I have a lot of blues and southern rock edge in me and they love that there.
But I do find sometimes there is a "chip on the shoulder" attitude among some of the music lovers there. So we deal with it. But they are ALWAYS welcome here, and Justin this week represented them well. Hope he learned some things and took them with him.
OD and Phil, along with Justin were LARRY MOE AND CURLY here. But everyone loved them, they are a hoot to be around and aside from their bets, Justin trying to end OD's guitar playing days, OD RENAMING some of my friends, and PHIL trying to figure out how to keep a GPS from turning him into a "Pokemon GO game."
But it was great to have all of you here guys and I hope we can get you all to chime in when you get back. I hope you saw some new things here that have helped you on your musical journey. I know you have helped a few others on theirs.
Thanks,
MAB
"Wise guys huh? wooop woooop wooop wooop!!! nuk nuk nuk nuk!!!"
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