Post by UK Guest on Nov 29, 2008 4:17:18 GMT -5
It's a little after 10pm and in the alley behind Tootsies Orchid Lounge in downtown Nashville two good, honest country boys, who clearly started drinking some time ago, are taking it in turns to try and land the knockout blow.
Close by is the reason for all the trouble – a bleached blonde young woman whose language is as colourful as the tattoos down her arms.
She looks so poor a catch I assume the fight might be for the right not to spend the night with her.
Grand history
Whatever the reason, someone should tell them this is no way to behave on this hallowed ground.
For one thing, it has genuine religious credentials thanks to the former church, the Union Gospel Tabernacle, across the alley.
Long ago this was renamed the Ryman Auditorium and achieved fame as the historic home of the Grand Ole Opry country music radio and TV show.
For another, it's the route by which many of country music's most revered stars have dashed from the Ryman after an Opry performance, in through Tootsies' back door for a few drinks, and then back to the Ryman to perform a second show.
On entering Tootsies, the first thing you notice is that Nelson has moved on – the walls are almost completely covered in black ink scribblings from some of its patrons.
Hank Williams, Ernest Tubb, Loretta Lynn and Patsy Cline were all early patrons of this honky-tonk, while in later years Kris Kristofferson alternated between performing and sweeping the floors and Willie Nelson cleaned the walls.
On entering Tootsies, the first thing you notice is that Nelson has moved on – the walls are almost completely covered in black ink scribblings from some of its patrons.
You can sign your name too – if you can find a space. Where there isn't graffiti, there are signed photos of many leading lights of country music.
After your eyes have caught the glint of a few shards of broken glass on the boarded dance floor and taken in the aroma of beer and sweat, you may be thinking this is not the ideal choice for a nervous first date. But the beer is cold, the toilets clean and the music first-class.
As Tootsies general manager John Taylor says: 'People only have to come in here, look at the walls and feel the history.
There's no way we would want to rip everything out and clean it up. The people who come want it to be real.'
It's this 'take it as it is' approach, combined with the fact you are likely to see the next great American star before they are great here that makes Tootsies such a must-visit in a city where music is king.
Take a tip
Tonight, one of the regular performers for whom Taylor has high hopes is on stage. Leslie Craig (pictured below) has the kind of presence that would be impossible for anyone to ignore.
Confidently sexual, she has the vocal power to deliver her country and rock ballads even against the backdrop of a band with the guitars turned up to 11… think Cher meets ZZ Top.
Tootsies performers work for tips and when Craig takes the cup round between sets she has to disentangle herself from more than one admirer.
Perhaps someone should pop outside and tell those two guys in the alley we've found someone who really is worth fighting over.
www.metro.co.uk/travel/article.html?Nashville:_The_timeless_stage_presence&in_article_id=424085&in_page_id=5
Close by is the reason for all the trouble – a bleached blonde young woman whose language is as colourful as the tattoos down her arms.
She looks so poor a catch I assume the fight might be for the right not to spend the night with her.
Grand history
Whatever the reason, someone should tell them this is no way to behave on this hallowed ground.
For one thing, it has genuine religious credentials thanks to the former church, the Union Gospel Tabernacle, across the alley.
Long ago this was renamed the Ryman Auditorium and achieved fame as the historic home of the Grand Ole Opry country music radio and TV show.
For another, it's the route by which many of country music's most revered stars have dashed from the Ryman after an Opry performance, in through Tootsies' back door for a few drinks, and then back to the Ryman to perform a second show.
On entering Tootsies, the first thing you notice is that Nelson has moved on – the walls are almost completely covered in black ink scribblings from some of its patrons.
Hank Williams, Ernest Tubb, Loretta Lynn and Patsy Cline were all early patrons of this honky-tonk, while in later years Kris Kristofferson alternated between performing and sweeping the floors and Willie Nelson cleaned the walls.
On entering Tootsies, the first thing you notice is that Nelson has moved on – the walls are almost completely covered in black ink scribblings from some of its patrons.
You can sign your name too – if you can find a space. Where there isn't graffiti, there are signed photos of many leading lights of country music.
After your eyes have caught the glint of a few shards of broken glass on the boarded dance floor and taken in the aroma of beer and sweat, you may be thinking this is not the ideal choice for a nervous first date. But the beer is cold, the toilets clean and the music first-class.
As Tootsies general manager John Taylor says: 'People only have to come in here, look at the walls and feel the history.
There's no way we would want to rip everything out and clean it up. The people who come want it to be real.'
It's this 'take it as it is' approach, combined with the fact you are likely to see the next great American star before they are great here that makes Tootsies such a must-visit in a city where music is king.
Take a tip
Tonight, one of the regular performers for whom Taylor has high hopes is on stage. Leslie Craig (pictured below) has the kind of presence that would be impossible for anyone to ignore.
Confidently sexual, she has the vocal power to deliver her country and rock ballads even against the backdrop of a band with the guitars turned up to 11… think Cher meets ZZ Top.
Tootsies performers work for tips and when Craig takes the cup round between sets she has to disentangle herself from more than one admirer.
Perhaps someone should pop outside and tell those two guys in the alley we've found someone who really is worth fighting over.
www.metro.co.uk/travel/article.html?Nashville:_The_timeless_stage_presence&in_article_id=424085&in_page_id=5