So I'm visiting Nashville today and took a stroll down Broadway...really to observe stagecraft more than the music. Since the bands play in the front window of a lot of joints I would stop and listen a bit and then move on. Sort of like Bourbon Street.
I've heard the musicians are great and they are. What I learned:
- a drummer doesn't have to work as hard and play as many hits as all the drummers I've played with. Just locked in on the beat and did what the song needed. I watched one guy load a video on his phone during the song!
- bass players looked a little bored but again just held down the groove.
- no tuning, "ready",or "what key?" any of that amateur BS I'm used to.
- guys load in gear from blocks away in one load with a hand truck, tiny pedal board and gig bag
- one joint the band walked around with the tip bucket, played $20 requests and accepted Venmo for tips.
- the band kept the drunk dudes from Iowa worshiping the guitar riffs and the drunk girls from MN on a bachelorette party shaking their butts. Mic pass to the crowd, all the schtick that keeps drunk people (at 6pm!) happy
- lots more iPhones clamped to the mic stand than I expected.
Any of you all here play in Nashville?
I've heard the musicians are great and they are. What I learned:
- a drummer doesn't have to work as hard and play as many hits as all the drummers I've played with. Just locked in on the beat and did what the song needed. I watched one guy load a video on his phone during the song!
- bass players looked a little bored but again just held down the groove.
- no tuning, "ready",or "what key?" any of that amateur BS I'm used to.
- guys load in gear from blocks away in one load with a hand truck, tiny pedal board and gig bag
- one joint the band walked around with the tip bucket, played $20 requests and accepted Venmo for tips.
- the band kept the drunk dudes from Iowa worshiping the guitar riffs and the drunk girls from MN on a bachelorette party shaking their butts. Mic pass to the crowd, all the schtick that keeps drunk people (at 6pm!) happy
- lots more iPhones clamped to the mic stand than I expected.
Any of you all here play in Nashville?
