Archive for the ‘Ryman Auditorium’ Category

The legendary Bob Dylan wrapped up a two-night stand at the world’s famous Ryman Auditorium last night.

I was fortunate enough to attend the show on Wednesday night.  It was indeed a special evening of music.  Highlights included a surprise 45 minute opening set by a solo and half-plugged-in Elvis Costello AND a soon-to-be-legendary version of “Meet Me In The Morning” featuring relatively new Nashvillian Jack White.

I wasn’t able to attend last night’s show.  From what I understand, there was no Elvis opener this time around, however Jack White did join Bob on stage for two songs this time around, “One More Cup Of Coffee (Valley Below)” and “Outlaw Blues.”

Were any of you out there fortunate enough to attend both shows?  Which one was better?  Were they both incredible?  Share!

The facts:

• The one and only Bob Dylan kicked off his two-night stand at The Ryman Auditorium last night.
• Amos Lee opened.
• The Rymanazis were in rare form, so no pictures or video. I like living too much to have tried.

The celebrity sightings:

• Predators head coach Barry Trotz was rocking out in the balcony with his lovely wife.
• Too many more to list. More on that later.

The observations:

• I caught the very last song of Amos Lee’s set. This dude is extremely talented. I did hear him say he was felt so honored to share the Ryman stage with two of the greatest songwriters ever. Only Amos and Bob were on the bill, so I thought that was weird.
• After Amos and his band shut down, the crew came out and began clearing away their gear. Some roadies came out and began setting up a microphone and a guitar stand with 4 or 5 different guitars. All of Bob’s gear was covered up and nobody was working on uncovering it. Then someone in front of me said he heard there was a second opener but he didn’t know who it was. I got on the phone with one of my buddies to see if he had heard anything but I was promptly shut down by the Rymanazis who asked me to put my phone away because the next act was taking the stage in 5 minutes. I asked who it was and he matter-of-factly told me “His birth name is Declan McManus. Just some Irish guy with a guitar. It’s not Bono.”
• Five minutes later the house lights went down and Elvis freaking Costello walked on stage. The crowd went nuts when they figured out what in the crap was going on. Elvis fired up what looked to be a Gibson J-160E with this cool half-acoustic/half-electric tone and played for the next 45 minutes or so. I didn’t love his song selection (like 4 protest songs!) but he sounded great. As this was the first time I’ve seen Elvis live, I now appreciate what a showman he is. Outstanding. Oh, and he has the shiniest shoes ever made. Seriously.
• Bob and his band took the stage about 15 minutes after Elvis’ guitars were cleared away. He played several songs I wanted to hear (”Masters of War,” “Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat,” “Desolation Row”). It was a very bluesy feeling show, and now that I look back on it, it may have been designed that way because those guys knew what was coming! The highlight of the night: After “Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I Go Mine),” the lights went down and when they came up a blistering version of “Meet Me In The Morning” had begun with freaking Jack White on lead guitar and vocals. The entire place erupted. Has Nashville embraced this kid or what???!?!?! It was beautiful and Jack seemed legitimately humbled. Side note: Geez, I just know that Jack and I could be best friends! Jack, call me! Jack was lights out on the guitar and it was great to see him coax Bob to the mic to share vocals later in the song. I didn’t realize until this morning that this was the first time the song had been performed live. Unreal. From now on when people ask me if I have a favorite Dylan song, I will have an answer.  Complete set list can be found HERE.
• Elvis showed up in the sound booth at the back of the balcony about half way through the show and stayed there until the end.

The conclusion:

• Being my first Dylan show, I have to say it wasn’t what I expected to see. It was very good though, and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Elvis and Jack were worth the price of admission alone. Seeing a living legend in Bob Dylan was just icing on the cake.

Ever seen the Brothers Robinson do their Southern rock thing on one of the grandest stages in music?  I have, and it was infreakingcredible.  If you get a chance to check out one of the greatest rock front men of this generation, see the Black Crowes tonight at The Ryman Auditorium.  Show starts around 7:30.

The facts:

• Modest Mouse headlined at The Ryman yesterday evening.
• Love as Laughter and Band of Horses co-opened, in that order.
• I totally missed Love as Laughter’s set.

