Kitchy music venues to avoid

[Leo Smith]

Two great experiences in Memphis today. First was Sun Studio. Walked up to the front door, and imagined Elvis tearing through the door into the "secretary's" front office, hoping to persuade Sam Phillips for another chance. Place was packed with tourists who were respectful and curious. But it was the oldest and heaviest fan who knew every one of those hit songs and their players. And thrilling to stand where Bill Black played his double bass for Elvis and other early stars. And hold the microphone through which they sang their hits.

If that wasn't inspiring enough, next came Stax Museum of Soul with the famous movie house marque announcing the home of soul music to McLemore Ave and Memphis. The museum included clothing worn by many of the stars in historic performances, so it was not hard to imagine their owners proudly and confidently struttin' their stuff in the day.

Recognition was displayed for Booker T & The MGs, including the organ he used on all the early hits. Unfortunately, Duck Dunn did not get the callout we all feel he should have received--not even his Fender bass used for the iconic hits.

The highlight was emersion in the Holiest of Holies -- the studio where the magic occurred. It was formerly a movie theater, so the floor slopes down from the entry to a stage area, with the control room behind a glass window. I even got a few minutes alone in this room, clapped my hands above my head to hear room response, and imagine being there while the music flowed. Put Branson in the rear view mirror!

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It's unusual that the bass was not on display. It's been there in a similar case like that sax and trumpet.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

It's unusual that the bass was not on display. It's been there in a similar case like that sax and trumpet.

There's an outside chance I missed it, but I was on the lookout so I think not. Perhaps the Dunn family wanted more than the museum was willing to pay?

 

[Leo Smith]

There's an outside chance I missed it, but I was on the lookout so I think not. Perhaps the Dunn family wanted more than the museum was willing to pay?

Not necessarily. It's been there before, in the same room that you photographed. I've seen it myself in 2016 and in 2022. Lee Sklar has a well known photo hugging the case. It's probably on loan to another museum.

 

[iiipopes]

Not to mention the already established ‘Lake Of The Ozarks’ recreational region, which had been a draw to the southern mid-state area for decades previous. For those not familiar, it is a sizable man-made lake/reservoir, created to generate electric power, with an anchor town that grew around Bagnell Dam which makes it all possible. It wasn’t exactly a WPA project, like the Tennessee Valley Authority, but serves the same purpose.

Initially drawing vacationers from KC, were I was, and St. Louis, scores of high-end resorts sprung up throughout the 50’s and 60’s, along with weekend getaway residences. My parents always knew someone who “had a place at the lake”, and when I was a kid we went down and stayed at a resort, but the music there was a third rate lounge band. I did see a rock band from St. Lou banging out Cream songs at a place on the tourist trap strip at the dam, but yes there were also these “country jamboree” hillbilly venues dotted throughout the area.

A bit of trivia, there was a Kansas City area native, Paul Henning, who worked in local media there, including industrial film production, before migrating out to Hollywood. On a camping trip to the Branson area, which supposedly included his mother-in-law, he came up with the premise for a TV show. Now, I have no idea what incident in particular sparked this idea, and oil fields are primarily way to the west, across the state line in Oklahoma, but I’m sure most of you have heard of the poor mountaineer who one day was shooting at some food…

We didn't know whether to laugh or cry when Beverly Hillbillies came out. We do know that five episodes were filmed at Silver Dollar City, and part of the main area used to have a tour guide who would show you the key points of each of the episodes.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Kitchy? The Country Bear Jamboree. Can anybody even remember when they released any new material?

Riis

 

[aero58]

I was in Nashville about 18 years ago…but the majority of Broadway's vibe today is like Myrtle Beach in a landlocked State.

That’s hilarious! So true and what a great description!

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

To be fair, you just have to know where to go to hear the top tier in Nashville. The tourist traps were there in the 90's too. The real music doesn't necessarily happen there, although there are a few exceptions.

*Nothing add on Branson MO, except we drove past it on the way back to Nashville one time.

 

[timmus]

Let's clarify: cruises on Disney lines or similar, whether overgrown amusement parts or essentially floating casinos, not cruises that actually go somewhere on Cunard ships named after dead English queens.

I had my fill of cruises in the 70's...one on the USS Forrestal and one on the USS Nimitz. It got my wanting to sail on the wide blue ocean out of my system forever.

 

[timmus]

Didn’t the Osmonds have something like a 10 year residency there? Nuff Said. I’ve been to Pizza in Italy to see the Leaning Tower, and Niagara Falls, that’s enough tourist trappery for one lifetime.

Did you buy pizza in Italy??? If not, you didn't miss much...if you did, you'll have realized pizza in the US and Canada is FAR better. It wasn't until after I tried Italian pizza (in Italy) that I found out pizza as we know it was actually from Chicago, or so the rumor goes.

 

[timmus]

Not to mention the already established ‘Lake Of The Ozarks’ recreational region, which had been a draw to the southern mid-state area for decades previous. For those not familiar, it is a sizable man-made lake/reservoir, created to generate electric power, with an anchor town that grew around Bagnell Dam which makes it all possible. It wasn’t exactly a WPA project, like the Tennessee Valley Authority, but serves the same purpose.

