gary allan

Here's the thing. I didn't used to like country music. When I think about the albums I listened to in high school, I realize that lots has changed. I loved R.E.M., the B-52s, The Cure, The Smiths. I still like those bands, but now I find myself listening to a much wider range of music, and I like that.

I got into country music in grad school. I was struggling to find something I liked on the radio, and I discovered the Dixie Chicks. Maybe it was a liberal's intuition, but I felt like they were my kind of people. It was a while before I branched out from them.

Now, I count Sugarland, Jason Aldean, Keith Urban and Gary Allan among my favorite artists period. They shuffle well with my personal collection of blues, rock, soul, rap, opera, etc.

Last night, I had the opportunity to see Gary Allan live at the Ryman Auditorium. I've wanted to see him in concert for a long time. There's something about his voice that sticks with me. It's a certain rasp/twang/sad combo he has. And being from California, he seems to have a different attitude than a lot of other country artists -- more rock.

One highlight of the show was when his daughter Dallas came on stage to accompany him on The Band's "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down." She played piano; he sang. Good times.

all for the hall

Keith Urban headlined a fantastic show at the Sommet Center this week with all ticket sales going to support the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville.

The idea stemmed from an earlier challenge by Vince Gill to every country artist, asking them to donate the profits from one night of performing to the Hall.

One thing that made the show amazing for fans, besides the great music, was the ticket price -- $25 -- even for fifth row center floor. To recognize the economic pressures a lot of families are experiencing right now is admirable. I'm pretty sure they could have charged $100 a ticket and still sold out, but keeping the price low was a genuinely nice thing to do.

The lineup was impressive. Guests included some of the top country artists out there -- Brad Paisley, Vince Gill, Taylor Swift, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Faith Hill, Dierks Bentley and Little Big Town.

Keith Urban kicked off the night playing a dozen songs. He also paid tribute to the country music that inspired him growing up by playing Dolly Parton's "Coat of Many Colors." Urban said he was proud to open for the other guests, many of whom had opened for him during the U.S. leg of his current Escape Together tour.

After his set, there was a lengthy intermission as Vince Gill's band set up on stage. Gill performed two songs, and the band -- plus Gill and Urban -- backed all the other artists during their performances.

It was a great night and a great show. Urban also announced plans to host another All for the Hall concert in October 2010.

3rd and Lindsley

Maia Sharp was at 3rd and Lindsley tonight performing for Lighting 100's Nashville Sunday Night show. Every time we've seen her, she's been amazing, and tonight was no exception. I can't believe we've gotten to see her twice this summer, and we didn't even have to travel!

Nashville-based Lauren Lucas opened the show with a 40-minute set that included "Riverstone" and "You Still Ain't Out of Arkansas."

Maia focused on songs from her latest album, Echo, including "John Q. Lonely," "Polite Society" and "Unbreakable." Go buy it, or any of her other equally good albums, for real.

wynonna day

Before it rained so hard that I was temporarily blinded and terrified, July 4th in downtown Nashville was a festive occasion. On Broadway down near the Cumberland River, there was a bounce house, a climbing wall and meat-on-a-stick.

But besides that, July 4th in Nashville was a day to celebrate Wynonna. Not only did she sign autographs at the Country Music Hall of Fame but also she was the headliner for the 4th of July concert with the Nashville Symphony.

I have really liked Wynonna for a long time. I find her to be so different from the other country music stars. Her life has been filled with a lot of confusion and struggle, from never meeting her birth father to clashes with her mother Naomi to weight gain and loss and two failed marriages. I like her because I love her voice. No one else sings like her, and when performing, she is completely emotionally available. How many other artists have you seen cry on stage? She also exudes and discusses a spirituality I find truthful and comforting, not fake or pushy.

Wynonna's set with the symphony was cut short by the impending thunderstorm. She only got to sing three songs, and she wasn't happy about it.

