The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville

[Mike]

Last week, my wife and I went to Nashville. It was our first vacation in two years and our first vacation away from the kids in 13 years.

My wife is a big country music fan. I know Willie Nelson, EmmyLou Harris and a few others.

I had always wanted to go to the Ryman Auditorium. I heard the acoustics were better than Carnegie Hall and they were definitely superb. We saw a couple of concerts there and did the backstage tour during the last day of our trip. It’s a spiritual experience for a music fan. Close your eyes and you can hear the voices coming out of the walls. Truly magical place for a music fan.

While in Nashville, I also had a chance to meet with a couple of friends/customers which is always nice.

I had only been to Nashville once before and it was years ago for a conference (never went downtown or walked Broadway). If you’ve never been, it’s a great city and well worth the trip. It’s also now the Bachelorette capital of America, that in and of itself creates a unique dynamic in the city.

The Grand Ole Opry was a bit of a disappointment. Very commercialized. Do the Ryman two or three times and forget the Opry. That’s my advice.

You can get a taste of the Ryman listening to this album which was the album which brought the Ryman out of 20 years of abandonment when the Opry moved out. It’s on Tidal and even in MQA.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/At_the_Ryman

 

[Hounddog]

Hallowed halls, like none other. Glad you were able to enjoy it.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[aKnyght]

seeing a show at the ryman is way high up on my list...

johnathan demme made a film at the ryman: neil young, heart of gold -- quite good with a fair amount about the theater. lot of good artists playing as well including emmylou harris. i think its available on netfix.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Young:_Heart_of_Gold

nashville is a great place and quite enjoyable if one stays off the beaten path. musically it is pretty much at the center of my current interests... along with austin. lot of creative folks there.

 

[rrwmd]

I have been fortunate to see many shows at the Ryman as I live fairly close. It is indeed a special place--old, intimate and warm with lots of history.

I was also fortunate to spend a night out to dinner with Mike and his lovely wife along with my wife while he was in Nashville. Thanks for making the time Mike. I'm glad you two got the chance to get away!

 

[aKnyght]

...nashville is a great place and quite enjoyable if one stays off the beaten path. musically it is pretty much at the center of my current interests... along with austin. lot of creative folks there.

just a follow up thought here on nashville music:

in terms of my interests in music from or inspired by nashville, ground zero is undisputedly gram parsons.

he is the acknowledged father of "country-rock" or "alt-country" which has recently been called nashville 2.0 and is distinct from mainstream country music which can be described as pop music with a twang. the amount of creativity released from the alt-country community over the past 40+ years is simply astounding.

his two pioneering ablums -- GP (1973) and grievous angel (1974) -- were revolutionary and like many great artists were only recognized as such posthumously. these two albums owe much of their greatness to gram parson's collaboration with emmylou harris... so while gram parsons was the creative spark here, emmylou harris has been the driving force over the years in its growth.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gram_Parsons

lastly, a family member who has been to nashville on two occasions recently said its nightlife was the best of any city -- basically a live concert given by the best musicians on the planet. i can't disagree -- the musical ability and virtuosity of the nashville studio musician is second to none.

 

[Hounddog]

If you’re interested and have DSD capability, try Band of Horses, Acoustic at the Ryman. It’s recorded straight to DSD and is quite well recorded and a great listen (to my ear anyway). It’s not Hank Williams in the sawdust, and some of the reviewers didn’t like it, but it’s a great homage to the Ryman, from right here in my living room.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Ritmo]

Thx for sharing Mike! Hope Jeanette and you enjoyed the trip!

 

[aKnyght]

If you’re interested and have DSD capability, try Band of Horses, Acoustic at the Ryman. It’s recorded straight to DSD and is quite well recorded and a great listen (to my ear anyway). It’s not Hank Williams in the sawdust, and some of the reviewers didn’t like it, but it’s a great homage to the Ryman, from right here in my living room.

+1

thanks for the recommendation -- have listened to the album three times now and am really enjoying it. great live recording! so far only 16/44 pcm... the dsd must be spectacular.

 

[Mike]

+1

thanks for the recommendation -- have listened to the album three times now and am really enjoying it. great live recording! so far only 16/44 pcm... the dsd must be spectacular.

The MQA version is superb.