Initially drawing vacationers from KC, were I was, and St. Louis, scores of high-end resorts sprung up throughout the 50’s and 60’s, along with weekend getaway residences. My parents always knew someone who “had a place at the lake”, and when I was a kid we went down and stayed at a resort, but the music there was a third rate lounge band. I did see a rock band from St. Lou banging out Cream songs at a place on the tourist trap strip at the dam, but yes there were also these “country jamboree” hillbilly venues dotted throughout the area.

A bit of trivia, there was a Kansas City area native, Paul Henning, who worked in local media there, including industrial film production, before migrating out to Hollywood. On a camping trip to the Branson area, which supposedly included his mother-in-law, he came up with the premise for a TV show. Now, I have no idea what incident in particular sparked this idea, and oil fields are primarily way to the west, across the state line in Oklahoma, but I’m sure most of you have heard of the poor mountaineer who one day was shooting at some food…

My roommate in the navy had an uncle named Bagnell...he was the design engineer for the dam. At the time, i couldn't give two hoots (this was in the 70's). My roommate's last name was also Bagnell and he was from MO as well...now I live about 2 hours south of it. I've taken a couple of motorcycle rides up there but both times it was SO crowded it wasn't real fun. Some good places to eat though.

Also found out a few months back that Randle Chowning from the Ozark Mountain Dare Devils is from the town I moved to in MO...oops...not town. It's a "city"...no towns here in MO. All cities but there are unincorporated townships here of which I live in one though my mail comes to me from the city post office.

 

[timmus]

It's unusual that the bass was not on display. It's been there in a similar case like that sax and trumpet.

I think I read somewhere that one of his younger relatives has Duck's bass now.

 

[Ostie]

I have never been to Branson. I will never go there, except by force. I have been to the CMHOF. It was ok. Went to the RRHOF. It was overpriced and not that well done.

 

[Topkat13]

If you look hard enough there are still some decent venues in Nashville. 3rd and Lindsley can have some good bands, The Underdog, Rudy’s Jazz Club, to name a few. If bro country is your thing lower broad is the place to be.

 

[Core Creek]

Tangentially related, I just got back from a trip to San Antonio with my wife. She had a work conference and I tagged along. Talk about touristy cities. Sure, the Riverwalk was nice - for a day. There was a splash of live music here and there, and a Hard Rock Cafe - which only had “DJ Gizz” 4 nights in a row!

I tried venturing out on a scooter but things got real bad real fast and I had to abandon my attempt to reach a drum shop north of the tourist strip and Uber back to the hotel.

 

[Hurricane Jimmie]

So Anyway, there's a pretty good movie about Branson called 'We Always Lie To Strangers'. Documentary on what it takes to make a living there as an 'entertainer'. You can sing and do musical theatre if you can sell enough tickets from your restaurant gig. Most folks have two or three jobs.

For a while Branson had a number of mature artists (mostly country) who would have a theatre residence during the winter. They'd leave during the summer as they were on the road playing state and county fairs, etc.

Never cared for the place, or Southern Missouri for that matter.

 

[Hurricane Jimmie]

If you look hard enough there are still some decent venues in Nashville. 3rd and Lindsley can have some good bands, The Underdog, Rudy’s Jazz Club, to name a few. If bro country is your thing lower broad is the place to be.

We've seen The Time Jumpers a couple times at 3rd & L. Such a good band.
I've been to downtown Nashville and LB enough to avoid it. East Nashville has a much better vibe.
But everyone should go to Robert's at least once and take the Ryman Tour.

 

[timmus]

So Anyway, there's a pretty good movie about Branson called 'We Always Lie To Strangers'. Documentary on what it takes to make a living there as an 'entertainer'. You can sing and do musical theatre if you can sell enough tickets from your restaurant gig. Most folks have two or three jobs.

For a while Branson had a number of mature artists (mostly country) who would have a theatre residence during the winter. They'd leave during the summer as they were on the road playing state and county fairs, etc.

Never cared for the place, or Southern Missouri for that matter.

Yup, Southern Missouri certainly has a certain "patina" to it...Interesting place to be sure. I don't regret moving here 4 years ago from NH but it has taken some getting used to. Everything of any consequence is at least an hour's drive from where I live...sometimes 2-3 hours (or more).

I will say this, it is far cheaper here than NH. NH has no sales tax or income tax but they find other insidious ways to extort money from you there....

 

[whatizitman]

Hmmm. Branson sounds like Gatlinburg, or Myrtle Beach. Two places so far I’ve successfully avoided ever visiting.

Nashville and Las Vegas kinda get a pass, because they are both the OG in tacky tourist wastelands. They make no apologies. Part of the fun is the cheesiness and campy nature of it all. But places like Gatlinburg are a little too…. shall we say… gauche? People go to Nashville to party. People go to Gatlinburg to reminisce about a world that never existed. Hard pass.

 

[Bass Viking]

Did you buy pizza in Italy??? If not, you didn't miss much...if you did, you'll have realized pizza in the US and Canada is FAR better. It wasn't until after I tried Italian pizza (in Italy) that I found out pizza as we know it was actually from Chicago, or so the rumor goes.

Interesting... Good to know I'm not missing out. How do Italians feel about our pizza?

 

[gln1955]

Did you buy pizza in Italy??? If not, you didn't miss much...if you did, you'll have realized pizza in the US and Canada is FAR better. It wasn't until after I tried Italian pizza (in Italy) that I found out pizza as we know it was actually from Chicago, or so the rumor goes.

If American pizza was invented in Chicago, why are they so bad at it?

(Runs for cover )