A Grand Ole Time
Going to the Grand Ole Opry was one of the few things left on my to do list before leaving Nashville in the Fall. So when I got a VIP invite to the show for Saturday night, as the amazingly talented King Wilkie boys (very svelte and very cute) were going to be stepping up to the microphone, I immediately accepted. And now I feel like an Opry brat.
The majority of the evening consisted of several trips back and forth from watching sets to drinking at Jillian's. In between their Opry sets, King Wilkie played an hour and a half long set for the Opry Plaza Party event, which is actually very cool. Lights strung across the way, full stage/sound, fireworks, beer...a perfect outside show with a festive setting for the 4th of July weekend. If you happened to be there, Erika, Sarah and I were the ones dancing like drunk fools over by the side of the stage. And we weren't even drunk at that point. It's the Presley blood in me, I'm sure of it. I just can't sit still when there's good music to be had.
This was a first for having backstage passes at the Opry, so that was cool to see. We watched the last set from the stage and as I stared out past all the lights at the auditorium packed with people I thought, aren't they wondering why this group of girls is standing on the stage, right behind the band? I wasn't terribly concerned, just something that I noticed. Things were a bit foggy to me at that point, so I got over it rather quickly.
At any rate, the show ended and we were whisked off (or maybe I whisked myself) down the long, winding hallways to a room where most of what I remember consisted of a nice old lady behind a bar that I apparently bonded with rather quickly and a very large platter of sugar cookies. After scarfing those down like the nice young lady that I portray, it was off to the dressing rooms and then Reid, John, Ted, Nick, Jake and I hopped in The Mystery Machine and caravaned down the 40 with the girls to a little "after the Opry" shindig in Sylvan Park.
And the night continued on. And on.
The majority of the evening consisted of several trips back and forth from watching sets to drinking at Jillian's. In between their Opry sets, King Wilkie played an hour and a half long set for the Opry Plaza Party event, which is actually very cool. Lights strung across the way, full stage/sound, fireworks, beer...a perfect outside show with a festive setting for the 4th of July weekend. If you happened to be there, Erika, Sarah and I were the ones dancing like drunk fools over by the side of the stage. And we weren't even drunk at that point. It's the Presley blood in me, I'm sure of it. I just can't sit still when there's good music to be had.
This was a first for having backstage passes at the Opry, so that was cool to see. We watched the last set from the stage and as I stared out past all the lights at the auditorium packed with people I thought, aren't they wondering why this group of girls is standing on the stage, right behind the band? I wasn't terribly concerned, just something that I noticed. Things were a bit foggy to me at that point, so I got over it rather quickly.
At any rate, the show ended and we were whisked off (or maybe I whisked myself) down the long, winding hallways to a room where most of what I remember consisted of a nice old lady behind a bar that I apparently bonded with rather quickly and a very large platter of sugar cookies. After scarfing those down like the nice young lady that I portray, it was off to the dressing rooms and then Reid, John, Ted, Nick, Jake and I hopped in The Mystery Machine and caravaned down the 40 with the girls to a little "after the Opry" shindig in Sylvan Park.
And the night continued on. And on.
*****
If you can dig some modern bluegrass style tunes, pick up a copy of King Wilkie's new EP, Tierra del Fuego, next time you make a music stop. A follow-up to last year's full-length debut, Broke, this one adds a whole new twist to the scene. I've seen their career take off over the past year and this one is only going fuel the fire. You can catch these guys opening up for Bela Fleck on July 21st at Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman, 7:30p.
Posted by Stella @ 5:09 PM
5 Comments:
At July 04, 2005 7:24 PM,
Rex L. Camino said…
I've been in Nashville for ten years and finally made it to the Opry last October to catch Gillian Welch and Emmylou Harris. I found that I even liked all the Nashville acts that I thought I would hate sitting through. I think it helps that they serve beer. Everyone must experience it at least once.
At July 05, 2005 5:15 PM,
Anonymous said…
The Ryman is awesome just for the atmosphere and history there. Everytime I'm on the sidewalk out front I think of "Coal Miner's Daughter" and the fact that Sissy Spaceak and Tommy Lee Jones were there. My first Ryman experience was around 99 John Hiatt and Delbert McClinton. It was a really fun night!
At July 05, 2005 7:06 PM,
Stella said…
Too bad the Opry hasn't been at the Ryman since 1974.
At July 06, 2005 1:23 PM,
Anonymous said…
That sounds like a great time!
Woo-hoo and yee-haw!
I once took a tour of the old Ryman Theater back in the seventies and it was awesome. I can't remember if I've been to the newer place or not. I think so, but I'm not sure.
At July 06, 2005 3:46 PM,
Rex L. Camino said…
When I went last year they were having it at the Ryman. I think it was a special two month stint they had going. Anyway, I'll probably go back if they do that again, even if its just a roster of shitty hat acts. I think it would be hard to have a bad show at the Ryman unless they stopped serving beer or did something equally insane.
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