The celebrity sightings:

• Nikki Taylor with her twin boys in the balcony. Did I see one of the kids flipping through an autographed copy of the liner notes from Modest Mouse’s We Were Dead?
• Jack White’s fellow Raconteur Brendan Benson in the balcony trying to sit on some cute blonde’s lap. Oh behave Brendan.
• Bobby Bare Jr. and Carl Broemel (My Morning Jacket guitarist) sitting together with their wives/better halves in the balcony. You know you’re in Nashville when the musicians in the audience don’t stand to watch the show. I love you Bobby, but get on your freaking feet son. Carl, if you’re reading this, we have a mutual friend so I really believe that entitles me to the opportunity of buying you a beer sometime in the not-so-distant future. Call me. We’ll be best friends. I just know it.

The observations:

• Ben Bridwell and his cowboy booted buddies have set the new standard for southeastern rock and roll. Their live sound is so tight and polished, and yet at the same time there is a raw energy that these guys play with that truly makes them a joy to watch. Ben is one hell of a front man too. Watching him reminds me of Chris Robinson, only with more talent. I’m a huge Chris Robinson/Black Crowes fan, so believe me, that’s saying something. Band of Horses played four tracks (I think) off of their upcoming album, and they were all excellent, especially the set closer. I didn’t catch the name of the song, so if anyone did, please chime in. I have a feeling they’ll be closing their next gig in Nashville with that one, and my bet is they’ll be headlining by that time. You could tell that the boys really appreciated the stage they were on, and it showed in their performance. Carl, I hope you were taking some notes, because as big a MMJ fan as I am, I have to say that the boys from South Carolina almost out-MMJed you on The Ryman hardwood last night.
• I’m not a huge Modest Mouse fan, although I am quite fond of their last two albums. That being said, Isaac Brock is truly a mad freaking genius, with an emphasis on mad. Seriously. Dude’s nuts. Sinister and nuts. I kept thinking Tom Peloso was going to slip in his cowboy boots (a tribute to Nashville maybe?); I’m glad he didn’t. Isaac’s screaming into his guitar pickups has to be one of the cooler rock and roll moves I’ve seen in a long time. Johnny Marr plays a mean guitar.

The conclusion:

• It was a good show, probably a great show if I were a hard core MM fan. The stage got stolen though, and I think the thieves were wearing western shirts and banging tambourines with drumsticks, kind of like this… (from an earlier BoH show this year)

I can hardly contain myself right now…

According to their official website, the Ryman’s website and Pitchfork (so it must be true), Nashville’s own Kings of Leon have added a second Ryman Auditorium date to their fall tour.  Ignoring the Voodoo Music Experience in New Orleans, this means that the Followill boys will be ending their North American tour with two (sure to be sold out) nights at the hallowed church on Fifth Avenue.

And don’t forget that Black Rebel Motorcycle Club will be opening.  I’ll be at one of those shows, no doubt.  Anyone else going?  Maybe we need a Kings meetup that evening before the show?

…Nashville is kind of known for being a pretty good music town. Yeah, maybe you had heard but I wasn’t sure so I thought it was worth mentioning. Anyway, being fortunate enough to live here, I have the opportunity to feed my live music habit pretty hard over the next couple of months. Shows I’ll definitely be attending between now and the end of the year include, *but are not limited to:

• Modest Mouse w/ Band of Horses @ The Ryman - 8.22.07
• Ben Kweller @ Exit/In - 8.24.07
• Interpol @ The Ryman - 9.22.07
• Kings of Leon w/ Black Rebel Motorcycle Club @ The Ryman - 10.18.07
• Spoon @ Cannery Ballroom (Mercy Lounge) - 10.26.07
• Smashing Pumpkins @ The Ryman - 11.5.07

So far my wife is being very supportive. It absolutely helps that A) I’ve never had a stretch of shows like this in my life, B) I have a pretty big birthday (30) coming up in October and C) I’m a great husband and father (at least that’s what she tells me).

*God help me if Wilco, Arcade Fire or Ryan Adams decide to add a Nashville date this Fall. That conversation wouldn’t be pretty, but it’s not like I’d really have a choice, right? I’d have to go to them all. Seriously.

So what about you?  Any good shows coming up that you’re really looking forward to? 

Everyone’s favorite three-letter band lands tonight at the best live-music venue in the country, the world famous Ryman Auditorium.  Anyone going?  I’d love some pics/video/reviews, maybe a scan of the Hatch Show Print?