"But it took me three hours to get ready," she said, and then encouraged the audience to come see her on the road.

Because of the weather, the fireworks started about an hour early, but I doubt most people stuck around to see the finale. The rain went from steady to blinding. I couldn't get it out of my eyes. Everything was distorted.

Luckily, we had been standing in the back and didn't have to get through a mass of people to get to the streets, which were filled with water. We were so wet when we finally got to the apartment, we took our clothes off in the hallway and immediately threw them in the washer.

cmt awards - pickler style

On Tuesday night we moseyed down to Broadway to get a beer and a bite to eat and decided to check out the before-and-after CMT Awards festivities.

Sugarland posing with a young fan as they head into the Sommet Center.

Kellie Pickler signed autographs and took pictures with fans after the show. Make fun all you want, but she is extremely likable. Did you see her on Ellen? Hilarious.  

crawfish boil

Yum. Yum. Yum. Nicely seasoned. 

Some debris in the firepit. 

Washboard, anyone? Anyone?

When all is said and done ... lots of shells. 

The backdrop ... a sleepy part of the Cumberland River. 

Sassy guitar player / crawfish broiler. 

We have company in town this weekend, and decided to check out a place near the water called Norm's River Road House. They had a crawfish boil today with music by various New Orleans artists. 

Good food, good beer, good company, good music. It was a good time, AND (probably most exciting to me) I found out about (and tasted) a brand of andouille that is definitely on my shopping list next time I make gumbo. Super spicy and yum!

martina @ tribe

Martina McBride showed up at the Nashville bar Tribe tonight to promote her new album, "Shine." 

Not only did she make an appearance, she stayed a couple hours, hanging out in a booth with her husband, talking to friends and fans.

shout out

Get that can!

Power-washing the filth off. 

Behind the Dumpster is the worst spot. 

I'd like to give a shout out to the Nashville Downtown Partnership for cleaning up the alley behind our apartment building -- and downtown in general. It's hard, dirty work, and they do an excellent job. 

maia at the bluebird

Maia Sharp performing at the Bluebird Cafe.

Our table -- #7 -- about a foot away from the musicians.

One of Maia's turns during the round.

Bluebird neon sign on one of the walls in the venue.

One of the most famous spots in Nashville is the Bluebird Cafe, known for its extremely intimate, casual atmosphere and ability to showcase the most talented singer-songwriters around.

Maia Sharp performed on May 8 with Craig Carothers, Lisa Carver and Jonathan Kingham. The show was amazing. We got to know her music when she started opening for Bonnie Raitt.

Not only did Maia write several songs on Bonnie's last album, "Souls Alike," she also wrote "Home" on the Dixie Chicks album of that name. She is set to release her next album, "Echo," later this summer. Check her out!

big muddy

The Hernando DeSoto Bridge ... ah, Memphis. I do miss you when I'm gone.

Mud, mud everywhere. And this was taken early in the day. It turned from mud to slop.

Note the backs of their pants. Later in the day, the mud was so deep and wet, someone took a step in my vicinity, and I wound up with mud on my hand. It splashed that high! 

So serious. ... Doesn't he know what his hat looks like? 

Amos Lee performing on the Sam's Town stage. He was amazing, as usual.

This past weekend, we went to Memphis for the last day of the 2009 Beale Street Music Festival. It was solid rain all day, but we were happy. Bonnie Raitt, Snoop Dogg, Amos Lee, James Taylor and more, all on one day. And it didn't hurt that I was able to score free tickets and spots in the Memphis Flyer VIP tent. Free beer!! Free barbecue!! Clean port-o-potties!!

The mud and rain were so intense, we lined the car seats with plastic bags and made a pit stop at my parents' house before heading home so we could shower and wash our clothes. The mud in my shoes alone was about two millimeters thick. Whatever, though. We had a great time. I had never been, and I feel like a better Memphian for having experienced it. 

kidnapper or guardian angel ... you decide

The pre-story is a long story, so I won't even get into it, but at 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday the 15th -- a.k.a tax day -- I was at home, realizing that I still needed to file my Tennessee taxes.

