Nashtown

Wow. Talk about a disaster up close and personal....Nashville has really taken a left hook to the jaw. The pictures are not exaggerated and downtown is literally under water...I saw it with my own eyes. One of the big labels on Music Row even took a big hit--all of Keith Urban's equipment and other stars stuff was flooded and totally ruined, but the good news is, they have insurance and can replace their stuff. Some folks lost EVERYTHING and had no insurance. The Hard Rock Cafe was flooded so Benji's big gig there was canceled. I (like any typical mother) suggested he find another venue---sort of "the show must go on" mentality--and just go ahead and rock on. I felt sure those people might enjoy a cold beer and some great music after mopping, water- vacking, and dragging out wet stuff all day. And Lord love 'um, he did, and they came! It was a blast.

Benji's band was able to relo to The Red Rooster ( there were 2 giant red ROOSTERS out front, I swear) so the place was hard to miss. ( Actually, I think they were chickens, but somehow The Red Chicken just doesn't have the same cache'.) Fred wore his Johnny Cash shirt, we got to see one of Benji's old pals from a previous band (Gary), and we fed and "watered" the entourage prior to the show. Benji's trio really knocked my socks off and the fiddle player (Nathan) is classicly trained, and unnnnnnn-real. I thought he was gonna saw that thing in half. And Aubrey, their female singer, has a set of pipes on her that would not quit. That girl can sing and she's great to look at also. Benji sang several solo's and when he did his (cover song) version of a C&W Michael Jackson song, Gary, his pal, got up and did a totally spontaneous MJ moonwalk and dance, complete with throwing his hat, like MJ used to. People....were....rolling. It was hilarious--and sooo Gary.

Earlier in the day Benji & Andrea had taken us to his music label (see picture above) and given us the grand tour and we got to meet all of the owners/producers and see their brand new recording studio, that Scarletta, Benji's trio, may get to "christen" later this week. Music Row was much more humble than I expected and very neighborhoody looking. If you didn't know where you were, on those three blocks, you could easily miss the most famous three blocks in recording history.
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry were closed due to flooding so, the Grand Ole Opry moved it's shows to another venue, and kept right on going. Luckily for me, they went right on--without me.

Fred and I went to Bell Meade Plantation and toured it and loved every second. It's an old thoroughbred horse farm with a dairy, slave quarters, horse barns with a collection of old carriages, a winery, and a guided tour of the home itself. We wanted to go to the Hermitage (Andrew Jackson's home ) and see it as well but it's closed on Monday and Tuesday. Bummer. We had planned to go see Vanderbilt but had to make do with driving past it numerous times which brings me to my one gripe about Nash. What crazy person named and planned their streets and highways and then made them as confusing as possible?? Benji's street, Woodmont, changes names four times, and who ever created their maps and signage should be forced to go to the Grand Ole Opry EVERYDAY for the rest of their life, as punishment for such a crappy job.
If you're going, take your GPS or you...will... go.. nuts. More on Nash later.