We made a trip to Nashville this last weekend with some friends. The weather was your typical dreary, cold, and wet. We had a great time listening to some music and enjoying the city. I've always been blown away by the super-condensed amount of talent in that city. Every venue up and down Broadway has live music all day long, and separate bands on multiple floors playing simultaneously. These cats are world class musicians getting paid beans for a chance, against all odds, of realizing their dreams. Often the front person gets the check and the band gets the tips. Many of them play multiple shows a day to make ends meet. Cynicism seems an inevitable antagonist. We went to a great little hole in the wall on Printer's Alley Friday and saw a band that played mostly 1990's and 2000's rock/emo/punk (Green Day, Fallout Boy, Metallica). It was super fun! These guys were amazing. Saturday we went to a few places but ended up at Kid Rock's place. Every band that jumped on stage could be touring today. All cover songs were done extremely well. Look, I'm not one to knock Nashville musicians. These are artists and musicians from all over the country chasing their dreams. If I would knock any part of Nashville it would be the money machine that chews these artists up and spits them out.
It's an extreme departure from the music culture here in Texas. We have a luxury that Nashville musicians don't get to experience. I didn't hear one original song while we were in Nashville this trip. I've written with other songwriters there but hitting the bar scene all you hear are covers. I would argue New Braunfels/Gruene as the new live music capital for original music. It is such a cool culture that audiences in Texas want to hear your original songs and the story behind the song. We have some incredible musicians, artists, singers here in Texas. We are spoiled with talent and opportunities to go on any given night and hear an incredible original artist. It is true that as an artist you may still be expected to play a smattering of cover songs, but rather than becoming ambivalent I lean into the fun part of sharing my version of my favorite songs with the audience. We are blessed as artists here in Texas. We can make our music, get it on the radio, tour, and all without the benefit of a record label. Thank you Willie. God bless all you guys and gals pining away in Nashville and GOD BLESS TEXAS!