California ones were long gone. We'd even gotten our refunds. My federal one was taken care of via e-file earlier in the day. But Tennessee -- being a little behind the curve sometimes -- doesn't allow for e-filing, so I needed to find a post office that was open late -- and fast.

I rang up the U.S. Postal Service to get a list of such locations. Her answer -- none. But she did suggest heading to the Acklen station near Vanderbilt, since they offer automated 24-hour self-service. I grabbed a manila envelope, quickly addressed it and ran out the door.

Arriving at Acklen, I had to wait on a lady who told me she had never used one of the machines before. I was a little impatient but polite, even showing her where the bin was to put her taxes once she got the label on, etc. When it was my turn, I went through the prompts, got my stamp and then took a good look at it. It said that I had purchased the stamp on April 15 but nothing about actually postmarking that date. I started to worry. I looked at the bin -- last pickup at 5. Hmm. I started the system over, looking for anything that mentioned postmark date. At that moment, a stranger walked in.

"Are you trying to mail your taxes?" he said. "The only place in town still open is off of Donelson Pike. I just got back from there. Do you know how to get there?"

"No," I began. "I just moved here from California last July. I didn't know I couldn't e-file until today."

He continued to make small talk while he wrote out directions.

"Thanks a lot," I said.

"Do you want me to show you?" he replied.

"No. I'm pretty good with the interstates. Thanks."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, thanks though."

It was only after I had left the Vanderbilt area and gotten on 40 East that I started to think back to the details of the conversation.

So, let's think about this. He had come from the post office off Donelson Pike. So, what was he doing at another post office? He said his wife was working a double shift at St. Thomas hospital, so he had nothing to do for a while. Um, what about go home instead of cruising post offices?

He also said he was waiting on AAA because his car had broken down. Um, what? ... And the kicker -- since he allegedly didn't have an operating car -- when he said he would "show" me how to get to the Donelson Pike post office, did he actually think I would invite a total stranger to ride in my car with me? None of this added up. I instinctively hit the door lock.

"Was he trying to kidnap me?" I said out loud. "Holy shit! What the hell just happened?"

Half-convinced I was going to arrive at an empty, dark post office parking lot with this guy hiding in the bushes with handcuffs and a knife, I was beyond relieved to see a cop car out front. The scene was exactly as he had described. A couple cops directed traffic. I handed my stamped envelope to a postal worker who said, "We'll get it inside for you," and I was on my way.

Regardless of what he was -- Good Samaritan? Creep? Guardian angel? Kidnapper? -- he did save the day!

serious rain

I know I'm still a Southern Californian at heart -- accustomed to sunny skies and balmy temperatures -- but I think even the Nashville natives have been surprised by the weather lately. 

This afternoon, we had some serious storms -- flooding, tornadoes, sirens and wind. Massive trees crashed to the ground. Streets were closed. Traffic was jammed. The windows were blown out of a Popeyes. And lots of cars were damaged by rocks and other debris.

These pictures are from my cell phone camera, so they don't really give the storm justice, but it was some crazy-ass weather. I was in Williamson County when I took these, and a brief run to the grocery store left me drenched like I just got out of the shower. 

I heard we're supposed to get snow flurries on Sunday and Monday. What the hell? 

The truth is, though, that as much as I'm ready to move back to California in a moment's notice, I will miss this insane, ever-changing weather. I'm a storm fan, and thunder and lightning make me happy.  Go figure. 

icestorm ... missouri

Even though it didn't get much press, Southeast Missouri was hit hard by the ice storm that swept through several states in January. People in rural areas suffered without power for a week or more, relying on generators and the kindness of strangers to get by. My father-in-law, who lives on a farm in the Missouri Bootheel, took some amazing pictures, so this is a guest photo posting.